John Fleck v John McGinn

[Ricky]

This is going to be fascinating to watch on Saturday.

McGinn's a very good player and an exceptional signing for Villa, for about £3m from Hibernian. I think he's exactly what they need, will freshen them up and might even be the signing of the season. He's the closest player I've seen in ability and style to Fleck. Similar size, left footed, similar ability on the ball, similar aggression and forward drive - that combination of real ability and bite.

So I'm looking forward to seeing him on the same pitch as Fleck. It'll be a very interesting comparison, and to see who'll have more influence on the game. I'm sure they're very aware of each other and are looking forward to going up against each other. I think Fleck has that bit extra technically, but we'll see.
Throw in Grealish as well and you could look at it as Fleck and Duffy v McGinn and Grealish - a good match up. Hopefully having Norwood instead of Whelan will give us the edge football wise. The familiarity with our system and home advantage should also count for a lot.

Looking at the respective midfields I'm expecting a really good game, and I fancy our chances of controlling it. But we'll need to be very switched on at the back to take 3 points. It's certainly the game of the season so far and a win would change expectations quite significantly - especially if we somehow do decent business before the deadline.

 

[I should coco]

Nah, McGinn doesn't get sung about on London Road:

 

[Ricky]

And now I've just read that both McGinn and Grealish could be doubts! McGinn's 'took a bang to his knee', bless him - obviously indestructibility isn't one of the attributes he shares with Fleck....

What a huge boost for our chances if they miss out, but at the same time I'd be disappointed because you want to see quality players, and beating them at full strength would be far more satisfying.

 

[Billyblade]

And now I've just read that both McGinn and Grealish could be doubts! McGinn's 'took a bang to his knee', bless him - obviously indestructibility isn't one of the attributes he shares with Fleck....

What a huge boost for our chances if they miss out, but at the same time I'd be disappointed because you want to see quality players, and beating them at full strength would be far more satisfying.

I would love to beat Grealish.
About the shins with a baseball bat.

 

[I should coco]

I'd be disappointed because you want to see quality players, and beating them at full strength would be far more satisfying.

Give yourself a slap!

There are 11 quality players in red and white stripes (on the front) for you to admire.

We owe these twats after their jammy late winner last year, so a complete drubbing of their reserves would suit me just fine. Knobhead Bruce can come out and moan about his 'tiny squad' after, to put the icing on the icing.

 

[pommpey]

I would love to beat Grealish.
About the shins with a baseball bat.

You wouldn't get near him. Twenty feet away, the mardy little fucker would be rolling on the deck.

Would have him in our side in a heartbeat though.

pommpey

 

[JackSUFC]

And now I've just read that both McGinn and Grealish could be doubts!

Fingers crossed. I'd rather they play their under 16's than be at full strength.

Weren't we strongly linked with John McGinn a few years back? Would've been some signing in hindsight. His brother was a bit shit during his time here, mind.

 

[Ricky]

Fingers crossed. I'd rather they play their under 16's than be at full strength.

Weren't we strongly linked with John McGinn a few years back? Would've been some signing in hindsight. His brother was a bit shit during his time here, mind.

Yes, we were strongly linked with him in 2014 but ended up with James Wallace. He was even mixing with our fans in a pub before the cup semi final if I remember right - his brother Stephen was playing for us.

 

[IOM Blade]

Fingers crossed. I'd rather they play their under 16's than be at full strength.

Weren't we strongly linked with John McGinn a few years back? Would've been some signing in hindsight. His brother was a bit shit during his time here, mind.

Yeah, I remember one of the ITFK's, Dave78 I think, saying he'd all but signed. Even watched a bloody Scotland U21 game to see what he was like. Two hours of my life I ain't getting back.

 

[Billyblade]

You wouldn't get near him. Twenty feet away, the mardy little fucker would be rolling on the deck.

Would have him in our side in a heartbeat though.

pommpey

He'd be rolling about for longer than it takes me to cover twenty feet

 

[Smirth]

And now I've just read that both McGinn and Grealish could be doubts! McGinn's 'took a bang to his knee', bless him - obviously indestructibility isn't one of the attributes he shares with Fleck....

What a huge boost for our chances if they miss out, but at the same time I'd be disappointed because you want to see quality players, and beating them at full strength would be far more satisfying.

Be a massive boost if Grealish misses out. I know he is universally hated on this forum, but he’s the best player in this league.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Be a massive boost if Grealish misses out. I know he is universally hated on this forum, but he’s the best player in this league.

I don't mind him as a player, to be honest. He's some talent and amongst the best in this league. Could make the England squad in the near future. I think:

• Grealish trumps Duffy, although the latter is some player.
• Fleck trumps McGinn.
• Norwood trumps Whelan.

Going to be a good game Saturday, excited.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Be a massive boost if Grealish misses out. I know he is universally hated on this forum, but he’s the best player in this league.

Wouldn`t be surprised if it`s smoke and mirrors, and both Grealish and McGinn end up playing.

 

[Guesty]

Give yourself a slap!

There are 11 quality players in red and white stripes (on the front) for you to admire.

We owe these twats after their jammy late winner last year, so a complete drubbing of their reserves would suit me just fine. Knobhead Bruce can come out and moan about his 'tiny squad' after, to put the icing on the icing.

I'm not saying we don't owe them, but there was nothing jammy about their winner. Everyone in the stadium knew not to show Snodgrass inside, except Stevens.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Give yourself a slap!

There are 11 quality players in red and white stripes (on the front) for you to admire.

We owe these twats after their jammy late winner last year, so a complete drubbing of their reserves would suit me just fine. Knobhead Bruce can come out and moan about his 'tiny squad' after, to put the icing on the icing.

How was it jammy?

 

[Boxer Blade]

I think Kodija was injured last week as well, mouth watering game in prospect but I would still prefer it if these 3 didn't play, very good players to watch but let em come back the following week.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Be a massive boost if Grealish misses out. I know he is universally hated on this forum, but he’s the best player in this league.

Depends how you're measuring his greatness.

For all his skills, tricks, dives, he actually contributed fuckall last season. A few goals and I think it was 6 assists is a pretty poor return.

 

[Smirth]

Depends how you're measuring his greatness.

For all his skills, tricks, dives, he actually contributed fuckall last season. A few goals and I think it was 6 assists is a pretty poor return.

If you judge him solely on stats then yes, he does need to improve that. However without him in the side, Villa wouldn’t have got to where they were in the second half of last season, he was their best player by a mile.

 

[SUFC Guy]

This is going to be fascinating to watch on Saturday.

McGinn's a very good player and an exceptional signing for Villa, for about £3m from Hibernian. I think he's exactly what they need, will freshen them up and might even be the signing of the season. He's the closest player I've seen in ability and style to Fleck. Similar size, left footed, similar ability on the ball, similar aggression and forward drive - that combination of real ability and bite.

So I'm looking forward to seeing him on the same pitch as Fleck. It'll be a very interesting comparison, and to see who'll have more influence on the game. I'm sure they're very aware of each other and are looking forward to going up against each other. I think Fleck has that bit extra technically, but we'll see.
Throw in Grealish as well and you could look at it as Fleck and Duffy v McGinn and Grealish - a good match up. Hopefully having Norwood instead of Whelan will give us the edge football wise. The familiarity with our system and home advantage should also count for a lot.

Looking at the respective midfields I'm expecting a really good game, and I fancy our chances of controlling it. But we'll need to be very switched on at the back to take 3 points. It's certainly the game of the season so far and a win would change expectations quite significantly - especially if we somehow do decent business before the deadline.

This is a very good post and it is what you are good at. Please post more of these instead of the boring crap club bashing material that you spew out when given the opportunity.

Again, a very good assessment and keep up the good work mate.

UTMB

 

[wakefieldblade]

Nah, McGinn doesn't get sung about on London Road:

Once sang the ‘We all dream of a team of Bobby Ford’s’ Song for about 2 hours on way home from Norwich last season with him

 

[Addison]

This is going to be fascinating to watch on Saturday.

McGinn's a very good player and an exceptional signing for Villa, for about £3m from Hibernian. I think he's exactly what they need, will freshen them up and might even be the signing of the season. He's the closest player I've seen in ability and style to Fleck. Similar size, left footed, similar ability on the ball, similar aggression and forward drive - that combination of real ability and bite.

So I'm looking forward to seeing him on the same pitch as Fleck. It'll be a very interesting comparison, and to see who'll have more influence on the game. I'm sure they're very aware of each other and are looking forward to going up against each other. I think Fleck has that bit extra technically, but we'll see.
Throw in Grealish as well and you could look at it as Fleck and Duffy v McGinn and Grealish - a good match up. Hopefully having Norwood instead of Whelan will give us the edge football wise. The familiarity with our system and home advantage should also count for a lot.

Looking at the respective midfields I'm expecting a really good game, and I fancy our chances of controlling it. But we'll need to be very switched on at the back to take 3 points. It's certainly the game of the season so far and a win would change expectations quite significantly - especially if we somehow do decent business before the deadline.

Bjarnason is likely to start instead of Whelan. If Grealish is out then Hourihane will play unless Bruce goes ultra defensive and opts for Whelan to shore up midfield.

 

[I should coco]

but there was nothing jammy about their winner

How was it jammy?

You are both correct that the finish wasn't jammy, but we battered the Brummie bigshots for most of the game and didn't deserve that. Of course that is not how Managerial-Genius-Bruce saw it.

 

[JackSUFC]

This is a very good post and it is what you are good at. Please post more of these instead of the boring crap club bashing material that you spew out when given the opportunity.

Again, a very good assessment and keep up the good work mate.

UTMB

How was that post club bashing?

EDIT: Oops, read your post wrong.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

You are both correct that the finish wasn't jammy, but we battered the Brummie bigshots for most of the game and didn't deserve that. Of course that is not how Managerial-Genius-Bruce saw it.

We deserved everything we got.

Villa did what we couldn't and put the ball in the back of the net.

 

[HibbyBlade]

Tin hat on: McGinn probably is a better player than Fleck and if he had signed for any Championship club I wish it had been Blades.

I had the absolute pleasure of watching McGinn play for Hibs for three seasons and I'm not at all surprised to see he is doing well at Villa, he really was head and shoulders above most players he came up against in Scotland.

Obviously, I hope McGinn has a shit game this weekend. He rarely does though.

 

[Rob86]

Nah, McGinn doesn't get sung about on London Road:

That is quality. Not heard it at a game though, but I only go to the Bramall Lane library in the middle of the South Stand to be fair

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Isn’t he the brother of Steven McGinn who played for us a few years ago? I remember reading, on here I think, that John was at a play off final at Wembley cheering us on because his bro played for us. Have I got that wrong?

 

[HibbyBlade]

Isn’t he the brother of Steven McGinn who played for us a few years ago? I remember reading, on here I think, that John was at a play off final at Wembley cheering us on because his bro played for us. Have I got that wrong?

You're not wrong. There are three of them. Steven is at St Mirren now. He's still bang average.

 

[Ricky]

Well, maybe McGinn wasn't 100% fit but....

Fleck won this round!

I don't know what else to say about him. He simply takes the piss out of the opposition week in, week out.

*Further generic gushing comment

 

[HydeParkBlade]

Just said this in another thread. Wasn't even a contest between them.