Everyone seems to have an opinion about Jack Grealish. But these views vary. Many admired his kindness to children and saw the person behind the players. Others saw his enthusiastic celebration and drew their own conclusions as the form diminished.
On the pitch, some saw such great talent that they are still sad that his unique qualities were overlooked by England this summer. Others were less sympathetic, viewing him as a glorified water carrier and pointing out the lack of a final product.
“I know how professional I actually am,” Grelish said, but he still faces challenges. His Manchester City career could depend on it. Perhaps Guardiola’s opinion is the most important. But Glarish could still be the man to shape his future.
Passion is still burning
His former manager at Aston Villa, Dean Smith, once called Greeley an “encyclopedia of football” – a detail best remembered because the player claimed not to know it in interviews The meaning of the word. It became a meme.
But beyond the ridicule, there’s a point. Grelish’s passion and knowledge of the game is rare. This quality was also highlighted when speaking to Stephen Clemence, another old Villa coach with whom he has worked closely on a one-to-one basis.
“He watches every game,” Clemens said. sky sports. “You talk to him about a player and he knows them, at home and abroad.” Two years before leading Chelsea to the title, Glarish publicly hinted that Hazard would become a world champion.
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Impressive pre-season
The winger may have earned a move to Manchester City due to his carefree performances at Villa and his lack of concern for the game. “You can’t teach him to do what he does,” Clemens said. But it always masks a strong desire to do so.
Next season will test the limits of this theory, but the early signs are positive. Guardiola was quick to speak of his “incredible attitude” at the start of Manchester City’s pre-season tour and appears to have discovered a new will to improve.
By the end, praise for the caliber of his performance grew even more fervent. “Jack had some incredible games,” Guardiola said. “I remember clearly the Jack I knew. He was the same in training and behavior as he was two seasons ago.”
Ah, two seasons ago. Grealish’s role in Manchester City’s historic Treble-winning season is certainly one to remember. He played in 50 games and improved in his second season. He described it as the happiest time of his football career. “Playing with confidence.”
Where do you go from there? Grelish asked himself this question. “I’ve never felt like this before, feeling so high,” he revealed. “Sometimes you think, ‘How can we beat this?’ Sometimes you do sit there and think, ‘What do we do now?
performance degradation
All he has done is lose his place in both Manchester City’s and Gareth Southgate’s England squads. There is a performance penalty, but this should not be exaggerated. Glarish is still excellent on the ball and is fouled more often than any other Premier League player.
But it didn’t take Guardiola long to notice the decline. The subsequent loss of status meant that, for Grilish, the answer to his question should finally be clear. What is he doing now? Trying to regain his place in the club and national team.
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New opportunities for cities
Gollalli is keenly aware that he is ahead of some rivals for a place in Guardiola’s side next season and is the beneficiary of his game-less summer, even though he doesn’t want to. Some City players skipped large parts of pre-season.
That meant Greeley was even the man on the ball heading into the Community Shield against Manchester United, a repeat of the FA Cup final in which he was on the bench. The shirt was his fault, has always been Guardiola’s motto.
It’s an opportunity, but it won’t last. Despite the departure of Julian Alvarez, Grealish’s area of the pitch still looks crowded. Oscar Bobb now seems ready, while the signing of Savinho is an immediate threat. And, of course, Jeremy Doku.
Doku’s challenge
The Belgian winger signed last summer usurped his place in the team, with Guardiola attracted by Doku’s ability to break through defences. “Jeremy’s performance in the final third was special.” Glarish couldn’t compete with the pace on the left.
Data shows that Doku is an outlier in terms of dribbling, but it is worth pointing out that Glarish’s dribbling ability is still first-rate. It’s not always necessary to take on an opponent so directly when you have such close control and can evade them.
“It was a joy to see him gliding past someone every day,” Clemens recalled. “In terms of talent, he’s the best I’ve ever seen in my career. Even in the Championship, I’m surprised he’s not in the England squad.”
Adjusting to Guardiola
It’s somewhat ironic that Guardiola wants Grilish to regain some of his energy, as some attribute changes in players’ games – both positive and negative – to the great coach. He has become a different player to the one Manchester City bought.
“Jake always wants the ball, but sometimes he can be too deep and not get it,” Clemens said. “Sometimes you have to trust your team-mates to find you.” That version of Grealish was free to roam rather than tied to his pitch.
Is there a famous player who more revolutionized decision-making on the court than Greeley? Brian Clough transformed Kenny Burns from a forward into a title-winning defender. Others have adjusted their game due to age and loss of pace.
Grealish’s starting position and skills remain similar, but his movement and distribution have fundamentally changed. He was adventurous in his youth, but there is no safer player on the ball now, as evidenced by the stark contrast in his passing sonar.
Glarish revolutionized the type of passing he played at Manchester City
Greeley was eager to please, and he listened and adapted. When Guardiola told him he was doing his job for the team, providing professional ball control out wide, he accepted it. “Unfortunately, everyone in the world just loves statistics these days,” he once said.
However, Guardiola cited statistics following the recent game against Barcelona. “I know he’s good on the ball, but he shoots four or five times.” Even he would like to see that kind of aggression, and the personality that convinced City to pay £100m.
What’s next for Glarish?
As a result, the lovable lad now finds himself at a career crossroads. At 28 years old and with a great group of players around him, the opportunity is still there. “It’s definitely up to him,” Guardiola said. “All the players, it’s up to them, not my decision.”
The door is ajar. Jack Greeley could even force it open again.
