My first post....had to have my tuppence in response to this Grealish thing, sorry guys.
Historically I have not been JG's biggest fan, not because I don't think he can play but mainly because of the hype surrounding him. As with all our bright young things, the kid was never going to live up to the hype! His off the field antics did not warm me to him either!
On reflection however, at 19 he simply wasn't ready for the premier league. To me that is blindingly obvious, but he was thrown into a really poor side surrounded by players with even worse attitudes, and a lot of fans just expected too much, myself included. This season however, if people don't see the difference when he is on the pitch then I don't think it's worth arguing with them. He is (was before splurge) the only player we have that can travel with the ball, that can carry the ball from midfield into the final third. Excellent example of the difference he makes was the game against Leeds. When he went off just gone half time, the game changed like switching a channel!
I'm struggling to remember the last time we produced a kid with the natural, effortless ability Grealish has. His dribbling skills are there for all to see, and yes whilst he does lack the electric pace and acceleration of some, his almost noncelent ability to ghost pass players is rarely seen in young english footballers. He also has superb vision and his passing at times is wonderful. Yes, he still makes a lot of mistakes and his decision making lets him down at times....he is still learning.
Until the recent splurge on new talent, we only had one player at the club that offered the kind of football brain and movement up front, of the kind I that I would expect from a club of our stature, namely Ross McCormack....and when JG and RMc were on the field together, not very often granted, you could see how Grealish was probably the only player that saw the runs RMc was making, who was on that wavelength. I felt they would shine given time.
There is no doubt in my mind that surrounded by the new midfield we have brought in, JG will look a completely different player. In my mind we should give him the old fashioned 'free role' in the side, floating behind the main striker. Lansbury and Hourihane can hold the midfield and just let JG do what he does. He will create. If Brucey sticks with 4-2-3-1, then for me JG will be perfect in the middle of the '3'. Bjarnason and Adomah alongside with Kodija up top.
For fans to actually want him sold is beyond me, it really is. Each to their own though I suppose. To call him a 'show pony' is insane....it's not Division 5 of the Festival League, lol!
Grealish has to stay. It's not even up for discussion in my view. We should be building the team around him over the coming years. He has a lot to learn and we have the right man in charge to keep him on the straight and narrow. As was mentioned earlier, if he ever does leave it will be to a far bigger club than Middlesboro....
Now if we received a bid for his old man, that would be a different story....!
