10 | Jack Grealish - 2024/25

[wolviedinho]

I love him. I always will. One of only 20-odd players in City's entire history to win the European Cup. But I'm starting to think the team needs to move on from the qualities he brings. With Jack it's all about patience, control, tempo, space, etc. But football is moving on from that era and seems to be heading back towards a more transitional style as defensive teams figure out how to soak up pressure, beat the attacking press, and quickly break away.

He was way more vital to the team in 21-22 than anyone gave him credit for, and he was absolutely essential to us winning the treble. For that reason he will always, always have my goodwill and respect, and he should never have to buy a pint in Manchester ever again. But his fitness has been an issue for 18 months now and I'm not sure he has it in him physically to get back to those 22/23 levels without injuring himself over and over.

Perhaps there's a future for him in the middle where he's allowed to show his more dynamic side. But I think a return to Villa in the summer, or in 2026, is best for all parties. I'm backing him to get some form back and carry on from that Forest performance, when he was excellent. I'd be happy if we kept him beyond 2025, but when the rebuild is over I don't expect him to be here. Won't be sad that it's over, I'll be glad that it happened.

Iv always been a big supporter of what he brings to the team. The zero goals/assists in 40 odd games is worrying tho.

On current form I can’t see a renewal.

As you say tho, Pivotal in the treble season and helped us win 4 in a row. You can’t take that away from him.

Overall we seem to be suffering a burnout across the entire club. In hindsight this bad season will probably do everyone the world of good moving forward. Big decisions need made on the playing staff and a collapse like this will sharpen minds.

 

[sir baconface]

with his brutal salary I think a sale would be on very low fee to compensate that. and we may even would need to pay some of his remaining salary from that fee. but also with 2 more years on his contract I dont know how an extension is the right idea on continued brutal salary given he has not been consintently good for us since May 2023.

Villa made an absolute huge business imo for that 100m fee.I was thinking at the time wow, even 70m would have been plenty for him with the hype around him for that last Villa season which was his best ever in terms of end product as previously he wasnt that good in numbers either.

to me it exactly the same if we would go to Palace now and say here is 120m for Eze. is he a decent player, yes. is he worth that much not a fucking chance. for these type of fees I want world class potential and someone winning us matches every second round. or Rodri, Yaya, David Silva type of serious midfield influence who all had nice end product on top.

No European club would come remotely close to matching his reported £300k/week. We made a rod for our own backs there. Best hope would be a Saudi club valuing his image.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Seems to have the same chronic injury problems as Stones and Ake but they can come straight in and perform to a high level at least. Jack's like an old staying chaser racehorse he needs 3 runs out to dust off the cobwebs. Problem is he's getting other niggles in these 3 games and rinse and repeat then before you know it its been 18 months and he hasn't done fuckall. I love Jack as a player but he's running out of time at City. If he doesn't perform over the next few weeks he'll be shipped out.

 

[kaz7]

Iv always been a big supporter of what he brings to the team. The zero goals/assists in 40 odd games is worrying tho.

On current form I can’t see a renewal.

As you say tho, Pivotal in the treble season and helped us win 4 in a row. You can’t take that away from him.

Overall we seem to be suffering a burnout across the entire club. In hindsight this bad season will probably do everyone the world of good moving forward. Big decisions need made on the playing staff and a collapse like this will sharpen minds.

He didnt help us win the fourth title , he has been bad since the treble , attitude has been bad since the treble , he wasnt the right character to go for the fourth , he doesnt have a winner mentality . Coasts through games just winning freekicks rather than bust a gut and help out the attack , his numbers are absolutely shocking , raz scored over a hundred and assisted many more from the wing

He can go.in the summer

 

[youngbob]

He didnt help us win the fourth title , he has been bad since the treble , attitude has been bad since the treble , he wasnt the right character to go for the fourth , he doesnt have a winner mentality . Coasts through games just winning freekicks rather than bust a gut and help out the attack , his numbers are absolutely shocking , raz scored over a hundred and assisted many more from the wing

He can go.in the summer

A genuinely stunning thing to say about a player who is likely to leave this club having won a trophy in every season he's played for us. I get that some people think he has major shortcomings but Jack's gonna leave this club with at least three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a European Cup, and a Community Shield. More decorated than 99% of the players who've passed through the doors at this club. You really let your prejudices show for certain players and it's not becoming of you at all.

 

[wolviedinho]

He didnt help us win the fourth title , he has been bad since the treble , attitude has been bad since the treble , he wasnt the right character to go for the fourth , he doesnt have a winner mentality . Coasts through games just winning freekicks rather than bust a gut and help out the attack , his numbers are absolutely shocking , raz scored over a hundred and assisted many more from the wing

He can go.in the summer

No need to bring in Sterling as some saint.

Jack played his part. His flaws have been acknowledged and maybe he isn’t good enough but let’s not pretend he wasn’t important. Just as Sterling was important.

I don’t think will be with us 5 seasons from now.

 

[kaz7]

A genuinely stunning thing to say about a player who is likely to leave this club having won a trophy in every season he's played for us.

You cant seriously think he helped us last season ? He thought he had made it to the top and he is not driven like most of the others , they understand that you go again , they never stop wanting more . He can be proud of some of the treble season but the rest no , as i said compared to raz his numbers are nowhere to be seen

He can go now

 

[kaz7]

No need to bring in Sterling as some saint.

Jack played his part. His flaws have been acknowledged and maybe he isn’t good enough but let’s not pretend he wasn’t important. Just as Sterling was important.

I don’t think will be with us 5 seasons from now.

I was just saying what raz did and not as a saint . Grealish should have been putting up numbers near to that

 

[wolviedinho]

I was just saying what raz did and not as a saint . Grealish should have been putting up numbers near to that

No chance.

Never has been a goal scorer. Raz wasn’t either until he figured out he got no praise until he scored -:)

The £100m price tag is giving a distorted view. Probably only worth half that if we are honest but football finance is out of control.

I don’t know what to make of him sometimes. Certain games he looks the business but mostly stays on the periphery of games.

He falls into the category or transfers that have not been top tier unfortunately and it’s a big reason why the legends are burning out and can’t do what is expected. The club must know this now and decisions will need to be made.

 

[youngbob]

You cant seriously think he helped us last season ? He thought he had made it to the top and he is not driven like most of the others , they understand that you go again , they never stop wanting more . He can be proud of some of the treble season but the rest no , as i said compared to raz his numbers are nowhere to be seen

He can go now

I'll always hold Raheem higher above Jack in my personal City rankings, but it's the way you talk about Jack with such hate that confuses me. If someone so much as questions Raheem you come flying in telling them off but god forbid anyone defends Jack in this thread - they can feel your wrath coming before it arrives.

Jack didn't play or score as much last season as he should have done, but he still scored the winner at Luton that stopped the mini-slide we'd been on, and he scored goals that got valuable points against Palace and Spurs - goals that, when it all adds up, made a difference at the end of the season and definitely helped the team.

You talk about him like he's another Danny Mills, Steve McManaman type, who just turned up to the club to do nothing except sit on his arse and collect a massive wage. He's not fully delivered on his potential but he contributed a whole lot to the three most special afternoons and nights in City's entire history in 2023.

Alright, fine, you can doubt his quality on the pitch and question his attitude a bit, but you can't say Jack hasn't taken City to his heart. Villa will always be his club but that's to be expected. He's adopted us and we've adopted him and he clearly has great affection for us as fans, Manchester as a whole, and for its people.

When he leaves City, he will still be a treble winner forever. Not just someone who got medals by being part of the squad - he was an important part of the team and started every game that took us to the very pinnacle of the entire sport. When people look back at these times in 30, 40, or 50 years, Jack's name will be part of it.

And you'll just be there... calling him names.