Ah, the stalwart duo of James McCarthy and James McArthur. A quixotic traveller into the world of modern football would be forgiven for confusing them.
Their phenomenal work rate, partnership and yes, their similar names – it’s safe to say that both players are more than proven top-flight midfielders.
The similarities and connections fail to stop right there. They have both played at a senior level for three clubs. Both have distinguished international careers, albeit for separate nations. Even still, both are Glaswegian natives and share distinct footballing roots.
Yet in the context of Crystal Palace, one stands out as a nested Eagle whilst the other is relatively new to the nest.
McCarthy once again reunited with McArthur in the summer of 2019. He found his game time limited; initially making his appearances from the bench, McCarthy was seemingly established as a rotational player with similar attributes to a relatively reliable, defensively solid midfield.
The likes of Cheikhou Kouyate, club captain Luka Milivojevic and his dear friend McArthur held down their spots in most starting XI’s well.
Given Palace manager Roy Hodgson’s preference for a disciplined 4-3-3/4-4-2 formation with a conservative, defensive solidity in midfield, it was by no means unfathomable that McCarthy would one day see a longer period with a shot at making regular appearances.
Indeed, McCarthy has made more than a few starts this season; he was notably awarded a start in a 2-1 win over West Ham in November, for instance. Despite some good performances, however, McCarthy soon found his impact once again limited to the bench, with the occasional rotational appearance here and there.
Then came the February mid-season break.
With Luka Milivojevic – usually an unshakeable presence in the matchday squad – plagued both by injuries and poor form, a turning point appeared to emerge in the subsequent fixtures. McCarthy featured heavily in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle, playing a commendable 90 minutes that contributed to Palace facing the fewest shots on target in a single Premier League game this season.
Moreover, despite sustaining a slight hamstring issue and being forced off at half time, McCarthy’s set pieces, physical aggression and passing ability proved decisive in gaining a foothold in a dramatic 1-0 win over arch-rivals Brighton.
Aside from the raw emotion and tension of the match, McCarthy looked as composed and determined as ever in pushing the team ahead from midfield. This ability to provide a grounded style of play in the middle of the pitch proved decisive in keeping a clean sheet, and he also helped create a fair few good chances for Palace.
Whilst statistics fail to tell the whole story, they do justice by McCarthy. In just 23 appearances in the Premier League this season, he has averaged almost 21 passes per match, with 28 accurate long balls. Combine this with 17 crucial interceptions, eight vital clearances and two clean sheets in the last two games, and you have the portrait of a versatile player with the ability to drive a team forward, whilst keeping them defensively sound.
Against Newcastle alone, McCarthy contributed heavily to a side that created their highest number of set-piece chances (with McCarthy on most corners) with their second-highest number of chances created. In terms of individual performance, his dynamism and work rate stood out.
It would be fallacious to assume Palace’s recent run of success, and the prospect of more points to come, as solely arising from McCarthy’s impact. Conversely, let there be little doubt that his role cannot be understated.
McCarthy has consistently shown the passion, energy and most importantly the quality required to offer some heroic form to serve as a boon for Palace in fixtures to come.
It harks back to the start of this article. In many ways, the attributes listed are all too similar to McArthur’s impact at the club. It may take some time to grow into that mould, but the trappings of such a similarity are there.
Is this a chance for McCarthy to etch his name into the Palace fan songbook? Is his name set to be etched onto the walls of SE25? It is perhaps too early to call – though the seeds for Palace greatness are very much sown.
