Shay McCartan

Sorry, he wasn't on the bench the majority of the time at all.

Towards the end of the season he was rotated but he spent the first half of the season in the XI and started more games than making sub apps.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/shay-mccartan/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/201438/verein/1198

 

Or the fact that the club did not put him out on loan to do his rehabilitation .

 

Nonsense. Tackling isn't one of Reeves' strengths but he does at least try.
Akpan, by contrast, is built like a heavyweight boxer yet consistently loses tackles against players far smaller and lighter than him. And that's on the few occasions when he bothers to get anywhere near the opposition to even make a tackle. Most of the time he stands around in non active areas, avoiding getting involved, thereby leaving his teammates to cover his man as well as their own.
He does three or four good attacking things per game, and the rest of the time he's a massive defensive liability. He simply doesn't offer enough going forward to justify the damage he causes defensively.
Everyone who went away to the Burton game in L1, where Akpan ran the show, knows what he's capable of when he puts his mind to it. At this level he should be bossing most games. Instead he's the Invisible Man, stealing a wage.

 

OK, maybe I should have said spent the majority of the time either on the bench or not finishing games. He played 90 minutes in 2 league games in the whole of last season!!!

 

So what? I'm pretty certain that Henley's played 90 minutes, every time he's started - does that make him one of our best players this season?

You're not judged on the number of minutes on the pitch, you're judged by the positive impact you make whilst been on the pitch

McCartan certainly has some fitness issues, given his age and the position he plays (where you get the most of the knocks) his body is still probably growing into the physicality needed. It's noticeable that a lot of players seem to have better fitness as they get older (Danny Ings) and often have irritating niggles which end up with them missing more than a few matches (Kane (before this season) / Rashford)

Again I'm not making excuses for McCartan's lack of progress - just giving reasons, based on evidence on how other youngish footballers and other sportsman cope with the increased demand on their bodies (mens tennis is now more or less officially a sport you excel in once you reach 25, back in the 90's that was considered over the hill)

It was interesting that McCall said he took him off, because he lacks a bit of sharpness - but it could be he's just one of those players who is good for 80 minutes, until his body behaves better

 

Until his body behaves better!!!! His body is still growing!! He's 26 in May. He's not a kid at 17 starting his career.

Your not making excuses for him?? That's exactly what your doing. With regards fitness he was subbed in 21 league games - you would have thought he would do something about that if he is to have a longer career.

I'm out - he's an ok League 2 player.

 

I believe Shay has a doctored heart monitor and GPS tracker in his vest, how a 22 year old can't do 90 minutes is beyond belief.
I'm not the biggest McCartan fan but after his 2 goals on Tuesday night (which should in all honesty have been a hat-trick) I can't see why McCall would leave the lad out of the starting 11.
Same back 4 although I could see Stuart bringing Paudie in at the expense of BRE, Reeves, Devitt and Pritchard with DMH, McCartan and Novak the front 3.

 

There are other reasons for subbing apart from form and fitness. McCartan is precisely the sort of player that gives way to change shape or go more direct or more defensive. He's also likely the one sacrificed in a red card situations. Banbrotam is bang on with the second line of his post.

 

Anybody else got any more reasons for Shay to not complete a game?

 

He's also the type of player to slot into a different formation/tactics late in the game, like on Tuesday. If his fitness was better he could have moved in to a 10 role and Connolly/Middleton on the left.

 

Likes to avoid the traffic?

 

Have a word with yourself pal. Comparing those 2 to Mills / Blake (ultimately the clubs best ever strike partnership) is a bit cringeworthy.

 

Guess you didn’t see him collapse on the pitch whilst playing against us for Accy Stanley in the cup a few years ago? Blamed the cold weather lol

 

Was that the game they went down to 10 men and still beat us, wasn't that under Stuart ?.

 

Yes I think so

 

To be honest I didn't take a lot of notice of the Accrington players that day, I was hoping one of ours could produce a bit of magic and win the game.
Just got the info from the BBC, now I remember it he came on for Clarke after 85 minutes and was subbed himself after 90+ with Hewitt, he did a full 10 minutes.

 

What a player Blake was. Always knew when he had it something would happen

 

Just think what a player he could have been if he'd applied himself, that dressing room video where Jewell is giving him pelters summed Robbie up at times, he played when he wanted to loads of talent but sadly wasted at times.
The night game at Bramall Lane where he almost single handedly got us a point.

 

Think those type of players are like that. They always are told if they did this and that they would be the best etc. But it’s just their nature. He almost played it like it was playground football. The skill and how he used to beat his man.

 

Well he spent the bulk of his career in the PL or at the top end of the Championship so I’d say he did ok for himself, probably couldn’t have achieved much more than he did to be fair. Wasn’t likely to get any big money moves to a big 5 club in that era when you consider the calibre of players in the PL at that time.