10 | Jack Grealish - 2022/23 Performances

[mosssideblue]

You had 33 pages worth of posts in his performance threads.

is that all :)

 

[skillman]

We bought him because Peps obsessed with him, that article about Peps extension had a chunk of info about why we signed Grealish, that Pep would constantly talk about him to Txiki. Was always in the topic of conversation between them. How he wanted to play Jack as a false 9 etc. Pep wanted him badly

Have you got a link to that article at all please mate?

 

[kye1991]

Only because those criticising him are stuck in a constant loop

Which is because jacks performances are also in a constant loop.

 

[mosssideblue]

Which is because jacks performances are also in a constant loop.

I won't argue on that as that is down to individuals opinions, but many of the posts are realised because of hyperbole and assumptions being stated as fact (this is true for both camps), and so many of the posts are not related to performance, but arguments between varying opinions.

This is becoming more evident too in Peps to thread

 

[grim up north]

Have the schools gone back yet

 

[WallyA]

Just saw on twitter somebody showing some of our big results this season:

2-0 West Ham
3-0 Wolves
6-3 United
4-0 Sevilla

Had Grealish LW and Foden RW, so perhaps something to that pairing.

Also what I noticed in those wins is that:

1) The midfield 3 had KdB starting every game with Gundogan and Silva in half of them (they can be rotated freely), showing reliance on KdB.

2) Cancelo started every game (we need Cancelo playing simply back), but he was paired with Walker x 2 and Stones, in 3 games he had a defensive fullback partner. Against Sevilla Gomez played to also stretch the pitch, but this was offset by Pep playing Silva deeper next to Rodri to make up for it.

But I think it's clear this team probably needs at all times a balance of control and explosiveness. Control is given all over the pitch, and its really making sure we have 3 explosive players...

And this squad only has 4 imo in (Haaland, Alvarez, Foden and KdB), I think Palmer can potentially be a 5th explosive player in our squad. Then surround them with controllers.

If for example Pep wants to play Grealish AND Mahrez on the wings, I'd say its better to then even play Foden/Alvarez with KdB in attacking midfield spots with Haaland ahead to get that balance right.

 

[Blu3m00n91]

Could Grealish play the David silva role?

 

[CityBluez]

Could Grealish play the David silva role?

Don't think so. David Silva could actually give killer passes and move the ball forward even when he was surrounded by 3 players. Foden could probably play that role though

 

[Manc123]

I do think our best front line is grealish haaland and foden it's strange how since beating the rags I don't think that front 3 has started together since

 

[applejuice]

Just saw on twitter somebody showing some of our big results this season:

2-0 West Ham
3-0 Wolves
6-3 United
4-0 Sevilla

Had Grealish LW and Foden RW, so perhaps something to that pairing.

Also what I noticed in those wins is that:

1) The midfield 3 had KdB starting every game with Gundogan and Silva in half of them (they can be rotated freely), showing reliance on KdB.

2) Cancelo started every game (we need Cancelo playing simply back), but he was paired with Walker x 2 and Stones, in 3 games he had a defensive fullback partner. Against Sevilla Gomez played to also stretch the pitch, but this was offset by Pep playing Silva deeper next to Rodri to make up for it.

But I think it's clear this team probably needs at all times a balance of control and explosiveness. Control is given all over the pitch, and its really making sure we have 3 explosive players...

And this squad only has 4 imo in (Haaland, Alvarez, Foden and KdB), I think Palmer can potentially be a 5th explosive player in our squad. Then surround them with controllers.

If for example Pep wants to play Grealish AND Mahrez on the wings, I'd say its better to then even play Foden/Alvarez with KdB in attacking midfield spots with Haaland ahead to get that balance right.

West Ham game was slow as well. But it was the first round of the season under extreme hot weather. Both teams did not want to play too quick.

Wolves, Utd, Sevilla, and Chelsea (cup game) are 4 typical games we play with fullbacks providing the width (instead of inverted fullbacks). And the games were entertaining. No one complained about the speed or pace even Grealish X Mahrez started vs Chelsea.

It is not really about the winger combination but actually about how to use the fullbacks. If Pep wants a pacy and interesting match, Pep put the fullbacks back supporting the wingers to be closer to the half space. However Pep does not do that often. He plays inverted fullbacks more often.
Quoted:

"
City’s current shape effectively uses two of these (10s) in advance of a double pivot, which acts as central security if they do lose possession but also helps to overload the midfield and allow the No 10s to play high in the half-spaces.
"

In all these matches wingers hugging the touchline. Without the fullback support behind they had to be extreme careful of not losing the ball. One miss pass (Rodri trying to find Mahrez) and the result was a goal by Everton. If you see Foden also passes it back all the time like Grealish, it must be the same set up. The wingers are the necessary sacrifice in this system. The benefit is our attacking midfielders closer to the goal and our fullbacks don't need to run as much. Arsenal also plays inverted fullbacks at times but their fullbacks also overlap at times because they are much younger and they have backup fullbacks on the bench available.

In this sense I sometimes feel bad for the wingers at City, not only for Grealish, but more for the likes of Mahrez Foden and so on. They are sacrificed and get the most sticks at the same time. In a game like vs Everton, the wingers are not the ones the system designed for but they got most criticism. The system was designed to max KDB and Bernado's freedom but sadly they both were off on that night.

General rule of football - the closer you to the center of the pitch, the more attacking influence you have. It is not a coincidence those were also Foden's best games when the fullbacks were not "inverted".

I suspect that it is the argument between Foden and Pep. Grealish and Mahrez are yes man as we all know... They do whatever Pep asks.

I think that Leão is better suited for this system. The idea of a Grealish and Leão swap sounds really interesting to me. However will a player like Leão accept to be sacrificed for the system like what Grealish and Mahrez accept? I doubt it.