Jack Grealish

With the season barely 3 weeks old, we have already entered a fallow period. Positioned between the pandemonium of the transfer window closure and this long UEFA imposed international break, we are given time to reflect on what has happened up to this point, albeit very early in the season.

One thing that got me thinking is the return of Jack Grealish. I watched an interview with Grealish after he joined us for a second loan spell. While I enjoy his relaxed demeanour and his ability to deviate beyond the usual soundbites in front of a camera, his comments concern me. 

I don’t see him getting as much game time as he got last year, and therefore I don’t think this will end well for him. 

He spoke about being desperate to play in every game (or at least as much as he can), playing week in week out, without any pressure. Why is there a perception that playing for Everton is in some way linked to less pressure? Perhaps a different type of pressure, but pressure nonetheless.

He appeared to be saying that he’s getting older, not as fit or strong as he used to be, and is happy to gradually shuffle off into the sunset at Everton, with a reduced but still VERY handsome wage. Is this just me? Am I so used to seeing over-the-hill players rock up to the Sunny Meadows retirement home for a paycheck and a few cameo appearances? 

On the pitch, his deliberate style draws players in, attracts fouls and can win us some free kicks in some dangerous areas. Since the directives in the World Cup, however, whereby referees have been instructed to take a much more apathetic view to personal player protection, my fear is that Grealish will become more and more injury prone, will become a lot more frustrated and attract the wrong kind of attention in terms of bookings for lashing out and harden the perceptions that he is a “diver.”

A lot of the games I have watched since the World Cup have, it seemed, allowed a lot of what would have been clear and dangerous fouls go unpunished, to the benefit of the pace and entertainment of a game. 

Grealish’s tendency to slow down play once he receives the ball, waiting on the overlap or left-cutting 8 runs (a-la KDH) means opposition teams can quickly identify this and snuff it out. This style of play is at odds with a player such as Tyrique George who can go at the opposition with pace and cause panic, whereas Tyler Dibling can slow down to draw a defender in before turning on the after burners to beat a player with a sudden blast. 

As much as I like Grealish, I feel his utilisation this season will be more reduced. I hope he can handle this mentally, the interviews given since his move suggests otherwise. I wish him well this season as a happy Jack Grealish will be a successful one, and that is only good for us Toffees.