John McGinn

[Risso]

Well, it's up to him now to show what he's made of. The biggest difference for me first half yesterday was how much better we retained and used the ball. McGinn can't keep giving the ball away and expect to keep his place, he doesn't do enough else that's useful to make up for it.

[brontebilly]

With how we started yesterday, Ramsey can come in as a slightly more solid/defensive replacement for Bailey - say if we are winning with 30 mins to go, or to start slightly more cautiously. But I just can't see where McGinn fits into this line-up - unless its third place behind Emi, then Phil as a 10.

McGinn could fill in on RW or at 10. I don't think Watkins on either side of the 3 will work against most teams, although he did well v Chelsea and yesterday. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he gets back in there but he needs to earn his spot.

McGinn is not suited to the 2, that's between Luiz, Dendocker, Nakamba and Kamara when he is back for gametime.

[Vegas]

Best option for McGinn in this formation is to come on for Emi in the 10 role. We looked much worse with him in one of the two holding roles.

[Footy-Vill]

I hope he's left on the bench again against Newcatsle.
Patently not up to it
Emery will have that sussed out and I think his number will be up by season end.

A decent pro but severally limited and hasn't the ounce of authority, leadership or footy intelligence to be a captain.
I wish him well every time he plays for us at Villa but I suspect he's not someone who can now improve and will find hard to adapt or add any thing of real merit once Emery gets going.

When have likes of  Ilkay Gundogan out of contract in summer and with the quality of our new manager being able to attract the likes of such football ability then a  McGinn type needs to be squad player at best. The hustle and bustle is so passé it's what Gerrard would have wanted and is only required for relegating battles.

Time for him to be ousted as both captain and player.
The telling thing is how Gerrard identified as a strength when he's a real weak link in the middle to my observations.
And telling how McGinn had the nerve to criticize the support when he and the players hadn't performed.
No more of Captain McGinn please. Disastrous.

[Footy-Vill]

Been found out.
No place for him in Emerys 11.

[Bad English]

I wonder if he will replace Buendia at HT.

[cdbearsfan]

Was fine when he came on, managed to win a corner and, almost impossibly with that cheating bastard referee, three free kicks. Which was just what we needed to take out any chance of them getting a goal back.

[Monty]

Thought he also shut down the one ploy they were getting a bit of success out of, switching the ball crossfield from their right. He did well of course, but I thought it was yet another clever detail from our manager.

[astonvilla82]

And he got a good reception as well

[Hookeysmith]

Thought he also shut down the one ploy they were getting a bit of success out of, switching the ball crossfield from their right. He did well of course, but I thought it was yet another clever detail from our manager.

Absolutely spot on - superb tactical change by Emery

[LeeB]

That will hopefully help him with a bit of confidence too, which I think he's been really struggling with.

We'll need everyone happy and ready to contribute if we're going to win both cups and qualify for the Champions League.

[Risso]

Hard to see where he's going to start though to be honest. His biggest weakness is giving the ball away, and yesterday showed that if you don't do that as a team, then you're going to have a lot more control in the match. Still, he can see the standards that Emery expects so if he can match those then the clean slate applies as much to him as anybody else and I hope he proves me wrong.

[Monty]

I suspect we'll see him in different positions and roles to previously. His strengths - running with the ball basically - are much more suited to the wide-midfield roles occupied by Buendia and Ramsey than to the central ones of Doug and Donck.

[LeeB]

Hard to see where he's going to start though to be honest. His biggest weakness is giving the ball away, and yesterday showed that if you don't do that as a team, then you're going to have a lot more control in the match. Still, he can see the standards that Emery expects so if he can match those then the clean slate applies as much to him as anybody else and I hope he proves me wrong.

Things can change quickly. We're bound to get some crippling injuries just as players are finding form, someone gets the shirt and plays well and suddenly the outlook appears different again.

[London Villan]

And he got a good reception as well

And rightly so - he had as big a role as the Rat did in getting us back up. He'd done a lot for us in his time here, but is off form and needs a break. Not hounding out of the club.