James McCarthy: 'Winning is a habit, you can't win enough'

Former Dublin footballer James McCarthy is not worried about Dublin's start to the season despite two defeats in their opening two league games.

After losses to Donegal and Mayo, Dublin face fellow strugglers Monaghan on Saturday in Croke Park, which has turned into a crucial game.

It is the start of a new era for Dublin, with Ger Brennan taking over as manager, and the effects of several players stepping away, including McCarthy, are still being felt.

Despite a lot of change happening, the nine-time All-Ireland winner is confident Dublin can still be competitive.

"I think Dublin should always be thinking they can win an All-Ireland, any year they play. There has been a whole tranche of players that've moved on. There is no doubt about that. So, it is time to try to get more players through.

"In fairness, to Ger and the lads, they've put plenty of guys in during the last two games. I'd say they'd have liked to drip-feed them in a little bit more.

"Ideally, from my own experience, you'd like to have 10, 11, 12 really strong players, and throw in two or three.

"I think that is more fair and easier on guys to bed in. It is tough when you're throwing six or seven guys in. It is a big step going from your underage teams or club level to playing with the county.

"They've been fairly competitive in both games, although the Mayo game went away from them after the red card. I'm sure if guys saw myself when I started off, they wouldn't have thought I'd have turned into much of a player.

"These guys need time to find their feet, to grow into it, and to find out what is required to play at that level. You've got to be patient with guys."

While he acknowledges the best place to blood potential players is in the pressure cooker of the