Grealish

[ElectroClaret]

Signed a new 5 year deal at Villa Park £135k p.w.
Surprise really, thought United were coming for him.

[FactualFrank]

Not a fan of his at all, but that's loyalty for you. He could have easily let his contract run down and moved to a good club.

[Chester Perry]

Grealish has been told by the Villa owners that they mean business and that they will keep spending - £150m last season and I expect something over £100m this season on transfers - there at £60m or so already

[martin_p]

Not a fan of his at all, but that's loyalty for you. He could have easily let his contract run down and moved to a good club.

I think I could mange loyalty on £135k per week!

[Dyched]

Good on him. Young, good looking chap. Captain and main man at his boyhood club at such a young age. Grabs games by the scruff of their neck. You can forgive him for being a bit of a show pony for that!! Good on him I say!!

[Granny WeatherWax]

Great player, tore us to shreds at the turf.

[FactualFrank]

I think I could mange loyalty on £135k per week!

Could probably have doubled that in 12 months for a good side.

[tiger76]

A big boost to Villa, they shouldn't be in the relegation mix this season, of course with this extra outlay the pressure will grow on Dean Smith.

[FactualFrank]

A big boost to Villa, they shouldn't be in the relegation mix this season, of course with this extra outlay the pressure will grow on Dean Smith.

I'm surprised more clubs don't man-mark him more. He's pretty much their only good player and if you cancel him out of the game, it pretty much quietens Villa.

[Chester Perry]

Must say I am amazed they haven't gone big for Tarks - he would definitely improve them and that spine they are looking for a great pairing with Mings too - which would catch the eye of Southgate

[Boss Hogg]

Good player but complete c*ck. A bit like a lesser Ronaldo.

[tiger76]

I'm surprised more clubs don't man-mark him more. He's pretty much their only good player and if you cancel him out of the game, it pretty much quietens Villa.

Does anyone employ man-marking these days, it's more about pressing teams, and closing the space between your back line and midfield.

I do agree Villa were over reliant on him last season, hence why they've gone on another spending spree this window.

[joey13]

Good player but complete c*ck. A bit like a lesser Ronaldo.

Don’t think he’s a c*ck , he’s just a bit dim apparently

[Wellsy1882]

Good player but complete c*ck. A bit like a lesser Ronaldo.

Never mention in the same sentence again

[KRBFC]

An absolute quality player, no idea why people don’t like him? I assume it’s his appearance which shouldn’t matter.

[Herts Clarets]

It also means that if he were to leave, then Villa could command a big fee for him. Win/win situation.

[Vegas Claret]

I think its more down to none of the big boys thinks he's top level, the move he thought might happen wasn't going to........he's a very good player, I'm surprised nobody took a chance on him

[box_of_frogs]

An absolute quality player, no idea why people don’t like him? I assume it’s his appearance which shouldn’t matter.

He deserves that kind of money. If I’d been shot by a sniper as many times as he has, judging by the diving and rolling around, then I’d want that kind of danger money too!

[FactualFrank]

No footballer deserves that money, but fair play to sticking to a club for 5 years. 5 year contracts are almost unheard of these days and he's committed himself to his club. He's 25, so will be out of his prime when his contract runs out, which sounds like he's accepted that he won't play for a good team in his career.

[JohnMac]

Good player but hardly in the 'Great' category and nobody is going to double his salary to £270k pw.

Definitely doing the right thing staying and signing a long contact as it gives Villa a good bargaining platform if he does move on.

He isn't the brightest judging by his past actions but they aren't paying him to appear on mastermind.

[jrgbfc]

Zaha signed a 5 year deal not that long ago and now seems to be sulking and can't work out that he's priced himself out of a move. Wouldn't be surprised to see Grealish do the same.

[Bosscat]

Not a fan of his at all, but that's loyalty for you. He could have easily let his contract run down and moved to a good club.

£150k a week inspires great loyalty

[Targetman]

Just because he has signed a 5 year contract doesn't mean to say that he will be at Villa for the next 5 years.

But it does mean that Villa will be able to demand a bigger fee from any potential future buyer.

[FactualFrank]

£150k a week inspires great loyalty

Well aye that's true.

[FactualFrank]

Just because he has signed a 5 year contract doesn't mean to say that he will be at Villa for the next 5 years.

But it does mean that Villa will be able to demand a bigger fee from any potential future buyer.

Of course, but in a way he's guaranteeing his income and saying he knows it's unlikely that a top side will come in for him. If he moves, the other club will have to pay his contract up, so it now means less competition will be in for him. He's taken the money over a potential move to a bigger club because he probably realised the big clubs aren't interested.

[Bosscat]

Grealish shot himself in the foot with his Covidiocy a couple of months ago .

He is a complete and utter c**k ... a talented c**k but a c**k nonetheless.

Another of those players who has no need to fall over all the time (like Saha too).
Should be able to outplay most other players normally, but somehow needs to do fall over at the slightest touch screaming like a little child....

[Steve1956]

Grealish shot himself in the foot with his Covidiocy a couple of months ago .

He is a complete and utter c**k ... a talented c**k but a c**k nonetheless.

Another of those players who has no need to fall over all the time (like Saha too).
Should be able to outplay most other players normally, but somehow needs to do fall over at the slightest touch screaming like a little child....

Great post.

[Zlatan]

Villa showing that they mean business, if they dont perform under the current manager then mark my words, they'll be after Dyche by Christmas and he will go.

[Winstonswhite]

Up the Villa!

[FactualFrank]

Villa showing that they mean business, if they dont perform under the current manager then mark my words, they'll be after Dyche by Christmas and he will go.

Still very much their only good player. It shows they are serious about their star player so not much of a surprise. He can easily be the difference from staying up and going down.

[Dyched]

Grealish shot himself in the foot with his Covidiocy a couple of months ago .

He is a complete and utter c**k ... a talented c**k but a c**k nonetheless.

Another of those players who has no need to fall over all the time (like Saha too).
Should be able to outplay most other players normally, but somehow needs to do fall over at the slightest touch screaming like a little child....

Not a fan of Ashley Barnes then eh?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Zaha signed a 5 year deal not that long ago and now seems to be sulking and can't work out that he's priced himself out of a move. Wouldn't be surprised to see Grealish do the same.

Everton are mulling over a bid for Zaha I've read, about £50 million.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I like Grealish, good player regardless of his off field antics.
Always surprised me that he's gotten away with wearing kids sized shinpads but hey ho.

Villa suits him as he's their focal point, there's no guarantee he'd be that anywhere else and all the bigger clubs appear to have similar players.
Everton went out and signed Rodriguez for £20 million and on his day he's a better player.

[timshorts]

Good player but complete c*ck. A bit like a lesser Ronaldo.

Like a neymar then?

[timshorts]

He is a complete and utter c**k ... a talented c**k but a c**k nonetheless
Should be able to outplay most other players normally, but somehow needs to do fall over at the slightest touch screaming like a little child....

Yep, that's definitely neymar then.

[Bosscat]

Villa 1-0 down in less than a minute

[FactualFrank]

Villa 1-0 down in less than a minute

Against a good team though in Burton.

[Rileybobs]

He’s just secured himself a £35 million deal. I don’t think loyalty, or admission that a bigger team won’t come in for him has anything to do with it.

[Bosscat]

Is Grealish sponsored by a cable tie company

He seems to wear one on his head every time I see him play

[Blackburn_Claret]

Barnes is just as bad throwing himself on the floor, its ok though he plays for us.

[ElectroClaret]

Rovers losing.

[tiger76]

Villa 1-0 down in less than a minute

Strong Villa side as well, I thought they'd have rested a few, but they've gone strong including Grealish, Mings and Watkins.

[Vino blanco]

That run of Grealish down the bye line leaving two defenders trailingand then laying it on a plate for Watkins to hit the bar was Jimmy Mac all over. Grealish is a very good player and I wish we had him or his equivalent in our side.

[Vino blanco]

Great goal from Grealish: he is very good.

[NewClaret]

Does anyone employ man-marking these days, it's more about pressing teams, and closing the space between your back line and midfield.

I do agree Villa were over reliant on him last season, hence why they've gone on another spending spree this window.

We certainly didn’t. Couldn’t believe the space we gave him at the turf. Would rather we concentrate on not letting the ball reach him, but would’ve been nice if we’d closed him down when it did.

[FactualFrank]

We certainly didn’t. Couldn’t believe the space we gave him at the turf. Would rather we concentrate on not letting the ball reach him, but would’ve been nice if we’d closed him down when it did.

I agree. Tiger76 is spot on in that there's not really any man-marking... but there should be!

You're against a team and they only have one good player? Mark the hell out of him and stop him from doing anything.

[ecc]

"Barnes is just as bad throwing himself on the floor, its ok though he plays for us."

With all due respect, I disagree with that.