It’s just a very quick one, as we don’t have weekend game and I struggle to see that there’s much to write about, apart from it’s blatantly obvious that Jack Grealish is going to Man Utd.
Except it isn’t to me, but that’s a different subject.
So John McGinn is training, but it’s only tactical stuff and he isn’t allowed any contact sessions.
Yet according to Dean Smith, McGinn will be pushing for the Chelsea game on the 14th.
To my mind this is ridiculous.
How do you go from non-contact to being ready for a game in eight days?
The answer is, you don’t, unless you’re absolutely desperate and are willing to risk a breakdown through coming back to early.
We’re talking about a broken ankle here, after all and while I know medical stuff has moved on rapidly over the last twenty to thirty years, I just think expecting McGinn back that soon is just not realistic.
And even if he does come back, surely he’ll only come on as a sub for a few minutes?
I totally understand that we need McGinn back as soon as possible.
But I wonder how much of the desire is about keeping us up, as opposed to proving that he’s ok, so that we can sell him if we get relegated?
I know.
I’m a cynic.
And I hope I’m wrong.
I really don’t see SJM adding much this season.
But would love to be wrong.
I just think it’s too big an ask, as much as I’d bet he’d love it.
A lot of cliches spring to mind Badger – desperate times and all that…..
You are right though, evidence says that McGinn will take some time to reach match fitness even after starting a game (rather than a sub bench appearance). So, whilst we hope for a messianic rebirth, I fear the reality will be somewhat different.
Still, whilst there’s hope …….
Your not wrong Badger, yes we are desperate and to do it is foolish in my mind,
I like Mcginn one of the good footballers we have, if he cannot generate what he’s got to pull us out of the shite we’re in ,he’s got to go. Yes he’s a Mr nice guy but he’s losing us reputation and money, give him till we’re safe or drop to think on his abilities to manage Villa FC.
I said the same thing Bill, you have to a bit or a barsteward to really succeed to get to the top. A sad fact, but true in many cases.
Unless you’re the remarkable Dan Price that is… (Google him, he’s been in the new lots recently).
Good God Bum Bum , now that’s a bloke I’d work my socks off for, he even served for his country, nice.
seems we are all in total agreement on here sofar, mcginn return playing to his super standards,will most likely take sometime to achieve. i miss a day or week training of my standards and when i return its so much harder to pick up where i finished. he has only 11 games to make a impact. first he need train without contact. then contact training and more physio make sure not recurrences of the injury. then theirs the overlooked match fitness which can take many games to reach full match fitness.
i hope we have not pinned our hopes of surviving on poor jon mcginn. been reading all week. ppl saying he will do this and that. if he does play i think he will not be at his best and he is the sort of player who might damage himself trying to do more.
we have got to work out how to supply samatta with the service he needs. crosses have been poor all season and for years at villa. this guy samatta seems to thrive on crosses. spuds og where el ghazi cross seems half blocked but samatta never gave it up and pressured the defender to og it. i know a poacher when i see one and he is a poacher. get them balls raining in the box. samatta will score those goals we need.
McGinn was struggling before he got injured. Perhaps he was already carrying a knock but the reality is he’s only got 15 or so top flight games under his belt. To ask him off the back of that and his first serious career injury to come back and right the multiple wrongs within our squad is too much.
His energy will help but ultimately we havent been able to defend with him in the team either. Smith is getting desperate I’m afraid to say – time is running out and if we lose against Leicester and Chelsea due to the postponed games we’re likely to be 5-6 points adrift at best and it will be curtains for the PL and Dean.
I don’t want to worry you lads but Bournemouth are winning , 1-0 and it could have been 2 0..
1-1 now. Panics over for a while.
McGinn is as important to us as JG, as soon as JG came back from injury last season we went on a run and we were promoted, if he is fit he’ll make a massive difference for us in the run in.
That’s an excellent point Singapore Villan
Results generally gone in our favour today with two games in hand – albeit one is away at Leicester. The other is a home game against Sheffield U. If we’re going to stay up then we have to win our home games.
Well Hitch i switch onto all the games today, West ham put up a fight, Arsenal was lucky, Benteke won us the game he was class, as for Bournemouth they couldn’t match Liverpool for pace, yes good resault for us , now go out and win us the points Villa.
Bill, we’ve had our share of results going against us but it’s what happens to teams at the wrong end of the table. We’ve been given a lifeline and, frankly, if we want to be a Prem side then we have to really perform in our next two games. Imho Leicester aren’t the third best side in the Prem or, if they are, then Liverpool and Citeh are teams apart and the rest are all beatable on the day.
We’re due a result so I’m going a little mad and say we will get 4 points from our next two games – let’s face it I can only be wrong 🙂
UTV
We shouldn’t be looking for McGinn to save the season. We’ve already made the mistake of being over reliant on Jack Grealish. If we go down and he’s off, we’ll be down for quite a while. There has to be a half way decent squad not just two great players. Not enough emphasis on developing our youth at VP, that’s where Grealish came from and we need more. Davis is the next in the pipe line.
I feel a little more positive about his involvement than some. I do know for a fact he was carrying a knock before the injury to his ankle. I forget where I read it, but he confirmed it had been affecting his performances for quite some weeks before.
I understand he’s operating on only a few games in the Prem, but let’s not forget before that knock, he was scoring goals and setting them up – it was also at a time when we were still gelling as a side with so many new faces. Now we have a striker up front who would likely feed off of JCM’s energy. For me we went downhill when he got injured. Our midfield just hasn’t looked the same without him. JG has since stood up and been counted for, but I think JCM’s return would also boost JG mentally and see a resurgence of energy from him.
I get what you’re saying Badger about the return from injury – but Smith has got to use ALL tools at his disposal and as he says now, his job is also a psychologist as well as a manager and if this is his way of psyching up the troops then I’m all for his public hope.
Look at the effect JG’s return had on us last season. I’m still feeling very negative about our chances to stay up but I do feel hopeful that JCM will help even if he isn’t back playing part time until the April 4th game vs Wolves, that’s still 7 games we could have him back for.