Jack Grealish - A True Claret and Blue?

Jack Grealish - A True Claret and Blue?

        In the Guardian, on the 14th October, 2014, Jack Grealish stated after signing a new four year contract, "I’ve grown up supporting the club. In fact I’ve had a season ticket at Villa since I was four years old and came to every game so this is a big thing for me and my family." Fast forward thirteen months, and the new Aston Villa manager labels Jack, "Unprofessional", as he is dropped from the squad to face Watford, in a must win match. This comes after Jack's latest late night antics, after a weak showing in a 4-0 drubbing at Everton. This wasn't the first time in 2015 that Jack's decision making was questioned.

         During the summer of 2015, Jack was photographed fast asleep in the street, after a late night with his "friends." This is the same summer that England and the Republic of Ireland were fighting for Jack's international commitment. Aston Villa fans, were a little more lenient during the summer, while many are now supporting Garde and his decision to send Jack to practice with the u21s. His actions during a time where "His Boyhood Club", is rock bottom, and needing everyone to pull together, are disloyal and disrespectful to the fans, club and very possibly his family. Kevin Sr. and Jr. have supported their brother as he rises through the ranks at Villa, a penny for their thoughts right now.

        Many Villa fans, including myself are questioning Jack's reasoning, and if he has the strength to rise to the top, or will he allow his success to bring him down. This week, football fans all over the world were celebrating George Best, and the talent he was as a player. Sadly, for George, and his family, his career, and life ended too soon. I'm not saying Jack is on George's path, but who knows where Jack's career and future may end. 

       Addictions and bad choices, have been the fall of many a great man, and even though Jack has every Villa fans dream job, his talents haven't been displayed on a regular basis. He has a long way to go before he is great, consistently good, would be a start. Fans would say Jack has made more of an impact on the pavement, than he has in success at Villa. His performance against Everton was well below par, and was rightly substituted. 

       I'm not looking for Jack to be Aston Villa's savior, but at this time Jack needs to save himself. He needs to learn who he can surround himself with during this time. One of the seven pillars of success in the work place is your social network. A positive one will bring you success, I don't need to tell you what a negative one will do. 

     Jack needs to understand, no matter how much talent you may have, you only get a certain amount of chances to show it. Villa fans give one of their own, a little more leeway, but they know words are cheap. In his own words, "The club to show this faith and trust in me, I’m really appreciative and I’m determined to repay that trust." “I know I have to continue to kick on and push on now. I have to keep developing and progressing and strive to be as good a player as I can possibly be."
      Jack, those words were over a year ago, please tell us how you have kicked on? A good game against Liverpool in a F.A. Cup semi-final, isn't kicking on. You say you love this club, and it's all you ever wanted to do, well it's time you showed it. You are old enough to make good choices, just as you have made bad choices. 

       How much does this club mean to you? How much do your families' sacrifices mean to you? All their support to get you where you are today. When are you going to repay their trust? The club needs your talent now Jack, it needs you to play your part, and help get us out of the mess you have helped put us in.

     Claret and Blue, Jack? Or Bacardi and Coke?

Gary Davis

Villa Fan for 40 years

WWE - The Return of the Light Heavyweight Belt

       Since the WWE Light Heavyweight belt, and the WCW Cruiserweight belt became defunct, it has been a fight for the represented wrestlers to showcase their talent. Since the "Powers-at-Be", decided to make a joke out of the Cruiserweight division, and put the belt on Hornswoggle, the fans have been the ones to suffer.

     September 27th, 2007, Vickie Guerrero, ended Hornswoggle's reign, when she stated his relationship to Vince McMahon, and his diminutive size, could be a detriment to his health. The title had already lost so much status before Hornswoggle became champion. The six-way open where he was victorious, he competed against Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore, Jamie Noble, Funaki, and Chavo Guerrero. Even though, they were all talented wrestlers in their own right, they very rarely appeared at upper-middle, or middle card status on a regular basis.

      It wasn't always that way, if we look back at the history of the wrestling history, we would see future Heavyweight champions, showcased their talent in the light heavyweight/cruiserweight divisions. In the early days of the WCW Cruiserweight history, we saw Rey Misterio, Chris Jericho, and the late Eddie Guerrero ply their trade in the now defunct division. The crowds had the chance to view the high energy wrestling that many crave for, while the so called "little guys", could put themselves a little higher up the ladder. The WWE needs to use the belt as a stepping stone to a shot to the Heavyweight Championship, use it to see if the crowd can get behind the wrestler, and help push him to higher levels.

         I'm not Vince McMahon, so I don't know if the stories are true, about him wanting to destroy anything he didn't create, but it seems this may have been the case for this division. In November, 2001, the WWF took reigns of the belt, and the cancer set in, the belt headed to a slow and painful death. Rey Misterio, was the only wrestler with high level exposure who was allowed to carry it.

          The WWE have many talented wrestlers, who would love to compete for the gold, knowing that their chance of holding the Heavyweight belt for more than a token time, are limited. Wrestlers such as Stardust, Dolph Ziggler, Sin Cara, Dean Ambrose, Daniel Bryan (inj), Tyson Kidd, Xavier Woods, Neville, Kalisto, Zach Ryder, Kofi Kingston, etc... Yes, Yes, Yes, some of the aforementioned, have been, or will be Heavyweight Champion, but the WWE still loves their big men, Seth Rollins has been the exception of late, but I do believe, he would have lost the belt to Roman Reigns if he hadn't injured his knee. With Rollins injure, they had to find another heel for Reigns to compete against. Instead of elevating Ambrose, and having him turn on Reigns, they give the belt to two-move Sheamus.

          The WWE have the opportunity to use talented wrestler, integrate then into high level story lines, and give the fans another belt to cheer. Being a wrestling fan for most of my 45 years, first in the UK (World of Sport), then finding the WWF in 1987, I want to see more than wrestlers fighting over the Heavyweight belt. The same wrestlers, month after month, year after year, being over exposed, becomes monotonous. 

         I would love to see the belt return to the WWE, and used in a format that Steve Regal will remember. If the belt was fought for, in a best of three format, wrestlers would be able to showcase their finishing moves, and entertain the crowd. Not all fans want to see the slow paced matches that end up in "Suplex City:.

        If the WWE doesn't want to throw it straight back to the main roster, they have a great opportunity with NXT, to give it a trial run. NXT wrestlers are the next generation, and will give more wrestlers a greater chance of exposure. So many talented wrestlers are not allowed to showcase their skills, give them an open door, and I'm sure they will walk through it.

Gary Davis
Forty Year Wrestling Fan

Aston Villa - It's all about the Base!

It's All About the Base!

       Since the arrival of the new "Garde", people have been talking about a new start. Sadly, after the 4-0 drubbing at Everton, new start or not, the same issues came to the surface. Villa have suffered with consistency for the last 5 years, the only thing that has been consistent is the fight against relegation. It is time to stop the tinkering with the team, and find a base we can build off.

       It doesn't matter in the end, which formation Garde goes with, he has to find the spine of his team, and then build from there. I personally feel he should go back to a formation that makes us harder to beat. I look back to the Arsenal invincible team, and play a 442/4411

       Due to a lack of options, Guzan looks to be our number one until January at least. As we start to look at the spine of the team, we need 6 leaders who are going to run along it. The sis positions that need to be nailed down are, two central defenders, two center midfielders, and the two furthest forward players.

       Those positions need to be filled by leaders, a look around the Villa squad, and there seem to be slim pickings. I believe given time, Richards and Clark can build a formidable duo. Even though, they have both made school boy errors, they seem to have leadership qualities. Given guidance, and support on both flanks, they could be the difference to our future in the Premier League. If either of these two are injured for a period of time, then we would have to fall on the ilk of Lescott, Crespo, or Okore. Lescott, would be the most experience, but his legs seem to be past there sell-by-date. Llori could be a surprise package, but we won't know until he returns from a groin injury. He may need to fill in for the injured Amavi.

       As we move forward, to the center midfield, only one leader stands out, and that is Sanchez. The captain of his current, who is starting to show that form for the Claret and Blue. For me, he has to be the first midfielder on the team sheet. He is prone to the odd misplace pass, but for all the work he does breaking up the opposition play, he is invaluable. It doesn't matter if we play two, or three in midfield, the next name on the sheet needs to be Gana. His high energy, and combative nature, will be a great foil for Sanchez. Yet to leadership qualities, I believe he will be an importance piece in the Villa jigsaw. We have the likes of Westwood, Veretout, or Gardner, who can play second fiddle, but don't fill me with a great deal of confidence. Given time, and good leadership, they reach their highest potential.

      The forward two, this is a difficult area, as Villa haven't been very productive in front of goals over the last few seasons. The loss of Benteke to Liverpool, left a massive void. Gestede was brought in as a like for like replacement, and with quality service, he could be a savior. I believe Kozak has been written off too quickly by Sherwood, and now Garde, and he could be leader we have up top. At this time, I would give it to Gestede as I am unsure where Kozak is with his recover. A couple of U21 games, doesn't get him ready for the big league. The lack of creativity over the last few seasons, as killed Villa. I believe in Gil, and Grealish we have two potential match winners. Sadly, just as the Everton game should, I don't think they will play to often together. They are both light-weight, and are luxuries we can't afford in a dog-fight. I personally Gil has shown he can influence games at a higher level than Grealish. I would have a central pairing of Gestede, and Gil, with Kozak, and Grealish on the bench.

         As we look at the limbs, we need to find fullbacks who can defend, and wingers with high energy, who can put the ball into dangerous areas in the penalty box. The last I looked, around 85%, of all goals ever, were scored from the penalty spot forward. Those numbers may have changed slightly, but what is true, is Villa need to get more balls in there for players to attack.

        Villa at present isn't stacked with talents, but I also believe we are better than our present position.

        Going forward, I would look to play the following team as much as possible.

                                                                       Guzan

                                          Crespo        Richards   Clark         Richardson

                                          Sinclair       Sanchez    Gana         Ayew

                                                                         Gil

                                                                      Gestede

Subs:

Bunn

Okore

Bacuna

Veretout

Grealish

Kozak

N'Zogbia

        The main concern is left-back, I wouldn't mind giving Kinsella a run, because at the moment, Richardson is pretty poor. As I said earlier, Llori may be able to slot in there, and the sooner the better.

The likes of Gabby, Hutton, Traore will still play their part, but should be limited at present.

        No matter what happens this season, Villa need to be more consistent in the formation, and the players we play.

Gary Davis

Villa 4 Life!

UEFA & USSF Certified Coach