It’s time to get nostalgic. A chance to cast your thoughts back to your youth, if you will. Those days over the summer, be it as a pre-pubescent teen with an ID that made McLovin as certifiable to buy alcohol as a 60-year-old pub local or a bored university student, and Football Manager was the best way to pass the time.
You’re up against a team you should beat with minimal ease, regardless of the opposition. For me, personally, it was Antti Niemi when my team came up against Fulham, be it at Craven Cottage or at my clubs’ home stadium, only for said goalkeeper to enjoy a defining 90 minutes of his career.
It’s enough to make any diehard Football Manager fiend rekindle memories of a game where they peppered enough shots on target to win a league encounter or the Champions League final and with it; invoke previously forgotten thoughts of that one opponent that regularly stifled the your teams’ attacking capabilities.
For Liverpool against Reading, the fictional realm of managerial simulation became a reality and all because of one player – Alex McCarthy. The 23-year-old was in inspired form at the Madejeski Stadium to keep the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge at bay as the Royals secured a confidence boosting point against their Premier League counterparts.
Is Alex McCarthy good enough for England? Find out more about the shot-stopper on Squawka.com
As the game ticked towards the 90 minute mark, Liverpool threw all they could towards a Reading defence that opted against buckling, with McCarthy key to denying the Reds attack that, having fired away 11 shots on target, deserved to walk away from Reading with all three points as they continued their quest to secure a place in the Europa League.
Yet, as cliched as it sounds, it was evident that the Reading shot-stopper had opted against reading any script that had been thrust in front of him, instead taking the option to cast the words that had been shown to him to the fiery depths of hell.
Following an inspired performance at the Madejski Stadium, it was obvious that the post-match press conference would focus heavily on the Guildford born goalkeeper, having turned out a man of the match display in a wet and windy Premier League stalemate.
Expectantly, the focus was on McCarthy, with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers initially quizzed on the capabilities of the goalkeeper. “Yes. Absolutely, no question about it,” was the response of the Reds boss when asked if the Royals man was good enough to turn out for England.
While Joe Hart will undoubtedly occupy the number one spot for years to come, such is his capability in between the sticks for Manchester City and England, with Rodgers adding that the 25-year-old is one of the top five goalkeepers in the world.
His sentiments were echoed by Nigel Adkins, but it’s Rodgers who sung his higher praises, having worked with McCarthy during his six months stint in charge of the Royals, and it was certainly warranted following the stalemate at the Madejski.
With Adam Federici ruled out with an ankle injury, the young shotstopper was called upon on a regular basis during the 0-0 draw on Saturday, forced into making 11 saves – one every 8.18 minutes – as Reading held on for a point.
McCarthy may’ve only completed 43% of his 21 attempted passes in the encounter, but his display in the Reading goal ensured he warranted the final performance score of 87. While his score barely rose in the opening 15 minutes, reaching a high of three, it was a gradual improvement over the course of the next 75 minutes, with the goalkeeper mustering a vast majority of his points over the remaining 10 minutes.
As Liverpool pressed the Royals for a goal that would hand them all three points, McCarthy was called into action no less than six times during the dying embers of the encounter, with an eight yard diving save from a Suarez volley the pick of the bunch, made all the more impressive considering the encounter was his first since the 1-1 draw with QPR back in November.
As such, the Reading man attained a further 40 performance points between the 80th and the 90th minute to leave Liverpool frustrated and, as a result, all but ending their hopes of securing a place in Europe next season.
Is Alex McCarthy good enough for England? Find out more about the shot-stopper on Squawka.com
By Ben McAleer
The post McCarthy frustrates Liverpool, Football Manager style. appeared first on Squawka News.
