John McGinn

[Keyblade]

8 hours ago, Stratvillan said:

Hes better the higher up he is. Hes not a deep lying player. 

Disagree. He lost form last year playing as a second striker essentially. He was brilliant in his first season at being box to box. No surprise he started to look back to his best at the stat of the season when deployed in the deeper role again. He's lost his way a bit again, but that could be due to a whole host of reasons, including covid which he might have had. He's a box to box player. He'd be even worse than Barkley if played as a #10 regularly.

[Stratvillan]

I'm not saying no 10, I'm saying away from the deep lying role wheres he is asked to sit. Hes a midfielder so he has to drop. Hes not a destroyer cdm, or quarterback cdm. 

[Demitri_C]

Luiz usually plays the holding role for us. Mcginn does go forward but is on poor club form

[smg]

8 hours ago, avfcDJ said:

I get graded at work constantly. If I’m shit I improve, I don’t sulk. 

One day you won’t be able to you will have reached your level, I don’t recall anyone suggesting he is sulking.

[lexicon]

I mean, I've got this guy on ignore already seeing the poster above quote him I just had to address this. 

Why in the name of **** do people compare their blue or white collar job with that of a professional footballer? It's not the **** same. At all. 

Edited March 26, 2021 by lexicon

[lapal_fan]

2 hours ago, Keyblade said:

Disagree. He lost form last year playing as a second striker essentially. He was brilliant in his first season at being box to box. No surprise he started to look back to his best at the stat of the season when deployed in the deeper role again. He's lost his way a bit again, but that could be due to a whole host of reasons, including covid which he might have had. He's a box to box player. He'd be even worse than Barkley if played as a #10 regularly.

This.

If anyone has read my previous criticism of McGinn it was when he was playing too far forward, not getting on the ball and making things happen.

At the start of this season, he dropped a bit deeper, but he was effective.

NOW, I think he's dropped a bit too deep (as we have as a team imo), so he's become less effective - especially when he's trying to ping balls around like Pirlo, which he doesn't have in his locker, yet(?).

I want him picking the ball from our defenders on the half-turn and making progress up the field, playing 1-2's and driving the team forward.  We need players like McGinn to get close to Ollie, to help HIM out.  Too often since Xmas have we been punting balls 30-40 yards to Ollie, who often does a decent job at bringing the ball down, but has no-one to play too, so can get crowded out.  

We've got to start "knitting" these ideas and players styles together, like we did at the start of the season.  

I keep saying it, but we've lost our dynamism.  Look at the Liverpool game, we got on the front foot so often early doors it forced our opponents back.  Our defence played a nice, high line (thanks to Konsa's/Cash's/Ming's pace), but our midfielder were getting close to the opponents 18 yard box, which traps opponents in their final 1/3 (unless you're Man City).  

We've completely lost that dynamism lately - maybe it's missing Jack for a few games?  Maybe it's the monotony of playing in quiet stadiums and playing in the Prem again has meant the enthusiasm has worn off (which is a great shame considering how close we were to doing something special a few weeks ago)?  It could be any number of things - but I know McGinn is a much better player than he's shown us for the last few weeks, I'm confident he'll get back there, I think a Prem goal would really help him at the moment.

Nice little goal last night too! Keep working hard! 

[lexicon]

56 minutes ago, lapal_fan said:

This.

If anyone has read my previous criticism of McGinn it was when he was playing too far forward, not getting on the ball and making things happen.

At the start of this season, he dropped a bit deeper, but he was effective.

NOW, I think he's dropped a bit too deep (as we have as a team imo), so he's become less effective - especially when he's trying to ping balls around like Pirlo, which he doesn't have in his locker, yet(?).

I want him picking the ball from our defenders on the half-turn and making progress up the field, playing 1-2's and driving the team forward.  We need players like McGinn to get close to Ollie, to help HIM out.  Too often since Xmas have we been punting balls 30-40 yards to Ollie, who often does a decent job at bringing the ball down, but has no-one to play too, so can get crowded out.  

We've got to start "knitting" these ideas and players styles together, like we did at the start of the season.  

I keep saying it, but we've lost our dynamism.  Look at the Liverpool game, we got on the front foot so often early doors it forced our opponents back.  Our defence played a nice, high line (thanks to Konsa's/Cash's/Ming's pace), but our midfielder were getting close to the opponents 18 yard box, which traps opponents in their final 1/3 (unless you're Man City).  

We've completely lost that dynamism lately - maybe it's missing Jack for a few games?  Maybe it's the monotony of playing in quiet stadiums and playing in the Prem again has meant the enthusiasm has worn off (which is a great shame considering how close we were to doing something special a few weeks ago)?  It could be any number of things - but I know McGinn is a much better player than he's shown us for the last few weeks, I'm confident he'll get back there, I think a Prem goal would really help him at the moment.

Nice little goal last night too! Keep working hard! 

After effects of COVID would probably account for that. 

[John]

11 hours ago, briny_ear said:

Would love to see him score a few like that for Villa!

He said after the game that he's never scored one like that before, so I would be happy for him to hit another couple of screamers in from the edge of the box for us.

He's a special player for Scotland and can be the same for us again, in my opinion. For me, John is an old fashioned type of midfield player, who can put his foot in when we have not got the ball and can also make a big impact, when we are moving forward/on the attack. As Roy Keane said after England's game, good midfield players were previously expected to be able to both defend and attack, rather than being limited to being either a defensive midfielder or an attacking one, as they are now described.  

[WooJung]

12 hours ago, smg said:

You are politely saying we should get rid of him.

I didn't even imply that, let alone say that, so please don't put words in my mouth. 

I believe he has ability, but as a premier league player he has been extremely inconsistent, and that includes the first half of last season. Weather that's down to tactics, fitness, psychology or any combination of these I do not know. 

What I AM saying, and you can quote me on this, is that I expect more from him because I have seen enough to suggest he can do much better. 

[VillaChris]

6 hours ago, Keyblade said:

Disagree. He lost form last year playing as a second striker essentially. He was brilliant in his first season at being box to box. No surprise he started to look back to his best at the stat of the season when deployed in the deeper role again. He's lost his way a bit again, but that could be due to a whole host of reasons, including covid which he might have had. He's a box to box player. He'd be even worse than Barkley if played as a #10 regularly.

I'm not sure.

He wasn't actually playing as number 10 when we first came up but scored 3 in his first 6 games and also doing stuff like providing assist for AEG in 95th minute v Everton.

Our structure back then was DM, McGinn, Jack in number 10 role and two wide players either side (for example Jota and El Ghazi in that Everton game). On the ball exciting to watch but left us too exposed when out of possesion and so we shifted Jack out to the left a month or two later.

Guess it's pros and cons but the Scots commentary team yesterday were saying they prefered him more further forward.

What's odd to me is playing three centrally v Spurs the other day and Sanson of the three was the one to push forward and press, that should be McGinn's role especially as he's ideal to break into the box late for crosses and stuff. Somthing West Ham do brilliant with Soucek's late runs but we really lack that from one of the central midfield players. McGinn was doing it no problem when we first came up but 1 goal in 50 games isn't a great look.

[Dave-R]

Why do I get Visions of Pele in slow motion in the film escape to Victory since Mcginn scored that overhead.

Now why can't he do that for us?? I think were using him wrong, he needs to be attacking not being a player who has to show restraint alot.

I miss Mcginn where can can blaze the right flank how he wants, get rid of Trez and Ghazi, buy one Winger for the left and also use Mcginn on the Wing as well. Then buy a Midfielder who isn't box to box and someone who's a specialist at Intercepting and retrieving..

[Farlz]

Scored again 

[nick76]

10 minutes ago, Farlz said:

Scored again 

Hope he brings that ability with him for the weekend

[Farlz]

He plays a lot higher up for Scotland but that doesn't really work with us. Not sure what the solution for him is. 

Edited March 31, 2021 by Farlz

[Tommo_b]

Two in two game for Scotland... what’s the secret to getting McGinn on the score sheet for us, seems he does know where the back of the net is?!

[The Fun Factory]

A goal machine for Scotland, a few more at Villa would be nice!  Should play higher up question is how we do this without limiting Jack's free role and not making us more open to attacks?

[KillieVillain]

McGinn at the double !

[Stoobs]

And another one.

[PaulC]

37 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said:

A goal machine for Scotland, a few more at Villa would be nice!  Should play higher up question is how we do this without limiting Jack's free role and not making us more open to attacks?

He doesn't really shoot at Villa 

[Stoobs]

Drop Watkins for SJM.....lol