Stockbridgehibby

I am a believer. I believe Emi is such a good goalie that even without his so-called “antics” he could have saved these two pens and maybe even some of the others. Pity he can’t play for the first leg of the next tie.

Come on Fulham

Congratulations, Villa, on an excellent 2023! Best of luck in 2024 - In the words of Emi, “I’m a believer”!

It’s a bit odd for Unai to suggest he reached this conclusion after analysing the match “deeply”:- he subbed SJM after 65 mins! I suppose it could have been a tactical substitution, but it’s more likely Unai had belatedly realised SJM had been playing too much football, having played him in midweek against Legia Warsaw, and Spurs the weekend previously, straight after the international break in which John played both games for Scotland. It’s important to put Emery’s comment in context too. He was being asked about McGinn’s current good form, and was probably keen to dampen down the interviewer’s excitement. SJM himself has always known he has to work on his consistency (see his interview with Stan Petrov shortly after arriving at Villa Park). I’m sure Emery wouldn’t have wished to appear to be singling SJM out for criticism - the whole team was flat in that game, and but for Emi and Ollie would have been as well beaten as Bournemouth’s 4 other most recent league opponents. Emery himself would presumably also want to shoulder some of the responsibility for the Bournemouth result. Over 80% of voting Villa forum fans said his performance was average, poor or even very poor. No player enjoys public criticism but there’s no chance the captain will allow this to affect his motivation. I just hope his having to come on in the second half in Bosnia to bail out Unai’s starting 11 with another MotM display doesn’t affect his performance tomorrow.

Am pretty confident Dougray Scott, as a mental Hibby, will have been keeping a close watch on SJM at Villa. One thing that’s not often mentioned is McGinn’s ambition. He has won trophies with both the Buddies and the Hibees, and in an early interview at Villa Park he mentioned how much he wanted to be part of bringing success back to this club. I admit there was a while when it seemed to me that half the Villa fans had fallen out of love with him. He mentions in the post-Arsenal Sky interview how much closer are the defenders to the midfield now, and I had flashbacks to Gerard’s Villa where SJM ran about like a headless (Christmas) turkey, trying to fill the gaps between defence and midfield and between midfield and attack. I wondered then whether he might do himself a favour by moving on. Perhaps he won’t always be as influential as he has been recently in games, but you could never underestimate his loyalty and determination to win a trophy with Villa.

A lusty but quite fair challenge imho. Ref let himself down

We’re coming back into this

Meatball won that challenge fairly

Tired from meatball

That’s one - they’ll get the next one

Meatball is on fire

Super John McGinn!!!!!

Fans (those actually at the match) playing a blinder, by the sound of things

Interesting post. b) Very promising talent, mostly quite raw, with a corresponding element of risk, but if they worked out, could last 2/3 years until Villa fans insisted they be “upgraded”. c) This is a key part of the equation. They are currently valued by Transfermarkt as being at least as expensive, if not more so, than SJM.

I think it’s helpful to be specific. May I ask, of those who propose to sell McGinn, the captain: a) how much they think they will get for him next summer (assuming he continues his largely good form; I understand it’s not being suggested that he should be sold in January); b) who, among those who might realistically be available, would they wish to replace him; and c) how much they consider that such a replacement is likely to cost? Just to be clear: I am not saying McGinn shouldn’t be sold. Although he has pledged himself to Villa (what price that in today’s market?!), loyalty is a two- way street.