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Is fit-again McGinn a viable route into Villa attack for FPL Double Gameweek 30+?

The return to fitness of John McGinn (£5.4m) offers an alternative route into Aston Villa’s attack for Double Gameweek 30+.

But is it worth using the Scottish international to go without Jack Grealish (£6.4m) and save some money? That’s what some Fantasy managers will be asking ahead of Project Restart.

And for anyone looking to invest in a Villa attacking double-up, is McGinn necessarily the right person to compliment Grealish in our squads?

We have performed another deep dive into the data to answer these important questions.

As this article uses large chunks from the Members Area, only those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription can read it in full.

WHAT IS MCGINN’S FITNESS LATEST?

McGinn was last seen on the pitch in Gameweek 18, when he managed just seven minutes of the 3-1 home defeat to Southampton. He was taken off with an ankle injury, which an X-ray confirmed was a fracture.

That kept him out of Dean Smith’s considerations until early March when he returned to full training.

The Villa manager had planned to assess McGinn’s fitness ahead of the Gameweek 30 meeting with Chelsea, suggesting that the international break could be a good time to get him back up to full speed.

“John is back in full contact training with the players. It’s a boost for us and I’ll have to make a decision on whether he is ready to play a part against Chelsea. After the Chelsea game, we have the international break and also a break where we were supposed to be playing Newcastle as well. We will arrange a game for John to play and hopefully, we will see the best of him after the international break.” – Dean Smith, speaking on March 12

However, the coronavirus suspension for the Premier League put paid to McGinn’s chances of a March comeback.

Three months without competitive action will have helped clear up any lasting niggles from the injury for McGinn, but it has also robbed Smith of any chance to build up the player’s match fitness.

The international break he was hoping to use for that was also put on hold and such a long time without full squad training will have also been a stagnating factor in bringing McGinn back up to full speed.

While most of his colleagues last tested themselves in a Premier League match setting in March, McGinn has not done so since mid-December, roughly six months ago now.

Ahead of a Double Gameweek 30+, there are encouraging messages coming out of the Villa camp about McGinn though.

“He (John McGinn) looks back to his normal self. Everyone knows he’s like a little bulldog when he’s on the pitch and he’s certainly been like that in training. I can’t give him enough credit. I know everyone says he runs around and has legs, but he isn’t just about that, he has class about him as well. He’s one of those players you don’t appreciate until you play alongside him, and he’s like that in the changing room as well. Even the first day he came back into training he just gave everyone a lift because he’s such a popular figure in the dressing room, he always puts a smile on everyone’s face at the club.” – Jack Grealish

“Ginny is a great player and he has such an infectious personality that when he isn’t around the team, it does make a big difference. I think he is one of the players who, when they are on the team sheet, it affects the mindset of the opposition. He is certainly one of those players for us because he brings so much on and off the pitch. It will be good to have him back, for sure. We have got quality throughout the team but this period now has allowed players to come back and for teams to perhaps refresh their squad in terms of players that would have missed the season if it had finished on time. I think we are in a fortunate position in that we get John McGinn back. Teams around us will strengthen too.” – Tyrone Mings

WHOSE PLACE WILL HE TAKE?

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719 Comments Post a Comment
  1. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How does this look. Gonna use BB (still have WC&FH. Made 6 free transfers, main sacrifice was Salah. Left with £0.2itb

    Henderson/Krul
    TAA/Laporte/Fernandez/Lundy/Baldock
    KDB/Mahrez/Grealish/Pepe/Saka
    Aubameyang/Giroud/Jimenez

    Original team;
    McCarthy, Gazza
    TAA, Baldock, Boly, Lyndon, Holgate
    Salah, KDB, Traore, Pepe, Saka
    Aubameyang, Giroud, Jimenez

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Giroud to Aguero by downgrading Laporte and Pepe imo.

    2. Loftus cheeky nandos
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      krul to reina just for double gw

    3. Daghe Munegu
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Giroud??

  2. Kurupt FC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on Pulisic's return and Chelsea assets in general beyond GW31+ ?

  3. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So I have BB and FH left and this team atm:

    Pope Krul
    Taa Awb Doherty - Egan Taylor
    Salah Kdb Bruno Doucure -Saka
    Auba Jota Dcl

    What would you do here?
    1) finetune it for the rest of the season, BB this week
    2) FH this week (and have the above team for gw31+)

  4. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Right who would you rather have starting in your team

    A) Alonso
    B) Mount/Willian

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      mount

    2. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've taken the Punt on Alonso.

    3. Loftus cheeky nandos
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      alonso does look like a good punt

    4. rjcv177
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Fh here...and i might have both lol
      Desperate times to climb ML

  5. jay01
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is FFS keeping track of the friendlies? Heard Arsenal played the other day. Chelsea vs reading today, Chelsea vs QPR on the weekend

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Arsenal playing Brentford today

  6. SuperDan
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Please help choose which BB team is best:

    A)
    Henderson - Reina
    TAA - Egan - Basham - Targett - Kelly
    KDB - Mahrez - Grealish - Fernandes - Hayden
    Aguero - Auba - Jiminez
    0 ITB

    B)
    Henderson Leno
    TAA - Baldock - Stevens - Saiss - Targett
    KDB - Mahrez - Grealish - McGinn - Saka
    Aguero - Auba - Jiminez
    .5 ITB to upgrade on any of these

    1. screamer73
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B imo. Bruno is a good pick but not at the cost of having a team with Kelly, Hayden, Reina and Basham.

      1. SuperDan
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        thanks

  7. Loftus cheeky nandos
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    vardy and jimenez
    or
    auba and calvert
    weighing up the options, auba double game week and has better fixtures but jimenez is better than calvert

    1. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Auba and DCL this week then Vardy and Jiminez after

  8. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Alonso too big a risk? Great stats and seemed nailed pre-break

    1. Another Hoops
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No as long as you have decent bench cover. He could be a great differential this week.

    2. Kurupt FC
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He's a really good punt, again if he starts. Goes back to my question re Chelsea assets, who's nailed on lol!?
      Would he be the only premium def in ur team?

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If planning to BB then perhaps.

  9. Kurupt FC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    DCL or Jota for rest of the season??

    1. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      DCL

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      jota

      1. Kurupt FC
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Haha! 50/50 split lol! Reasons?

    3. Gashead9
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      DCL, Jota is very much a form player, there is no guarantee he will be in form from the off

    4. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      DCL long-term, Jota short-term.

  10. vincentwsho
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Have FH, BB and WC left.

    Should I:

    1. FTs for GW 31+, FH DGW 30 (save WC and BB for later)

    2. FTs and BB for DGW30, WC GW 31+ (save FH for later)

    1. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      3. Check hot topics.

  11. Kurupt FC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martial or Pulisic??

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Tony

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pulisic could be a good punt if it’s just for this one gameweek

  12. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Help!

    A) Kdb-Sterling-Grealish-Mcginn-Cantwell
    B) Kdb-Fernandes-Mahrez-Grealish-Cantwell

    I have triple SHU defence either way and WC next round.

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would say B as I think 2 Villa players is 2 too many.

      Im not planning on having any Villa players in my team. Personally I can’t see Villa scoring anymore than 1 goal over the 2 games. You need to think that you have 3 shef defenders too so you won’t actually want your Villa players to score.

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Problem with B is Mahrez' gametime though :/. But thanks, yeah I see what you mean.

        1. Mufc202020
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Unless you did A and get rid of McGinn or grealish for Mount or someone??

          1. JBG
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Hmm.. Might do that

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      The one with KdB and Cantrell

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        this

      2. JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Blu Cantrell?

    3. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  13. flippetyflop
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Surprised to see so many teams with Reina with Heaton now fit again.

    1. Loftus cheeky nandos
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      is he? he still says unavailable on the game thats probs why

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Heaton wont be fit in time.

    2. Jarnathan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      That's news to me. Can you share the link?

    3. Holte Enders
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      yes - very strange! Heaton isnt fit, he wont be back fit before the end of the season, however there are other issues;
      -Reina had a couple of howlers before the pause,
      -Nyland was in very good form and pushing for the spot, and
      -Steer is back from injury (who was our No.2 keeper behind Heaton before his injury)

      1. Kurupt FC
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Spanner. Works. Gaaaaaarrrrr!!! lol!

  14. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How's this BB looking?

    Ederson
    O'Connell Mings Baldock
    Grealish Pepe KDB McGinn
    Auba Aguero Nketiah

    Henderson TAA Doherty Mount

    1. ash and swanson inc
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      good mix albeit with a couple that may not get much time on the field but strange times and worth a punt. Perhaps leno and upgrade a defender with change? I would go targett over mings but doubt it will swing much either way. perhaps pepe to ozil or fleck and upgrade Nketiah? That is what I did, then changed a dozen times

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nice suggestions to look at thank you

    2. Holte Enders
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Would maybe swap Mings for one of Villa's fullbacks - targett takes the occasional set piece and Guilbert likes to bomb on

  15. Loftus cheeky nandos
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    triple captain kdb or auba???

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      KDB

    2. ash and swanson inc
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      of those two I would go KDB personally but neither a terrible option - with 5 subs I cant see pep not using them so may be hit n miss for minutes - hopefully he wouldnt go off till job done and he is involved a lot in end product...

  16. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A or B? Am playing BB then WC

    A) Baldock, Fernandez, Aarons and Douglas Luiz
    B) Basham, Lascelles, Justin and Cantwell

    Rest of the side:

    Henderson Leno

    ____ Egan Targett ____ ____

    KDB Pepe Mahrez Grealish ____

    Aubameyang Aguero Jimenez

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. Holte Enders
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Luiz isnt a guarenteed starter for Villa with Mcginn back - we may line up with a midfield of

      Hourihane - Nakamba - Mcginn

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        That's good to know, thank you for this! Will have to rethink

      2. I Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Hourihane more likely to be benched than Luiz I would've thought?

        1. Holte Enders
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Hmm maybe, I think it's important to remember that the Hourihane and Mcginn complement each other well, and that was the go-to midlfiel when Mcginn was fit. Luiz could take Nakamba's spot, although that'd be a slightly attacking change.

          At the moment i'd say maybe 50/50 chance Luiz, maybe slightly higher, but even if he starts, he's probably one of villa's less attacking mid options (aside from the 2 bangers he has scored)

  17. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which option would you choose and why ?

    A) kane, occonnel,origi
    B) rashford,basham,Tammy

    Pretty straightforward I believe 😀
    But want to know others think about it

    TYIA

    1. rjcv177
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Wooww. Origi throws A out the window lol

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        If you check, origi has a better record against Everton than mane,firmino and maybe salah too . Hence a punt

  18. Drexl Spivey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bullox to it. I'm not blowing my bench boost on this shower of muck.

    Matt Targett... Pepe Reina? Bloody hell.

  19. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hey Everyone, Should i use unlimited tranfers and BB or use FH this week?

    Cheers. My current team before transfers.. 3.3m ITB

    Pope McCarthy
    TAA Stevens Doherty Taylor Fernandez
    Salah KDB Bruno Barnes Saka
    Rashford Jiminez DCL.

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      if you have wc use bb with 12 dgw players and wc next week.

      Salah is injured

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Dont have WC sorry should have said.

  20. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Nketiah and Mane or Pepe and Jimenez ?

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      N+M for me.

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      As a one week punt? Got to be the latter surely. Big upside.

    3. ash and swanson inc
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would vote P&J, but if one week punt would prefer mahrez or one of silvas for a gamble unless you have three city already. Now said that Pepe will explode of course

  21. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    RMFHT

    Hendo (3.9)
    TAA Stevens Bellerin (4.0, 4.0)
    KDB Sterling Grealish Mount (D.Luiz)
    Aguero Auba Jota

  22. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Might need a 4.2m playing defender for one gw.

    Vinagre?
    Kiko Femenía?

    Both were playing before lockdown.

    1. screamer73
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Worth finding the extra 0.1 for Las/CTaylor/Aarons.

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I'll certainly try

  23. Gashead9
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH Team thoughts?
    Mahrez over Sterling allows me to keep Fernandes & Robbo as SGW players who will likely outscore cheap DGW players like Targett, El Ghazi, McGinn etc

    Hendo,
    TAA, Robbo, O'Connell,
    KDB (C), Mahrez, Fernandes, Grealish, Fleck
    Kun, Auba

    1. ash and swanson inc
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Isnt robertson doubtful now? if so perhaps VVD, bellerin or luiz and see if extra dosh gets you anything anywhere else?

      1. Gashead9
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks, didn't realise Robbo was a doubt? Will be VVD instead then

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      double Liv def seems like overkill on a FH.

  24. I Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Cantwell a better option than Douglas Luiz for BB?

  25. screamer73
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I have Nik and Mane. Planning to get Jimi on WC soon.

    1. screamer73
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Reply fail to Wiseman Resistant

  26. Irish Villan 1985
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hi All, any guidance here? Trying to balance DGW and long term as I don't have a WC left 🙁

    McCarthy

    TTA, Egan, Targett

    Salah, Pogba, KBD, Grealish

    Auba, Aguero, Samatta

    Ramsdale, Saiss, Lascelles, McCarthy

  27. Kushal
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Please suggest if any changes needed

    BB active
    Hendo - Leno
    Laporte TAA Stevens Targett Saiss
    Kdb Grealish Bruno Fleck Saka
    Aguero Auba Jiminez

  28. SMOOTH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A, Ozil mahrez reina
    B. Pepe Cantwell Ederson

  29. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    People are starting to convince me that this DGW is a bit of a trap. Uncertainty over minutes a factor too.

    I have all chips and 2nd WC intact

    Thinking maybe just go for a strong 7 maybe 8 DGWers and save the BB and all other chips by using the frees if needed.

    Do I really want 3 Villa and Villa attackers against double or even triple Sheff defenders?

    Reina? Mings? Saka? Nketiah? After months off and now full of uncertainty as well!

    1. fusen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I think the ultimate trap is using bench boost and then using up your wildcard to immediately undo the team.

      Two chips on top of a mediocre double game week.

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Agree

      2. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Well no better GW for BB,and WC after with more info.

        Wish i had my WC,waste it in GW29.

    2. Loftus cheeky nandos
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      i suppose the advantage is if you wc next week even having 3 villa players to get an extra 2 points or more may be beneficial and you fully utilise the double gw which is the last one

    3. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I am so surprised to see so many people wanting even one Villa player. Especially when most will double/triple up with shef. You can get much better midfield options for the same sort of price.

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Coming around to all of this now yep

    4. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Good points.

      But if everyone is BBing, and it pays off, you're in for a big rank drop.

      Plus it's more fun having 12 doublers.

      Every GW is going to be unpredictable from now on, player wise, so there might not be a better GW.

  30. Loftus cheeky nandos
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    auba, jimenez, saiss
    or
    auba, dcl, doherty

    1. SMOOTH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      close

      dcl dock i guess