John McGinn

[Matt C]

So good to have him back, he’s the absolute heartbeat of this team.

[pelty]

A proper captain and a Villa legend. You can see how the other players draw inspiration and confidence from him. I really do hope that he gets to lift a trophy; if anyone deserves it, it is Super John McGinn.

[LeeB]

We play a vertical pass into him and it just sticks, so his teammates can make their runs with confidence again that the move won't break down, and everything flows from there.

[ChicagoLion]

It would be an absolute Highlight of my Villa watching life to watch SJM lift a trophy.
Love the bloke.

[andyh]

The only player around who can get close to replacing Ginny is Anderson at Forest.
Sadly, it’s inevitable he’ll get hoovered up by Man City if Forest go down.

[Smithy]

The only player around who can get close to replacing Ginny is Anderson at Forest.
Sadly, it’s inevitable he’ll get hoovered up by Man City if Forest go down.

He might, he'll certainly go to a top team. But if we're in the Champions League, then we're potentially in the mix.  Would probably take our entire summer war chest to get him though, and right now midfield is the least of our worries (when everyone is fit).

Given the ages in the squad, this summer we probably need to be looking for a centre-half (Mings replacement), a right back back up (Garcia doesn't seem to have convinced), a wide/creative player (Buendia/Bailey replacement) a centre-forward (Ollie replacement/competition).  Get those in, and the right side of 25, and the squad will look a lot healthier.   

It would also mean we can keep a few of the better/older heads in the squad for another year or two, without making wholesale changes when their time eventually comes.

If we don't start the process this summer, then the idea of having to get rid of Emi M, Mings, Lindelof, SJM, Digne, Watkins, Barkley, Emi B - all in one summer (of 2027) when they're all easily the wrong side of 30, would be a BIG task - so we need to start bringing the squad ages down THIS summer, and making sure our first choice players don't all 'age out' at the same time.

[SaddVillan]

Having seen his 30 minute "cameo" last Thursday, I was reasonably impressed with Lille's attacking midfielder - Icelandic international Hakon Haraldsson. He was really busy, non stop movement and good with the ball.

Turns 23 in April. 5'11"
114 games for Lille. 20 goals
38 games this season, 7 goals, 6 assists.

£25-30m should be enough. He's on about £22k pw.

An ideal long-term replacement for SJM/Buendia?

[letsshakehands]

He is indeed.

On a number of occasions since we qualified for the Conference League 3 years ago, I’ve thought that he would soon be superseded in our first XI, and that a squad role beckoned. But he continues to show his worth.

What an inspirational player.

Honestly I've thought that almost every season since promotion, every time he's proven me thoroughly wrong. Absolute hero.

[Somniloquism]

Only Mortimer is beating him in "best captain" stakes in my lifetime. Richardson and Townsend obviously lifted trophies but both came to Villa towards the end of their careers where SJM has been here for the best of his.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I have him just above Sir Dennis Mortimer, the only thing missing from SJM's stats are trophies but hopefully that will soon be amended. Interestingly their stats right now are almost identical; Sir Dennis 317 Villa appearance, 31 goals. SJM 318 Villa appearances, 37 goals.

[SaddVillan]

Only Mortimer is beating him in "best captain" stakes in my lifetime. Richardson and Townsend obviously lifted trophies but both came to Villa towards the end of their careers where SJM has been here for the best of his.

Sir Dennis easily outdoes SJM when it comes to best beard,

[nick harper]

I have him just above Sir Dennis Mortimer, the only thing missing from SJM's stats are trophies but hopefully that will soon be amended. Interestingly their stats right now are almost identical; Sir Dennis 317 Villa appearance, 31 goals. SJM 318 Villa appearances, 37 goals.

That's just league appearances for Dennis. He played 406 times altogether, 36 goals. McGinn may well go past that but he needs to lift a trophy to compare to Mortimer.

[olaftab]

I have him just above Sir Dennis Mortimer, the only thing missing from SJM's stats are trophies but hopefully that will soon be amended. Interestingly their stats right now are almost identical; Sir Dennis 317 Villa appearance, 31 goals. SJM 318 Villa appearances, 37 goals.

One day I would like to agree with you but not just yet.

[Flamingo Lane]

With the most sincere apologies to Alex Cropley, I think McGinn may now have made it into my all time best Villa starting XI, taking his place alongside Mortimer, Cowans and Platt.

[Nunkin1965]

Having seen his 30 minute "cameo" last Thursday, I was reasonably impressed with Lille's attacking midfielder - Icelandic international Hakon Haraldsson. He was really busy, non stop movement and good with the ball.

Turns 23 in April. 5'11"
114 games for Lille. 20 goals
38 games this season, 7 goals, 6 assists.

£25-30m should be enough. He's on about £22k pw.

An ideal long-term replacement for SJM/Buendia?

Have to say that I thought the same.
He stood out for me aswell.