10 | Jack Grealish - 2022/23 Performances

[Worzel Gummidge#9]

The problem is that after a season with us we are benching someone better than him in any position you want to put him in. Foden is better than him wide. KDB and Bernie are better than him central. I like Grealish, I think he is a very good player and he can do a job here. However, at the moment he is a squad player and only he can change that.

Exactly this

 

[southamptonblue]

He last assist to Halaand is with his left leg. He dropped to the byline once to feed Halaand but Halaand did not win against VVD.


The real problem is Mahrez who has no right foot at all. And both Mahrez and KDB did not arrive into the box as often as it need. So when Grealish looked up there was only one striker in the box against Liverpool very capable center backs. A cross would be meaningless. So he just cut inside to try to drag the space on the right to find Mahrez who parked there all the time.


When Alvarez came on we had two targets in the box thus it was much better.

Why blame Mahrez for Grealishs performance, when Mahrez has a poor game, which is less often than Grealish, he can still pull something out (often scoring) other than retaining possession or falling over, Grealish contributing anything else is rarer than a Bluemoon.

 

[Ric]

The problem is that after a season with us we are benching someone better than him in any position you want to put him in. Foden is better than him wide. KDB and Bernie are better than him central. I like Grealish, I think he is a very good player and he can do a job here. However, at the moment he is a squad player and only he can change that.

We’re going to need to rotate more than ever this season with the World Cup, so I’d have any two from De Bruyne, Bernardo, Gundogan and Grealish playing as the attacking midfielders. Would give Grealish time to adapt to the role, especially if Bernardo goes next summer. It’d mean we’re a little light in terms of forwards though, with only four senior players (plus Palmer) competing for three places.

 

[Agueroooo9320]

Really think he needs to be playing in the middle as an 8 to see the best of him. Doesn’t seem particularly well suited to the wide left role, especially when paired with another right footer in Cancelo at left-back. Makes the team seem a bit unbalanced.

basically grealish and mahrez play exactly the same. only difference is mahrez can score. if mahrez was a bad finisher he too would be useless as a winger. both would be good attacking midfielders in a different life.

 

[simon23]

It’s down to both of them but also Pep. Pep wants complete control of the game, even to the extent that he wants wingers to pass back instead of attacking full backs. I think Grealish and Mahrez are more than happy to oblige and that’s why they shouldn’t play together. It’s all too safe.

IMO Mahrez is a Pep yes man, that’s why Jesus and Sterling are elsewhere and he is the one that got the new contract. He is the only one of the three that was ok with playing 15 PL games a season. Grealish is falling into the same trap and it’s a mistake. He would be better off following the likes of Foden and producing the off-the-cuff things (even if means getting the odd telling off from the gaffer) that made us want him in the 1st place.

At the moment he is a Mahrez clone but without the goals, and that is not a £100m player.

so you are blaming the best manager in the world for his poor performances? Really?

have you not heard the clips from the new documentary where pep is talking to the squad last season saying things like "you have my permission to lose, you have my permission to lose the ball you have my permission to get things wrong but you must want the ball etc"

Grealish has a long and very very important season in front of him......the excuses will start to run thin if he doesnt start to step up...its upto him to do so....Jesus and Sterling despite being moved on can still be called huge successes at this club..they both hugely added to the success we have had over the last seasons under Pep....Grealish has yet added anything

 

[Agueroooo9320]

The problem is that after a season with us we are benching someone better than him in any position you want to put him in. Foden is better than him wide. KDB and Bernie are better than him central. I like Grealish, I think he is a very good player and he can do a job here. However, at the moment he is a squad player and only he can change that.

he was bought as a replacement to bernardo when he was pushing to leave.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

We’re going to need to rotate more than ever this season with the World Cup, so I’d have any two from De Bruyne, Bernardo, Gundogan and Grealish playing as the attacking midfielders. Would give Grealish time to adapt to the role, especially if Bernardo goes next summer. It’d mean we’re a little light in terms of forwards though, with only four senior players (plus Palmer) competing for three places.

I’m inclined to agree. The reason being if you are playing wide forward in this team I think you should be providing 20 G/A per season minimum. In fairness to Mahrez he has that in his locker. I am not convinced that Grealish does. Grealish would arguably add more in rotation in the middle of the park than he does in rotation wide left.

 

[simon23]

Can he use his left leg, or does he only do it to go up the stairs?
He keeps going to his right, everyone knows it. Grealish is not winger and it won't help as much as we would like to believe he is. He is a good player who should play in the center.

Problem is that IF that is true (and Im not sure there is any evidence that Grealish would be better centrally) then he is fucked cause every other player is better than him in there as well (KDB, Gundogan, Foden bernardo) - the onyl one who couldnt play the central mid role is Mahrez

 

[simon23]

He last assist to Halaand is with his left leg. He dropped to the byline once to feed Halaand but Halaand did not win against VVD.


The real problem is Mahrez who has no right foot at all. And both Mahrez and KDB did not arrive into the box as often as it need. So when Grealish looked up there was only one striker in the box against Liverpool very capable center backs. A cross would be meaningless. So he just cut inside to try to drag the space on the right to find Mahrez who parked there all the time.


When Alvarez came on we had two targets in the box thus it was much better.

He had a chance to do that today and didnt...same run (bit wider and had space to put the ball across and didnt and there were runners (including Haaland) in the box

 

[applejuice]

basically grealish and mahrez play exactly the same. only difference is mahrez can score. if mahrez was a bad finisher he too would be useless as a winger. both would be good attacking midfielders in a different life.

No.

They played exactly the opposite role. Grealish task is to attract as much defenders to create room on the opposite flank. And Mahrez task is to use this room after switch to finish. In recent podcast by Pol they discussed about how Mahrez enjoyed these switches which boosted his stats.


However - it is not the most efficient way to use our squad now after two new strikers joined. Mahrez is no longer the best finisher and the tactics should build on how to utilize the strikers instead of creating room for Mahrez.

I am not blaming him ...just saying we need a change. But Pep still used the same game plan today and it was not efficient today.

 

[kye1991]

he was bought as a replacement to bernardo when he was pushing to leave.

Evening txiki.

Weren't you the same person last season who was saying he was brought in to replace gundo?

 

[simon23]

Why blame Mahrez for Grealishs performance, when Mahrez has a poor game, which is less often than Grealish, he can still pull something out (often scoring) other than retaining possession or falling over, Grealish contributing anything else is rarer than a Bluemoon.

the harsh and hard truth

 

[OrigamiNinja]

so you are blaming the best manager in the world for his poor performances? Really?

have you not heard the clips from the new documentary where pep is talking to the squad last season saying things like "you have my permission to lose, you have my permission to lose the ball you have my permission to get things wrong but you must want the ball etc"

Grealish has a long and very very important season in front of him......the excuses will start to run thin if he doesnt start to step up...its upto him to do so....Jesus and Sterling despite being moved on can still be called huge successes at this club..they both hugely added to the success we have had over the last seasons under Pep....Grealish has yet added anything

I’m not blaming anyone. I am saying what you and I perceive as poor performances is not necessarily what Pep sees. Pep loves keeping possession and Grealish does that really well, as does Mahrez. I think they are both too negative and frustrating to watch, but I don’t pick the team…the best manager in the world does, and he keeps picking him, so maybe he doesn’t see them as poor performances.

 

[BlueMedic]

Really think he needs to be playing in the middle as an 8 to see the best of him. Doesn’t seem particularly well suited to the wide left role, especially when paired with another right footer in Cancelo at left-back. Makes the team seem a bit unbalanced.

Agree with this - and feel it is a "problem" we've had with a few players over the recent years: KDB and Bernardo have moved centrally to great effect, I feel Grealish and Foden also would be better centrally. Alvarez yet to be seen but wouldn't shock me if he doesn't look a natural wide man either.

Sane, Sterling and Mahrez have been our only real wingers recently, and two of them have left. We've lost a lot of the width we used to have.

Like you say having Cancelo (and Walker) on the pitch only seems to exacerbate this, Cancelo takes up the space at LW, and Walker isn't a great attacking fullback. It does feel like the balance is off and we lack width without a natural LB coming in - on paper Cancelo RB and Cucurella* (or other) at LB would look a much more balanced team.

 

[southamptonblue]

I think the bottom line is most agree Grealish needs to improve, alot on last season....it was only a friendly, let's see when the season gets going ;)

 

[supercity88]

Didn't get much of a chance considering how poor Cancelo was in nearly every department. Defensively he still doesn't get close enough for my liking either, Trent was left far too much space by him, and Rodri. But Liverpool just looked a week or two ahead in terms of fitness and sharpness. That might mean they fall flat two weeks before the end of the season instead, whilst we kick on.

He was excellent against Bayern and I am sure he will have a better season. I still would love to see him more central, but where is the spot when De Bruyne, Bernardo and Gundo are all so good and proven in there.

 

[CityBluez]

I’m not blaming anyone. I am saying what you and I perceive as poor performances is not necessarily what Pep sees. Pep loves keeping possession and Grealish does that really well, as does Mahrez. I think they are both too negative and frustrating to watch, but I don’t pick the team…the best manager in the world does, and he keeps picking him, so maybe he doesn’t see them as poor performances.

He didn't pick grealish most of last season. If foden was in preseason games he would have definitely picked foden over grealish. So I think grealish is definitely having poor performances as per pep

 

[OrigamiNinja]

He didn't pick grealish most of last season. If foden was in preseason games he would have definitely picked foden over grealish. So I think grealish must definitely have poor performances as per pep

We had full rotation of wide men in the PL last season. Grealish started more games than Mahrez and Jesus, and only slightly less than Foden and Sterling. Pep likes to rotate and while we can all moan (I do more than most) it’s what happens at the end of the season that matters and Pep delivers the goods better than anyone.

 

[RayCTID]

Do t think Peps instructions are different for him and other wise forwards. There are no instructions against attacking your defender in the final 3rd. I'm certain of it.


He will though. Too talented not to.

Grealish isn't looking like he isn't playing his natural game but he is talented player.

 

[simon23]

I’m not blaming anyone. I am saying what you and I perceive as poor performances is not necessarily what Pep sees. Pep loves keeping possession and Grealish does that really well, as does Mahrez. I think they are both too negative and frustrating to watch, but I don’t pick the team…the best manager in the world does, and he keeps picking him, so maybe he doesn’t see them as poor performances.

ah but Pep wants possession with purpose (or bravery as he often refers to it) - ie creating space, moving the opponent....Grealish doesnt do this. You are presuming that Pep is happy with his performances.......what he says to the media about any players is not necessarily the actual truth.....

If Grealish doesnt start performing he will be benched and so he should be. He only started today as Foden had had no pre season