John McGinn

[Villa Lew]

Ange Postecoglou has just made a glowing tribute to SJM, along with Gary Neville and even Roy Keane.

[Pat McMahon]

Hehehe.

Am I the only one who still sings that he’s Dean Smith’s man?

I still sing he’s Steve Bruce’s man, to the bemusement of my nephew

That’s plain wrong! 

Them’s the original lyrics😉

[cdbearsfan]

The original lyrics would have been "Alan Stubbs' man", I imagine.

[Brazilian Villain]

Ange Postecoglou has just made a glowing tribute to SJM, along with Gary Neville and even Roy Keane.

He really did. Keane clarified that he just doesn't think that SJM is an 'elite' player, which is fair enough. Most aren't.

[Brazilian Villain]

Hehehe.

Am I the only one who still sings that he’s Dean Smith’s man?

I still sing he’s Steve Bruce’s man, to the bemusement of my nephew

That’s plain wrong! 

Having usually gone with the prevailing version, I shall now sing 'he Steve's Bruce man'.

[Olneythelonely]

Ange Postecoglou has just made a glowing tribute to SJM, along with Gary Neville and even Roy Keane.

He really did. Keane clarified that he just doesn't think that SJM is an 'elite' player, which is fair enough. Most aren't.

You don’t get any more “elite” than the best player in the fucking world.

[Dogtanian]

He’s an elite captain and person.

[Rigadon]

The most criminally underrated player in the world. 

[Dogtanian]

Ange Postecoglou has just made a glowing tribute to SJM, along with Gary Neville and even Roy Keane.

He really did. Keane clarified that he just doesn't think that SJM is an 'elite' player, which is fair enough. Most aren't.

You don’t get any more “elite” than the best player in the fucking world.

I wouldn’t want to come up against him in a Cobra mk III.

[Monty]

'Elite', 'world class', meaningless terms because everyone nurtures their own cherished little definitions of them. I remember a mate of mine who insisted that 'world class' meant Pelé or Maradona level. Ferguson said Gerrard wasn't a top player (or a 'top, top' player) for I guess the same reasons.

I just ask myself, could John McGinn, as he's been playing, contribute for virtually any team on earth? Answer's yes, obviously.

[paul_e]

'Elite', 'world class', meaningless terms because everyone nurtures their own cherished little definitions of them. I remember a mate of mine who insisted that 'world class' meant Pelé or Maradona level. Ferguson said Gerrard wasn't a top player (or a 'top, top' player) for I guess the same reasons.

I just ask myself, could John McGinn, as he's been playing, contribute for virtually any team on earth? Answer's yes, obviously.

Yep, they're terms that get used in very different ways. My version has always been to go to international level and think would he look out of place playing for most of the top 10 ranked nations? Not all because some national teams have ridiculous strength on depth in a position or 2 (the french midfield for example) but if you can see a guy being a good fit in 7-8 of those squads then he's probably good enough to be world class.

[Rigadon]

The thing with SJM is that he's self deprecating in a way that a lot of amazing footballers aren't.  If he wants to laugh at himself, well, that's part of his charm.  It's a bit like when members of your family take the piss out of each other it's fine, but when somebody outside of the family does it, it isn't.  So Roy Keane can stick his 'pub player' analogy where the sun don't shine.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Ange Postecoglou has just made a glowing tribute to SJM, along with Gary Neville and even Roy Keane.

He really did. Keane clarified that he just doesn't think that SJM is an 'elite' player, which is fair enough. Most aren't.

A bit like himself then. He should also remember almost all his former teammates would name him as the best player they'd ever played with at ManU despite having far superior players there.

[Simon Page]

If it wasn't for Joey Barton, Roy Keane would be the most hateful halfwit ever to kick a ball and offer an opinion. For some reason there's always a cacophony of sycophants ready to find a defence of him. He benefits from people starting sentences about him with: "He may not be the most diplomatic but...

McGinn suffers from people always starting praise of him with: "He may not be..." So, in that spirit: "He may not be bettered in his role by anyone currently playing, but he's rubbish at been a thuggish prick with a chip on his shoulder and zero insight."

And Ryan Christie is and always has been a top talent. His career is very much like McGinn's, just half a rung lower. You wouldn't pick him over McGinn, but both together would be pretty damn formidable.

[paul_e]

To be fair to Keane there is a little context worth considering, he actually said "when he has a bad day he looks like a pub player" which isn't quite the same thing. He's still wrong and is still a twat who goes out of his way to be controversial, but mainly because what he actually said is true for most players. I just don't see why you single out McGinn especially given he's been consistently good for a long time now.

There are many, many other players I'd accuse of being inconsistent before I started looking at SJM.