Excellent analogy of Grealish’s departure

[freer]

All teams lose a cult hero or player they feel cannot replace

In most circumstances, the monies received can be viewed as badly spent in a rash spending spree.

When Liverpool lost Fernando Torres to Chelsea for some £50 million, much of that fee went on Andy Carrol, with later addictions in the mould of Stewart Downing & Charlie Adam. None of these signings were successful, and all moved on due to poor form or simple lack of quality. The fact that Luis Suarez was signed shortly after Nando left was the only bright note in that winter window. Jordan Henderson joining within the next window can also be seen as a success. When Luis Suarez eventually left after a tremendous spell as a Liverpool player, the likes of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert & Mario Balotelli were recruited, which again shows a lack of ambition in the replacements.


Tottenham famously spent all the Gareth Bale money on a wide selection of players that disrupted the squad, leading to further stalling in the progression. With the likes of Érik Lamela, Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Étienne Capoue, Nacer Chadli, Vlad Chiricheș coming in, it can be argued that none were a success. The only smart money spent that summer was on the now departed Christian Eriksen.


Aston Villa are a legendary English club who belong in the top tier of football. When they dropped into the Championship, much needed to change in order for them to fully establish themselves once more. The new ownership has done great things, and in Dean Smith, they have found an up and coming coach who has been able to build & galvanise a good squad of players. Last season saw some spectacular results, some good results and some poor showings. It was clear that despite the sprinkling of quality within the first team, that further depth and options were needed to really push themselves into a consistent top half finish within the Premier League.
Jack Grealish represents a new wave of player, where most wingers or inside forwards play inverted as part of a front three. His ability to break lines, ball carry and be the instigator of much of Villa’s play made him a firm fan favourite. With certain teams (sitting higher up the league) scrambling to meet their homegrown quota, Villa were able to play it cool when Manchester City made their Grealish admiration clear. Aston Villa are now run by wealthy had ambitious owners, and were able to stand fast with their own valuation of Jack Grealish. For a fee of £100 million, Villa should be pleased with the deal, with the player staying respectful to his club throughout the process. In massive deals there can be huge animosity, and the Grealish transfer is looking far more amicable and less messy that the ongoing Harry Kane saga.


As is now common in major transactions, Aston Villa appeared willing to part with their man only once certain incoming deals could be orchestrated. The knowledge of Villa having received vast sums can sometimes add a premium when looking to spend that money. Villa should be applauded for their business, and it appears that more recruitments could enter the Villa Park squad, prior to the window closing.


The initial signing of former Norwich City playmaker, Emi BuendÃ*a, came nice and early for the Villans. In a swift deal that saw Emi choose the claret and blue over Arsenal, it shows the ambition and pull of the Midlands club. Emi BuendÃ*a has a skill set not dissimilar to the out going Grealish, and it was a curious thought as to how the two may operate together. The clarity that Grealish leaving has allowed, means BuendÃ*a will most likely play in the 10 position, in behind another new recruit, Danny Ings. Emi BuendÃ*a signing for somewhere in the region of £35 million represents smart business that should allow creative play to continue within the side. At 24 years of age, they have a player about to enter his prime years within a team ready to launch themselves into the leagues top half.


Leon Bailey was once heralded as a world star in the making. With some explosive qualities, his star waned somewhat during an inconsistent spell at Bayer Leverkusen. Aston Villa may have been able to take advantage of a stagnating market, with the potential of Bailey still high enough to make the £25 million fee relatively low risk. His ability to offer both width from the right & surges inside when the final third, should give Villa more variation in their patterns of play. With much of Villa’s play linked to Grealish from the left or central positions, the right side often became an untapped avenue to attack. Matty Cash has enjoyed a great start to his Villa career, and his advancing runs on the outside of Bailey should cause multiple problems for opposing teams. For a player that turns 24 years old this week, it is another smart piece of business by Aston Villa.


The latest transfer rose from rumour to absolute certainty, almost as soon as the Grealish deal was confirmed. Danny Ings becoming a Villa player is something that all Villans should be excited about. With a proven scorer and veteran striker within their ranks, the near £30 million deal sees him leave Southampton, in a very good piece of business. With only 1 year left on his Saints contract, Ings was able to engineer a move to Villa, that will see a complete reshaping of their forward line. His recruitment will no doubt see the impressive Ollie Watkins move into a more familiar left inside forward position, once occupied by Grealish. Watkins’ ability to drive with the ball and break the lines will suit his game fair more, with his common Villa position as center forward not always suiting his preferred game.


A system change is assured, and with the incoming signings, Villa should be overjoyed with their summer business. The raw nature of cult hero’s leaving will soon wash away once Villas new forward line are unleashed. With a strong midfield of John McGinn & Douglas Luiz, the team is already looking better equipped for a long season.
Further additions will no doubt be made, but as Jack Grealish leaves in search of prosperity, Aston Villa fans should look forward to a season where their side has been able to improve, reshape and build for a more consistent season.

And Breath !


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[TrianonDave]

Here Here, great summing up Freer 👍✌

[dazzyowen]

Good read that and agree with lots of it..

[westcountryvillain]

Great read Freer - thanks for sharing.

[freer]

Interesting/arguable/controversial by Mike Field

I was disgusted by Grealish’s actions during lockdown and felt that he didn’t deserve to retain the captaincy. ?

The lack of action by the club was disappointing. ?

His reaction to being substituted was also ridiculous and led others (Ross Barkley) to also repeating these antics

I stand by my statement at the time, that all was not right with the team spirit and to me, this was a contributing factor.


No player is bigger than the team, yet the club allowed Grealish to become exactly that.

It’s telling to me that John McGinn recently mentioned how great the spirit is in the pre-season camp.


Yes, Grealish is a very good footballer, and perhaps the most individually-skilled we’ve ever seen, but Aston Villa are a GREAT club and will be here long after he hangs up his boots.

Thoughts you Guys ??

[oldskoolvillan]

I read a fair bit of Mike Fields stuff for "that other forum" he generally talks sense and I think he has a point, as I said in another thread, I think the club had looked at this as business people do and Im sure the amount of leeway Grealish had been given, and his response to it was a factor in making the overall decisions easier, not withstanding they would still have done their best to keep him. This event may yet be more of a turning point for our club than we think, more excited for the start of this season than I was for the last.

[TrianonDave]

Not wanting to turn on Jack as ive loved him playing in a Villa shirt and the fact he gets up the noses of the opposition fans with his going to ground. I think this is one thing Pep will stop, he will encourage him to be stronger for sure but I must agree and posted to City fans he has got away with murder at Villa and a repeat will not be tollerated at City, coming to mind was obviously the landrover smash, speeding, paraletic on holiday, court appearances, he obviously lives the high life but thats all going to change and he will have to accept being subbed so no sulking, to think of Ross Macormack being bombed for one incident, he has got away with it lightly. The one thing that makes me cringe is that Covid message ' stay at home' and the next minute he is out partying, the apology was pathetic and stood for nothing. I think had we sold him at that time we would have been lucky to get 25 mill for him. He is a fantastic player but apart from gaining freekicks, what will he bring to City, this is what their fans are asking? He was our Darling, local lad done well and all that, I do think he got a bit bigheaded at times but this comes about when people treat you like god. A little but if George Best Maybe, champaigne and Prostitutes splattered all over the press. Yes, Jack very Colourful. I think he will have grow up a bit as ive said the investment city have made they, will expect more or he will be out in a Taxi and not a limmo....i see Both Foden and KDB are out of the Charity Shield today and Pep has already stated, Jack will not start. Well with both of them out you would have thought a showbiz start for Jack but Pep is Pep for a reason! Good luck lad, your going to need it.

[oldskoolvillan]

Cant see that side of things improving tbh honest TD when he has the likes of Walker and foden to play with, if he isnt careful, and his representitives dont put him on a leash, he could be a disaster, because, as you mentioned, Pep wont put up with it from him.