I get a feeling that the club has already started looking into this transfer and it's along the way. At least let's hope that's the case
Jack Grealish / signs new 5 year contract
- Thread starter MyOnlySolskjaer
- Start date
- Status
If we get Sancho, he can play as creative AM. Also creativity burden has to be shared with other positions. It is wrong to rely on and depend one position as creative source. That's why for years, we only had Scholes as the most creative player, but we didn't need to spend mega money just to have similar player covering for him. We shared it with Giggs, Beckham, Yorke, and Keano. This was when we were one of the best Team in the world.
And it's the same with every other big teams.
So the talk about, "what if Bruno injured?". Well, get an inferior player in, and let others be more creative. Even better, get creative players in positions that we need to strengthen.
As things stand if Pogba goes, a Bruno injury leaves us with Pereira or Lingard returning to the side, that isn't good enough
That's the thing though. We shouldn't rely on one position for all creativity. Just like all great teams and us in the past have done.
I imagine Villa will want an agreement before the end of the season, because if they get relegated they go into a horrendous financial position and their bargaining will get much harder. Add in the potential position of the player and agent and the possibility of relegation release clauses.
You wonder what is the best for us to do. Do we make an agreement now and gamble that they stay up or do we put everything on hold till we figure out what happens with Pogba sale/Villa relegation?
You wonder what is the best for us to do. Do we make an agreement now and gamble that they stay up or do we put everything on hold till we figure out what happens with Pogba sale/Villa relegation?
This is the conundrum with this signing. Part of me says we should go balls deep and get an agreement in place on this now before the end of the season rather than get into a bidding war.
He's a class player and would be a great addition to the squad.
I also think the club will buy into the marketing aspect with Grealish, potentially a very marketable player IMO.
Edit; And this is on the basis that we are (or should be) getting rid of Lingard and Andreas.
So maybe sell Fred then? That's the only logical thing the way it is looking right now, but then, who will buy him for the money we will want? only way is a trade with the Spanish clubs like for Ferran Torres with Valencia.
Getting rid of them how?
Use him as a right playmaker. I thought of it and didn't want to sign him for this reason at first, but what we gain in creativity from his dribbling and his versatility means that he would have the pace and impactful movement to prove useful in any attacking area of the pitch. Eriksen didn't play on the right for spurs until he was used there.
McGinn is a big loss to them, even so, with him on the team I still think they would be close to the bottom three. That loss to Leicester last night would have really dampened their spirits, think they are struggling now. All we have to do when we play them (like other teams) is keep Grealish quiet.Needs to get out of that awful Villa team ASAP
If Grealish did sign for us, think he would play similar to Bruno, popping up all over the pitch. It would be great to see them working together, unlocking the defence minded teams we play.
would a 4-2-2-2 work with Grealish and Bruno having license to roam in front of a double six? Maybe not enough width, but could still be an interesting concept.
Take them around the back of the barn and a cattle gun to the bonce.
Or sell them like
I know Villa are really struggling which i'm sure doesn't help, but lately Grealish hasn't looked that great. If he came to us, I hope having Bruno around him, will really step up his game a lot, because I see his performances diminishing from low morale at the moment and will only get worse as season ends.
Has a lot of potential, but deffo needs to be in a good side, like ours, to see best of him.
Has a lot of potential, but deffo needs to be in a good side, like ours, to see best of him.
With the Pogba news, are we very much of the opinion that if Pogba stays, there’s no Grealish? Or do you think we’ll still bring in Grealish and Sancho regardless? Grealish is very versatile so I for one would be happy for him to come in.
Personally I think we'll still get him, especially if we've got CL football, there's a lot of games to play in a season and as we know from this season, injuries happen.
Seeing as we'll probably be looking at getting rid of Lingard and Andreas, why shouldn't we still get Grealish even if Pogba stays. Think of having all those options, there's enough games, and we're bound to get injuries.
I think he could play that role, yes. Last season, he was deeper than McGinn who, like Bruno, would be the one to get forwards, and was brilliant in said position.
The problem - like with Pogba playing the role - is that I think McTominay/Fred being the deepest midfielder leaves us a bit too open defensively. They're both all action CMs who cover a lot of ground and can nick the ball from the opposition, but I don't think either are suited to being the deep CM behind 2 advanced CMs, which is my we've improved so much with Matic coming back into the team.
I think if Pogba for some reason stayed it would be a question of Sancho or Grealish not both. For both money and football reasons.
I reckon this is nailed on and will be done early. An announcement will be made about the time the champions league places are decided. This squad needs quality footballers and lots of them.
Grealish plays in midfield/LW Sancho on the RW two different positions that are not mutually exclusive it`s definitely both with or without Pogba. Other sales would still take our net spend down to slightly below 100m which isn`t too unrealistic
Grealish can play right as well even if it's not his best position. But most importantly, what other sales are going to be earning you 70m if Pogba stays?
I think against weaker teams we will be fine with Fred/McTominay as the deeper midfielder. Back in the day we had both Keane and Scholes/Butt as all action midfielders in a midfield 2, both covering for each other. I know the game has changed, but since we have defensively solid fullbacks in AWB and Shaw, I think we can get away with it more often than not. I think in bigger games we might be moving to a back 3, or have Fred alongiside Matic/McTominay with one of Grealish/Bruno ahead.
Playing Grealish on the right will be fixing square pegs in round holes when we are finally having a functional team it`s very unnecessary and shouldn`t even be discussed as an option. As for sales Smalling, Rojo, Lingard, Dalot(rumors he`s on the out list) and Alexis for a low fee like 10-15m can definitely generate at least 70m
We cannot trust Pogba. One minute he wants to stay the next he wants to go. I'd rather bring in Grealish before someone else snaps him up. A little competition for places is always good and Pogba will eventually want out anyway.
Why's it different to, say, Bernardo Silva playing right wing? Guy is a baller and can play anywhere no problem. Plus it's not like he can't swap with other players e.g. Bruno throughout a game.
You do realise that Silva is left footed and playing on the right is his natural position that he has excelled in for many years?
It's not his natural position, he's an AM or CM, he's just also good on the wings. Left or right footed, what matters is that they're good at football.
You obviously didn't watch him play at Monaco where he predominantly played on the right
Unfortunately if Pogba is staying this is probably a dead duck, I know we've had our injuries this season but we'd have some serious bad luck if we're left with only 2 of Pogba, Fernandes, McTominay, Matic and Fred again next season (not to mention possibly Bellingham)
I know it's about having options but when you sign someone like Grealish it's for them to be first choice and play week in week out and I just can't see how that happens if you have a fit Pogba and Fernandes
I know it's about having options but when you sign someone like Grealish it's for them to be first choice and play week in week out and I just can't see how that happens if you have a fit Pogba and Fernandes
Both of them can and have played out wide if I’m mistaken. Problem is they both play out wide on the left. Someone like Odegaard who can roam out on the right wing would be better imo.
Grealish would be nowhere near as effective as an orthodox right winger. He's at his best when he has a full view of the pitch with the ability to pick a pass through the middle or switch the play from left to right.
Take circumstances into account like injuries, Mata isn't getting any younger, Lingard and Pereira being useless and there's always a space for player like Grealish who I think can give Pogba and Bruno good run for their money. We started this season with five central midfielders and for most part of the season we were outplayed in midfield.
Champions League, if we ever want to be there permanently will require quality starting 11, but also a quality bench. Clubs like Juve, Bayern and Barca are all having benches that can give them fresh energy plus same high level quality throughout full 90 minutes.
Last edited:
Ok so you're saying he's not natural in the centre then. Seems to do pretty fecking well when he plays there though.
Not sure where he'd fit in now, but I've come to appreciate his game much more as the season has gone on. I imagine he'd get a lot of Dan James's minutes, if anything.
He should be direct replacement for Lingard or Pereira, perhaps even both and he'll fit just fine with Mata in a state when he can't play full 90 minutes in high tempo.
When did I say Silva can't play in the centre?
I merely pointed at your stupidity thinking Grealish can simply slot in on the right, and to compare him with Silva who has played on the right majority of times for both City and Monaco
The problem, though, is that Grealish will likely cost a load of money (unless he's got a relegation clause of some sort) and neither of those two players should be anywhere near the starting 11 barring a huge injury crisis. He's probably too good to move here to sit on the bench.
Grealish will be way cheaper than Maddison, plus he can play in three man midfield or directly behind striker and is fast enough to be a creative winger with most likely bigger impact than Chong or James. Ole will be able to change formations as he'll like without the need of taking into account Lingard and Pereira.
Fred was a bench player for almost full season, when he arrived here. If Grealish will fire on all cylinders then we shouldn't stop him from taking someone's place in a starting 11... and if he won't, he'll be still be great squad option that can be used pretty much in every match.
I just don't see a problem from having another creative outlet in this team.
Would you worry about playing Silva on the left? Would you feck. They're good players and useful anywhere they can create. Anyway, I couldn't give 2 fecks about this debate. My original point was that there is no way in hell we can afford to sign Sancho and Grealish without selling Pogba.
- Status