Jack Grealish

[Muttley]

Looks like Pep has finally got Grealish to work hard for the team. Watching City play against Bayern and he has been really putting the yards in, not the more familiar try a trick, lose it, dive and sulk routine.

Will be a real asset to England if he can translate this to international games.

 

[allied_assault]

He is pure class

 

[Diego]

Don’t think there has ever been a doubt round his work rate to be fair. Was more the fact there wasn’t always an end product to his dribbling and winning fouls. Recently provided assist and goals and match winning performances. Combine that with the tracking back and being a team player and he’s looking top class at the moment.

 

[LaPennaBianca]

He went from being Villa's captain, talisman and only goal threat to being a cog in a very complicated and finely calibrated machine. A tough transition!

It usually takes players a season or so to catch on to Pep's ideas.

 

[sambaDTR]

And Foden has gone backwards!

 

[Diego]

Good work from him again for that goal winning the ball.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

And Foden has gone backwards!

I wish we had a player who had gone as far back as Foden.

What a load of bollox.

 

[allied_assault]

And Foden has gone backwards!

Are you joking?

 

[SilentProf]

He said himself at the end of last season that he was overthinking things and trying too hard to play the Pep way and retain possession all the time. It has taken time but it looks like he has finally figured out how to play more of his natural game and force the play at the right time within that system.

He might still have a hard time keeping a fully fit Rashford out of the England team but it’s a nice problem to have for Southgate.

I still think Foden is the best technical footballer we’ve got but he needs to be playing the De Bruyne role or as a number 10 and he’s got real competition there for club and country. Him and Bellingham with Rice holding behind them should dominate most teams on paper.

 

[Loop]

It always takes a little time for a player to get fully used to what Pep wants from a player. He now fully understands his role and you can see him flourishing on the pitch. He's a fantastic talent.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

It always takes a little time for a player to get fully used to what Pep wants from a player. He now fully understands his role and you can see him flourishing on the pitch. He's a fantastic talent.

I never rated Grealish at Villa, how wrong I was. Whilst he was at Villa in the Premier League you could see he started to use the ball better but he's now gone to another level and will only get better.