James McFadden Thread

[LAF]

Well maybe not. But lets get carried away. He's given us some of our greatest moments in recent times.

Lets start with two of his best...

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and one from last season playing for Everton...

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[DavidMc]

James McFadden profile

James McFadden (born April 14, 1983 in Springburn, Glasgow) is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing as a striker for Everton in the English Premier League. His goal for Scotland in the Euro 2008 qualification match on 12 September 2007 against France in the Parc des Princes is already regarded as one of Scotland's most famous goals.


Club career
McFadden joined the Motherwell youth setup at a young age, making his first-team debut when he was just 17 years old. He shot to fame during the 2002-03 SPL season, scoring 19 goals from 34 starts and winning the Scottish Young Player of the Year Award. This was in a season when Motherwell also finished bottom of the Premier League and should have been relegated but were given a reprieve due to Falkirk (who won the Scottish First Division that season) not meeting stadium criteria. He also received some criticism for his lack of discipline, picking up fifteen yellow cards and one red during that campaign.

Motherwell's financial circumstances ensured that any interest from larger clubs would not be refused, and Everton won the battle for McFadden's signature in 2003. Toffees boss David Moyes paid £1.25 million to ensnare his target. McFadden scored his debut goal for Everton during their 5-2 defeat at Tottenham on the 1 January 2005, more than a year after joining the club. One week later he scored his second goal in a third-round FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle.

During the 2005-06 season, McFadden was in and out of the Everton team as they struggled to re-capture their form of the previous season. On 11 March 2006 he scored with a 35-yard volley to help Everton to a 3-1 victory over Fulham. This scoring run of form continued the next week against Aston Villa, a half-volley from just outside the area helping the Toffees to a 4-1 victory. He went on to end the season with a total of seven goals.

McFadden made an indifferent start to the 2006/07 season following the arrival of record signing Andrew Johnson, managing only two goals in the first half of the campaign. On January 24, 2007, McFadden injured his fifth metatarsal during training for Everton.[1] After nearly three months on the sidelines, he made a scoring return to action for Everton as a second-half substitute against Charlton Athletic on April 15, 2007. He scored a spectacular volley in injury time to secure a 2-1 win for the Blues, a goal later voted "goal of the season" by the readers of SkySports.com.[1]


International career
McFadden gained his first Scotland cap at the age of nineteen, on a Far East tour against South Africa, during which he controversially missed his flight home.[2] His domestic performances ensured he became a regular in Berti Vogts' Scotland set-up, scoring his first goal against the Faroe Islands during a 3-1 win in a Euro 2004 qualifying match at Hampden Park on September 6, 2003.

He is also remembered for his goal against Holland in November 2003 that gave Scotland a famous 1-0 victory. However, in September 2007 McFadden scored an even more significant goal in a 1-0 win over France during Scotland's qualifying campaign for the 2008 European Championships.

[DavidMc]

Scotland boss Alex McLeish has called on James McFadden to grab the headlines again - this time by netting a vital goal against Ukraine on Saturday.

McFadden's goal against France in Paris in September took the Scots to the top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group B.

McLeish said of the Everton striker: "He is a humble type and won't think of himself as a superstar all of a sudden.

"He is probably embarrassed about the whole thing but I'd love it if he could embarrass himself and score again."

McLeish, meanwhile, insists that Scotland are not in a must-win situation as they head into the match.

"I don't think it's do or die," he insisted. "We can still qualify if we don't win this game, of course we can.

"We could get six points from our last three games and still miss out but with seven we would go through.

"It would certainly be a kick below the belt if we miss out now."

Scotland lead their group ahead of France and Italy but the two World Cup finalists have an easier run-in.

And the Scots play host to a Ukraine side for whom only a victory will keep alive their slim hopes of qualification.

They have been quite possibly our most difficult opponents so far

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon

"I know that they need to get three points and I would expect them to have a go at us," added McLeish.

"They have players who have been over the course, players playing in the Premiership, top names like Shevshenko and Voronin.

"But I am more concerned about how Scotland play. It's a massive game for us.

"We find ourselves in a great position because of past performances and we're entitled to believe we can get another good one.

"They have that confidence and belief because of what they've done."

McLeish is aware that there has been an increasing wave of expectation following recent results at international level and by Scottish clubs in Europe.

"I think as long as everybody gets the realisation that we may not win, it can maybe relax the players a bit more, rather than saying they must win," he said.

"If there's an acceptance of the fact you may not win then I think everybody will go into the game with good belief and confidence and without being complacent."

McLeish is well aware of their opponents' pedigree, with Ukraine having reached the World Cup quarter-finals last year.

Scotland captain Barry Ferguson insists he is relishing the task of trying to lead his team to next summer's European Championship finals.

"I'd rather have pressure than going into games where it doesn't matter if we get a result or not," he stated.

"It's the first time it's been as close as this since I've been involved. Normally halfway through the campaign we're out of it. We've got a great chance now and everyone is determined to take it."

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was sure his side would face another difficult game, having lost 2-0 to Oleg Blokhin's side a year ago in Kiev.

"We are up against a top-quality team," he said.

"They have been quite possibly our most difficult opponents so far.

"Ukraine beat us over there and they played well against us that night in Kiev.

"We had one or two chances to take something from the game, but we ended up quite rightly getting beat.

"They won't be much different away from home. They will be coming to win the game to get themselves back in to the frame."

Massive game for us today. With a packed Hampden im confident we will win but Ukraine are a class side who will be difficult to beat. Hopefully we can score an early goal and settle the nerves. Three points today would be a massive boost and take us another step closer to qualification.

[LAF]

Interview shown on Sky Sports before the Ukraine game (nice to see the lad is grounded)...

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Goal against Ukraine...

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The Tartan Army showing their appreciation...

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Post-Match interview from Ukraine game...

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[Mighty T.A.L.]

The goal against Ukraine was just brilliant when he hammered in the ball.

[LAF]

The first touch is the best thing about it. Meant he had all the time he needed to get the right contact.

[NJ10]

yeah the finish was actually a bit of a goalkeeping error imo. i know he hit it hard but it was pretty close to the keeper. the first touch (and the pass as well) was awesome though, and he did the right thing by hammering it rather than being too clever.

[LAF]

The Ukraine 'keeper was shit all game mate. He was rotten with the first goal too.