John McGinn - signed (Captain 2022/23)

[Monty]

Obviously a better player would be better, it's just that your criterion doesn't really indicate anything.

[eamonn]

Yes, but some great players like Odergaard and Haaland, play for nations who are no better than Aston Villa reserves. International record is not the be all and end all. In fact, it's less important than consistently performing well for a half-decent club or better. 

[pauliewalnuts]

Let’s sign whoever it was that scored for Saudi Arabia against Argentina!

[Footy-Vill]

The likelihood though is player with a proven pedigree on the international stage would be a major asset to the team.
It's all well and good having a goal scorer for Scotland national team but would we not rather have a top player from Spain, Portugal or Germany?
I would.

[Monty]

But it's a meaningless category isn't it FV? Like, yes, the England midfielder is likely to be better than the Czech midfielder, but what if the latter is Pavel Nedved and the former is David Batty? It's just correlation not causation again.

[RamboandBruno]

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Signing a player who has scored against a top ranked nation on the international stage would be an upgrade on McGinn.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

You’ve moved the goalposts in your later posts, but this question has lots of holes in it. Lots of players who wouldn’t get in the Villa side have scored against top international sides. Robson-Kanu is mentioned below, Sam Voekes also scored for Wales in the same game.

[Risso]

Robin Olsen is an established international.

[Flamingo Lane]

What about players who haven't even been international players? That Dennis Mortimer, for example? Blimey, he was rubbish. Would much rather have had Graham Rix.

[Toronto Villa]

Robin Olsen is an established international.

As is Augustinsson. Sweden really are fucked

[Percy McCarthy]

Anyway, it’s great that SJM has hit some form. I don’t think he’s been good since the championship but I’d love him to kick on from now on.

That said, a random video popped up on my YouTube feed the other day of all our goals from last season and this, and he looked really good on that, involved in lots of them.

[LeeB]

Anyway, it’s great that SJM has hit some form. I don’t think he’s been good since the championship but I’d love him to kick on from now on.

That said, a random video popped up on my YouTube feed the other day of all our goals from last season and this, and he looked really good on that, involved in lots of them.

Back when Andy Townsend signed I always thought he was a bit underwhelming in his first season, then I watched the season highlights a couple of years back and he was involved in loads

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Yes, I'll tell you that the reason you scored after 20 minutes was because you were playing against Cyprus McGinn!  They have an extremely limited pool of players from which to choose. A country in football terms which is a minnow. In all honesty he should be scoring against them if hes the main goal threat for Scotland given the difference in abilities.

The Stevenage of international football.

[Brazilian Villain]

He now moves up to 7th in Scotland's all time Top Goalscorers list, pretty impressive.

The top scorer for Scotland is (I think) Kenny Dalglish with 30-something. It's ridiculously low anyway. Possibly to do with their bizarre policy of not picking excellent strikers like Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp back in the day.

Law and Dalglish both have 30 each but he has a chance to overtake Hughie Gallacher who's 3rd with 23 goals. They did have a bizarre selection policy though when you consider Alan Hansen only got 26 caps.

[Footy-Vill]

Well it the level of international goalscorer he is can be raised if he scores with any opportunity against Spain on Tuesday.
To me that would be a great statement of his form.

[Mister E]

The likelihood though is player with a proven pedigree on the international stage would be a major asset to the team.
It's all well and good having a goal scorer for Scotland national team but would we not rather have a top player from Spain, Portugal or Germany?
I would

Despite your well laid-out post, your stating the obvious. The question is whether regularly-scoring international midfielders- who net against the best nations - would currently join Villa.