The next step - which players would you keep?

[eamonn]

I accept McGinn isn't always firing on all cylinders but he can be outstanding and a match winner.

The year we got promoted we saw how hard it is to buy players with premier league experience, and our lack of premier league experience almost relegated us. Therefore, how do we replace a dynamic midfielder in his prime who has 82 premier league appearances without having to pay north of £60m? And even then there is no guarantee we could get better. And let's not go taking a punt on somebody who has to get 'up to speed'.

I firmly believe we need to keep what we have now in terms of the first 14-15 players in the squad and use whatever money we have for the final pieces of the jigsaw - Defensive midfielder and more cover at full back.

In what way is he a match winner? In three years in the Premier League, all of his goals, every single one, have come in a defeat or a draw. He also doesn't score nearly enough. His three seasons so far have yielded 3 goals in each season. And if you're just going off Premier League appearances as a measure of quality, well Ashley Westwood has 144. If McGinn is in his prime, god help us, we won't be getting top half any time soon.

Didn't he score the second (ultimately the winner) at Palace this season in a 2-1 win?

[SoccerHQ]

Little disruption to defensive side needed imo.

If you look at the basic stats we're in top 10 despite it being a disrupted season, think we've conceded one more goal than Man. United, two more than West Ham and four more than Spurs so defensively we're roughly in line with teams  in top 6 and chasing 4th.

Had my doubts about Chambers but he's actually been a very logical pick up, filled in well when Kons has been out and could play at RB if needed.

We obviously need a younger alternative at LB so imagine one will be signed in the summer.

It's all on the midfield for next season. New DM has to be signed but I'm not convinced that will solve everything. We still don't really know what our best attacking combinations are after all.

Personally I'd move Ings on but then many would probably sell Ollie instead.

[SoccerHQ]

From that list, Young, Luiz and Traore would go. Also AEG and Trezeguet on permanent deals (though of them I'd say that Trez probably fits Gerrard's system better as a right-sided midfielder tracking back to the right back position).

With Hickey, Phillips, Bissouma and Abraham to come in to replace them.

Who'd be the 8 in that system (I presume Ramsey would be most advanced). Bissouma or Phillips?

[Risso]

I accept McGinn isn't always firing on all cylinders but he can be outstanding and a match winner.

The year we got promoted we saw how hard it is to buy players with premier league experience, and our lack of premier league experience almost relegated us. Therefore, how do we replace a dynamic midfielder in his prime who has 82 premier league appearances without having to pay north of £60m? And even then there is no guarantee we could get better. And let's not go taking a punt on somebody who has to get 'up to speed'.

I firmly believe we need to keep what we have now in terms of the first 14-15 players in the squad and use whatever money we have for the final pieces of the jigsaw - Defensive midfielder and more cover at full back.

In what way is he a match winner? In three years in the Premier League, all of his goals, every single one, have come in a defeat or a draw. He also doesn't score nearly enough. His three seasons so far have yielded 3 goals in each season. And if you're just going off Premier League appearances as a measure of quality, well Ashley Westwood has 144. If McGinn is in his prime, god help us, we won't be getting top half any time soon.

Didn't he score the second (ultimately the winner) at Palace this season in a 2-1 win?

Ah yes, missed that. That's one then, in three years.

[UK Redsox]

I'm tending towards agreeing with Risso regarding McGinn.

When receiving the ball, if the opposition stand off him a yard and don't 'engage with the arse', McGinn seems at a loss what to do.

[SoccerHQ]

McGinn can be very good on occasions. He was easily the best midfielder on the pitch at Old Trafford when we won (not saying much though given how terrible Man. United's options are). Also thought he was great in Gerrard's first few games keeping things simple.

Just one of many players we have who look good for a few games but then revert to type.

No chance he's leaving though as Gerrard was raving about him last week and imagine he's good in the dressing room.

Think Luiz and Sanson will both go so that will give us flexibility to get in a couple of new midfielders, Bentancur looks a missed opportunity to me as he's started off well at Spurs doing the simple stuff.

[Clampy]

I think I'd probably let go Young, Traore and if a very very good offer came in, Luiz although I'd like to see him play further forward. Maybe Ings too. I'd happily keep the rest.

[Drummond]

From that list, Young, Luiz and Traore would go. Also AEG and Trezeguet on permanent deals (though of them I'd say that Trez probably fits Gerrard's system better as a right-sided midfielder tracking back to the right back position).

With Hickey, Phillips, Bissouma and Abraham to come in to replace them.

Who'd be the 8 in that system (I presume Ramsey would be most advanced). Bissouma or Phillips?

Fuck knows. I just think we need more than one. Because you know full well that he'd be injured in the first three games.

Having said that, as has been said already, Soucek and Rice, Xhaka and Partey as pairs did for us, no reason we couldn't do the same.

                         Martinez/Olsen

Cash/KKH     Konsa/Chambers     Mings /Hause     Digne/Chrisene

       Bissouma/Nakamba       Phillips/Luiz

                          Ramsey/McGinn/Sanson

    Buendia/Bailey     Ings /Watkins     Coutinho/Traore

[cdbearsfan]

No way should SJM be going anywhere. We'd be much worse without him.

[Drummond]

To be honest, you could have a front four that swapped around, Coutinho more central and Ramsey out left, whatever really. Having said that, I feel I've gone all a bit Gareth Southgate.

[Beard82]

To be honest the only players I would love us to keep are Big Emi, Little Phil and Ramsey

Other than that I could see logic in selling any of them if the price was right - would be sad to see some of them go - like Mings, Konsa and McGinn. 

Personally, unless stupid offers come in I would keep all the defenders

In midfield I would say to Chucky sign this today or we’ll sell you

Would like to see one of Sanson or Luiz go

Would like to see Trez, AEG and Targett gone

Two from Ings, Bailey, Bert, Watkins and little Emi

Thats assuming were playing one of SG preferred formatation

[SaddVillan]

I'm sure SG has a preferred formation - or possibly 2 that he likes to play, both of which involve having an out and out defensive midfielder shielding the back, breaking up opposition attacks and playing simple balls to front and wide players to set things moving forward.

Let's admit it - none of us thought that Marvelous would be as effective in that role as he was in the games before he got crocked. The problem is that we haven't got a like for like replacement and so we've had Luiz/McGinn trying to fill in, in what is clearly not their best/natural position and consequently they haven't been as good as we know they can be - to the detriment of the overall team performance.

So when deciding who to keep sell, I think we need to start with fixing the glaring problem - sign a solid defensive midfielder who is a consistent performer with a good injury record and who can hit the ground running (no emotional baggage or ego issues) and then decide which of the rest of the midfielders in the squad are: a) good enough and b) can play in the roles that SG wants to fill in his preferred formation.

I'm not going to suggest names - but clearly there will be some players who SG just doesn't fancy and I expect them to be moved on and replaced with better players. We all have our favourites, but sometimes for the progression of the club they have to be moved on - it's happened in the past and will happen again in the future.

I expect that the likes of Trez, Davis, Wesley, Targett, Fred Guilbert and Anwar will be moved out.

Similarly with the kids - Chukwuemeka, Chrisene, Hayden, Archer, Young, Barry, Iroegbunam, Philogene-Bidace, Aaron Ramsey, Tommi O'Reilly - all being talked of as potential top class players. IF and it's a big IF we get one a season coming through into the first team squad and becoming a regular player, then we will have done well. The loan system looks to be doing its job - exposing the kids to tough grown up football and giving them the chance to develop their skills, physique, mental strength and become "adults" away from the all embracing comforts of BMH and VP; and helping the Academy coached see who really has got what it takes to move up to the first team.

Football is a business and to be successful you have to be cold hearted at times. So if SG & Co don't think these that some of the kids have got what it takes for our first team, then we should move them on at the right time for them and us (but stick a big sell-on clause in their sale contract - just in case).

Having said all that, I'd be happy with just Kalvin Phillips, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

[eamonn]

No emotional baggage or ego issues... Is this Villa's profile on Tinder?

[Risso]

No way should SJM be going anywhere. We'd be much worse without him.

Unless somebody better played in that position of course.

[boozey182]

No way should SJM be going anywhere. We'd be much worse without him.

Unless somebody better played in that position of course.

I guess the key to answering the original question really hinges on this point - which position does John McGinn play for us at the moment? As a classic, box-to-box midfielder I think we would struggle to find better. But if we want someone to sit in front of the back four and cover for the full-back then I don't think McGinn is the right player for us.

Incidentally, I had a dream last night in which I met John McGinn and he told me that most of the squad knew Gerrard was going to sell them in the summer, and they don't want to leave so they are trying to get him sacked before then. We'd met in an old Blockbuster shop that had been repurposed as a tiny independent cinema, only playing the DVD's that had been left when it closed down.

Read into that what you will....