John McGinn

[Mellin]

Agreed on Kamara. There's a few of them who are very good though.

[Smithy]

With McGinn you can see what he does in a game, with Kamara you don't.  Both indispensable and I love the pair of 'em.

That's the key, right there. With SJM, you might get him turning someone in midfield to make a break, or pressing high up to win the ball (like for our third yesterday) - nice visible, applause-worthy moments in a match, but with Kamara, you don't see the way he closes space and narrows passing options for the opposition, the way he stops players turning, the way he positions himself almost always in the perfect place to force attacks into places we want them and away from places we don't. 

They're both brilliant, but no one is applauding Kamara brilliantly reading the play and preventing a clean pass to a forward that forces a square pass by the opposition.  Rodri winning the Ballon D'or has raised the profile of DMs, and the visibility of the work they do, and I think if he hadn't got injured, Kamara would have been in the mix for player of the season (the league, not just for us)

We're very lucky to have three of the best midfielders in the league in Kamara, SJM and Youri, and they cost us a combined £2m.  Bonkers, really.

[Percy McCarthy]

Gerrard got the captaincy call right, even if he made a total mess of the process. Just incredible influence on then team, close to proper legend status. A cup win and it will confirm it.

I kind of agree with what they were saying on Sunday Supplement yesterday about this scenario but at Arsenal. Essentially, Rice is the de facto captain, and taking it from the nominal one, undermines and maybe even humiliates him. There’s just no need, unless of course that’s exactly what the manager wants to do.

[paul_e]

Genuinely think he is playing better than ever before, and he was always fucking awesome. While it annoys us, I suspect Unai managing his minutes plays a big role.

Anyway, Brazil are fucking terrified.

I think Emery has told him to be a 70minute player, go out leave everything on the pitch and know that you'll get a break at the end. It's not common in football but rugby is full of players like it who play knowing they won't finish the match so they don't need to hold anything back.

[brontebilly]

I’ve always thought Kamara was our most influential player but it’s McGinn isn’t it
I still think Kamara is our best player but we miss McGinn more than any other outfielder player

The drop off to other options on the right is collosal really when McGinn isn't there. Something we need to address this summer. Love when he plays on the right, less so on left or at 10. He combines superbly well with Cash on that side. Perfect position for him.

[Dave]

I’ve always thought Kamara was our most influential player but it’s McGinn isn’t it
I still think Kamara is our best player but we miss McGinn more than any other outfielder player

The drop off to other options on the right is collosal really when McGinn isn't there. Something we need to address this summer.

I'm sure that Elliot was the original plan to start to fill McGinn's shoes as he gets older. So I reckon when he goes back we'll definitely be looking for that sort of player to come in.

[Beard82]

I think In his role on the right the key thing is his ball retention compared to a traditional winger.  That’s what makes him so difficult to replace in our current structure as we saw with sancho yesterday

[eye digress]

He continually surprises me and his form since returning from injury has been supreme. He has got us going again, as he did (along with Cash and Konsa) back in the autumn. You sense that he is especially determined to not let this golden period for him and a few others recede without tangible reward. What a player.

[rob_bridge]

Gerrard got the captaincy call right, even if he made a total mess of the process. Just incredible influence on then team, close to proper legend status. A cup win and it will confirm it.

I kind of agree with what they were saying on Sunday Supplement yesterday about this scenario but at Arsenal. Essentially, Rice is the de facto captain, and taking it from the nominal one, undermines and maybe even humiliates him. There’s just no need, unless of course that’s exactly what the manager wants to do.

Losing the opening game against an also ran team and telling the world Tyrone had to grow up was one of the most distasteful episodes since our rebirth.

Gerrard could have handled it in a 1000 better ways and said any of the following in dozes of different ways. I now have an abundance of top class CHs including Tyrone and he is a massive on and off field leader and at the moment John has gone ahead of him for Captaincy.

If you pick on a (deservedly in Mings's case) fan's favourite  then make sure you get all your big calls right. Gerrard got none thereafter right.

[nigel]

I’ve always thought Kamara was our most influential player but it’s McGinn isn’t it
I still think Kamara is our best player but we miss McGinn more than any other outfielder player

That’s about where I am too
Kamara our best, but SJM is far and away our most influential

‘Legend’ is a term dished out way to frequently, but, for me McGinn has earned the right to be know as one

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He continually surprises me and his form since returning from injury has been supreme. He has got us going again, as he did (along with Cash and Konsa) back in the autumn. You sense that he is especially determined to not let this golden period for him and a few others recede without tangible reward. What a player.

Agreed. Player of the Season. Only Youri comes close and even then he's a fair distance back. Cash and Big Emi after that, Onana showing recent signs he really belongs, then you have Digne. Rogers, Watkins and Maatsen have blown hot and cold.

Kamara before he was assaulted would have been on many clubs shopping list especially Man City if they're to lose Rodri. He's that good. Every club needs a John McGinn. We're so blessed he's with us.

[VILLA MOLE]

His hold up play is something else at the moment

[RamboandBruno]

This is a big shout for me, but I think he is now my favourite Villa player. If, if, he can lift the Europa League for us, i may even shed a tear at that moment.

[LeeB]

His hold up play is something else at the moment

It's like putting the ball in a safe, with some excited children around fruitlessly trying to get it out, until after a short while the safe just gets up and leaves the children behind.

[VILLA MOLE]

he is quicker than you think and has more technical feet than you think and oh everything !!!