McGinn

[Bristol Blade]

By my reckoning, our record with and without McGinn (including cup games) is as follows:

Started:
Played: 8
Won: 4
Drawn: 2
Lost: 2
PPG: 1.75

Not Started:
Played: 12
Won: 0
Drawn: 2
Lost: 10
PPG: 0.17

Now I'm not saying that starting him will immediately solve all our problems, but surely it should be obvious that we are a better team with him playing. I can't understand how he plays well, gets assists and then finds himself on the bench for the next match.

 

[sheepbridge]

It certainly seems that might be one solution.

In his interview on Radio Sheffield after the match yesterday Clough basically said he was still assessing the squad, well in that case can I suggest he asks Morgan to help pick the team until he knows what he's doing, because the only time this season we have had a half decent set of performances and results was against Coventry (2nd half), Port Vale, Peterborough and Crewe. I know Clough was in charge for Crewe, but I'm fairly certain Morgan had a large influence in the team selection for that match.

I'm fairly convinced Morgan wouldn't have picked that team selection against either Shrewsbury or Gillingham and would probably have got more that 0 points. That sort of return is weir-esque. In fact there's a fairly good possibility even Weir could have equaled or bettered that return.

This isn't a 'Clough Out' post, but I do have serious concerns over the current team selection for the last two league games, against teams towards the bottom of the league. We really are in a relegation battle and don't see any sign of improvement. We need to win games, which means scoring goals and attacking. Not playing a team with a large number of defensive players and very few creative players.

The lack of goals from open play is a major issue. Our top scorer is a defender because basically he can head a ball in from corners. Those defending Porter are saying he's scored two in two games. Yes, one a penalty and the other a header from a (very good) corner. The lack of creative play or chances being created or converted is dreadful.

I am really angry, and very concerned at the current situation. This is the worst set of spineless, gutless and talentless players I have seen in 40 years of watching them.
We've had worse players individually, but not collectively. Only Long, Miller and Harry should remain at the club, and I actually wouldn't be too bothered if Harry or Long left to be honest at present, but they might have a future with us, the rest absolutely have no future if we wish to progress up the league.

 

[JohnDenver]

Those defending Porter are saying he's scored two in two games. Yes, one a penalty and the other a header from a (very good) corner. The lack of creative play or chances being created or converted is dreadful.

It's still two in two.

Porter's job is to hold-up, flick-on, and nod-in. He can do that adequately, even if he can't do much else. Porter / Miller is the best strike partnership at the club - a fact which should shame Marlon King.

 

[highpeakblade]

I agree with both of the above to an extent. The only thing I can say about Morgan picking the team is that he would have still placed Flynn in there, now a few weeks ago he came back into the team and played well probably because he had been squeezed out and was fighting for a regular birth again which is natural however since then he's returned back to the normal Flynn who isn't good enough. Real shame because Morgan sees potential quality in the lad and to be honest at times so have I but his consistency is extremely poor!

I don't understand why McGinn isn't in there what so ever. He for me has been a stand out player over the last few weeks, he is by far the best crosser of the ball within that team and when he is possession he is positively minded and tries to get forward and get the ball into the danger zone.

I won't agree with the bashing of Porter because as said above, despite all of his set-backs, downsides and flaws he is still the only player up front for us at the minute who has been doing the business. His rate rate alone is something that the rest of the team need to have a look at and learn from. Porter isn't League Ones greatest striker however he contributes massively and he's a very honest player in all he does.

 

[anglian blade]

I don't understand the McGinn situation either - it must be something he does/doesn't do at training

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

I said this after his MOM display against Crewe; Clough needs to explain why he dropped him when he temporarily flourished under Morgan.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

He's by far one of our better players. He must wonder what he has to do.

 

[grafikhaus]

...since then he's returned back to the normal Flynn who isn't good enough. Real shame because Morgan sees potential quality in the lad and to be honest at times so have I but his consistency is extremely poor!

To be fair, that could apply to just about everybody in our team ('isn't good enough/potential/consistency').

I stand by what I said yesterday, Flynn is far from being our worst performer. In fact yesterday, compared to most of the other dross, he positively shone.

 

[highpeakblade]

To be fair, that could apply to just about everybody in our team ('isn't good enough/potential/consistency').

I stand by what I said yesterday, Flynn is far from being our worst performer. In fact yesterday, compared to most of the other dross, he positively shone.

Flynn has come back a bit better than what he was but in comparison to his first games back from his absence when he really did stand out, he seems to be fading slightly again. Don't get me wrong I like certain aspects of Flynny's game and I see potential in him but his lack of consistency in games and his decision making at times really lets him down!.

McGinn or Flynn??......For me at the minute McGinn wins hands down!

 

[BerksBlade]

Really don't understand ... McGinn seemed instrumental in our "mini revival" under Morgs. Yet Clough prefers a loanee playing out of position. Same to an extent with Coady - the lad has captained England at U17 & U20 level, but can't get a game in a poor L1 side?

 

[Bladesman]

something is not right somewhere among the squad

There are certain players that should be in the team ahead of others.

 

[Hartley Hare]

I just wish we would play a settled side. Chopping and changing all the time is folly. To my mind the team at Colchester was a good line-up, and given the win, the same team should have started yesterday.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

The team a Colchester is strong enough to find a mid table position come the end of the season and that is a realistic target for this woeful season.

HH

 

[sitwell]

I agree the 2 changes yesterday were un warranted. To be fair to Clough though he has to look at what we've got ,he was badly let down by a few players yesterday ,only the front 2 come out of that game with any credit .He has said he will persevere with Miller/Porter so at least he can now concentrate on the rest of the team now.

 

[Hartley Hare]

Clough maybe taking stock, but not at home to Gillingham, a decent chance for a home win and three valuable points against probable relegation candidates.

Surely in training and behind the scenes matches there is ample opportunity to work out the strengths and weaknesses of the players? Morgan already has a good idea as well?

Long
McMahon Collins Maguire Hill
Coady McGinn Doyle Lappin
Porter Miller

Subs; Taylor for Porter; Baxter for McGinn; Brandy for Lappin .

Stick with this team, injuries and suspensions permitted until January and see what business we can do then.

HH

 

[sheffielder]

If we are going to play the style of football Nigel wants to, you need players who are going to break a neck to get in the box to support the strikers. Yesterday, we needed to get more players round Porter and Miller who were causing problems even though isolated.

The likes of Baxter, Cuvellier if they are to have a career need to get a strong work ethic and work themselves into the team, because their talent in and around the box is not in question. Even Murphy coming off the left would be better than what we had yesterday.

Long
anyone Maguire anyone White
Cuvellier | McGinn | Coady | Murphy
Porter | Miller

I pick Cuvellier because he can come in to strengthen the midfield 2 if needed to give it some extra legs.

We need to be brave

 

[stannyblade]

sheffielder what has white done to deserve a place? He was absolutely shit yesterday.

 

[sheffielder]

sheffielder what has white done to deserve a place? He was absolutely shit yesterday.

Because he is a left back and that is the position he wants to play. I don't see any better options presently

 

[SwissBlade]

McGinn looked good when he came on although I'm not sure really where he was playing, he didnt seem to find a position, except making himself busy.

I was more impressed with Baxter though.

My team based on yesterday

Long
McMahon-Harry-Colins-white
Taylor-Baxter-Doyle-Flynn
Porter-Miller

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

If that is fact then there should be no question in starting him

 

[HoodedClaw]

To be fair to Clough though he has to look at what we've got ,he was badly let down by a few players yesterday ,only the front 2 come out of that game with any credit .He has said he will persevere with Miller/Porter so at least he can now concentrate on the rest of the team now.

Christ alive, he's had 4 games and 4 weeks with the players and he's only worked out 2 that in his mind are worth sticking with, at this rate he might get a sorted team by the time we're in league 2.

Need to step up the pace on sorting this settled team out mr clough

 

[oldblade]

If we are going to play the style of football Nigel wants to, you need players who are going to break a neck to get in the box to support the strikers. Yesterday, we needed to get more players round Porter and Miller who were causing problems even though isolated.

The likes of Baxter, Cuvellier if they are to have a career need to get a strong work ethic and work themselves into the team, because their talent in and around the box is not in question. Even Murphy coming off the left would be better than what we had yesterday.

Long
anyone Maguire anyone White
Cuvellier | McGinn | Coady | Murphy
Porter | Miller

I pick Cuvellier because he can come in to strengthen the midfield 2 if needed to give it some extra legs.

We need to be brave

Who would you have as captain? Our squad as a whole seems to be lacking in players with the right type of personality to take on that role.

 

[norfolkblade]

Who would you have as captain? Our squad as a whole seems to be lacking in players with the right type of personality to take on that role.

For me, and I appreciate I'll no doubt get shouted down for this, but I'd give it to Hill. At least he looks like he actually gives a fuck when he's playing.

 

[sitwell]

For me, and I appreciate I'll no doubt get shouted down for this, but I'd give it to Hill. At least he looks like he actually gives a fuck when he's playing.

So to play for Utd now you have to look like you give a fuck ? Doesn't matter that you cant tackle ,cant pass ,cant head straight ,cant keep up ,get caught out of position ,have no concentration ,cant even take a fucking throw ,but is really good at clapping the crowd after another shambolic defeat.
To be honest qualification wise Captain pissing Blade is a better clapper.

 

[Grecian2000]

So to play for Utd now you have to look like you give a fuck ?

To be fair Sitters, at the moment we have players who can't play but look as though they give a fuck (not many though) and players who can't play and look as though they can't give a fuck either. It's not a great choice.

The fact that McGinn consistantly looks like the best player but can't make the starting line-up (behind the old "full back in midfield" ploy) is more worrying than the attitude of the Captain (most over-rated position in football).

 

[Fiery Blade]

Captain Blade is a far better shout than the rest of them
Pathetic shambles of a team - no heart, no backbone, no balls and no talent !!!

 

[Racy]

So to play for Utd now you have to look like you give a fuck ? Doesn't matter that you cant tackle ,cant pass ,cant head straight ,cant keep up ,get caught out of position ,have no concentration ,cant even take a fucking throw ,but is really good at clapping the crowd after another shambolic defeat.
To be honest qualification wise Captain pissing Blade is a better clapper.

Spot on

How is he still at the Lane?.
How many times does he get caught out of position!

 

[Fiery Blade]

Are we talking about Captain Blade or that tosser Doyle ?

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

For me, and I appreciate I'll no doubt get shouted down for this, but I'd give it to Hill. At least he looks like he actually gives a fuck when he's playing.

He might look like he gives a fuck but he also looks slow, past it and generally fucking awful. Captaincy should go to the only player that looks like a proper footballer in our squad. Give it to McGinn....and fecking play him!

 

[norfolkblade]

So to play for Utd now you have to look like you give a fuck ? Doesn't matter that you cant tackle ,cant pass ,cant head straight ,cant keep up ,get caught out of position ,have no concentration ,cant even take a fucking throw ,but is really good at clapping the crowd after another shambolic defeat.
To be honest qualification wise Captain pissing Blade is a better clapper.

Never said that, my point is that looking like you actually do give one will help get the crowd on your side for a start. In terms of ability, christ no but I'm not seeing many able players in that squad who'd be able to take on the captaincy tbh.

McGinn is a decent enough looking player but perhaps not a captain for me, we need a good player that commands respect from his peers and I'm afraid we simply don't have one right now.

 

[sitwell]

I agree ,but giving it to a useless lump like Hill ,who shouldn't even get a shirt would be disasterous. Cloughs most important job will be finding an experienced player who can play and motivate to get hold of the team by the knackers sometimes and get them going. Someone like John Eustace, who Clough signed for Derby might be available. Metgod was that kind of character too.His dad did it at a whole different level with Dave Mackay ,be nice if history could repeat itself