Popular Post Mark Albrighton Posted August 9, 2021 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 hours ago, PieFacE said: Thought this was quite a good balanced view from neutrals. I don’t particularly disagree with their overall view. The problem I have is this idea of him “sticking with Villa” when they were relegated and him slumming it in the championship. It’s said in a manner that suggests he was even remotely as highly regarded then as he is now. Complete revisionism. Outside of Villa if you asked most supporters, he was known as the lad lying pissed on the floor while on holiday. And then to a lesser extent the “hippy crack” incident. Look at this thread on here during 2017, the prevailing sense is uncertainty if he’s going to reach his potential. And people on here discussing that watched him every week. I doubt a couple of Newcastle supporters watched him anywhere near as intently to make a qualified guess. Incidentally it’s curious that I don’t see much of a “Villa sticking by Grealish” narrative when he was on the front pages of the sun. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Keyblade Posted August 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 9, 2021 1 minute ago, Mark Albrighton said: I don’t particularly disagree with their overall view. The problem I have is this idea of him “sticking with Villa” when they were relegated and him slumming it in the championship. It’s said in a manner that suggests he was even remotely as highly regarded then as he is now. Complete revisionism. Outside of Villa if you asked most supporters, he was known as the lad lying pissed on the floor while on holiday. And then to a lesser extent the “hippy crack” incident. Look at this thread on here during 2017, the prevailing sense is uncertainty if he’s going to reach his potential. And people on here discussing that watched him every week. I doubt a couple of Newcastle supporters watched him anywhere near as intently to make a qualified guess. Incidentally it’s curious that I don’t see much of a “Villa sticking by Grealish” narrative when he was on the front pages of the sun. That's been the prevailing consensus among other fans, that he somehow did us a favour by staying in the Championship with us. Oh you mean the guy who couldn't get in the team ahead of Scott Sinclair the season we went down? Or the one who tried his best to piss away his career the following season? No credit given to Villa for sticking by him nd dragging him out of the mud. It smacks of people who have no clue what's been going on at Villa in the last few years (not that I would expect them to), and all it does is perpetuate the notion that good players have no obligation to stick with their teams and repay their faith and investment. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Xela said: I feel like i'm stalking an ex's facebook page when I'm watching him now! You just know when he plays really well it will be down to Pep and his brilliant management. Least when Platt left he went abroad and this was the days before the internet so it was out of sight, out of mind! In terms of club football but he became England captain and was scoring goals for fun so he was still very much in mind. Edited August 9, 2021 by PaulC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 28 minutes ago, Keyblade said: That's been the prevailing consensus among other fans, that he somehow did us a favour by staying in the Championship with us. Oh you mean the guy who couldn't get in the team ahead of Scott Sinclair the season we went down? Or the one who tried his best to piss away his career the following season? No credit given to Villa for sticking by him nd dragging him out of the mud. It smacks of people who have no clue what's been going on at Villa in the last few years (not that I would expect them to), and all it does is perpetuate the notion that good players have no obligation to stick with their teams and repay their faith and investment. That's because some of our own fans regurgitate the same horse shite on social media. Alot of them are just echo chambers. I saw one poster on Facebook say " He gave us his life " etc... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJCB Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 26 minutes ago, Keyblade said: That's been the prevailing consensus among other fans, that he somehow did us a favour by staying in the Championship with us. Oh you mean the guy who couldn't get in the team ahead of Scott Sinclair the season we went down? Or the one who tried his best to piss away his career the following season? No credit given to Villa for sticking by him nd dragging him out of the mud. It smacks of people who have no clue what's been going on at Villa in the last few years (not that I would expect them to), and all it does is perpetuate the notion that good players have no obligation to stick with their teams and repay their faith and investment. agreed - there's a bit of a narrative that grealish was turning down moves to other clubs to stay/help us. The reality was that no one wanted to sign him when we went down because he was a typical inconsistent young player with off field issues. Spurs came in for him in 2018 and all the evidence suggests he would have gone if they'd paid up. Then last year when he signed a new contract in light of utd interest he got the release clause put in so he could go at a later date. I'm not bitter about that - it's a cynical business - but anyone who thinks Grealish was at villa for as long as he was out of choice is deluded 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cizzler Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 hours ago, villa4europe said: Good player no doubt but I think exciting is something else that's hard to pin down Sterling would be another example for England or City, maybe bernardo too and of course foden, foden should end up being a better player, better stats too but he's never going to go on the kind of run Jack made vs Rotherham, Leeds, Burnley or arsenal That's why these gazza comparisons were thrown out there, he has that maverick element to him that's incredibly watchable Just not true - Foden’s a quality, quality dribbler. Look at his goal vs. France U21 At 30 seconds in. Foden and Mahrez are two of the most exciting players on the ball in the PL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TrentVilla Posted August 9, 2021 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted August 9, 2021 So..... my thoughts on Jack's exit.... not that anyone was holding out to hear them at all but I feel the need to get them off my chest. In part because it will be cathartic and in part because for the last week the only two people I've had to talk with about it have been my two boys who are 8 and 6, oddly they are more rational than half the Twitter users on the Villa hastag. Perhaps starting with my kids views on Jack (doesn't feel right calling him that any more so that will be the last time I do) is the right place though because they loved him. I don't know if it was his natural charm, his cheeky persona, no doubt part of it was his swagger on the pitch and his ability but I think part of it was he sounds like me. Growing up in Nottingham as they are, I think in some kind of way him sounding like me gave them a connection with a club they are geographically removed from in a way I wasn't when I grew up. I think that is the thing with Grealish, he gave us all a connection to our club in different ways. For some that connection was that he was one of us, living our dream. For others the connection was through the joy he brought us and the joy he expressed on the pitch. For me, the connection was to some extent with the love of the club and football itself. I was jaded, really jaded with the club in the Bruce era and the years that went before. Then I became a dad and I wanted my boys to be Villa, I'm not sure if they feel in love with Villa first then Grealish, or Grealish first and then Villa I genuinely couldn't say, the two were for them so intertwined. My boys are surrounded by Man City and United fans, by Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal plus the the Forest fans but they love Villa and a very very big part of that is because of Grealish, I will always love him for that. But.... I think the thing that hurts with Grealish, for me at least, is that the way he behaved and the things he said last summer made me believe he was different. I genuinely thought up until last week that he would stay. His words last summer were though disingenuous at best and that is hugely disappointing. In footballing terms I completely understand his desire to move to City, they can offer him so so much, more than we can possibly offer for years if at all. In football terms it is understandable but emotionally it is hard to take because it feels like a betrayal. That is the part many in the game and in the media seem to not get, Grealish wasn't just another player to the club or many of us fans. That is why I get so annoyed with them telling us how we should feel or react to the move. They have no right and frankly they have no insight or understanding to be able to do so, they see the game entirely differently to fans. I also object to the way some fans try to tell others how they should feel/react to Grealish following his move so I'm certainly not going to do it. For me, I won't boo him for making the move. I won't boo him on his return, I'll always be grateful for what he gave us and what he gave me with my boys. For me, he isn't a club legend, he could have been but he falls sadly short of that moniker. I think he will find not being the star turn and centre of attention at City a challenge, it won't be to his liking or fuel the ego that sits beneath the boyish charm. But Grealish is a sublime footballer, those trying to kid themselves otherwise are simply making fools of themselves. He will I'm sure excel with better players and dare I say it a better coaches, although I think initially he will struggle not playing every minute and being given every ball. He will though come good and he will inevitably win plenty of trophies which is why the smug responses to the Charity Shield were premature although understandable. Timing is everything in life and simply put the timing of Grealish career and the project being undertaken at Villa was out by a few years, had they been better aligned perhaps things would have been different. Perhaps not. I'm not sure we will ever be competing with City and their petrol pounds. I'm sure he will want to return to end his career, he hinted as much in his statement, who knows if paths will align to enable that to happen. Post Grealish Villa will be very different, it will have to be, you can't replace the guy and I'm glad the club recognise that. One of the biggest mistakes I think we made in a decade of mistakes was thinking we could replace Ashley Young with the absolute wastrel that was N'Zogbia. While the moneyball approach at times makes me a little nervous I do agree with the logic from Purslow's statement. I think this departure has been months in the making, I don't believe for one moment it has happened post Euro's its been in the offing for 6 months or more. I therefore feel confident that our planning for that eventuality will also have been similar rather than reactionary in recent days. I've enough faith in those running the club to believe that. We've been massively over reliant upon him for three years and that was unhealthy, I hope we find a way to play without him and to be more balanced. I won't lie, I fear for Smith without Jack as he has really struggled whenever he has been absent, I hope I'm wrong. Personally, I guess I wish Grealish well. He is one of the games good guys, I've no desire to see City win anything but at the same time I hope it works out for him. I hope he doesn't live to regret it, I suspect he might at some point even with a few trophies on the shelf. Man CIty are a club that sold its soul, I think Grealish to some extent has done the same. Anyway... I've got to go and take down two walls of Grealish pictures. My boys will have other hero's but probably none quite like our Jack. (allow me that one) Oh and in case you are wondering, the 8 year old thinks we will be a better team without him if we spend well. The 6 year old thinks we will never have anyone like Grealish. I think they are probably both right. Funny old game. 29 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cizzler Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 2 hours ago, Fairy In Boots said: Wanted Jack in a team that spent large periods on top rather than counter attacking cut and thrust football. Southgate is tactically inept anyway his opinions are gibberish Why would that be the case when Southgate deliberately sets England up to counter attack any time they play top quality opposition. Sorry but your post is just nonsense. Not sure Southgate benefits at all from this move. He’s never liked playing him, I think it’s personal (but maybe also tactical to an extent) however Jack signing for the British transfer record only increases the pressure to pick him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguin Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 hours ago, Keyblade said: I called it a year ago. Since then the deafening calls to call Jack up were too loud to ignore, but he still used him sparingly. 4 hours ago, villa4europe said: Of course he will the prick He played his part in this Thought this myself. Southgate has blood on his hands in his regard, likely decided anyway but his usage in the Euros despite the season he had and the nation calling for it definitely cemented it - He 100% starts the world cup and Southgate talk's about how he's now a complete player following a move to one of the big boys. The system is rigged. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuwabatake Sanjuro Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Keyblade said: That's been the prevailing consensus among other fans, that he somehow did us a favour by staying in the Championship with us. Oh you mean the guy who couldn't get in the team ahead of Scott Sinclair the season we went down? Or the one who tried his best to piss away his career the following season? No credit given to Villa for sticking by him nd dragging him out of the mud. It smacks of people who have no clue what's been going on at Villa in the last few years (not that I would expect them to), and all it does is perpetuate the notion that good players have no obligation to stick with their teams and repay their faith and investment. Look back at how bad we were in February 2017 and he couldn't hold his place in the team due to ineffective performances. Granted it was Bruceball at the time but it didn't look promising for him at that stage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 6 minutes ago, Kuwabatake Sanjuro said: Look back at how bad we were in February 2017 and he couldn't hold his place in the team due to ineffective performances. Granted it was Bruceball at the time but it didn't look promising for him at that stage. He was so bad Bruce was thinking about selling him in an exchange for Jordan Rhodes the next season ffs. That was 3 seasons ago! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWARLEY2 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 The one thing that stops me feeling totally ok about this is the fact he will play against us a minimum of 2 games a season. And that will be a 2 way thing. It will be a horrible situation that will not cover us with glory. It will be like seeing your ex in public with her new bloke. It will make me feel physically sick. And Jack will absolutely hate it i am sure. And if he scores then it will be 100 times worse than Yorkie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Factory Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Keyblade said: That's been the prevailing consensus among other fans, that he somehow did us a favour by staying in the Championship with us. Oh you mean the guy who couldn't get in the team ahead of Scott Sinclair the season we went down? Or the one who tried his best to piss away his career the following season? No credit given to Villa for sticking by him nd dragging him out of the mud. It smacks of people who have no clue what's been going on at Villa in the last few years (not that I would expect them to), and all it does is perpetuate the notion that good players have no obligation to stick with their teams and repay their faith and investment. I know everyone likes to slag Bruce off but he helped Jack sort himself out. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 6 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said: I know everyone likes to slag Bruce off but he helped Jack sort himself out. JT too. If I subscribed to the correlation = causation school of thought, I could argue it was more down to JT as the season before he joined Jack the Lad was at his peak, under Bruce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornso Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 The big question is, how Mrs Grealish 69 feels about his move to Citeh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Factory Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 minutes ago, Keyblade said: JT too. If I subscribed to the correlation = causation school of thought, I could argue it was more down to JT as the season before he joined Jack the Lad was at his peak, under Bruce. When he came back from his pre season injury in Autumn 2017 that's when he turned it around. Apart from a few good performances under Sherwood he had really done very little before that, admittedly in a car crash of a club. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Spoony Posted August 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted August 9, 2021 12 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said: I know everyone likes to slag Bruce off but he helped Jack sort himself out. Off topic but Bruce gets way too much stick on here. He helped steady a very-much not steady ship. He laid some foundations on which we could build during a time of personal trauma and Dr clearing in the woods at the helm. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said: When he came back from his pre season injury in Autumn 2017 that's when he turned it around. Apart from a few good performances under Sherwood he had really done very little before that, admittedly in a car crash of a club. Yeah something seemed to have clicked. He also came back slightly bulked up. He never looked back from there. Still my favourite season of his, he was just sublime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 I read somewhere that the freak kidney injury forced him to look at things in a different light. He definitely buckled down after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitvilla Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 41 minutes ago, MWARLEY2 said: It will be like seeing your ex in public with her new bloke. If you truly loved her you would hope she was happy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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