We are linked to Zakaria as well, him holding with Bruno and Grealish ahead of him could work but I don't see Ole leaving both Fred and McTominay out of his plans, and neither are DM's so all these line-ups with one of them playing a holding role need to go IMO, not only are they not cut out for it, the role actually takes away from their attributes.
Jack Grealish / signs new 5 year contract
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James Nursey has a history of repeating whatever he's been told by agent Jonathan Barnett, who just so happens to represent Jack Grealish.
I don't think many people realise the significance of Nursey's name on the latest speculation surrounding Jack Grealish.
So does that mean anything Nursey says on Grealish to Utd should be taken very seriously and is well sourced
It makes sense for Villa to get the deal done before the end of the season as they are looking likely to get relegated and Grealish's value will go down if they do. It also makes sense for United to get it done now just in case Villa stay up. If they stay up then Villa can ask for a premium for him. So if the deal is done now, both the sides can settle for somewhere in the middle.
No offense guys, but every time we have a decent run of games and talk about potential targets people are suddenly concerned about "where they would fit" and that good players suddenly would be surplus to requirements
Pogba will most likely leave, Lindgard and Pereira are both useless and should be sold. Matic has no doubt been brilliant of late but will be 32 at the start of next season and is not a man for the future, same with Mata.
Basically we have Fred, McTomminay and Bruno, 3 quality players of the right age occupying 3 spots. Thats not enough. If we want to further improve we need both more quality and more depth and Grealish fits the bill perfectly
Nursey is along with a few others among the most connected journos at Villa from my understanding.
You make a fair point. The type of role you described is the one Pogba was playing earlier this season. Maybe they see Grealish as his replacement?
Do you think he can play as a box to box creative #8 alongside Fred/McTominay? That frees up Bruno to play as the #10. I think Bruno is more suited to the advanced position because he is more risky with his passing, and Grealish is better at keeping possession.
If Pogba is sold these are our weakest positions that need addressing immidiately
--------------------------De Gea---------------------------
-AWB-------Lindelof------Maguire---------Shaw
-----------------Fred------------New DM---------------
--New RW------------Bruno-------------Rashford--
——---------------------Martial--------------------------
Bench - Romero, Williams, Baily, McTominay, new AM to replace Lingard and Pereira, New ST, James
For those that want Grealish, where would he fit in the above?
--------------------------De Gea---------------------------
-AWB-------Lindelof------Maguire---------Shaw
-----------------Fred------------New DM---------------
--New RW------------Bruno-------------Rashford--
——---------------------Martial--------------------------
Bench - Romero, Williams, Baily, McTominay, new AM to replace Lingard and Pereira, New ST, James
For those that want Grealish, where would he fit in the above?
Another formation shoehorning Grealish
I think if we play the diamond when Pogba returns I can finally see where Grealish fits in but no Sancho though
--------------------------De Gea---------------------------
-AWB-------Lindelof------Maguire---------Shaw
—————————New DM—————————
—————Fred———————Grealish————
——————————Bruno——————————
—————Martial—————Rashford————
This thread though is filled with people that want all their favorite players and our best players to play at the same time so they shoehorn Grealish or people that change formation to what we’ve hardly used or never used this season to fit Grealish in or people that think we should splash money on Grealish to be a rotational option so we won’t ever see Lingard or Pereira with the ball or people that bench our most consistent player Fred for a new DM for Grealish and Bruno to play in front of.
--------------------------De Gea---------------------------
-AWB-------Lindelof------Maguire---------Shaw
—————————New DM—————————
—————Fred———————Grealish————
——————————Bruno——————————
—————Martial—————Rashford————
This thread though is filled with people that want all their favorite players and our best players to play at the same time so they shoehorn Grealish or people that change formation to what we’ve hardly used or never used this season to fit Grealish in or people that think we should splash money on Grealish to be a rotational option so we won’t ever see Lingard or Pereira with the ball or people that bench our most consistent player Fred for a new DM for Grealish and Bruno to play in front of.
He plays multiple positions and we need a squad of players over the course of a season. We also don't play a single formation over the entire season and not every opponent will require the same set-up. The key is options, and the better those options are, the stronger we are. Get Grealish in as a Lingard replacement and our squad looks a lot stronger.
Reasonable number.
Relegation clauses may vary, sometimes cut wages, sometimes can be transfered for cheap, or they get to speak to other clubs..
Big clubs like United may apply cut wages, smaller clubs may give transfer options.
In the ‘New DM role’, broadly.
Regardless of whether you want to call it a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, or a DM in a double pivot or a no.8, Grealish as the link between the deepest, anchoring midfielder and the most advanced, attacking midfielder. The role synonymous with Xavi, Scholes, Baraja or Verratti. It wouldn’t be asking the team or Grealish to do anything that they haven’t done before, really. A Pogba replacement. Grealish played in midfield with McGinn last year.
We obviously need Grealish but you don't have to play him and Bruno together in the first XI. We play in four competitions at all times, there will be plenty of rotation and he can claim a first XI place if he plays well enough. I don't see the problem.
I’m not sure about signing a player who’s been excelling as a left forward and playing him as a DM.Why not just sign a specialist DM?
Was Scholes a DM playing next to Carrick or Keane all those years ago?
Was Pogba a DM playing for France in a double pivot?
Thought we would have learn by now having just one creative outlet to rely on is no good. We were shit when Pogba was out injured for most of the season until we brought in Bruno.
Was Pogba a DM playing for France in a double pivot?
Thought we would have learn by now having just one creative outlet to rely on is no good. We were shit when Pogba was out injured for most of the season until we brought in Bruno.
Not sure why you’re using Pogba & Scholes to compare with Grealish as his playing style is completely different. Being a creator from deep is a different skill set. I’m not against signing Grealish as he is a good back up to Bruno and a significant improvement on Lingard but people talking about him playing deep midfield are forcing it. Imagine signing Mata from Chelsea in 2013 and playing him next to Carrick. Bizzare.
In what sense do you mean, ‘DM’? The link between the holding player and advanced player. Similar to Xavi, Scholes, Baraja or Verratti. Pogba replacement. Which of these is screaming ‘DM’ to you? Dembele at Spurs is what I had in mind, Grealish reminds me of him a lot and moved there off the back of playing higher up for Fulham.
Grealish is a dribbler, having him deeper in the team is a bad idea.
He'll play either LW or as an attacking 8. You want him closer to the goal not further away.
IMO a midfield of Grealish/Bruno/Fred could work fine especially in the home games, but he would give us more options across the squad which is important.
He'll play either LW or as an attacking 8. You want him closer to the goal not further away.
IMO a midfield of Grealish/Bruno/Fred could work fine especially in the home games, but he would give us more options across the squad which is important.
It could be argued that Xavi, Modric, Dembele, Verratti, De Jong, Arthur Melo, Rabiot are all dribblers.
Playing one of the most fouled player in prem deep, makes no sense to me anyway....
There is a difference between being able to dribble, and somebody who prefers to dribble.
People like Modric, Verratti and De Jong use dribbling when they are getting pressed or can't find a pass. IMO from what I've seen Grealish similarly to Pogba will look to take on his man and hold onto the ball until he finds an opening.
Perhaps he could adapt to a deeper role but I feel it's a waste of his talents. Plenty of players can pass like him, but not many can dribble with the ball and protect it like him.
He'd be perfect as an 8 on the left next to Bruno and a DM, with Rashford LW.
If Rashford isn't available then he can play LW.
As I expect the Sancho transfer to drag on all summer, Grealish should be our priority to get done ASAP.
Young, EPL exp., one of the best players in the league, leadership qualities, marketable, available and eager to join.
Just need to wrap this up as soon as Villa know whether they're staying up or not.
Who cares where he's going to fit into the starting 11. His a versatile enough player to make a number of positions his own.
Young, EPL exp., one of the best players in the league, leadership qualities, marketable, available and eager to join.
Just need to wrap this up as soon as Villa know whether they're staying up or not.
Who cares where he's going to fit into the starting 11. His a versatile enough player to make a number of positions his own.
Would be perfect for Liverpool, not sure why they aren't all over this.
In games where we don't need a double pivot there is room for Fred/McT behind both Bruno and Grealish. When Bruno is injured or rested Grealish plays there. When we need more control against strong teams, we put Grealish as an inside LW.
Your proposed squad requires a new AM on the bench. Who do you propose that is available, of the required quality, and is a better choice than Grealish?
How would he be perfect for them? They have Mane and Salah as their wingers and he doesn't do as much defensively as their CMs do, nor did he particularly stand out in the first month of the season when he was playing CM for Villa.
Square peg round hole
He'd walk into Liverpools midfield and improve it immensely. Has the steel and work ethic Klopp asks for.
Ox, Lallana, Keita, Winjaldum, Shaqiri would all be behind him the pecking order.
By DM I mean a deep midfielder. Grealish creates better closer to the forward. Reason why he was pushed closer as the season progressed. Grealish plays nothing like those midfielders you listed.
I’m all for signing him as quality rotational option similar to how Bernardo Silva is used as a forward &. AM option. Just not in the position people are suggesting on here.
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I didn’t see the second half. Was he any more productive? He had the least touches of anyone in the first
Not really, hardly had a kick all game. Villa were absolutely pants.
It’s what concerns me. He has had good, and a few great, games without ever looking dominant.
What exactly would he bring to Utd? I have to admit I’m struggling here in a way I never was with the Bruno chase
See I see it the opposite way. We have fred, matic and mctominay for 2 positions. All have had good seasons. In the position further up the pitch, if pogba leaves we really only have bruno who has played well enough so far.
So for me another am is the priority. With grealish we would have someone who is pretty adept at a number of positions, so realistically we would have 4 or 5 who could play in the two, as bruno and Grealish can play there (obviously not preferable or together), and we then have 2 for the number 10 role.
It is bruno who has made the team come alive but an injury or rest for him and we are back to lingard or pereira. We need another creative player more than another workhorse.
In several position I would say, but probably not as a holding. FL, ML, AML, NR. 10.
Honestly it was just an awful game from VIlla, they had only 4 touches in Leicesters box all match.
Grealish has actually created more chances than Maddison has this season, and that's playing for a much worse team. Grealish in a better team will be more effective.
It'll be interesting to see how he plays for England when he gets the chance.
Interesting
However the chances are shared at Leicester: Tielmans, Chowdhury,Barnes,Pereira all contribute far more. Maddison is an important cog in a well run machine. Villa are a broken mess
That's fair also, it's Grealish or nothing for Villa currently.
I think we need to concentrate on him more as an individual though and he's clearly a very good player. Less flashy with his passing than Bruno but perhaps more efficient, quicker and stronger also.
Different types of players but I think they'd play very well together personally.
I'm coming to terms why we need Grealish. Going from Lingard and Pereira to Bruno Fernandes and Jack Grealish shows intent. Would give us room for more rotation as he can play in 3 different positions.
The issue for me is the price. I think if Villa get relegated which is likely we can get him for 50m max. My logic is this: We need a DM, RW, ST and rotational AM to replace Lingard and Pereira. If we sell Pogba for say 100m. We use that money to get Grealish and a DM. That's two out of 4 positions sorted with just Pogba money. Now if we have a budget of 100m this summer including player sales like Lingard Smalling Rojo Jones etc which would likely be 30m minimum. That will mean at least 130m left on a right winger and striker which should be enough really. If the right winger is Sancho then maybe we are prepared to spend big this summer because Sancho alone is going to slash a 100m summer budget + Pogba sale money in more than half
That's just my logic though but I'm sure it's going to be totally different come the summer
The issue for me is the price. I think if Villa get relegated which is likely we can get him for 50m max. My logic is this: We need a DM, RW, ST and rotational AM to replace Lingard and Pereira. If we sell Pogba for say 100m. We use that money to get Grealish and a DM. That's two out of 4 positions sorted with just Pogba money. Now if we have a budget of 100m this summer including player sales like Lingard Smalling Rojo Jones etc which would likely be 30m minimum. That will mean at least 130m left on a right winger and striker which should be enough really. If the right winger is Sancho then maybe we are prepared to spend big this summer because Sancho alone is going to slash a 100m summer budget + Pogba sale money in more than half
That's just my logic though but I'm sure it's going to be totally different come the summer
I do see that in him. Do you think he could function in a better team? What position could he take up without disrupting the midfield we already have?
Yep he's better than the rest of his team mates that's for sure, and good players only play better with better players.
His best positions are LW, 10, or 8.
In our team he'd make a good rotation with Rashford or Bruno. Others have said they'd like to see him play deeper but I don't think that would be his best usage - although he doesn't shirk the hard work either. He's a dribbler and creator with a good shot on both feet.
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