The first month of 2017 did not go well for midfielder Jack Grealish. The twenty-one-year-old Aston Villa player was rumoured to be the subject of a cash-plus-player deal with Middlesbrough that did not materialise. In recent days, Grealish has received more and more unpleasant comments from some of his club’s own fans via social media.
In the middle of January 2017, the manager of Aston Villa seemed willing to exchange midfielder Jack Grealish for striker Jordan Rhodes, who is twenty-six, with Steve Bruce seeing the necessity of strengthening the team by changing the strategy and principal players. The owner, Dr. Tony Xia, possibly did not relish the prospect of investing more millions in this project, as he has already wasted quite a lot without seeing the expected results. Some of his fans created a forum to support him and it has become a place where numerous Aston Villa admirers commented on betting sites his transfer dealings and also voted in response to the question “Would you sell Jack Grealish?”
The possibility of being transferred in the near future from the team that featured in his childhood dreams as well as facing the permanent critics among Aston Villa’s fan base appears to have dampened Jack Grealish’s spirits. The young footballer admits that as a sportsman he is ready to be criticised. Moreover, he “quite likes getting hammered by supporters of other clubs”. Meanwhile, it is quite hard for him to grin and bear calls for him “to die” or “to break legs” from his own fans. You must admit that it is a really tough time for Grealish right now, when the manager has referred to him as an “incomplete” player, uncertainty over his future and abuse rather than applause from sone of his club’s fans. It is fair to say that Jack Grealish has always been extremely good to his fans, devoting time and attention to anyone who would like to have a photo taken with him or to get his autograph. He has been always borne in mind the memories of his own childhood when he was waiting for hours in a crowd for just a single signature from one of his Aston Villa idols. He appears charitable and generous with his time, particularly to help young Villa fans.
Bruce sharply rejects the idea that management and coaching are the main causes of the current bad patch for Aston Villa Football Club. He was very ready to change the strategy of the team to a 4-4-2 line-up, which required changing the first XI. Bruce’s disappointment about certain players has been shared by the claret and blue faithful. The conflict with McCormack was not the result of an isolated incident and Bruce, before his January spending spree allowed him to shape his squad, stated that the lack of discipline was still one of the biggest problems at the club.
The situation with Grealish is not black and white. It is clear that Bruce feels that the young midfielder has work to do before he cements a starting spot let alone becomes the next big thing he has been sold to supporters as for some time now.
