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James McCarthy and Arkadiusz Milik of Poland last night. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Pulling no punches

Dunphy brands James McCarthy 'a terrible flop', 'hyped' and 'overrated'

The RTÉ pundit also questioned Glenn Whelan’s place in the Ireland team.

IRELAND MIDFIELDER JAMES McCarthy is a vastly-overrated footballer, according to RTÉ pundit Eamon Dunphy.

The Everton man started alongside Glenn Whelan with Wes Hoolahan supporting lone striker Robbie Keane in last night’s 1-1 Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Poland.

And while Dunphy was full of praise for Hoolahan, he slated the ability of McCarthy and Whelan before claiming that Hull City’s Stephen Quinn should have been in the team.

“Whelan can’t play at all,” Dunphy said on 2FM Game On tonight. ”He doesn’t tackle, he doesn’t get on the ball, he can’t run and I don’t know why he is playing for Stoke or Ireland.

“McCarthy is turning out to be a terrible flop. He doesn’t do anything. He could be a holding player perhaps doing what Whelan is supposed to be doing. I don’t agree that he is a different player for Everton, I just think he has better players around him.

“But still doesn’t really move the ball forward and he never changes the tempo of the game, which is the key.

He is overrated. Jamie Carragher said last week that if there was one player he could take for Liverpool it would be McCarthy. He said the only thing missing from his game is goals. That is nonsense.

“He is a hyped player and everyone thinks he is far better than he is. We’ve haven’t got time to waste with Whelan and McCarthy.

“We have Stephen Quinn, who is a good, young, busy player who is always looking to do something in the game. He should have started last night.”

Listen to the full Game On interview with Hugh Cahill and Alan Cawley here

Halfway through the campaign, where does last night’s draw leave Ireland in Group D?

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