Some Celtic fans have been regretting how their club missed out on Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn before joined the Premier League side.
The Aston Villa midfielder, who joined the club from Hibernian in the summer of 2018, has previously admitted to being a fan of the Hoops (via talkSPORT). He has said that he possesses an undying love for the club.
Before he had joined Villa from Hibs, McGinn was linked with a move to Parkhead. But the then Villa boss Steve Bruce managed to sign the Scotsman on the deadline day of the 2018 summer transfer window for an undisclosed fee.
A debate about the midfielder brewed among Celtic fans on Twitter. Many of them regret not signing him when their club had the chance.
I’ve trouble believing any real Tim thinks McGinn’s already a better player than Broony. I’ve just blocked 2 of them. Different? – Yes. Potential? -No doubt. I even concede he’s done well at Villa & (recently) Scotland. But no way has he proven himself fit to fill those boots yet
— ?TheOtherJohnMcDonnell? (@CarlJungleBhoy) November 20, 2019
All I’m saying is we should have bought him, it doesn’t matter who he is supposed to replace or not, he’s a quality player that’s getting better and better and the desire he showed last night was superb(as was the rest of the team)
— Pádraig Ó Murchú (@murchu_padraig) November 20, 2019
I wouldn’t even think of making that comparison- ever!I thought at the time we missed out on a player.whatever way you want to cut it- as a potential star or as someone we resell at profit, not signing him was a mistake. Like knowing lottery numbers and not putting them on
— we wanna be free to do what we wanna do (@wchalmers88) November 20, 2019
I was one who thought he wasn’t good enough to improve our squad significantly and thought his scope for improvement was limited . expected him to be good in championship but struggle like johansen in epl but so far he has proven me wrong and has improved significantly since Hibs
— steven (@Beaumontbhoy) November 20, 2019
Not a chance. Broony is utterly consistent in reading the game, breaking up attacks and launching our attack. McGinn is nothing like him and definitely not a replacement. Broony is irreplaceable. A leader, a proper captain.
— CelticTeaV (@TeaCeltic) November 20, 2019
I agree Carl,the amount of havering ‘what it’s bout McGinn is incredible.its gone.done.history.
— view from the Hill (@antearmann1967) November 20, 2019
I wanted us to buy him when he was at st mirren but we missed the boat a couple of yrs ago and couldn’t afford him now anyway so we’ve just got to move on.Hopefully we won’t be looking for browns replacement any time soon!
— Mark Nicholas (@joydivision61_h) November 20, 2019
So far this season, McGinn has statistically been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. So far this season, McGinn has played 14 times in all competitions for the Villains, scoring thrice and racking up a tally of two assists.
He has a Whoscored rating of 7.48 – the ninth highest in the Premier League so far. He has been the seventh-best tackler in the whole league, making 2.9 tackles per game for Villa. Not just that, he has also made 1.1 interceptions per game – the fifth highest for the club.
He has also completed 2.8 dribbles per game for the club – more than anyone else at the club and 0.9 more than the second-placed Jack Grealish.
Last season, McGinn was crucial to helping Villa achieve Premier League promotion. He had played 43 times in the Championship for the club, scoring seven times and racking up a tally of nine assists as well.
What do we think?
While the failure to sign McGinn from Hibs is a regret, it isn’t something that is costing the Hoops too much. Even though he has been linked with clubs like Manchester United, McGinn’s absence isn’t being felt at Parkhead over the last two years.
They won the eighth consecutive Premiership crown last season, even after Brendan Rodgers had left in late February. They recently beat Lazio twice in the UEFA Europa League – all that without a player like McGinn. It is time for the fans to forget about it and let bygones be bygones.