Alex McCarthy No.1

[Royal Rother]

Having "gifted" the board with a superb screen saver when you joined, it beats me why you've spent the last few years being such a total prat.

[Kitson12]

Couldn't give two hoots if Feds leaves in the summer. McCarthy has been impeccable, long may it continue!

[Z175]

But if we drop Federici it will be tough to sell him.
I mean who would pay big money for our second choice keeper when they could probably sign McCarthy.

Personally I would stick with Federici and Hamer, and loan McCarthy and Andersen out topremiership sides and eventually sell them both to Barca and Real for 10s of millions!

Theyre too good fo us like the Sig!

[Ian Royal]

But if we drop Federici it will be tough to sell him.
I mean who would pay big money for our second choice keeper when they could probably sign McCarthy.

Personally I would stick with Federici and Hamer, and loan McCarthy and Andersen out topremiership sides and eventually sell them both to Barca and Real for 10s of millions!

Theyre too good fo us like the Sig!

Fed's better known with a higher profile and much much more experience. Chances are Prem clubs arn't going to play McCarthy at all, so there isn't much point in picking him up 'til he's more proven. Fed is, in theory, ready to go straight into a lesser Prem team or sit on the bench of a better Prem team.

And I don't think missing out for half a dozen games to an inform player who replaced him because he was injured originally is going to have a big impact on his desirability or price.

[Oi Oi Saveloy]

Couldn't give two hoots if Feds leaves in the summer. McCarthy has been impeccable, long may it continue!

Might be that McCarthy laves for a decent price and we are stuck with Feds

[roadrunner]

But if we drop Federici it will be tough to sell him.
I mean who would pay big money for our second choice keeper when they could probably sign McCarthy.

Personally I would stick with Federici and Hamer, and loan McCarthy and Andersen out topremiership sides and eventually sell them both to Barca and Real for 10s of millions!

Theyre too good fo us like the Sig!

Fed's better known with a higher profile and much much more experience. Chances are Prem clubs arn't going to play McCarthy at all, so there isn't much point in picking him up 'til he's more proven..

I wish it did work like that but it doesn't often. Spurs and Sunderland in recent years picking up young keepers from the lower leagues and they play reserve team football on a bigger salary, go out on loan, then hear little about them. I hope to God we don't lose the boy in the summer but I wouldn't be shocked to see a Liverpool or Villa take an interest.

[Ian Royal]

Hopefully the example of Ashdown will encourage him to stay... It's very very early days and he's got a good chance of playing games for us which might earn him a big move and a starting place, or at least second choice. Rather than just back up for the back up that he'd be now.

Besides, we have no need to sell him, so could ask stupid money, IMO.

[RoyalBlue]

Hopefully the example of Ashdown will encourage him to stay...

Hopefully the example of Ashdown will encourage the club to keep McCarthy on a decent contract.

[West Stand Man]

Hopefully the example of Ashdown will encourage him to stay...

Hopefully the example of Ashdown will encourage the club to keep McCarthy on a decent contract.

Give us a clue- what lesson would the club have learned from the Ashdown experience?

[Ian Royal]

Hopefully the example of Ashdown will encourage him to stay...

Hopefully the example of Ashdown will encourage the club to keep McCarthy on a decent contract.

Like any contract we can offer could come even close to competing with a Premier League one. You really do make yourself look stupid with your pointless bitching sometimes.

[Z175]

We can offer Alex maybe £10k a week, no guarantee of first team football and the chance to be a championship and England U21 goalie.

A premiership team can offer him £20k a week, world class training, the chance to learn form an international no.1, guaranteed first team football while on loan and the chance to be a premiership and england goalie.

It would be very sad to lose yet another star talent after such a short period but sadly he is doing that well and his U21 exposure will only lead him down the well trodden path of Foster , Carson etc

There is just a chance someone might buy Federici and we can promise Alex first team football and a large contract - in that case he might consider he could do with some experience of being no.1. Hes got plenty of time on his side.

But if anyone can persuade another team to part with millions for arguably our second best goalkeeper then its sqeeky hammond.

Lets not forget the great Federici saves that have kept us in points over the last few years. Ok he cost us 2 poitns v sheff Utd and Cardiff but hes been a fantastic keeper. Its just testament to how good McCarthy's performances have been that we're having this debate.

[savage 4 england]

We can offer Alex maybe £10k a week, no guarantee of first team football and the chance to be a championship and England U21 goalie.

A premiership team can offer him £20k a week, world class training, the chance to learn form an international no.1, guaranteed first team football while on loan and the chance to be a premiership and england goalie.

Those figures are very excessive. £10k a week would probably make him one of our top earners.

[phil in cornwall]

I hope to God we don't lose the boy in the summer but I wouldn't be shocked to see a Liverpool or Villa take an interest.

Villa may not even be in the Premier League next season.

[RobRoyal]

Anyone watch last night? Surprise defeat for England U-21 but it sounds like McCarthy did ok?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ce-iceland

"They had the Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to thank for the move that brought a 16th minute breakthrough for Nathan Delfouneso. McCarthy made two important saves in quick succession to reclaim possession for England, who broke clinically and released Delfouneso courtesy of a piercing ball through the heart of the Iceland defence by Rose. The Aston Villa forward, on loan at Burnley, strolled clear to place an emphatic finish low beyond Haraldur Bjornsson.

Unfortunately Pearce's team struggled to build on the early lead and Iceland levelled three minutes before the interval when Alfred Finnbogason released Arnor Smarason behind Nathan Baker and the Iceland winger beat McCarthy convincingly. Finnbogason was also involved in the winner when, from a corner, Holmar Eyjolfsson's glancing header went in."

Didn't this guy once appear in UR&G?

Sigurdsson also played.

[muddyfeet]

wasnt Gylfi tho was it? I thought it was a different Sigurdsson

[RobRoyal]

wasnt Gylfi tho was it? I thought it was a different Sigurdsson

Ooops. I scanned a report and saw his name, turned out it was a list of players not included

[rhroyal]

If Fedders could supposedly fetch around £2mill, I would play him for the rest of the season. Put him in the shopping window, McCarthy can take over next season.

[RobRoyal]

If Fedders could supposedly fetch around £2mill, I would play him for the rest of the season. Put him in the shopping window, McCarthy can take over next season.

At this rate I think we're more likely to see a big bid for McCarthy this summer than for Feds. I think he'd make an excellent punt for a middling Premiership side.

[brendywendy]

just dont see anyone coming in for a player with 3-4 months first team experience in the most experience reliant position on the pitch
and nr do i see us being up for letting him go, especially not at th eprice likely to be offered

[Svlad Cjelli]

It's quite palusible that a big 4 club would buy him and immediately send him to another club for a season-long loan before deciding whther to keep him on or let him go.