Grealish needs to stand and deliver
EXCLUSIVE
ASTON VILLA legend Tony Morley has told Jack Grealish to stand up and be counted in the relegation run-in – literally.
Morley reckons the Villa skipper has got into a habit of going down way too easily during the Premier League season.
Nobody among Dean Smith’s strugglers, who face a daunting trip to champions Liverpool today, gets kicked and tripped more than Grealish, 24.
Yet Morley believes winning cheap free-kicks inside their own half is not what Villa require amid an increasingly desperate battle to stay afloat.
And the former winger is calling on the side’s playmaker to start doing damage in genuine danger areas.
Morley said: “With Jack, I don’t like the idea he falls over the whole time.
“He seems to get fouled so much but in the wrong areas.
“He has a reputation for always being fouled but I don’t believe he’d play as many games if they were bad fouls.
“If he kept on his feet more, he’d help Villa keep moving forward. When he gets stopped like he does it allows the opposition to all get behind the ball.
“As an ex-player I get frustrated. Jack has the ability to carry the ball into the final third where he can hurt teams. If you’re going to get fouled, get fouled there. From all the fouls on him this season, we’ve scored only once from a set-piece.”
Grealish is likely to be targeted by the big boys in the summer market – even if Villa survive.
And Morley, 63, would love for him to exit on a high.
He added: “He’s the one we’re looking to. Jack has six games to show his magic and keep Villa up.
“If he does, he’ll be a legend with the fans forever – but he can’t do it on his backside.” Liverpool’s 4-0 thumping at Manchester City spells bad news for Villa, according to Morley. He expects a backlash but argues that games against Crystal Palace, Everton and a potential winnertakes-all final-day trip to West Ham will decide their fate.
Morley said: “Liverpool getting hammered was the worst thing. They’ll be hurting and won’t feel sorry for us.
“But anything from this one or Man United in midweek is a bonus.
“We need to be in touch until Palace, Everton and West Ham.
“Those matches are the ones that really matter.”
Today, 4.30pm, Sky Sports