With a new era beginning at Everton, Jack Grealish is set to play a major role in David Moyes’ first full season back, but he has his doubters.
The winger has arrived at Everton with a point to prove, and there wasn’t much to go off in his 20-minute cameo against Leeds United.
Brighton this Sunday might be the perfect opportunity for the winger to be handed his first start, as Moyes can find the Grealish of old.
Moyes needs a more attacking full-back to improve Grealish, as the 29-year-old thrives on making magic happen on the wing.
However, Gary Neville has pointed out something which should raise a ‘concern’ for the Toffees.
Everton winger Jack Grealish in action against Leeds United.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Gary Neville is worried that Jack Grealish won’t succeed around ‘inferior’ Everton players
The winger is obviously a great talent, as not many players can say they were once worth £100m.
His pedigree in the Premier League can make him exactly what the Blues need this season, but Neville has spoken to former Everton stars Tim Howard and Landon Donovan about the signing.
“My concern is that he’s going to end up from going from a treble-winning Man City team, playing with Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and Rodri, and he’s now going to go into a team that’s got obviously inferior players around him,” Neville said to the Unfiltered Soccer podcast.
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“Is he going to become disillusioned with it and feel that they’re not up to the standard of him?”
“I wonder whether Jack, you know, is he going to be a shining light and a beacon in that Everton team? Or is he going to become frustrated, a little bit snappy, someone who basically gets, you know, booked quite regularly because he’s not quite getting the service that he’s used to and playing with the players that he’s used to.”
It’s a steep drop-off compared to playing under Pep Guardiola’s regime, but Grealish can be the main man at Everton.
This could spur him on to achieve greatness on Merseyside, but something he wouldn’t have got at City proves how this move could be perfect for him.
Gary Neville isn’t exactly spot on as Jack Grealish could have more freedom at Everton
Of course, there is a stark contrast between City’s squad to the Toffees, as Grealish will certainly see a difference.
But the main point is that the winger can rediscover himself in the Royal Blue shirt, emulating his time at Aston Villa.
Games played 26
Goal involvements 16 (6G+10A)
Chances created 81
Chances created per 90 3.34
Dribble success 64.4%
Fouls won 110
Jack Grealish’s statistics in 2020/21 season with Aston Villa (last before City move), as per FotMob
Despite the claim that the 29-year-old doesn’t have the players around him, Grealish is already in awe of Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Along with the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, there is certainly a recipe for success here, but more importantly, Grealish will be the main man, and can use this time to generate more freedom with the way he plays.
Just like his Villa days, the winger can find his true form, as this loan to Everton has every chance of working.