It has taken time for James McCarthy to win his share of plaudits at Crystal Palace. Having signed last summer for a minimal fee, he arrived with a point to prove from a mid-table rival. Yet, now, McCarthy joins a catalogue of players who the Eagles have poached from rival clubs and turned into their own success story.
James McCarthy Deserves to Keep His Place at Crystal Palace
Taking Over in Defensive Midfield
A defensive midfielder can often go largely unnoticed in games. However, in Palace’s 1-0 over Watford, McCarthy did anything but go unnoticed.
He deputised for Luka Milivojevic whilst the Serbian served a three-game suspension. Milivojevic, when available, remained on the bench for the 1-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion. McCarthy started for the visit of Watford. He impressed in his defensive work too, delivering a 100% tackle completion rate during the game. In context, none of those eight tackles gave away a free-kick.
McCarthy had an excellent outing against Watford; he was dispossessed just twice, won his only aerial duel of the game late on and completed two interceptions. While they are small numbers, he did so much more. He harried and hurried Watford into making mistakes; his non-stop hard work helped Palace earn their third victory in a row. McCarthy’s heatmap following the game showed that he spent much of the game operating across the pitch in front of his defence.
Earned His Chance to Remain in the Side
So far in his current run in Hodgson’s side, the 29-year-old has shown that he deserves to keep his place.
While he is currently keeping the club captain out of the starting 11, he is doing more than enough to warrant his place among the Palace manager’s chosen cohort. The same can not be said for Milivojevic, who has been on the receiving end of criticism several times this season.
The Serbian international has suffered a similar fate to his predecessor Mile Jedinak. Much-loved by fans for displaying hard-working, gritty performance at the heart of midfield, but has failed to live up to the expectations of him as time has passed.
Perhaps, with Palace’s safety virtually secured, McCarthy deserves a place in the starting 11 at Selhurst Park at the expense of his team-mate.
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