John McGinn

[Rory]

Funnily enough, I think SJM at his best would be a perfect bench player. A well-rested McGinn from a couple of years ago coming on at HT if we're lacking energy, or on 70 minutes with the brief to go forward against tired defenders, could be so effective.

[RamboandBruno]

Funnily enough, I think SJM at his best would be a perfect bench player. A well-rested McGinn from a couple of years ago coming on at HT if we're lacking energy, or on 70 minutes with the brief to go forward against tired defenders, could be so effective.

Agree

[WarszaVillan]

He's been in poor form for a while now, but he's a very good player. He was useful yesterday in a performance where we had to close players down and press, but subbing him was the right thing to do. He knows he's under pressure at the moment and hopefully his form will pick up again because I love Meatball

[KRS]

I’m not sure what’s happened to SJM. He looks slow, cumbersome, clumsy in the challenge, doesn’t track his man, and looks awkward with the ball at his feet. He needs to be taken out of the team until he gets back to his best.

[kippaxvilla2]

Not using it as a defence as I think he needs to be left out but he has pretty much played non stop football for about two years now.  Maybe with his penchant for fried mars bars he just needs a break.

[KevinGage]

He looked better early on in SG's stint when he had licence to bomb forward.  Or even to play just like a CM. But playing as an auxiliary left back/ left mid and the captaincy shenanigans may have taken their toll.

Dendocker playing a more disciplined midfield role will probably be the option to go when he's fit enough to come in.

[Risso]

Not using it as a defence as I think he needs to be left out but he has pretty much played non stop football for about two years now. 

Aw, shame. Lots of midfielders ahve played far more games than he has. How's he going to cope if we ever do get into Europe and the latter stages of cups?

[Chris Smith]

Not using it as a defence as I think he needs to be left out but he has pretty much played non stop football for about two years now. 

Aw, shame. Lots of midfielders ahve played far more games than he has. How's he going to cope if we ever do get into Europe and the latter stages of cups?

The teams playing in Europe regularly have a depth of squad that allows them to rest players ahead of big games.

[Risso]

Not using it as a defence as I think he needs to be left out but he has pretty much played non stop football for about two years now. 

Aw, shame. Lots of midfielders ahve played far more games than he has. How's he going to cope if we ever do get into Europe and the latter stages of cups?

The teams playing in Europe regularly have a depth of squad that allows them to rest players ahead of big games.

Their better players still end up playing far more games/minutes than McGinn.

[Lastfootstamper]

Cash and Mings played more minutes for us last season, and Watkins wasn't far behind too.

[Tom_Mc9?]

Not using it as a defence as I think he needs to be left out but he has pretty much played non stop football for about two years now. 

Aw, shame. Lots of midfielders ahve played far more games than he has. How's he going to cope if we ever do get into Europe and the latter stages of cups?

I don’t think he’s in too much danger of being tested on that front.

[Chris Smith]

Not using it as a defence as I think he needs to be left out but he has pretty much played non stop football for about two years now. 

Aw, shame. Lots of midfielders ahve played far more games than he has. How's he going to cope if we ever do get into Europe and the latter stages of cups?

The teams playing in Europe regularly have a depth of squad that allows them to rest players ahead of big games.

Their better players still end up playing far more games/minutes than McGinn.

Yes, but they also get rested from time to give them some recovery time. If he’s been available he’s played pretty much every game for Villa and Scotland over the past 2-3 years and looks jaded to me.

[PeterWithesShin]

In the previous 2 years McGinn played 92 games for club and country, de Bruyne has played 97, Foden 108, Havertz 110, Salah 119. As a few examples of players that are in teams that have regular cup runs.

[danno]

In the previous 2 years McGinn played 92 games for club and country, de Bruyne has played 97, Foden 108, Havertz 110, Salah 119. As a few examples of players that are in teams that have regular cup runs.

Isn't the old adage that you generally work harder/run more out of possession?  How often does De Bruyne for example have to tear about chasing after the ball?

Liverpool Man City etc do have high pressing styles but they only have to do it for small parts of the match, the rest of the time they dominate possession and knock it around.

Im not actually defending McGinn here, I just think playing 40 games playing for a bottom half side is tougher than playing 50 games for a champions league side.  I think it's partly why players like Carrick Lampard etc careers lasted so long.

[dave.woodhall]

How many times have we been able to take McGinn off after seventy minutes because we're three up and coasting? How many times has he been able to stroll through a game because you know we're going to win in second gear? Or leave him on the bench because we've got someone almost as good to start? The same goes for every Villa player - it's only really been the past two seasons when we've had nothing to play for after Christmas since about 2005.