http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyo8nsiUVjM
Jack Grealish is one of the most exciting prospects for Aston Villa and this season may just be his biggest breakthrough yet. Having made a 45 minute appearance against Arsenal on the weekend under unfortunate circumstances, he seemed alive and injected fresh air into Villa park feeding the crowds ever growing opinion, but is it time to give Grealish a starting role? Let us have a look…
Grealish has made 3 appearances so far this season,
Stoke – 19 minutes (on for N’Zogbia)
| Pass Accuracy | Aerials Won | Touches | Tackles |
| 100% | 100% | 12 | 1 |
Hull City – 15 minutes (on for Richardson)
| Pass Accuracy | Aerials Won | Touches | Tackles |
| 33% | NA | 9 | NA |
Arsenal – 45 minutes (On for Wiemann)
| Pass Accuracy | Aerials Won | Touches | Tackles |
| 100% | NA | 23 | NA |
His accuracy during the Hull City game may have been lacking but he has looked comfortable and inspiring every time he has stepped onto the pitch. Grealish doesn’t fear getting forward or tracking back, he has a lot of energy and reads play well with his mind set on attacking and making chances. This was evident against Arsenal when he was always expecting the ball to come back to his feet when he was near the box, but it continued to find its way wide to Cissokho, that is a different story however.
What is stopping Grealish from getting a starting role? I have been wondering about Lamberts choice of selection and have stumbled more and more when ever I see Richardson play. The results have been going our way for most part of the season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work on the player selections to make it better right? So let’s take a quick look at Richardson’s performances this season in the same games.
Stoke – 90 minutes (Central role)
| Pass Accuracy | Aerials Won | Touches | Tackles |
| 59% | NA | 31 | 1 |
Hull City – 75 minutes (Right wing, replaced by Grealish)
| Pass Accuracy | Aerials Won | Touches | Shots | Tackles | Assists |
| 71% | 100% | 37 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Arsenal – 77 Minutes (Left wing, replaced by N’Zogbia)
| Pass Accuracy | Aerials Won | Touches | Tackles |
| 53% | NA | 22 | 1 |
It is clear that Richardsons best game was when he was playing on the right wing, struggling to link play or even see much of the ball in other positions. Grealish touched the ball 23 times in a 45 minute window with 100% accuracy passing, compare that to Richardson’s 22 touches in 77 minutes and achieving just over 50% accuracy with passing. Statistics do not lie, and to give Richardson the benefit of the doubt, his best game so far was against Liverpool in the 0:1 win where he played the full game on the left wing with 31 touches and 81% pass completition. It was also in this game when I thought he wasn’t right to be on the field. The balls he did give away tended to be on the break where he over hit, under hit which broke the counter leading to another Liverpool skirmish. He seemed uneasy in the role, and when I look at his play compared to Grealish, it is an obvious choice for me. Come this Saturday, I would like to see Grealish start over Richardson.
UPDATED 23.09.14 -12:30pm
To give us all a little bit more encouragement and excitement for Mr Grealish, he has spoken to the BirminghamMail and said the following
My contract runs out at the end of the season but my eyes are on remaining at Villa
And for all those feeling negative about this weekends result to Arsenal, a quote from Jack Grealish via twitter.
Gutted about the result, was such a tough game to come on in to.. Definitely take 10 points out of 15 though! Support was great throughout
For all those who have access, it would be great if you could share/ retweet this post. Keep the faith. UTV.
Good video!
I like this kid.
That opening clip reminds me of Maradonna. Quick feet, good balance and a sort of unshakeability about him.
If he can keep his progress going he’ll make Wilshire, Ramsey et al look like mugs.
I just pray no one tells him to dive.
Very exciting prospect and it’s about time, given how good our academy supposedly is.
Hate to put a dampner on things but how long will we keep him teams like Chelsea already sniffing about. Loyalty to villa and being a villa fan might give us one extra season of good will but bottom line is
Ike all our decent players it won’t be ling before he’s off and who can blame him
Maybe he’ll do a Steve Bull or Matt Le Tissier…It depends if Vulla can match his ambitions…
Seriously villa can’t even match the ambitions of a non league player let alone an up and coming superstar
Blimey Oohah; do you have a single positive notion in your head. You’re enough top drive anyone to top themselves!!!
Thanks for this post – excellent Video, shame about the music. Wife does not believe this but we were coincidentally in HK on holiday in a hotel over looking the pitch so I saw the game featured in the first clip live. The local oppos could not get the ball off Grealish throughout the game.
I am doubtful about the big money clubs hoovering up all the talent. Not because I don’t think they will try – but because so many players have voiced their utter discontent with being a bit part player in a huge squad. James Milner being an example, he has told Citeh he is going because he just does not get enough playing time.
Grealish has been vocal about stayin at the Villa. He is well aware his contract is coming to and end is going trough negotiations. Of course this all comes from birmingham mail, i’ll update post accordingly once on a computer.
True but in the fickle world of football it means nothing
I don’t wish to a appear to be having a go at Grealish the lads a great prospect and I don’t any issues with Richardson either but stats can lie, it’s down to the type of pass.
Anyone can stand in the middle of the park knocking 4 foot sidewards passes for 90 minutes and end up with a 90 odd % successful pass rate, it’s about the type of pass in my books.
A player that tries to split the defence with a clever little ball or try to switch play with a cross field pass is attempting a much more difficult skill and far riskier ball, so imo stats don’t show the whole picture.
I conpletely agree and take your comment kn board for further articles. Grealish does play a lot of attacking football and aims to go forward with each pass. Richardson, tries to go forward and miss hits simple balls up the wing. But yes, i agree, a stat doesn’t lie but it can decieve.
While that’s true, you gotta look at when he comes on too. We’re attacking for the first 20-30 minutes and sit back constantly in the 2nd half, when Grealish comes on. Nothing he can really do to pick out anyone when all we do is kick the ball up and have it come back.
@ Andrew, I’ve read a few of your posts and have to say you really are extremely [edit] Oohaghpaulmcrath Daddy il let this one go but another offensive post like that will see you banned! Oohagh
Hahaha oh okay.
BWS – understand what you”re saying but they are two completely different skills. We missed Westwood Saturday because we have no one who can keep the ball and make those 5 yard passes like Westwood does. I think Grealish brings different skills; good with the ball at his feet and draws defenders to him either drawing a foul or pushing a short pass to a colleague. He also has good dribbling skills. THere are very few players that can consistently play the ultimate killer pass!
Think Bremner and Cowans, both vital to the team…
Spot on – Des Bremner, an unsung hero but absolutely vital to the balance of the side. Remember when Sir Ron signed him; Des Who was the reaction
NEW POST GONE UP BWS
Definitely think Richardson is a natural wide player. Grealish could be a natural number 10 or play in behind the front two.
Oohah, we all know about how the top clubs come sniffing and your constantly going on about it is becoming boring.
How about we just appreciate how good this kid might be and enjoy the time he’s with us?
If you can’t see the positives about having such a prospective gem in our squad, I really don’t see where you’ll ever see a positive, us winning the league or qualifying for the CL apart.
And that isn’t happening anytime soon, sadly.
You need to be a bit more realistic mate.
Supporting a club involves hope and not just constantly winning.
Which is why I find Man U’s current situation so funny.
Try lowering your expectations a bit. It helps.
Sorry, but it needed saying.
about time 🙂 hope hes listens, nobody want to hear constant villa bashing, objective yeah but this season hasn’t even started and hes dragging up the past. fresh start please.
i think grealish will make it all the way, to where he wants too. i only worry that our club don’t over use him, hes still not physically premiership, but his skills are, i think his position is anywhere attacking. lets all be patent with him
Spot on Nath.
He’s a scrawny little kid, regardless of his size.
I’ve often arm wrestled bigger young kids than me for a laugh and murdered them, even though I’m nowhere near large, because they’re “empty bottles”. IE the body might be there, but there’s nowt behind it yet.
Rooney disproves my point, but he was a bit of a freak, albeit in a good way.
My point is that this kid has the makings, imo.
I actually think Lambert will bring him up right and won’t over-use him, as much as I don’t rate him as a manager overall.
He’ll be taught to ride the tough stuff, hopefully without diving (which is my big fear for him a la Young) and hopefully Keane will learn him a trick or two too in dishing it out.
The skill level is a class apart, but we’ve seen it before in the likes of Daley.
The difference is Grealish looks much more two footed to me.
This is where we’ll find out how good Lambert really is, imo.
tony daley 🙂 mark walters very good players but don’t want 2 big up this kid too much.but hes got more, like u said 2 feet and he seems to av more about him like a gazza, but totally agree hes along way to go in strength. but badger no one could argue, he a type of player which puts bums on seats. he does things what fans like to see, stuff which we couldn’t do in our primes lmao,
the game against hull he came on only for 10 ~15 mins but in this time,he won 4 or 5 free kicks sucking in tackles and moving the ball before the tackle came in, he very quick footed, he affect the game players are seeing him as danger which creates room for others. i don’t want 2 see him start loads like u said last 20mins for now is enough to blood him in
is this the same lamberk who bought up baker, clarke, bennett, albrighton and bannan you talk absolute rubbish Badger
i find it more boring waxing lyrical about a future sky 4 player, I find it boring that our only decent youths Cahill and soon to be Grealish will be an asset to a sky for team rather than us, Im bored of having a shit manager and shit owner and bored that everyone here just cannot see the light. Villa are a second city club with the potential to get between 50-60k every game, I dont give a fuck that everythings changed we should still be going for the top honours and not having a wank fest about staying up every season.
And we’re getting bored with your cynical negativity.
Great to see the “wank fest” comment come up again. Maybe Oohaah can’t get it up to have a wank anymore so he’s in denial…
Ooah, so what is it you’re proposing exactly?
What do you mean we don’t see the light?
I think you need to expand on this.
I can only speak for myself here, but what I’m seeing is we don’t have a minted owner, at least not on the level of Chelsea and Man City.
As for the manager, I actually tend to agree there, but who are we going to get?
You can cite all the up and coming managers you like, but they’re a risk.
You just have to look at OGS, who I think you wanted, as a good example. He’d have relegated us imo. Something the vast majority don’t want.
We simply are not going to get a top manager, because Lerner either doesn’t have or simply won’t invest the required money to get one in.
That’s the way it is, but he won’t be here for ever.
I take that as a positive, although we could end up with someone way worse.
60k crowds, possibly, but when was the last time we got those?
As for being bored, well yes, I’m bored by the football we play and have often criticised it.
The difference between us though, is that I do look for positives.
I have to or there’s simply no point in being a supporter.
And Grealish, while we’ve got him, is a cracking player. He’s the sort that will lift fan’s bums off their seats. That to me is a positive.
I want exactly what you want. I’m sure everyone else does too; challenging or even winning the league and the CL.
But it isn’t going to happen anytime soon; that’s the reality and we can’t do anything about it, unless you expand on what you’re proposing. Which you won’t.
I think it’s you who needs to see the light mate, although I won’t stoop to your level in saying you talk absolute rubbish.
Look, at the end of the day, if you can’t look for positives, you might as well just stop being interested, as they’ll probably never come. And if they do, you’ll probably never see them.
Well, you aren’t seeing them, are you?
I can see where Oohah is coming from but the issue in reality is not so much an indictment of AVFC but of modern football as a whole and the huge have / have not disparity but that’s the way it is and it isn’t going to change any time soon.
As for the 60k crowds well the only one I can remember was against Barcelona in about 78 and possibly Ipswich 80/81 but if you look at our historical attendance record we’ve never been anywhere that figure, even in the title winning year we only averaged just over 34,000 and the season after (the apex of AVFC) that figure unbelievably dropped to around 27, 000.
Build it and they will come? Our history says otherwise.
*Figures courtesy of – (http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/astv.htm)*
Fair play Badger, hope he listens but can’t see it, think he’s stuck in the past too deep to move on and realise that things change.
Staying in London on business. Southampton staying in same hotel ahead of tomorrow’s game with Arse in the League (sic) Cup. Just met Sammy Lee – what a gent. Wished them luck for tomorrow – hope they stuff the Arse! (The wife tried to gate crash their dinner – can’t think why 🙂 )
You must have a good job, Mr Hitchens.
I tend to stay in the sort of hotels the cleaners might get 🙂
Not that there’s anything wrong with cleaners.
The cleaners at BMH???? The poo acrubbers?!?!?!?
Badger – actually pretty ordinary London hotel! The work I’m doing is ‘pro bono’ but it’s for a large charitable institution and they organise my hotel stay for me.
Is your real name Roger Mellie?
No Roger Moore 🙂
The fact that Saints were in a Hotel, rather than off the bus, is interesting. Ever wondered why Toon are so dismal in London or South Coast? They fly down, not as grisly as the bus but more stressful than a quick journey. Wonder where Villa will spend Friday night (don’t say on the toilet)?
On the toilet! Lol!
Apparently quite a number of teams stay at this hotel when playing in London
Its a bit worrying that the 3 players we need to sign new contracts- vlaar, delph and Grealish have all yet to sign. And yet deals have been quickly done with Gabby, Hutton and Lambert!!
Comments of Grealish, courtesy of http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/399924/Chelsea-and-Man-Utd-target-Jack-Grealish-addresses-his-Aston-Villa-future
However, the youngster looks set to sign a new four-year deal after declaring his allegiance to the club.
“I want to stay at Villa,” he told the Birmingham Mail. “My contract runs out at the end of the season but my eyes are on remaining at Villa.
“It’s just down to contract negotiations at the moment but I’m hopeful it will come in time.”
‘When asked if he could see himself leaving for another club, Grealish said: “No, of course not. I’m a lifelong fan. Even when I didn’t have a game during my loan spell at Notts County last season, I’d go down and watch as a supporter.
“I’ve been a season-ticket holder since I was four and joined the club at couple of years later. So to be playing for Villa in the Premier League and having the fans in the Holte End sing my name like they did against Hull is a dream come true.
“I’m going through one of those phases where I just can’t get enough.
“Having gotten a taste of it, I’m striving for more by trying to keep playing.”
I also understand, Grealish’s father is the one who represents him, so I am sure and have faith that he has Jack’s best interests at heart.
Sign On young Grealish and you will prove not only to be the best player that the academy has ever produced but a player Villa fans will be talking about for generations.
Those kinds of starlight forward statements are rarely seen nowadays or at least since the advent of agents.
A player openly stating his wish to stay at a club prior to contract negotiations and stating his long term goal to be there?
Thats refreshing at least
Don’t get me wrong, they are just words but still a change of pace form the usual posturing and bet hedging statements most players make in that position
He’s ‘got it’ just needs another couple years to mature. Spacial awareness is great, knows when to take one touch and when to turn n run. Don’t think he’ll start at weekend, first think Ivanovic will do is take him out the game with a swift dead leg…..And he’ll get away with it as per
He does look the real deal; skilful, accomplished on the ball, confident and savvy for an 18 year old. Hope he doesn’t become another Luke Moore.
I submitted a new article.. If someone could take a look at it. Cheers
Darren, I’ve just seen it. Good article and I’m just trying to think when to post it.
Probably tomorrow morning.
No problem.. Thanks Badger