John McGinn

[Chris Smith]

He needed to be dropped but he’s a good player and, just like Bailey, played in his best position he has plenty to offer.

[ozzjim]

His best position for me is where Buendia played yesterday though Chris, not in a holding role, so he has to fight for that spot. The 2 holding mids should be from Luiz, DD, Marv and Kamara when fit. We were noticeably worse when he replaced DD yesterday.

[Axl Rose]

A 56% pass completion rate for his half an hour on the pitch yesterday, compared to 96% for Dedoncker.

I didn't even notice him when he came on, other than him laughing when he got the armband back. I was nicely drunk at that point however.

Loaning him out might rekindle some fire in him

[simboy]

He needed to be dropped but he’s a good player and, just like Bailey, played in his best position he has plenty to offer.

Agreed.

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

[Ger Regan]

The thing is that our squad / best set up doesn't really lend itself to playing him in his best position. the midfield pairing needs to be really be 2 of Kamara, Luiz, Dendonker or Nakamba to give us the solid base, and i'm not really sure he'd get ahead of Buendia, Coutinho or even Ramsey for that further advanced role.

EDIT: I see simboy made the same point as me

[Risso]

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

Part of the problem has been that a 4-3-3 with McGinn and Ramsey in the midfield 3 is neither one thing or the other. The passing just isn't good enough, and Luiz can't do all of the donkey work himself in protecting the defence, so they end up doing nothing especially well. We looked so much better yesterday with the 4-2-3-1, as everybody was doing a job that suited them. You would think with everybody fit that Kamara and Luiz will be first choice as the two, with Dedoncker and Marv as back ups, and then the attcking three will come from Buendia, Bailey, Watkins, Coutinho and Ramsey with McGinn as last pick there.

[Mister E]

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

Part of the problem has been that a 4-3-3 with McGinn and Ramsey in the midfield 3 is neither one thing or the other. The passing just isn't good enough, and Luiz can't do all of the donkey work himself in protecting the defence, so they end up doing nothing especially well. We looked so much better yesterday with the 4-2-3-1, as everybody was doing a job that suited them. You would think with everybody fit that Kamara and Luiz will be first choice as the two, with Dedoncker and Marv as back ups, and then the attcking three will come from Buendia, Bailey, Watkins, Coutinho and Ramsey with McGinn as last pick there.

Attacking 3 or 4? And, with the current squad Ings and Archer would be in contention for one of those attacking slots. 8 contenders for 4 slots.

[RamboandBruno]

He needed to be dropped but he’s a good player and, just like Bailey, played in his best position he has plenty to offer.

Agreed.

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

I think he’ll pick the sane starting 11 against Newcastle

[simboy]

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

Part of the problem has been that a 4-3-3 with McGinn and Ramsey in the midfield 3 is neither one thing or the other. The passing just isn't good enough, and Luiz can't do all of the donkey work himself in protecting the defence, so they end up doing nothing especially well. We looked so much better yesterday with the 4-2-3-1, as everybody was doing a job that suited them. You would think with everybody fit that Kamara and Luiz will be first choice as the two, with Dedoncker and Marv as back ups, and then the attcking three will come from Buendia, Bailey, Watkins, Coutinho and Ramsey with McGinn as last pick there.

I think it depends who we are playing, the "style" of the 4-2-3-1. Against teams we should be attacking then the natural choice is Buendia or Ramsey. Where we want to counter-attack i see McGinn as playing there as he's a better defender [generally] than those two. He plays the role well for Scotland.

 I would also add Chambers to the "Dendoncker" role ahead of McGinn, if fit. 

As to Coutinho ... maybe an[other] expensive mistake. 

[LeeB]

He needed to be dropped but he’s a good player and, just like Bailey, played in his best position he has plenty to offer.

Agreed.

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

I think he’ll pick the sane starting 11 against Newcastle

He'd be mad not to.

[Chris Smith]

His best position for me is where Buendia played yesterday though Chris, not in a holding role, so he has to fight for that spot. The 2 holding mids should be from Luiz, DD, Marv and Kamara when fit. We were noticeably worse when he replaced DD yesterday.

I don’t disagree but competition for places is a never a bad thing, keeps players on their toes if they know that a manager means it rather than just talks about it,

[simboy]

He needed to be dropped but he’s a good player and, just like Bailey, played in his best position he has plenty to offer.

Agreed.

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

I think he’ll pick the sane starting 11 against Newcastle

Maybe/probably. I just think we will need more " energy" defensively.

Don't get me wrong I thought it was a brilliant performance yesterday. I loved the way we ran the game, from Luiz and Dendoncker to Buendia and Bailey.

 Danks did something that Gerrard rarely did, he picked a formation and team to play the opposition. Gerrard did that when he thought teams would " wipe the floor with us". Whilst i loved being able to name the starting 11 back in 1980/81 and formation, especially after winning - I just think the game moves on. There's a necessity to pick teams and formations to counter the opposition, when the opposition are playing better than you. I think Newcastle are the form side in the league apart from Man Citeh.

 They will know how we intend to get at them. Our "base" looks far more solid when Cash/Young are not expected to provide the attacking threat. Howe will adjust, we need to as well. I actually think we have a squad who are flexible enough to do that. I hope Danks is as well. Maybe same team different formation.

 

[Clampy]

He needed to be dropped but he’s a good player and, just like Bailey, played in his best position he has plenty to offer.

Agreed.

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

I think he’ll pick the sane starting 11 against Newcastle

He'd be mad not to.

He'd be off his head if he didn't.

[Risso]

But he is competing for that place with Ramsey, Buendia, and Coutinho in the system we played yesterday. Perhaps in the "Man City" counter-attacking formation he starts with Dendoncker and Luiz, and indeed I wouldn't be too surprised to see him start against Newcastle next week as we should be more compact.

Part of the problem has been that a 4-3-3 with McGinn and Ramsey in the midfield 3 is neither one thing or the other. The passing just isn't good enough, and Luiz can't do all of the donkey work himself in protecting the defence, so they end up doing nothing especially well. We looked so much better yesterday with the 4-2-3-1, as everybody was doing a job that suited them. You would think with everybody fit that Kamara and Luiz will be first choice as the two, with Dedoncker and Marv as back ups, and then the attcking three will come from Buendia, Bailey, Watkins, Coutinho and Ramsey with McGinn as last pick there.

Attacking 3 or 4? And, with the current squad Ings and Archer would be in contention for one of those attacking slots. 8 contenders for 4 slots.

Yep, I meant the attacking three behind the main striker, which for the forseeable future should be Ings with Archer as back up.

[London Villan]

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.