Mad to think that Ronan could potentially come into the Senior squad now as a result, albeit, a different kettle of bluefin tuna as a player to McGrath.
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Mad to think that Ronan could potentially come into the Senior squad now as a result, albeit, a different kettle of bluefin tuna as a player to McGrath.
Good news is that he only misses the next two games and could be back for St Mirren on November 6th and just in time for the international window.
A move to Aberdeen seems to be in the offing. Overly-exciting? Perhaps not so much. Progressive? Certainly. And welcome too. Confessedly, I do like him as a player.
And it's undoubtedly to Kenny's credit that he's picked an unobvious, 'unfashionable' player who's then gone on to to play well for us.
Jamie McGrath's valuation revealed as St Mirren admit it is 'unlikely' he will stay at club next season - Pundit Arena
If the asking price is just 350k... why wouldn't there be a a rack of clubs interested
Id buy him... I could see him at Watford or even Southampton
His stats aren't as good as last year - 3 goals in 21 games compared to 17 in 46 last year.
There's more to football than goals of course, but is there any concern he's fallen back a bit from last year?
]#Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
TBH I'm just going on what he has done for us and I thought he has never looked out of place in our team
He held his own very well v Portugal
Overall St Mirren are very poor this season and fans are often critical of Goodwin's negative tactics this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
If teams are looking for someone that's confident from the spot then McGrath is your player. 10 of his 17 goals last season were from the spot, and this season 2 of his 3 goals are from the spot. He's only missed 1 of his 13 penalties so far while at St Mirren.
Fair point on penalties, though as a club they're averaging only a shade under a goal a game both seasons (18 in 20 v 37 in 38 in the league), so not a huge amount seems to have changed. I don't see any stats on assists and maybe they're up to balance things out? Fewer goals from penalties should give more scope for assists for an attacking mid.
He's done alright for us for sure, but I suppose if as Diggs says there's not a rake of clubs interested at 350k, then no harm digging around for possible reasons.
A move to Aberdeen would feel like a step down compared to the Middlesbrough deal mooted last month. But I guess let's see what happens.
He is too good for the SPL. I've a funny feeling ( which I accept will be laughed at) that he might get a premier league move.
He is 25, cheap, an international and zero trouble.
level in PL is far too high for him. hes been excellent in scotland since moving but the leap from a bottom 6 spl side to a bottom 6 PL side is huge. better off establishing himself in the championship as a first team regular at his age, coming into his peak years now.
There's more chance of him playing League One next season than the Premier League.
Still not sure on McGrath to be honest. He hasn't done anything wrong for Ireland but he also hasn't really done....anything much at all. Positionally sound and shows a glimpse or two of potential but I think people are looking at his SPL goals from last season and seeing something that isn't quite there yet. I like attacking players who want to get on the ball and he seems like the type that does the standard runs and can play it simple rather than someone who has the potential to open a team up with a pass or by running at them. 7 from play last year is a good return in the SPL but it turns into a magnificent haul when you add in his penalties. He came in with 0 expectations on him and has sort of flown under the radar a bit because of that maybe.
Hope he kicks on but I would think League 1 or Championship would be a more likely destination than the EPL. Celtic or Rangers surely would be after him if he was really lighting up the SPL week in week out?
I'm inclined to agree. Daryl Horgan wasn't kept at Preston NE, did fairly well at Hibs and initially at Wycombe, but is now a squad member for the League One leaders rather than a regular starter. Sheffield Wed or Ipswich might be a more realistic bet for McGrath.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Well, if you're using Horgan to support your agreement then what of the fact that McGrath has looked much better at international level than Horgan. He has also done far better at SPL level than Horgan - I think "fairly well" is a stretch in that regard for Horgan. Oh, and Horgan went directly from Dundalk to Championship as opposed to from Dundalk to the SPL and then, potentially, onto Championship like McGrath seems to be angling to do. Surely you should account for that in your comparison?Quote:
Originally Posted by Demesne Lad
Its just a sneeky feeling. Club's with budgets issues and a need for extra squad membersQuote:
Originally Posted by JR89
I think the jury is still out on McGrath as an international, though time is on his side. He is a more centre-field player than Horgan and this is reflected in their respective records in the Scottish Premiership. Horgan: 3,405 minutes played, 6 goals, 10 assists; McGrath: 4,330 mins, 9 goals (incl. 7 penalties), 3 assists.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
The Dundalk to EFL Championship to Scottish Premiership route didn't work out so well for Andy Boyle either. If McGrath does make it to the EFL Championship, I hope he has more success there.
McGrath wasn't included in the St Mirren squad at Dundee Utd on Tuesday night. Official reason was because he "did not feel that his head was in the right place for the game" as a result of all the recent transfer speculation.
Probably both he and the Club not wanting to risk an injury that might scupper a move and money for the club.Quote:
Originally Posted by Demesne Lad
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...vised/?ref=rss
Goodwin suggests that McGrath's head wasn't in the right place to play, and that he's being badly advised.
He should have made the sensible and progressive move to Aberdeen in my view, who are a big club in a Scottish context, where he would have been a virtually guaranteed regular and could have learnt from playing beside and training with great pros like Scott Brown. Instead it looks like he's having his head turned by the big bucks offered down south, which is perhaps understandable.
Would he even break into a Championship side before the end of the season though? Even were he to join Wigan, who have a settled, winning side he might well struggle. Jordan Jones can't get into the team since joining from Rangers, for example.
He might end up staying at St Mirren after all this.
He is too good for Scotland
His agent is right. This is his big move. The salaries are not comparable between England and Scotland.
Not in the squad playing away at Ayr today. Looks like the Buddies are resigned to losing their prize asset.
I wonder where he is going ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Demesne Lad
Restored to the team for tonight's game with Aberdeen, after a 'clear the air' meeting with manager Goodwin.
Ronan just scored a ‘sumptuous’ goal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Demesne Lad
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-you...ngham-26057932
Birmingham have apparently lost interest in McGrath and his options seem to be narrowing.
He might have to see out of contract, try and find his best form again and hope some attractive offers come his way in the summer as a free agent.
Seems to be close to joining Hibs with a bid reportedly having been accepted.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/...nsfer-26089399
Off to Wigan according to James Rodgers
https://mobile.twitter.com/jamesroge...54934546059270
Not a bad move. He’ll play right away and if everything goes to plan he’ll be in the Championship next season.
He mst have negotiated a greatly increased wage with this move. I don't think he was a lot at St Mirren.
Let's hope he can force his way into the team between now and the end of the season.
Four Irish lads at Wigan now after Rea joining on loan.
Good luck to the Lad re; the money ~ It can be a short career for all sorts of reasons. This could turn out to be a good move for him if Wigan go up. Best of luck.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trequartista20
Straight into the side today anyway, getting 90 minutes in a 2-0 Cup defeat away to Stoke. Cup line-ups are always a bit of a mixed bag, but I think it's very encouraging that he's getting first-team action straight away. That mightn't have happened a division up.
Keane and McClean are injured so should see game time. McClean has been taking injections to get him through games the Richardson said.
Doesn't seem to be valued by Wigan. Jim Goodwin's Aberdeen now facing competition from Dundee Utd for McGrath's services (The Press and Journal, 21 June).
I thought we were weakened by not having had him in the squad this month. It would have been useful to have had him to come on for Knight for the last half hour in Poland, for instance.
Wigan may not fancy him for whatever reason but he plays that midfield/forward link position well - he's not as good as Knight but still of benefit as a squad member.
Knight can't play 90 minutes of every game and Hourihane is a different kind of player that doesn't suit that role. McGrath is a better fit for the position.
McGrath has to have been one of those classic "chairman" signings, where they fancied him but the manager didn't. Never got a sniff of a chance and the move was a complete waste of time. Hopefully gets a decent move now and regular playing time, he certainly offers something a bit different when in the squad and was a solid performer in the games he played.
Would it be a bit of a pity if he moves back to Scotland? He turns 26 in September and will he get another chance at a level better than SPL if he moves back? Very conscious that he has to leave Wigan. It doesn't seem like he's fancied there. Which is interesting. If he never fit the style or formation he shouldn't have been signed. He's shown for Ireland that he's at least League One level (at least) when he jumps into international level. So what's the missing piece in terms of his second half of the season there?
His options may be limited though.
Looks to be on his way back to Scotland to spend the season with Dundee United.
Good start - setting up the only goal in United's Conference League tie with AZ Alkmaar two minutes after coming on: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62378461
Scored from inside the box against Kilmarnock tonight.