Gary Lineker makes ‘terrific’ Jack Grealish remark amid £100m Man City question
Gary Lineker has hailed former Aston Villa[1] captain Jack Grealish[2] as a terrific footballer despite criticism amid his GBP100million price tag. The 28-year-old completed the GBP100m move to the Etihad from Villa Park in the summer of 2021. But has since had a mixed period in Manchester and has come under-fire from supporters for his performances.
However, Lineker[3] does not think there is much else missing from his game. “You have to forget about the price tag. You’re worth what someone is prepared to pay for you,” he said on the Rest is Football Podcast[4]. “Overall he’s terrific, he keeps the ball under certain circumstances, he’s the perfect player to have particularly if you have a lead, when you’re going into the last 10-15 minutes. He can keep the ball, he wins free-kicks, he does all that.
“He makes, I think a lot of the right decisions and very rarely gives the ball away. I think possibly the only thing missing in his game is that stops him elevating into the very, very pinnacle, is a slight lack of pace. I think sometimes he beats players and then he can’t necessarily get away from them.
“I think he performs brilliantly, when he was at Aston Villa, they’re a very much counter-attacking side, that suited him a bit more. But when you’ve got 10 men behind the ball plus a goalkeeper, you’ve got full-backs and wingers doubling up on you, it’s really difficult unless you’ve got that burst of pace like [Jeremy] Doku’s got. “But Jack’s got different strength and I think he’s an integral part of the Manchester City squad.
But I just think it’s that little burst of pace, obviously that’s not something you can change but his decision-making, his crossing, the way he maintains the ball under a lot of pressure, I mean he wins a lot of free-kicks which is part of his job as a forward. “Winning fouls in dangerous situations and getting a lot of free kicks, I don’t think there’s a lot [wrong] with Jack’s game. There’s nothing wrong with Jack’s game, I think all players they will have a little burst of confidence and form but he’s a terrific player.
“The thing is, at City, there’s a lot of other terrific players as well and he’ll have the same issue with England of course because he’d be up against other players with incredible talent.
I really love watching Jack Grealish[7] play, the way he keeps the ball and goes at people, I would just say keep doing the things you’re doing and you’ll find a bit of form and confidence and away you go.”
Do you agree with Lineker?
Tell us in the comments section[8]
References
- ^ Aston Villa (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Jack Grealish (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Lineker (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Rest is Football Podcast (www.youtube.com)
- ^ Aston Villa in fresh EUR50m transfer claim amid Man Utd and Newcastle interest (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Full Man City squad available to face Aston Villa as Jack Grealish hit with ban (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Jack Grealish (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ comments section (www.birminghammail.co.uk)