He doesnt score and assist enough to displace a Son or Rashford.
Should we not factor in the team he plays for?
- Playing for Villa he is the player in the PL with most shot creating actions and goal creating actions in the PL, according to Statsbomb.
- KdB is the only player in the PL with a higher xga per 90 min, 0,43 vs 0,37. Bruno is at 0,35.
- The only players in the PL with more passes and crosses into the penalty box per 90 min is TAA (3,11 + 0,78), Bruno (2,88 + 0,26) and KdB (3,49 + 0,42). Grealish is at 2,86 + 0,18.
- However, Grealish is also by far the player in the PL with most carries into the penalty area (and neither KdB, Bruno or TAA comes close). Grealish has 3,41 per games. The next two players on the list is Mahrez (2,37) and Sterling (2,20).
- In other words, while playing for Villa Grealish is the player who brings the ball into the penalty area most often.
- The stats above indicates that he takes risk with the ball, but his completion rate is significantly higher than Bruno and KdB. Again, despite playing for Villa. 78,1 %, 75,7 % and 74,3 %. He also very rarely give away the ball.
Very few players are so progressive and successfull both in terms of carrying, passing and holding on to the ball. The numbers underline that he is a very complete attacker. Three players with similar stats are Messi, Sancho and Hazard during his days at Chelsea. Messi, as you would expect, in a league of his own.
I can hardly remember seeing a player so much better than all the other players on his team in the PL. In my opinion, he is very similar to Eden Hazard at Chelsea. But Hazard always benefited from playing at a better team. Hazard was probably/maybe more talented, but Grealish appears to be more of a team player in my opinion. Less arrogant and with more effort.
IMO, Sancho is a very good option to Grealish. But like Hazard, Sancho is a bit less mature in his game (more arrogant, not as hard-working). I would also argue that doing what Grealish do at Villa is more difficult. It is beneficial to play with Haaland and Reus compared to Watkins. Bundesliga is also very attacking in its nature.