Jack Grealish | Man City

Brightonian

Full Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2012
Messages
14,104
Location
Juanderlust
Most are acknowledging that Grealish is good, but very overrated. Maybe he'll go on to smash it at City, but until then, he's a good player who has been given a God-like status far too prematurely. What he done at Villa was very good, but some off the OTT "generational talent" stuff is beyond ridiculous. Of course, some of the criticism is totally OTT too. I expect him to be a good player at City, but whether he'll be a great one is still very debatable.
I'm in the Grealish fan club and last season considered him pretty much worthy of the 'god-like status'. But he'll probably never appear to fulfil those expectations at City simply because their team play is so all-consuming and generally at such a high level that there's limited room for individuality to shine. De Bruyne is the only one of their current stable of creative talent who's ever managed to be so undeniably top drawer that his highlights look more notable than just 'very good player involved in very good team move.' Grealish could do the same, possibly - I believe he has the ability - but he could also end up as another Bernardo Silva or Mahrez or even Gundogan at the moment. Talented cogs in an effective machine, who's contribution will be remembered more as part of a whole than in their own right.
 

Suedesi

Full Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2001
Messages
23,887
Location
New York City
I wouldn't change any of them for him, his role as a lb is very different which is probably why he's so good there. I'd start him ahead of Cancelo every day of the week. I haven't that stats to back this up but I would wager Sterlings ton of goals most of them come with Zinchenko at lb as opposed to Mendy or Cancelo.

He doesn't create overlaps or assists, his job is to recycle the ball, be in the right position to receive the ball and cover the counter. Its no coincidence Grealish came to life 2nd half when Zinchenko came on for Walker after Cancelo was stepping all over his feet and not giving him the ball 1st half. He has this great knack of always being in the right place, doesn't get caught out too often like Cancelo (mainly because he doesn't push too far and is more defensively aware), he's like the anti-Mendy, not blessed with the physique and speed of a fb but really intelligent in making space for the winger and CM (usually Sterling and Gundogan) whilst being solid defensively. Hugely underrated imho because he was less than £2m in a squad that cost £1bn.

Stuff like his record of having the longest winning run in PL history can't be coincidence. We've taken 152 points from a possible 189 with him on the pitch. Thats a win rate of just under 80%. Probably the highest in the leagues history. He's one of those players like Jesus who we're a better team when they play despite their rating as individuals.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/english...enko-unbeaten-in-23grealish-loses-20-straight ironic this is in the Grealish thread given he makes and unexpected appearance but its one example of how much he flies under the radar.

Not to be arrogant but if any of Reguillon, Digne or Tierney were better they'd be at City. For me, he's easily one of the best left backs, again like Ederson he's not gonna fit in everywhere but for Pep he's exactly what he needs and requires in a fullback (usually one of this two fullbacks).
He's certainly a tidy player in recycling the ball, but in my view he's not great at beating the man, doesn't deliver a great cross, he is not a great defender, but if he works for Pep's system than that's all that matters I suppose.
 

FeedTheGoat

Full Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Messages
824
Supports
Man City
He fits our system so well.
Can't wait for Foden to return, them 2 are tailor made for interchanging positions on the left
 

RooneyLegend

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2013
Messages
12,963
As a chalk on boots wide man he won't succeed but Pep will realise that soon enough. Even Foden is more natural on the left than him.
 

OverratedOpinion

Full Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2017
Messages
6,776
I didn't mean it was worderd poorly, I mean £73m is a risk for someone who hasn't done it in said league. Thats no a slight, you obviously can't do it if you don't have the chance.

Sterling wants out and just because Raheem is a better player doesn't make him a better fit tactically, like Saka vs Sancho on the right for England (which was hyperbole on my part). Sterling is a class player but is being marginalized more and more at City as his game moves on because Pep sees someone like Grealish as a better fit, he's started all 3 games while Raheem has been a sub. Square peg in round hole with our newer more defensive style. We now kill teams with endless possession and don't attack with the pace like we used to. It is a different City to the one with Sterling and Sane and what came after, we are a little slower and more patient and it maybe doesn't suit Raheem, but most importantly he's likely running his contract down cause he wants to leave. Its strongly hinted at the 3 who want out are Bernardo (who Pep stated), Raheem and Laporte. It might not be true but thats the rumor and it makes sense given Sterling despite being such a good player is getting pushed more and more outta the team.

I'm not at all insinuating he'll be rubbish I'm insinuating he might be a 15 goal a season striker or a 30 goal a season striker. We don't know but we do know what Harry Kane will be. Good players for whatever reason don't always adapt to new leagues.

Honestly with Zinchenko I think only Robertson and Shaw are better right now in the PL. Before last season only Robertson, I think people still see Zinchenko as the young cm playing LB he was 3 or 4 years ago. In Europe who could we really bring in to replace him. No way Davies leaves Bayern, we're not getting Shaw nor Robertson and anyone else would be pretty much an even exchange imho. Madrid and Barca are using past it full backs or Mendy who's all hype imho. PSG's aren't amazing. Juve have Sandro and Danilo.. I genuinely see no huge upgrade on him. Spinazolla if he wasn't always injured but aside from that...

I don't think we're arguing as much as having a healthy internet debate that looks like arguing (though my wife says I'd argue with myself if left in front of a mirror for 10 minutes)
I think every signing is a risk and prem proven is a bit of a myth imo. For example the teams Grealish played against last season will be set up entirely differently due to them facing Man City rather than Villa.

I think you are just looking at things the way they are rather than what options were actually available. Pep could easily make Sterling fit into the side and not push him to the sidelines and I am sure he would rather stay if that were the case. Anyway, you have who you have. I think it was not a signing that you needed and think other areas were a priority.

I don't rate Zinchenko a bad player, I think you should have signed Digne personally who I think is quite a bit better.
 

Marwood

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2021
Messages
4,416
He created great openings and also a clear-cut goal so I think it's obvious how he can improve City even though there were spells in the game in which he wasn't too involved, especially in the first.
But do Sterling and Mahrez not already give you that? At least one of them is benched for Grealish.
 

OverratedOpinion

Full Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2017
Messages
6,776
So the same doesn't apply for Sancho playing in a far more attacking team and Grealish being surrounded by strikers that managed 1 goal between them in 19/20. The stats were fine to compare then, but not now. Right.

There's far less of a gap this season between City and United than there is between Villa and Dortmund. If we can't compare their figures after this season then I don't know what to tell you.

I don't know how you can say Sancho is better at beating a man either. It's one thing he really struggles with from a standing start. I swear it feels like I'm having a conversation with someone who has a mythical idea of a player rather than having actually watched him consistenly. I'll end this conversation, but bookmark this and revisit at say game week 15 and you'll see the actual verdict on Sancho.
Mate, you are saying Sancho struggles to dribble past defenders.

I can literally show you 100 examples of him doing it beautifully.
 

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
68,901
Location
Brizzle
Supports
Big Days
I don't know how you can say Sancho is better at beating a man either. It's one thing he really struggles with from a standing start. I swear it feels like I'm having a conversation with someone who has a mythical idea of a player rather than having actually watched him consistenly. I'll end this conversation, but bookmark this and revisit at say game week 15 and you'll see the actual verdict on Sancho.
:lol:

@Rado_N
 

amolbhatia50k

Sneaky bum time - Vaccination status: dozed off
Joined
Nov 8, 2002
Messages
95,976
Location
india
Most are acknowledging that Grealish is good, but very overrated. Maybe he'll go on to smash it at City, but until then, he's a good player who has been given a God-like status far too prematurely. What he done at Villa was very good, but some off the OTT "generational talent" stuff is beyond ridiculous. Of course, some of the criticism is totally OTT too. I expect him to be a good player at City, but whether he'll be a great one is still very debatable.

Lukaku though? I mean, I was one of the ones arguing for us to sign him when people were labelling him all sorts. But feck me, he was a poor piece of business. Honestly, no one gave a shite when we sold him and I was personally glad to see the back of him. He's nowhere near as good as the media are now portraying him. It's all rosey now, but I have no doubt he'll revert to his usual languid self, once the new club adrenaline wears off. People haven't rated the guy for years, even when he played for us ffs, so why should they now?
Yeah there's too much hype. He wasn't that good against an appalling arsenal team but I'm seeing so much praise.
 

marktan

Full Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
7,009
Mate, you are saying Sancho struggles to dribble past defenders.

I can literally show you 100 examples of him doing it beautifully.
Sancho struggles to beat players from a standing start.:lol:
...

Here's a simple idea, go watch his highlights in the Champions League against PSG and Tottenham. He completes about half his dribbles when forced to dribble against a man from a standing start.

Don't get me wrong he has great close control and can dribble well when he's already running, but his acceleration from a standing start isn't close to the likes of Nani, Mane, Hazard, Neymar etc. The reason I bring it up because against teams that sit deep against us (which as per last season, is the majority), he'll find it hard to beat players. Again, you'll see this throughout this season.
 

RedRonaldo

Wishes to be oppressed.
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Messages
18,996
He is fitting well as LWF in City front 3, but could he play together with Foden, Sterling though.
 

Kablamo

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jan 9, 2014
Messages
96
Supports
Chelsea
People will laugh but I'll say it again:

Grealish = a slightly slower Willian
Sancho = a younger Mata

That's not in any way a criticism of either, but strip away the hairband and the Bundesliga sheen and that's what they are.
 

padr81

Full Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2015
Messages
12,069
Supports
Man City
Sancho struggles to beat players from a standing start.:lol:
What? Thats one of his strengths. Slowing defenders and himself down till stopped and then leaving them for dead.
 

OverratedOpinion

Full Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2017
Messages
6,776
...

Here's a simple idea, go watch his highlights in the Champions League against PSG and Tottenham. He completes about half his dribbles when forced to dribble against a man from a standing start.

Don't get me wrong he has great close control and can dribble well when he's already running, but his acceleration from a standing start isn't close to the likes of Nani, Mane, Hazard, Neymar etc. The reason I bring it up because against teams that sit deep against us (which as per last season, is the majority), he'll find it hard to beat players. Again, you'll see this throughout this season.
He is literally excellent at it.

You are a weird combination of wrong and also sounding incredibly smug about it.
 

padr81

Full Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2015
Messages
12,069
Supports
Man City
...

Here's a simple idea, go watch his highlights in the Champions League against PSG and Tottenham. He completes about half his dribbles when forced to dribble against a man from a standing start.

Don't get me wrong he has great close control and can dribble well when he's already running, but his acceleration from a standing start isn't close to the likes of Nani, Mane, Hazard, Neymar etc. The reason I bring it up because against teams that sit deep against us (which as per last season, is the majority), he'll find it hard to beat players. Again, you'll see this throughout this season.
Would you not say 50% dribble success against top defenders is quite exceptional?
 

lloyd2wayne

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Messages
333
Location
Philadelphia
...

Here's a simple idea, go watch his highlights in the Champions League against PSG and Tottenham. He completes about half his dribbles when forced to dribble against a man from a standing start.

Don't get me wrong he has great close control and can dribble well when he's already running, but his acceleration from a standing start isn't close to the likes of Nani, Mane, Hazard, Neymar etc. The reason I bring it up because against teams that sit deep against us (which as per last season, is the majority), he'll find it hard to beat players. Again, you'll see this throughout this season.
You are making it clear you barely have watched Sancho. What does it even mean “when forced to dribble at a standing start”? He’s one of the best dribblers around whether standing or running and that’s fact. You comparing him with the best dribblers this generation has seen in Neymar, Nani, Hazard says it all because he’s that good.
 

dal

New Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2013
Messages
2,207
Grealish is much better than Willian.

He’s brilliant.
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,889
People will laugh but I'll say it again:

Grealish = a slightly slower Willian
Sancho = a younger Mata

That's not in any way a criticism of either, but strip away the hairband and the Bundesliga sheen and that's what they are.
Grealish - slower Willian :lol:
 

padr81

Full Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2015
Messages
12,069
Supports
Man City
But do Sterling and Mahrez not already give you that? At least one of them is benched for Grealish.
Not really Sterling is a finisher not a creator by any stretch. But its a straight shot between him and Sterling for the LW if Sterling doesn't move on as I think Foden will be more central maybe even f9 alot this season.
 

marktan

Full Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
7,009
He is literally excellent at it.

You are a weird combination of wrong and also sounding incredibly smug about it.
You're the one throwing around stupid insults when you're posts are all just cliches like 'you just listen to the press' with very little substance in them. The mental gymnastics you've gone through in this thread to convince yourself Sancho is great and Grealish isn't any better is astounding. As I've said countless times give it 15-20 games in the league this season and you'll see, Grealish will far outperform Sancho, that's all there is to say. Too many have this mythical idea about Sancho from being given the whole world of space in the Bundesliga, let's have this conversation again in 10 games time.
 

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
68,901
Location
Brizzle
Supports
Big Days
One of Ronaldo’s biggest weaknesses is rising up for headers in the box. He usually gets his timing wrong or gets out jumped by a defender.
 

OverratedOpinion

Full Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2017
Messages
6,776
You're the one throwing around stupid insults when you're posts are all just cliches like 'you just listen to the press' with very little substance in them. The mental gymnastics you've gone through in this thread to convince yourself Sancho is great and Grealish isn't any better is astounding. As I've said countless times give it 15-20 games in the league this season and you'll see, Grealish will far outperform Sancho, that's all there is to say. Too many have this mythical idea about Sancho from being given the whole world of space in the Bundesliga, let's have this conversation again in 10 games time.
I have said about 5 times that Sancho and Grealish are of a very similar level.

I am sorry that some people don't think that Grealish is the messiah you seem to.
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,889
One of Ronaldo’s biggest weaknesses is rising up for headers in the box. He usually gets his timing wrong or gets out jumped by a defender.
Same with players like Vidic and Terry, they were poor at winning headers. Also if Rio had pace, he would have been awesome CB.
 

SirReginald

New Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2019
Messages
2,295
Supports
Chelsea
People will laugh but I'll say it again:

Grealish = a slightly slower Willian
Sancho = a younger Mata
One of Ronaldo’s biggest weaknesses is rising up for headers in the box. He usually gets his timing wrong or gets out jumped by a defender.
This thread is bizarre.

Grealish is a good player. But when you set out your strategy for the year and declare you have £100 million to improve the company, you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Does he improve the squad? Undoubtedly.
Does he improve the first 11? Slightly.

Is a slight improvement worth £100 million to City? Hell no. But when £100 million is like a loose £10 note you didn’t even know you had, who cares.
 

sun_tzu

The Art of Bore
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Messages
19,536
Location
Still waiting for the Youthquake
Grealish is a good player.

Does he improve the squad? Undoubtedly.
Does he improve the first 11? Slightly.

Is a slight improvement worth £100 million to City?
I cant help but think that kane would have improved their first xi considerably more

i also cant help but think that if city had not agreed to pay 100m for Grealish nobody else would have done

perhaps pep is going to surprise us by making foden a false 9 or something but at the moment it looks like they have strengthened an area of their team that is already incredibly strong

(wide options) Stirling, Mahrez, Foden, Siva, Torres plus Grealish
(Attacking mid options) KDB, Foden, Silva plus Grealish

at the expense of strengthening their central striking options (as well as DM options and Left back since Mendys last minute move to HMP Altcourse)

But yeah it seems a little strange (though so does Chelsea adding Saul to an already crowded midfield)
 

OrcaFat

Full Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
5,672
All the time while people are saying he was a waste of money and City didn’t need him, he’s playing great, scoring, assisting, topping the player ratings.
 

Deery

Dreary
Joined
May 21, 2019
Messages
18,590
All the time while people are saying he was a waste of money and City didn’t need him, he’s playing great, scoring, assisting, topping the player ratings.
Who was saying that? I think everyone was saying he was the best player in the prem last season. I swear people just make up shit all the time on these boards..
 

lloyd2wayne

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Messages
333
Location
Philadelphia
All the time while people are saying he was a waste of money and City didn’t need him, he’s playing great, scoring, assisting, topping the player ratings.
Where have you been the past 4 games he has played. No where to be seen because he was below par as soon as he has a good game you come in here running to tell everyone how wonderful he is.
 

Judas

Open to offers
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
36,464
Location
Where the grass is greener.
All the time while people are saying he was a waste of money and City didn’t need him, he’s playing great, scoring, assisting, topping the player ratings.
They don't need him, but I don't see what connection that has with the fact he's doing well for them which practically everyone expected? If people said he'd be shit and flop your post would make some sense.