What the heck has happened to Jack Grealish?

Man City's record signing is increasingly a bit-part player in Pep Guardiola's side - Following an ESPNFC panel discussion on Thursday, it's time to think about the player

I admit I was wrong - at least to this point.

On Thursday, following Manchester City’s League Cup Fifth Round triumph against rivals Liverpool, ESPNFC spent several minutes talking about what’s gone wrong for Jack Grealish at the Etihad. This followed, match co-commentator Stuart Robson’s critiques of the player during the later stages of the contest.

Despite winning the Premier League title (and the League Cup the previous month) in May 2021, Manchester City’s 2021 transfer window was largely about overcoming two devastating losses to Chelsea - one in the FA Cup Semifinal (which some chalked up to a Zac Steffen goalkeeping error that allowed Hakim Ziyech’s winner in a match Manchester City “dominated” ) and the UEFA Champions League Final (which some chalked up to Mason Mount delivering one brilliant ball in a match Manchester City “dominated”) . Truth be told Manchester City did not “dominate” either match but had a lot of pointless possession which resulted in a number of hopeful balls forward, which became increasingly desperate later in both matches against Chelsea. Without a good one-on-one player to break down Chelsea’s entrenched three-man backline Manchester City were in reality second best, both days.

That’s why I strongly advocated Manchester City sign Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish that summer. I was thrilled when they made the move to do so. At Villa, Grealish was able to take a side that was fighting relegation and become the central focal point of the attack- skills Grealish had honed in the Championship served him well. He is an elite dribbler, with an ability to play a very direct style of football which City appeared to need badly in the Summer of 2021.