Star showing still doesn't convince Southgate Grealish is a must for England



As England ran out 3-0 winners against Wales on Thursday evening, the general consensus from most that watched the game was that Jack Grealish was the decisive player for the Three Lions.

Having largely been dominated and easily contained by the Wales defence for the first 25 minutes, it took a player breaking from their rigid positions for England to break the deadlock. That player was of course Grealish, who had hardly had a kick stationed out on the left early on, as a new look team struggled to connect the midfield to attack.

It wasn't until Grealish moved across the pitch, making a simple run in behind on the right channel, that the game turned in England's favour. He only needed half a yard to stand up an inch perfect cross for the in form Dominic Calvert-Lewin to head home on debut.

From that moment, England slowly started to look more dynamic, and Grealish continued to play an important role in that, particularly immediately before and in the 20 minutes after half time. In that period, the Villa captain ran the show in truth, and that's despite never really getting out of third gear.

The spell in which the 25-year-old was quite clearly the best player on the pitch was the kind that Villa fans have come to expect from their talisman. Yet Gareth Southgate was once again reluctant to offer up too much praise for the playmaker, instead keen to shift it elsewhere.

After most felt that Grealish had made a strong impact on his debut as a cameo against Denmark last time out, Southgate avoided a direct question about Grealish's performance. He instead praised Conor Coady for an impressive first outing, along with Kalvin Phillips, before singling out Mason Mount for special recognition.

 

 

It was picked up and made fun of on social media in the immediate aftermath, but surely after a display in which 60 per cent of the watching public voted Jack Grealish as their man of the match against Wales, Southgate would take the opportunity to praise a very new player to the squad? Well, no. Having said he was pleased with Grealish's performance and sure that he was sure the player will have been delighted to earn a first start he again, unprompted, switched focus to Mount in a very telling manner.

Southgate highlighted the Chelsea youngster's pressing and speed with which he moved the ball as being very impactful. He isn't wrong in that either, but in addressing it in a question about Grealish, there was clear sub-text.

 

 

If their are ever criticisms aimed at Grealish it is that he is lazy off the ball - a complete misconception if you ask fans that watch him every week - and that he doesn't move it quickly enough. The latter, at times, is completely true, but also imperative to the Villa star's success in recent years.

 

His tendency to slow down play - also arguably a result of necessity given the lack of support he has received at club level last season in particular - can be a negative. However, the change of pace that he brings the game is also crucial. To be able to play at different speeds is important, and Grealish has developed greatly in terms of his accelaration from a near standing position.

The piece of skill that saw him nutmeg the best defender in the league to find Ross Barkley in a sensational performance against Liverpool was a case in point. He moved Virgil van Dijk from side to side before standing him up for a split second and poking the ball through the Dutchman's legs to create a very good chance. Only Kevin De Bruyne created more in the Premier League last season, which isn't bad for a player who 'moves it too slowly'...

He shifts the ball and his balance so well that he wins countless fouls, including five last night, mostly down to Ethan Ampadu who had to be subbed off through fear of a second yellow card. It frustrates opposing players, managers and fans greatly but that ability to win free kicks, often in dangerous areas is a huge asset. It was pivotal to Villa's survival last season and should be utilised by an England side that still struggle very often to making meaningful breakthroughs in open play.

Southgate did add that Grealish adds something different, but the tone to his voice wasn't exactly suggesting that that was a real positive. The England manager likes his players to be hard working off the ball and to move it quickly, but sometimes it takes a player to hold the ball for a second longer than others might to draw opponents out of a deep block. That is what Grealish does to such devastating effect. Those marking him can't help but be drawn to those unexposed shins and gargantuan calf muscles.

Football isn't a game that should always be played at one speed. Until Southgate acknowledges that, while fans may feel Grealish's inclusion in future England squads is a no-brainer, his position in Southgate's pecking order is still very much of an outsider hoping to break in, rather than an automatic pick.

 

Coaches are usually very quick to hand out praise for relatively unimpactful performances made by new faces to the set up, so the fact that Southgate consistently refuses to be drawn in to the quality that Grealish shows speaks volumes. While there is a growing clamour for Grealish to not only make the Euros squad but be an important player, Southgate's near refusal to dish out praise for the Villa man is a clear indication that, when all are fit, he remains unconvinced as to the playmaker's merits. Downplaying his performances up talking up others may well prove an attempt to reduce the outcry if Grealish fails to make the cut.

Star showing still doesn't convince Southgate Grealish is a must for England