Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
N talks to Glentoran’s John Mcguigan on his East Belfast return
games people have been praising me for this season with Glentoran, I didn’t think I was that good,” said the Glens No10.
“I am my biggest critic, so I’ve been saying to myself I haven’t been that good and even in the game against Dungannon when I got man of the match I thought I was just all right.
“Like I say, I am my own biggest critic, and it can be a good thing and a bad thing because I know I have got more in the tank. “But at the same time I can beat myself up and kill my confidence – it just depends how I deal with it.” Having been immersed in all things Glentoran since signing for the club from his boyhood team Newhill at the age of 15, Mcguigan is well aware the Oval is not the most forgiving of Irish League grounds.
For fans reared on the glory days of the Roy Coyle era, or even further back, the storied titlewinning teams of Billy Caskey, Raymond Morrison and Jim Cleary, mediocrity and the banal mid-table dead rubbers of recent times will never be accepted.
Quite simply, they demand better, and Mcguigan insists he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Just over two years after he first left the club, he believes he returns a better, more complete player.
And, crucially, one with a point to prove. “Was it an easy decision to return, yes and no,” said the former Northern Ireland under21 international.
“Yes for the simple reason I had been there before, I knew most of the people there and I think I had a point to prove.
“Then, sometimes, I was thinking to myself is it the right move. I have been there and done it, it didn’t work out, should I go back? But I’m glad I went back to be honest.
“It’s been a pretty positive start, not the greatest start in all honesty, but there’s been a few highlights and I have definitely made the right move.
“Last season was really good for me and really good for Warrenpoint.
“I helped get them up to where they wanted to be and I want to do the same with Glentoran. My personal goal which I set each year as an attacking midfielder is 10 goals.
“If I get my 10 goals, I’ll be happy personally, as well as getting as many assists as I can and to be involved in as many goals as I can.
“And I want to help get the team and the club back to where they belong because let’s be honest, everybody knows that this league needs a good Glentoran.
“Even the attendance came out there recently and the Glens had the most on average so it’s a massive, massive club.
“I’ve set my sights on fourth this season and I got laughed at over pre-season for saying it but, listen, I set my targets high and hopefully I can reach them and the club can too.”