In 'Moneyball' terms McCarthy was a no-brainer of a signing. For next to nothing we got a proven premier-league standard player still at what could be his peak. The injuries of course make him a gamble, but at that price the risk was worth taking.

The other thing about him is that he comes into the category of a 'known-quantity'. He has not only played in this league, but lived and settled in this country, knows this football culture, never demonstrated an attitude problem before, and is in no way a 'left-field' signing. If he does well over the next few years we could put him alongside Tomkins, Kouyate, PVA, Dann etc. They have all done exactly what they said on the tin, didn't cost the earth, and didn't let us down at all.

For now, he'd be better off in a central 2 than in a 3 man midfield. When he plays left of centre he has to cover too much ground covering behind Zaha. He barely has the legs for that job, and plainly isn't suited to making forward runs in the way Kouyate can. If he just sat in alongside one other holding player as a double-pivot he could let the game come to him a bit more, and could be a bargain.

I met a few Everton fans about 5 years ago on holiday, they thought McCarthy was their best midfielder and the team didn’t function anywhere near as well, when he wasn’t playing.
Unfortunately his bad injury has set him back, through playing he will get his form back, I expect to see the best of him next season.

Edited by Painter (17 Jan 2020 2.08pm)

He's been poor - get our money back if poss.

its all relative, innit.

we paid £3m for the guy, who had been injured for a few years and needed to get back to fitness, given evertons spending whilst he had been injured that seems a fair price.

i like him, he is a ball winning tenacious midfielder, who does have decent distribution and he works hard for the team.

he has fire in his belly and is up for the scrap, which lets make no bones about it, fits the club perfectly...which as a team mate you love to have that player lining up next to you.

we chastise watford for being a nasty team but you need that to survive in this league and he adds that.

would i start him above kouyate when everybody is fit? no, but im happy to have him & he cost is diddily squat.

‘Football isn’t instant coffee. You have to work at it. You must grow the bean, grind it.’ Ian Holloway

Agreed... Thought that was the best he’s played so far. He just seems to pop up all over the place... I hope he can stay fit and carry on like that.

Don't waste your time with jealousy. Sometimes your ahead, sometimes your behind, the race is long. But in the end it's only with yourself!!

this humble pie is delicious