The following has been written by “Big Fat Ron”. Thanks, BFR.
The Jack Grealish conundrum; why Jack would do well to imitate John, not James
So the dust settles on another International break and what have we learned?
Racism is, indeed, alive and well in football, as if we didn’t know.
Tyrone Mings is, indeed, an England international defender, just as we suspected.
John McGinn is, indeed, a special talent, as everyone now knows.
Jack Grealish has a new “friend.” Who cares?
And James Maddison enjoys a night out in a casino. Who knew? None other than the England manager. Apparently, he knows “everything” about his players. Interesting…
When Mings was selected, there were many moans among non-Villans that he wasn’t good enough and that there were others who should be ahead of him. There was even a suggestion that Southgate picked him to do Villa a favour and raise the club’s profile. Tosh.
Southgate picked him for his ability and also specified that he likes his “leadership qualities”. But what does that have to do with our skipper?
Let’s start with Maddison, clearly ahead of Jack in the international pecking order. There has been a clamour for him to start in the England team. Yet Mason Mount, a relative rookie, gets in first. The press has constantly pushed Southgate on why he hasn’t given Maddison a game. After the casino incident, I suspect that the England boss doesn’t just pick ability; he picks leaders, team-players, and most importantly, good characters.
Now, I’m not saying that Maddison is a bad person because he visits the casino. I’ll tell you what I do know, though. I recall him getting Ainsley Maitland-Niles sent off, with the Arsenal youngster seen on TV mouthing “that’s poor, Madds” before trudging off for his early bath. Then I can’t shake the feeling that Mr Maddison is quite focussed on his image. Dare I say all style, little substance? He reminds me of a certain David Bentley, who was supposed to be the next David Beckham, but disappeared into obscurity, not long after hitting the big-time.
And that’s where Jack comes in. I’m sorry to say that our talisman is in danger of falling into the same trap. He has a role-model next to him, the young Scot by the name of John. But while his sidekick was scoring a hat trick for his country this week, Jack was in the news for different reasons, having appeared on social media with Jess Lingard’s ex, a very attractive young model, whose name I don’t care to remember.
Like James, Jack is very keen to pluck, slick, and bleach, unlike John. When I’m sure we, and Southgate, would prefer him to pull his socks up, shave his head, and let below the shins do the talking, rather than above the neck. More substance, less style. Less vanity, and more of the humility that Southgate was championing last summer…
Yes, Jack has come a long way, but I hope he soon realises that John is the man to follow, not James. Time will tell.
It’s a good point.
I’m not that keen on Southgate, but do think he and his team dig deeply into a player’s character.
Maybe it’s that he wants to confirm that Jack has left his young kid’s approach behind him, which it seems he definitely has.
By all accounts Grealish takes his job very seriously now after his kidney injury and it seems he’s grown up.
But, yes, I know what you mean, in that his hair looks fancy and he wears those little shin pads.
I suspect his hairstyle is actually part of the reason other fans don’t like him.
But fortunately, for me, it doesn’t matter.
I think he is actually showing it with his feet now and it’s probably only a matter of time before he gets a callup as long as he continues to perform.
BFR, copied from the previous thread, in case you miss it;
Of course I’ll use it BFR.
In fact, it’s up now.
I’d love readers to post more often, as I get sick of hearing my own opinions 🙂
It’s word for word, with slight punctuation edits and a bit of formatting to make it a bit easier on the eye to read (which might just be down to the way it’s formatted when I receive it).
Feel free to post more opinions as and when and thanks for the contribution.
Cheers, Badger. I feel there’s way more in Jack’s locker, but like everything these days, full potential is strangled by the superficial. When I first saw Jack play, he reminded me of Cristiano Ronaldo in the way he ran with the ball. Then I thought he had hints of Gascoigne with his touch and poise. I may be completely wrong, but my experience is that those who care about image and celebrity culture (casinos, clubs etc) don’t always reach their full potential. Ironically, Ronaldo is THE exception, simply because he’s focused on being the best footballer of all time, so he can get away with the ‘extra-curricular’ stuff.
Anyway, the long and the short is that McGinn is a better player, in my opinion, and I think Southgate will give Jack a chance IF he proves he’s mature enough. He has matured a lot to be fair (remember how he handled the incident at the sty), but I don’t think the Instagram thing does him any favours, neither does the conspicuous image.
I also think he might get fouled less if he ‘blended in’ a bit more, which could allow him to cause more damage to the opposition. Although the counter argument would be that he wins free-kicks in the last third, which are also dangerous.
Grealish is a fantastic player and very dedicated to the sport. He is, in my opinion, miles better than John McGinn and in my opinion it is the Scot who is way more likely to be found out as a player and not live up to his newly found great expectations. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s great but we see it all the time where a player bursts on the scene with a distinct playing style, makes a big impact and then gets worked out as people study him and work out a way to counteract his playing style.
With Grealish, he would be n amazing player in a more dominant team. If he’s played against Bulgaria he would have run riot.
Tyrone is a hero, we already knew that but from a footballing perspective, of course he found it easy against a really poor team. It hasn’t proven anything at international level but we have seen over the last season and a bit that he has everything to be a top defender, big and strong, decent pace, very good on the ball, excellent positioning and very committed plus good leader and organiser. The only slight question, IMO, is concentration as he occasionally makes a rick but if he cuts those out he will be an absolute top, top defender
Very interesting how views on John and Jack differ, Sid! In my view, if Jack’s worth 50mil, John’s worth 100. It’s all about opinions, eh? I have made the point that I feel Jack could be far better than he is. Other than City, which ‘more dominant’ team could he run riot in? Could he make it at Liverpool, for example? Again, I think McGinn could make it at Liverpool but not sure about Jack.
Interesting points BFR and I think with more than a little truth behind them. That’s not to say that JG is acting unprofessionally nor that he’s not totally focused on his football. Rather a fancy haircut than a drink or gambling habit, both of which are destructively present in football (sport?). Let’s not forget that Beckham had a highly fashionable and ‘show business’ presence throughout his career and he wasn’t a bad player! As long as JG gets his priorities right he’ll be OK.
On McGinn, I think he’s already proved his ability and don’t see him as a ‘flash in the pan’. There was a comment on here that he was trying too hard to score himself and, perhaps, needs to be more aware of players around him in better positions.
Have no idea on values as the transfer market is loony imho. More importantly, I think, is that our owners investment of £250m (mind boggling) is being underwritten by rising player values – a first in a long time. And Mings now seems a snip at c. £20m – Maguire anyone!
Sid, interesting opinion.
I personally can’t think of a single Prem side who wouldn’t see McGinn as anything other than an asset, on his current form.
I see him as an adaptive type of player, just the same as Milner. He has the engine too, which is a massive asset in itself.
Don’t forget, he started out as a LB and his scoring record wasn’t great before he came to us.
Big shout out for whoever spotted him for Bruce and for our coaches (Terry?) for pushing him on.
That said, him and Grealish are different players.
Grealish gets up and down, but doesn’t have that same engine, although he’s probably the more skilful, crafted player.
Whereas McGinn is still wily, but not as clever as Grealish.
For me, players like McGinn have the better longevity, whereas skilful players are more likely to lose it, unless they really are exceptional, like Hoddle etc.
As for the Bulgaria game, I think McGinn would have filled his boots too, (but as I said, didn’t see it) on current form.
It’s not an argument on either side for me.
They compliment each other currently and I like both of them.
All I know is, neither of them or Mings will be going anywhere in the January or Summer windows; no chance, unless they put 50% on top of even our biased estimates of their values.
The three of them are just too important to what the club is aiming for and our owners won’t do setbacks to us fans, imo.
Oh, I’m talking Grealish £30-40 mill, maybe (he hasn’t got that cap yet).
McGinn? £50 mill? No chance on current form, maybe £60-70 mill if he keeps it up this season.
Mings, also £50 mill, now he’s got the cap, has to be the starting price.
Do we think that’s realistic? Over? Under?
Sports Minister makes a statement in Parliament praising Tyrone Mings dignity – ‘The whole country should be incredibly proud of Tyrone Mings’ – and so say all of us.
Plenty to chew on in this thread. The first thing that struck me watching the Bulgaria game and the studio reaction was the difference between Ian Wright’s sincere but ungrammatical cast on the racism and the articulate and diplomatic view Tyrone put forward. It is a pity his international debut will not be remembered for the football, but I shall remember it for one of the best interviews ever by an England debutant.
Both John and Jack still have plenty to prove. We have been beaten after sitting back on the lead by both the ‘big 6’ opponents we have faced. I am waiting for us to beat one and for John and Jack to have made the difference.
Haircuts. I have been asking “what is that on his head?” or “what does his hairdresser do for a living?” for some years, with Tony Daley’s pineapple still my top Villa “Stoopid ‘aircut” and by contrast David ‘because I’m worth it’ Ginola’s the most luxuriant.
As for WAGs – they circulate. The Donkey, Shovel and Pan may not be as necessary in Manchester’s clubland as in the Klondike but they are otherwise fully equipped for their gold-digging roles.
I think what this tells us is that we now have a strong spine to the team in Mings, McGinn, and Grealish. What’s around them isn’t bad either!
I’d like to set the record straight that my article wasn’t meant to have a dig at Jack. After all, it was his return that was he catalyst for promotion, I’ve mentioned Ronaldo and Gascoigne in the same breath, which says how highly I rate him. Nor was I suggesting Jack is not professional. What I am suggesting, though, is that Jack can be as good as Merson, Silva, Gascoigne (you name the playmaker) but I feel the ‘flashy’ stuff is holding him back, which is why I made the comparison to McGinn, image wise. McGinn doesn’t have the ‘weight’ of trying to be a ‘sleb.’
Ability wise, yes, they’re different players and both massive assets to our club. Personally, I think McGinn is the complete midfielder, as good as Robson, Scholes, or Keane, which is why I think he’s worth 100 million, bare minimum.
So my next question is, can Aston Villa win the PL in the next 3-5 years, with these guys in their prime and more class players added around them or will our owners repeat sad history and cash in?
Personally, I’m already irked by the talk of McGinn to United, as if it’s their right to take him. United are a club in decline. Villa are on the up. Other than stupid money, what can they offer him that Villa can’t. Stability? Nope. Chances of winning a trophy? Nope. If I was running Villa, I would turn the tables and start putting cheeky bids in for the likes of…erm…trying to think of a United player I’d like at Villa but struggling! I rest my case.
BFR, paper talk and wishful thinking. Villa won’t go backwards BFR we don’t need the money managers only sell if clubs broke.answer to your conundrum John over Jack, no contest as Grealish got the skills and its started to show, John has Badger saying the engine, both are needed if you devide there’s the problem, John Mcginn to his players shows wanting and aggression Grealish to the players shows openings and creates chances, Aston Villa has opened the media’s eyes and are getting crowd’s and TV attention, Villa won’t throw that away.
Nice comments, Bill! I think John’s ‘engine’ makes us underestimate his skills, though. He’s a little magician, too! Remember the volley against Wednesday, the unbelievable solo goal at Charlton in pre-season, the countless slide-rule passes and crosses to create goals? He’s the full package. Someone in the Scottish media is saying 20,30,40 million. That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while! Like I said, 100 million. MINIMUM.
Villa’s current owners are the game-changers BFR, I hope they are, anyhow. They have more money than the Glazers, so in a USA contest to find who has the bigger balls – pride alone should stop them selling a prized Villa asset to United. Gidman, Bosnich, Young -> United. Luckily for us one crock they flogged us was McGrath, but his success must have riled them. They palmed off Lua-Lua if my memory is correct. Time to stick the 2 fingers up by announcing to the press we want one of theirs – but do we? De Hea maybe, Pogba if he wasn’t such a diva. Lingard if he doesn’t mind seeing an ex in the Directors box.
Otherwise no.
Djemba-Djemba (mumbo-jumbo, as we used to call him) they palmed off, OLL. Arguably the worst signing in Villa’s history.
All things considered, I honestly wouldn’t want any of their players at Villa. Pogba would be last on the list. Again, whatever he’s supposed to be worth, McGinn is as good a player.
Not to mention Yorke!
Although I hate to admit it, Man Ure are massively bigger than us. If they came in for McGinn and unsettled him they probably would force a deal through. I don’t think our owners will want us to be a selling club but player power often wins. Look at Brentford in the championship. They get close to challenging for promotion before the bigger clubs (Villa included) dismantle their squad. The likes of Man Ure, Citeh and Liverpool have the stature to turn heads and international get togethers probably encourage players to talk to each other, possibly even sounding them out. Robertson talking to McGinn about joining Liverpool? We have seen it happen many times before.
True, Holte. But that’s why the owners, manager – everyone – needs to inspire these players to believe that they can achieve whatever they want at Aston Villa.
I truly believe that if a target of winning the league within 3-5 years is set, then it can be done. Everyone has to buy into it though. It can be done!
If you look at the Villa team now, and imagine they’ll be at their peak in 3 years, plus how many top-class additions can be made in 6 more windows, why not?
It’s all about good management and having a clear strategy. We had a thread a while back discussing how big are Villa. The conclusion was the 5th or 6th biggest in the country. Yes United are ‘bigger’ but they’re on a downward trajectory – inevitable after years of success. Klopp won’t be at Anfield forever. Likewise Pep at City. Spurs and Arsenal? Spurs are in disarray. I made the point in that thread that they only pulled ahead of Villa in the last 20 years. Chelsea? Again, work in progress. So apart from stupid wages, AVFC offers everything a PL player should be looking for. And who’s to say the owners won’t increase wages if revenue can increase, which it will looking at their plans.
Belief is the key. The players are good enough. When the team is added to – say, a world class striker and another top class wide man, then it’s looking very strong and we can compete with anyone!
McGinn won’t be going anywhere soon, imo.
If it was Pool or City calling, that might be enough to convince him and given an offer we couldn’t turn down, I suspect the club might let him go, just so we don’t hold him back.
I think as much as the club would want to keep him, they’d concede those two clubs are miles above us at the moment.
I also suspect the club doesn’t want to hold onto unhappy players, which would explain the article I read today, where we would be willing to let Kodjia go for £6 mill.
Man Utd though would be a different matter. They’re a club on the way down, as big as they are and I suspect exactly the sort of club the owners have in their sights as being able to equal on the pitch in the not so far off future.
If they were come in for him, I’d fully expect the club to smash our wage stucture and match any offer mcGinn might receive.
Even if I’m wrong, McGinn will not be leaving for £50 mill, I strongly believe that.
The owners realise that McGinn , Grealish and Mings epitimise what the fans are feeling about the club and will do everything to hold onto all of them.
Money won’t come into it, as much as they might find £100 mill very tempting.
Agreed, Badger, apart from “so we don’t hold him back.” This mentality has to change. Being at Aston Villa is not being held back! You can win things here! you can earn big money here! You can be a legend here! That has to be the new ethos of the club! Ideally, I’d like to think that players are told that before they sign: “don’t think Villa is a stepping-stone. It’s not. If you want to come here, you’re coming to win.” It’s all in the mind! At the end of the day, it’s 11 vs 11. Our 11 is good and it can only get better! Believe!
Hard to disagree with that BFR.
It would be nice to think that is the attitude we take to players.
Wow, check the new on our ex Doc. The Chinese want him over his companies. Asking for his whereabouts.
Arrest warrant issued for former Aston Villa owner Dr Tony Xia in China
EXCLUSIVE: Xia took over at Villa Park in 2016 but now is wanted for arrest in China with a £30,000 reward on offer
So much for the FA’s test of appropriate person or whatever they call it before allowing a club take over.
We’ve dodged a massive one. The Doc sounds as bad as Thaksin Shinawatra and Carson Yeung! Not getting promoted in 2018 was the best thing that happened to the club! If it had been promoted, Xia would still be our owner!
True Hitch, something don’t read right. I think half of this site gone looking for him after the 30 thousand, be back, just having a look down our road you never know….
LOL 😀