The former Coventry man has great sympathy for the Manchester City number one following James' nightmare display against Austria that has cost him his England place.
Kirkland said: "The criticism he has had since the weekend has been very unfair. He made a mistake and he knows that. Unless you've been a goalkeeper in that position then you have no idea what it feels like. He won't need anyone to tell him he made a mistake against Austria.
"But I think people sometimes forget that this is only a game of football and they start getting personal. When you see headlines calling a goalkeeper a clown then that's not right. He's a human being with feelings.
