Help me out here please Been a long time since he played for us but was he overrated? Someone on fb - I know - said he's watched him on YouTube- yes again I know- and says he was vastly overrated and not as good as people make him out. Peolle are backing him up! Ome said he was out of favour- he did miss a few games but was a regular for years! He was one of my first heroes but I don't think this is clouding my judgement. I just remember him as a classic centre half who was a massive part of our success at the time.
Due to my age, the only time I ever saw him play at Oakwell was for Millwall when he was right at the end of his career. He was absolute class.
No he was one of the greatest centre half’s ever to don the red shirt. He and Evans made defending look easy, happy days
He was the best centre half I've seen at Oakwell,, him and Evans formed a formidable partnership during the eighties. Seem to win everything in the air and just defended simply by winning it and giving it to the nearest team mate. One of the all time greats no doubt about that.
Ditto He was immense. Missed only 5 league games in his first four seasons and ever present for two of them
In his time a fantastic, no messing, centre half. Evans and he had probably the best cb partnership , ive seen. He represented his country and did so more than a few times. He was commanding, a great header of the ball, had a massive throw in and a mr dependable. Ive seen better footballing centre halfs but for commitment and sheer doggigness to win and beat a man, right up there. I think alan clarke once dropped him and made him train with the juniors , for nearly ending a young player called dave wilkes career, by going in too hard.......in training!
Seen some good central defenders in over 50 years watching the Super Reds but Macca is the best. Others e.g. Paul Futcher has more class but if you needed someone to stop an attacker to save your life, you’d pick Macca. A ruthless defender who strolled about at the back like John Wayne. And he could head a ball further and harder than many can kick it. Second name on my All Time Reds XI team sheet. After Ronnie, obviously.
He was fantastic, the only time I remember him being left out of the team in 6 years at Oakwell (injuries apart) was when he was just about to go to Man City. I think he was named in the divisional teams every year he was at Barnsley. His partnership with Ian Evans was exceptional.
I once asked a pro who scouted for a top club why McCarthy had not been signed by a higher league club (we were probably in the Second Division at the time). He said he was ‘slow on the turn’. Didn’t end up doing too badly though did he?
He was class , he was in the best Barnsley team to have never played top flight football. Those on face book are either 1.Attention Seeking. 2.Know nothing About Football. 3.mischief making
Best header of the ball I've seen at Oakwell ( Eric Winstanley close second ) no nonsense, take no prisoners defender , class
I am 79. Watched Barnsley since a lad of 10. Mick was a down to earth Barnley lad who commanded the defence and was absolutely rock solid He was injured for around three games and when fit should have walked straight back into the team Hunter was the " Manager" and pissed about not picking him for some reason. Mick was not the type of lad to accept Hunter playing about with his career and that was it he left Never rated Hunter as a manager and Clarke was the man