Farlz Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Quote Jack Grealish was just 16 when Tim Sherwood tried to sign him for Tottenham Hotspur. It was a bold approach by Tottenham’s then technical co-ordinator who asked the club’s manager Harry Redknapp whether he would be willing to swap a first-team player for an unknown teenager. “I thought we could get him if we offered someone who would be able to go straight into the Villa side and play for them every week,” Sherwood explains. “In fairness it wasn’t any good for Harry at that stage because Jack was just a boy. But I saw him as the future of the club.” Sherwood was a frequent visitor to Villa’s under-18 games – Grealish played two years up – and would drive to Birmingham just to watch him play. “Jack is the closest thing I have ever seen to Paul Gascoigne,” Sherwood says. “I’ve played against some of the best midfield players the Premier League has ever seen – Keane, Vieira, Scholes – but they never made you look stupid. But Gazza did. He wasn’t satisfied until he put you on you’re arse and Jack’s got that audacity as well. He takes the ball; he commits people. He creates a melee. “Jack’s got this arrogance about him. In the nicest possible way all top players have it. He’s got everything. He’s a friend of the football, that’s the best thing I can say about him. When they used to warm-up I could tell him a mile away because he was always dribbling the ball around the pitch when they were jogging. You see he moves quicker with the ball than without it.” Of course, Sherwood did get to work with Grealish when he was appointed Villa manager in February 2015, with the club desperately trying to avoid relegation, and immediately showed his faith by making him central to the team at just 19. “No hesitation,” Sherwood says. “I told him ‘you are the most gifted player in the squad, I don’t care how old you are, be brave and take it to the opposition’. I told Fabian Delph, Tom Cleverley, everyone. They were under no illusions – I’d say to them ‘find Jack. Find him as quickly as you can. Give him the ball’.” On Saturday lunchtime Grealish will lead Villa out away to the champions, Manchester City, with the 24-year-old so vital to the newly-promoted side’s hopes of staying in the Premier League. It was Dean Smith, who took over last October, who handed fellow Villa fan Grealish the captaincy and he has been rewarded with a series of outstanding performances. "People thought that maybe [the captaincy] would be a burden for him, being a Villa fan, but from what I've seen he likes the responsibility and he thrives on it as well,” Smith says. “He said to me that I haven't seen the best of him yet.” With an insight into his Grealish’s confidence and cheeky side Smith also revealed that the captain had told Smith’s wife that the manager, agitated by some of the decisions in the tense game, needed to “chill and enjoy the win” after last Saturday’s last-gasp victory over Brighton. England manager Gareth Southgate was at Villa Park to watch Grealish drive his side to those three points and there is a growing sense that having finally returned to perform in the Premier League the play-maker is under serious consideration for an England call-up. When that happens it will be a reminder of how close he was to playing for the Republic of Ireland, with their former manager Martin O’Neill claiming “he would have been a veteran in international football” by now if he had chosen them. O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane, who worked with Grealish at Villa, would have taken him to Euro 2016. “Myself and Roy went to meet him and his father (Kevin), a couple of times,” O’Neill explains. “We said we thought it would be great if he decided to play for Ireland’s senior team because he had spent so long playing for the under-age with us. But we both knew he had been born in England and his father had been born in England as well, so we knew he had a tough call to make. The family spent a lot of time debating it. He would have played international football straight away for us, there is no doubt about that…you can’t promise anything, but there is a decent chance he would have played into our squad and gone to play at the European Championships with us in France. “He was a different sort of player to the others we had. He would have given us that natural talent that he has to be able to drift past players, that type of stuff. He would have certainly helped us.” Both O’Neill and Sherwood are convinced it is only a matter of time before Grealish plays for England. “He’s different to any midfielder we have got in the country,” Sherwood says. “(James) Maddison is the closest thing. He’s technically gifted and aware but doesn’t move like Jack who commits people.” In fact it may well be a straight shoot-out between Grealish and Maddison for Southgate’s next squad to face Montenegro and Kosovo next month. Maddison’s chances have been clouded by his withdrawal from the last squad through illness, with him then photographed at a casino the following evening. “My only worry for him regarding England is whether he’s in a dominant enough side,” Sherwood says of Grealish. “But try and prise him away from Aston Villa – he loves the club, it’s a magnificent football club, we all know that. But are they going to dominate enough for him to showcase what he has on a regular basis? That’s my only worry. I’ve mentioned him to Gareth before. This kid’s the real thing and if you put him among the world-class players we’ve got then he’s not letting anyone down.” Grealish did almost move to Spurs last year, with a £25million transfer close to being completed after Villa failed to gain promotion, with then manager Steve Bruce admitting his departure was “inevitable” amid a financial crisis. “He would have gone unless those billionaires hadn’t turned up,” Sherwood says, with the takeover by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens changing everything. “Your first act can’t be getting rid of your prize asset and the crowd’s favourite. That wouldn’t have been good business and I’m sure they gave him a king’s ransom to stay.” Grealish, who has been at Villa since he was six, signed a new five-year contract ahead of this season. “Listen, he’s capable of playing for any team in the Premier League, any team,” Sherwood says. “He’s got something different that Liverpool haven’t got. That little bit of time, little bit of guile. At times they need someone who can control the tempo a little. I can imagine him getting the ball in the correct areas for a team like Man City. When Man United are struggling like they are for players of a creative nature, surely if they are paying £50 million for someone like Fred then Jack Grealish for £70 million? It’s a cup of tea.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/10/25/brink-england-call-up-aston-villas-prized-asset-jack-grealish/ Isn't it nice to see so many positive articles about Jack. Sherwood don't half love him. Our captain 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 I’ve said it before, but I really see him becoming a very famous footballer. Not just his ability but his off the field personality. Maybe not quite as big, but he could be this generations Beckham. The media at the moment love him and are really building him up. Once he gets into that England team, other fans will start to see what we see and will stop the criticism. His brand will then grow and grow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Sherwood should have never gotten ideas above his station and left youth coaching. He's spot on. He must have been buzzing to coach Jack at Villa. Shame he wasn't very good at that management bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 In my opinion (feel free to disagree), Grealish is fulfilling his potential, where he’s playing currently is his best position for me, not an out and out central midfielder, not an out and out winger, ‘in the hole’ as I like to call it. He has almost no defensive responsibility, he’s maturing almost game by game, it’s a joy to watch. 24 years old and he’s the captain of our side, is he our youngest captain in the Premier League era? I can’t think of any younger ones, Gareth Barry maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 It's looking like you can add Leicester to the rival fans that he has on steings To be fair maddison should have had a nod by now, not Jack's fault that he hasn't, will be a face fitting thing, must be something about maddison in training thay Southgate doesn't see or doesn't like, Jack could be exactly the same Still think in this England team Jack's ball carrying skills and passing ability trumps maddisons goal stats in terms of what they need the most Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 37 minutes ago, Keyblade said: Sherwood should have never gotten ideas above his station and left youth coaching. He's spot on. He must have been buzzing to coach Jack at Villa. Shame he wasn't very good at that management bit. I thought he did quite well when he first came in. We played some great stuff when we had Delph, Cleverley, Benteke and Grealish all interchanging, was good to watch. Then, when Delph and Benteke left we failed to really replace them to a degree, although Jordan Ayew is playing well for Crystal Palace, he scored the winner against us earlier this season. Idrissa Gueye is now playing for PSG, the others haven’t really amounted to much. We gamble on mainly French league players and ultimately paid the price with relegation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 3 minutes ago, sir_gary_cahill said: We gamble on mainly French league players and ultimately paid the price with relegation Going OT Disagree, Lerner wanting out leading to a rot at the club and a complete lack of professionalism from our experienced well paid English guys such as gabby, lescott and Richards led to our relegation We could have signed 5 French internationals and still been shit, they've gone on to show that they are all good capable players It wasn't football talent that was out demise it was our mentality, scapegoating the French players was part of that mentality 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 (edited) 27 minutes ago, villa4europe said: Going OT Disagree, Lerner wanting out leading to a rot at the club and a complete lack of professionalism from our experienced well paid English guys such as gabby, lescott and Richards led to our relegation We could have signed 5 French internationals and still been shit, they've gone on to show that they are all good capable players It wasn't football talent that was out demise it was our mentality, scapegoating the French players was part of that mentality Gabby was only ever an exemplary professional for me, he never kicked up a fuss or was in the newspapers for the wrong reasons. At the time, there was a stigma around the club, I don’t think it’s there anymore, there is a feel good factor and it’s showing on and off the pitch. One thing I think that we do lack is bit of nous, a bit of knowhow, someone how has been there and done it, a helping hand that can guide our younger players without upsetting the apple cart Edited October 25, 2019 by sir_gary_cahill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 4 minutes ago, sir_gary_cahill said: Gabby was only ever an exemplary professional for me, he never kicked up a fuss or was in the newspapers for the wrong reasons. At the time, there was a stigma around the club, I don’t think it’s there anymore, there is a feel good factor and it’s showing on and off the pitch. One thing I think that we do lack is bit of nous, a bit of knowhow, someone how has been there and done it, a helping hand that can guide our younger players without upsetting the apple cart You can't remember the dubai party photos then with Richards, Campbell and I think gayle? It will be weird when Jack is all said and done, great career at villa or somewhere else if the first couple of years of him in the team, us being utter **** garbage and him being the poster boy at that age for that terrible team, ridiculous amount of pressure put on him by our own set up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted October 25, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted October 25, 2019 7 minutes ago, sir_gary_cahill said: Gabby was only ever an exemplary professional for me, he never kicked up a fuss or was in the newspapers for the wrong reasons. Wow - SGC you are so wrong there. His weight/fitness, his application were all appalling once he got his last contract. I also seem to remember pictures of him smoking and drinking in Dubai with Dwight Gayle when he was supposedly 'injured.' Anyway OT sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted October 25, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted October 25, 2019 Anyone else hopeful that all this attention this week doesn't put Jack of his game? It seems to have been all about him this week which for some reason just concerns me. There was MOTD, Jenas waxing lyrical about him on PL world and at least 3 newspaper articles. I'm not suggesting it will go to his head but he's about to play against one of the best teams in the world and all that attention also brings pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 25 minutes ago, TheAuthority said: Anyone else hopeful that all this attention this week doesn't put Jack of his game? It seems to have been all about him this week which for some reason just concerns me. There was MOTD, Jenas waxing lyrical about him on PL world and at least 3 newspaper articles. I'm not suggesting it will go to his head but he's about to play against one of the best teams in the world and all that attention also brings pressure. I think you make some good points here, it could happen or he could rise to the occasion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 29 minutes ago, TheAuthority said: Wow - SGC you are so wrong there. His weight/fitness, his application were all appalling once he got his last contract. I also seem to remember pictures of him smoking and drinking in Dubai with Dwight Gayle when he was supposedly 'injured.' Anyway OT sorry All rumours, there were no definite proof, Gabby gets a lot of stick on here but he’ll always be fondly remembered by me especially during the MON years. He was more than decent in 2012/13 too, he never moaned, just got on with his job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 (edited) 39 minutes ago, villa4europe said: You can't remember the dubai party photos then with Richards, Campbell and I think gayle? It will be weird when Jack is all said and done, great career at villa or somewhere else if the first couple of years of him in the team, us being utter **** garbage and him being the poster boy at that age for that terrible team, ridiculous amount of pressure put on him by our own set up No, Frazier Campbell? There is no such thing as the perfect role model but Gabby was close to it on and off the pitch Edited October 25, 2019 by sir_gary_cahill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted October 25, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted October 25, 2019 2 minutes ago, sir_gary_cahill said: All rumours, there were no definite proof, Gabby gets a lot of stick on here but he’ll always be fondly remembered by me especially during the MON years. He was more than decent in 2012/13 too, he never moaned, just got on with his job Quote Despite being embroiled in a relegation battle, Crystal Palace's Dwight Gayle and Fraizer Campbell joined Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor and defender Micah Richards for a night out in Dubai. The Premier League quartet had the Easter weekend off due to the international break and they took advantage of a rare break by jetting off to the United Arab Emirates. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3511551/Micah-Richards-Gabby-Agbonlahor-Dwight-Gayle-Fraizer-Campbell-relegation-battle-one-Premier-League-stars-enjoy-night-Dubai.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3515427/Gabriel-Agbonlahor-snapped-shisha-pipe-mid-season-trip-Dubai-Aston-Villa-s-campaign-goes-smoke.html Quote Aston Villa star Gabriel Agbonlahor snapped with shisha pipe during mid-season trip to Dubai as his rock bottom side's campaign goes up in smoke 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 11 minutes ago, TheAuthority said: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3511551/Micah-Richards-Gabby-Agbonlahor-Dwight-Gayle-Fraizer-Campbell-relegation-battle-one-Premier-League-stars-enjoy-night-Dubai.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3515427/Gabriel-Agbonlahor-snapped-shisha-pipe-mid-season-trip-Dubai-Aston-Villa-s-campaign-goes-smoke.html Those photos could’ve been edited, I wouldn’t take anything I see in the Daily Mail as gospel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mikeyp102 Posted October 25, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 25, 2019 Take the talk of gabby to the gabby thread. We have a potential world superstar as our club captain let’s focus on him 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaVilla Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Grealish is currently playing as almost an inside forward, Smith has put him there and Grealish is reaping the rewards. I think it’s his best position, he almost has no defensive responsibility. Grealish is playing superbly, possibly the best football of his career to date. Smith is getting the best out of him and it’s a joy to watch, let’s hope Grealish can maintain it, the sky is the limit for him. It’s a delight to watch him play at the minute Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted October 26, 2019 Share Posted October 26, 2019 Our only player who could get into a team like Citeh IMO. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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