Opinion: McCarthy an exemplary example to younger players

Last updated : 03 September 2013 By Paul Farrington

The merits or otherwise of the transfer window can be debated at length but what is for sure is that panic buying, or selling, on the final day of the transfer window is not the best way to take a club forward and grow over the long term.

Queens Park Rangers went berserk last January and swiftly left the Premier League through the trap door whilst the most successful clubs are often ones who do their business steadily throughout the duration of the window, often in the initial weeks.

Tottenham were the main source of the last minute scurrying as they waited and waited before signing over on the World Record £85m Gareth Bale tranfer. This releasing the flood gates on the queue of transfers that came as a fall out.

Most noticeably for the Latics was the Marrouane Fellaini, James McCarthy, Jordan Rhodas tug-of-war across the north west.

The £6 million achieved for Arouna Kone was daylight robbery for the Latics and new Everton boss Roberto Martinez seems to have a penchant for overly expensive strikers as Mauro Boselli’s club record move to the Latics could be highlighted as the biggest mistake during Roberto’s time as Latics boss.

The Argentinian’s catastrophic failure during his time with the Latics is one of the main reasons Martinez’s legacy with the Latics culminated in relegation from the top division.

Perhaps knowing of his overpayment for Kone, Martinez tried to under pay for McCarthy. A swift dose of smelling salts later and the Spaniard came back with a sensible offer that met with the asking price as set during Martinez’s own time with the club.

Of most disappointment for the Latics was that the transfer went through so close to the deadline that Owen Coyle has been left with the funds burning a hole in his pocket for four months as a big money move for Jordan Rhodes couldn’t be squeezed in.

Players like James McCarthy are rare. There are many talented footballers across the world and many have chosen to ply their trade in the English top flight, but there are few with the humble grace of James McCarthy.

In a world of showmanship where players cruise around in chrome Bentley’s, sporting a body full of tattoos, and often with duel diamond earrings to boot, it is with pride that we have been able to witness James McCarthy’s growth as a footballer, and as a human being, over the past four years with the Latics.

The Irish international is still young in football terms and has the time to reach the very top of the footballing ladder.

At a time when Tottenham were turning to French nationals, Manchester United looking at £30m Basque stars, and Manchester City not interested unless the price tag is upwards of £50m, Roberto Martinez has pulled off the biggest coup of the transfer window in landing McCarthy.

We’re witnessing a very materialistic footballing era where many clubs are buying hype and speculation as opposed to pure talent. Supporters across the world get angry behind their televisions and computers and demand immediate and costly action from their respective clubs.

As players are traded so brutally as commodities with an evenings entertainment provided by career defining decisions made in the blink of an eye we have to ask if this is what we want from football.

James McCarthy is very much old school. Despite relegation and a clear desire to want to play in the Premier League, the 22 year, despite his youth, never once put a word or foot out of line and simply waited for his moment.

It has been a true pleasure to watch James McCarthy for Wigan Athletic and he is a true example to youngsters everywhere and across whatever field in life.

With sadness we see him leave for Everton but nothing lasts forever. If his progress continues it is likely that McCarthy will reach the very top of the footballing tree, probably sooner rather than later.

Coming into the club saw two excellent loan signings as Coyle increased the depth of his squad by adding versatile defender Ryan Shotton on loan from Stoke City, and midfielder-cum-forward Nick Powell on loan from Manchester United.

The parachute payments following relegation and the sales of Arouna Kone, Mauro Boselli , and James McCarthy have swelled the Wigan bank balance to healthy levels with many of the incoming additions being for relatively small fees.

It is likely that the wage bill will still be on the steep side, particularly for a Championship club, but although the last minute sale of James McCarthy represents a big loss on the field, the increased financial strength it gives the club could come in very handy when the window re-opens in January.

Until then we have a very capable midfield containing names that would be at home in the Premier League. Ben Watson, Roger Espinoza, James McArthur, and Jordi Gomez are all capable players at the top level and offer more than enough options and depth to see us well into the heart of the season in good stead.