In August 2022, I penned a player profile on Jack Grealish following a film study of four games in particular.
These games were deliberately selected to analyse Jack Grealish’s game in a variety of roles, game-states and systems.
The following four games made up the film-study:
Jack Grealish vs Birmingham (March 2019) [Aston Villa] — LCM 433/4141
Jack Grealish vs Burnley (January 2021) [Aston Villa] — LW 4231 vs a Sean Dyche side
Jack Grealish vs Real Madrid, second leg (May 2022) [Manchester City] — LW 433.
Jack Grealish vs Liverpool (July 2022) [Manchester City] — LW 433.
Most of my attention was drawn to the first two games with Jack Grealish playing for Aston Villa. The conclusions drawn from these games were as follows:
Jack Grealish Scout Report (August 2022)
• Jack Grealish is a very high gravity player. He draws many to him when getting the ball. This is probably best used inside, moving or playing centrally.
— In wide areas that trait is restricted to one or max two in that zone. It still remains useful here though.
• Jack Grealish is incredibly press resistant even with players on his back. This aids his team to retain possession and control the tempo of the game.
— In high intensity games at the risk of becoming end-to-end and basketball-like, his composure on the ball, paired with his ability to draw fouls, is valuable for tempo control.
— Jack Grealish’s footedness as a right footed left winger aids again with retention and build-up against pressure too. When facing towards his own goal, his right foot opens up passes infield with greater ease. This access, angle-wise, is useful.
• When danger is not imminent ie. when his side are in settled defence, his recovery intensity/closing down is reduced. Here, Jack Grealish jogs/strolls often.
— When danger is imminent or sensed, Jack Grealish’s defensive intensity (usually in transition situations) is great.
— His intensity to run and win the ball is highest when his intention is to attack immediately after recovering the ball. An example would be chasing after a loose ball in the opposition’s final third.
• Jack Grealish is fouled and antagonised heavily. Villain type. This is not his fault. This is a good tool for game control.
— One negative to this is the reluctance at which referees call fouls for Grealish. Perhaps it would make more sense for Grealish not to complain for the foul but somebody like a Ilkay Gundogan to do so, on his behalf, with more innate credit in the bank with officials.
— Grealish buys lots of fouls which although just mentioned as a useful tool for game control, is not always a good thing. In fact, it is a bad trait for sustaining pressure vs blocks. Ideally, he needs to be able to ride challenges and buy fouls selectively.
• Jack Grealish is a player who thrives on playing with lots of touches. I get the sense that the more of the game that goes through him, the more he would enjoy it. This is to the extent that he drops deep and wants to/is comfortable receiving from the CBs in the first phase.
— It would be bad to isolate Grealish from the game. He possesses a child-like purity of the football game in that sense. Grealish displays aspects of socio-affection and functional play/non positional traits in his game.
Through these games, Jack Grealish readily moves into different zones to get on the ball. I am unsure if this is instructional but Grealish moves to the other side of the pitch with nobody immediately occupying his previous zone on more than one occasion.
• Jack Grealish wants to play, linking with others close by, as a passer to conjure up solutions. He develops relationships with those around him fairly well.
• Grealish’s left footed final ball, particularly from the left flank, is problematic and unreliable — cross/cutback with left foot. This is an area that requires improvement for maximal efficiency particularly in a heavy possession side against compact set-defences.
— Grealish’s reverse through pass after moving infield is good with his right foot. This is a valuable, creative, progressive tool in Grealish’s arsenal. It requires a runner (and so appropriate midfield, attacker or fullback profiles).
— There has been a clip that demonstrates a lovely final cut back on the right hand side as a strong footed winger. Is this possibly an area to explore?
• Grealish best thrives with pre-formed separation — meaning distance between him and the defender vertically. He likes to pick it up in space in front of the opposition line, more so than in between the lines. Receiving it deep and driving at defenders is something he is very apt at.
— Jack Grealish has a strong tendency to exit his dribble in-field. He is less likely to exit down the line or towards the touchline.
• Jack Grealish demonstrates excellent leadership traits. Dean Smith giving him the captain’s armband against Birmingham was a masterstroke as Grealish looks as if he thrives with and wants additional responsibility.
— Grealish instead looks muted in comparison sometimes at City. It is paramount Grealish is nurtured and given a bigger role to get the most out of him. Big fish, small pond; small fish, big pond?
He deserves to be at City and he should feel like it. With increasing confidence, his performances should improve.