McCarthy in the England Squad!

[soggy biscuit]

The reality is that if a player has decided he wants to leave then there's no way you can really keep them.

Of course, you can hold them to their contract - but you can't expect them to play, and so what you end up doing in practice is paying a player good money to see out their contract and then go for nothing, whilst also fermenting discontent amongst the whole dressing room.

Well that's not the reality though is it.
It didn't work when Tevez or Rooney tried to force a move; if they're not big enough to get their own way, then a player who's only played 12 Premier League games really doesn't have any power.

Rooney didn't want a move though, he wanted a pay increase and got it.

[P!ssed Off]

The reality is that if a player has decided he wants to leave then there's no way you can really keep them.

Of course, you can hold them to their contract - but you can't expect them to play, and so what you end up doing in practice is paying a player good money to see out their contract and then go for nothing, whilst also fermenting discontent amongst the whole dressing room.

Well that's not the reality though is it.
It didn't work when Tevez or Rooney tried to force a move; if they're not big enough to get their own way, then a player who's only played 12 Premier League games really doesn't have any power.

Rooney didn't want a move though, he wanted a pay increase and got it.

He wants a move now though, we'll see what happens.

[genome]

I don't think he will play, according to Hodgson he sees them as "preparation games" rather than friendlies, but what a great moment for him regardless.

Let's hope Hart and Foster get into a fight and break each other's arms.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

The mentality of players is that they have the confidence and self-belief to think they're ready for any challenge thrown at them, and that if they get a chance they'll succeed at it - they'd not have got this far without that mindset and ambition.

They are also always aware that they might suffer a career-ending injury tomorrow - so why would they wait.

I heard Kevin Doyle talk about this, when he was asked about Sidwell leaving to "sit on the bench at Chelsea." he said that Steve believed that he'd get a chance to prove himself and then it was down to him to show what he could do.

He also said that every footballer dreads the idea of looking back on their career and thinking "I wonder what would have happened if I'd accepted that offer to move to a big club when I was younger....."

It really pains me to say it, but I just can't see any way Alex McCarthy will be a Reading player next season. The only good thing is that the England call-up should bump up the price a little bit more and hopefully there'll be a bidding war we can take advantage of.

Luckily, with keepers it's a bit different. Sidwell knew he wasn't gonna be initially 1st choice but was probably confident that he'd get enough chances off the bench to be able to force himself in to the 1st team.

If a keeper goes to a club and is the 2nd choice keeper, then whilst they might be confident in their ability to succeed if given a chance, they really cannot be confident that will receive that chance at all. Some 1st team keepers play 100+ games consecutively, it doesn't matter how confident the 2nd choice keeper is, they're still not getting a game.

A 'keeper can surely be pretty confident they'll get at least a few games in a season - as well as cup games. That's all they feel they need to establish themself.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

The reality is that if a player has decided he wants to leave then there's no way you can really keep them.

Of course, you can hold them to their contract - but you can't expect them to play, and so what you end up doing in practice is paying a player good money to see out their contract and then go for nothing, whilst also fermenting discontent amongst the whole dressing room.

Well that's not the reality though is it.
It didn't work when Tevez or Rooney tried to force a move; if they're not big enough to get their own way, then a player who's only played 12 Premier League games really doesn't have any power.

He has the power to not play for us - or to be so unhappy and demotivated that we'd not want him to. Do you really think any club our size with our resource would turn down a multi-million pound offer in order to keep a player in the reserves just for the spite of it?

It's a no-brainer that we'd be pragmatic and take what we can for him if he's determined to go.

And if an offer is received that is above what we've agreed is his release fee, we then can't stop him talking to the club making that offer.

[winchester_royal]

The reality is that if a player has decided he wants to leave then there's no way you can really keep them.

Of course, you can hold them to their contract - but you can't expect them to play, and so what you end up doing in practice is paying a player good money to see out their contract and then go for nothing, whilst also fermenting discontent amongst the whole dressing room.

I think the differences between McCarthy and Sidwell are that:

a) Goalies need to be number 1 at their club otherwise, save for injuries, they are unlikely to get much of a chance.
b) AMc is still way off his peak, so there's plenty of time to get a 'big' move. He'll know that the most important thing for him next season is playing regularly.
c) He's an academy graduate so the affinity to the club is likely to be stronger.

I don't think he'll be banging on the door for a move just yet; if we do sell him it will be because someone offers us silly money

[P!ssed Off]

The mentality of players is that they have the confidence and self-belief to think they're ready for any challenge thrown at them, and that if they get a chance they'll succeed at it - they'd not have got this far without that mindset and ambition.

They are also always aware that they might suffer a career-ending injury tomorrow - so why would they wait.

I heard Kevin Doyle talk about this, when he was asked about Sidwell leaving to "sit on the bench at Chelsea." he said that Steve believed that he'd get a chance to prove himself and then it was down to him to show what he could do.

He also said that every footballer dreads the idea of looking back on their career and thinking "I wonder what would have happened if I'd accepted that offer to move to a big club when I was younger....."

It really pains me to say it, but I just can't see any way Alex McCarthy will be a Reading player next season. The only good thing is that the England call-up should bump up the price a little bit more and hopefully there'll be a bidding war we can take advantage of.

Luckily, with keepers it's a bit different. Sidwell knew he wasn't gonna be initially 1st choice but was probably confident that he'd get enough chances off the bench to be able to force himself in to the 1st team.

If a keeper goes to a club and is the 2nd choice keeper, then whilst they might be confident in their ability to succeed if given a chance, they really cannot be confident that will receive that chance at all. Some 1st team keepers play 100+ games consecutively, it doesn't matter how confident the 2nd choice keeper is, they're still not getting a game.

A 'keeper can surely be pretty confident they'll get at least a few games in a season - as well as cup games. That's all they feel they need to establish themself.

Hopefully McCarthy watched the FA Cup Final and saw City's 2nd choice keeper, Pantilimon, who got City all the way to the final, ditched at the last minute for the 1st choice keeper.

Anyone remember Ross Turnbull, he looked a promising talent:
"On 2 July 2009, Turnbull joined Chelsea on a free transfer, signing a four-year contract. Turnbull announced that he would not sit by as a permanent second place keeper to regular starting goalkeeper Petr Čech and that he would fight for his own first team place."
4 years, and 7 league games later, how did that work out for you Ross?

I bet Ross, and countless others, are thinking "I wonder what would have happened if I'd rejected that offer to move to a big club when I was younger....."

[Maguire]

McCarthy should get a full season under his belt imho. He's far from the finished article.

[kwik-silva]

Nothing less than what he deserves

[mumbo-jumbo]

Hodgson quoted as saying he hopes to talk to Alex and spend some time with him when they meet up. Presumably his advice may ultimately influence his decision. He obviously sees him as one to nurture for the future. I don't think he will get a chance to play - just soak up the atmosphere. Well deserved, but please keep your head screwed on young man. Lots still to learn.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

The reality is that if a player has decided he wants to leave then there's no way you can really keep them.

Of course, you can hold them to their contract - but you can't expect them to play, and so what you end up doing in practice is paying a player good money to see out their contract and then go for nothing, whilst also fermenting discontent amongst the whole dressing room.

I think the differences between McCarthy and Sidwell are that:

a) Goalies need to be number 1 at their club otherwise, save for injuries, they are unlikely to get much of a chance.
b) AMc is still way off his peak, so there's plenty of time to get a 'big' move. He'll know that the most important thing for him next season is playing regularly.
c) He's an academy graduate so the affinity to the club is likely to be stronger.

I don't think he'll be banging on the door for a move just yet; if we do sell him it will be because someone offers us silly money

Agreed with all of that, but a 'keeper also knows that it just takes one injury to one player for them to get their big chance. Plus there's the option of cup games - the bigger the club the more cup games there are likely to be.
Does he think he's off his peak, or does he think he's in the form of his life and ready to show it on a bigger stage? Who knows, but I suspect the latter just as much as the former.
Yes, he will have a strong affinity to the club - but don't forget that this is also the club that dropped him when he was playing superbly and had been between the sticks for an incredible run of wings, and never forget that money, profile and prospects talk. And again, the fear of a major injury comes into play ... can he be sure he'll ever get another big offer if he turns one down now? .

If I was in his position I'd move on, and if I was his advisor I'd advise him to move on - and I don't mean that he'll be banging on the door to leave, but I don't expect him to turn down a big offer from a big club. I don't think any of us would, rationally, if we were given the choice.

[P!ssed Off]

Hodgson quoted as saying he hopes to talk to Alex and spend some time with him when they meet up. Presumably his advice may ultimately influence his decision. He obviously sees him as one to nurture for the future. I don't think he will get a chance to play - just soak up the atmosphere. Well deserved, but please keep your head screwed on young man. Lots still to learn.

At least there are two games, wouldn't be surprised if he got 30 mins off the bench.

[soggy biscuit]

I hope his transition to big time footballer goes smoothly and we soon see him driving a hummer, wearing comically big earings and getting himself arrested on a regular basis

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Just as an addendum to the "Academy graduate having greater affinity to the club" idea, you can be sure he'll have been watching the contract situation with fellow Academy graduate and good mate Alex Pearce with great interest ......

[winchester_royal]

I'm sure if the offer comes his way he'll be off, but I do believe the club when they say any business done will be on their terms, and given that McCarthy's market value is probably now around £8m I'd be surprised if we let anyone have him for less than £10m. And I'll be even more surprised if someone is willing to offer that figure just yet.

Tbh I think most of it will depend on what we can do with Federici, because we won't be able to keep either of them as second choice next season.

[loyalroyal4life]

Fair play he is and will be a quality keeper. Likely to be our first unwanted sale of the summer as well!

[P!ssed Off]

The reality is that if a player has decided he wants to leave then there's no way you can really keep them.

Of course, you can hold them to their contract - but you can't expect them to play, and so what you end up doing in practice is paying a player good money to see out their contract and then go for nothing, whilst also fermenting discontent amongst the whole dressing room.

I think the differences between McCarthy and Sidwell are that:

a) Goalies need to be number 1 at their club otherwise, save for injuries, they are unlikely to get much of a chance.
b) AMc is still way off his peak, so there's plenty of time to get a 'big' move. He'll know that the most important thing for him next season is playing regularly.
c) He's an academy graduate so the affinity to the club is likely to be stronger.

I don't think he'll be banging on the door for a move just yet; if we do sell him it will be because someone offers us silly money

Agreed with all of that, but a 'keeper also knows that it just takes one injury to one player for them to get their big chance. Plus there's the option of cup games - the bigger the club the more cup games there are likely to be.
Does he think he's off his peak, or does he think he's in the form of his life and ready to show it on a bigger stage? Who knows, but I suspect the latter just as much as the former.
Yes, he will have a strong affinity to the club - but don't forget that this is also the club that dropped him when he was playing superbly and had been between the sticks for an incredible run of wings, and never forget that money, profile and prospects talk. And again, the fear of a major injury comes into play ... can he be sure he'll ever get another big offer if he turns one down now? .

If I was in his position I'd move on, and if I was his advisor I'd advise him to move on - and I don't mean that he'll be banging on the door to leave, but I don't expect him to turn down a big offer from a big club. I don't think any of us would, rationally, if we were given the choice.

Don't judge everyone by your own standards. If I was offered the chance to play for the team I support then I'd say no, but only because I'm too shit. if I was any good then I'd stay there for as long as oxf*rd possible, regardless of whether bigger clubs were interested.

Please go and google Steve Harper to try and gain some optimism.

[P!ssed Off]

Just as an addendum to the "Academy graduate having greater affinity to the club" idea, you can be sure he'll have been watching the contract situation with fellow Academy graduate and good mate Alex Pearce with great interest ......

Yeah, he can watch Pearce's career go down the toilet.
Chucking away a long time career at the club where he was on the trajectory to captaincy and had already gained player of the season and the fans backing, in order to become 5th choice centre back at Liverpool, playing 5 games a season.

[parky]

Fair play he is and will be a quality keeper. Likely to be our first unwanted sale of the summer as well!

and last?

[bigmike]

Well done McCarthy .. Lets hope that the promises that we no longer have to sell our best players come to fruition.

Shame that it took Mcdoughnut so long to realise that McCarthy was by far a better keeper that calamity Feds