Jack Grealish needs to be bolder

Jack Grealish was not called up to the England squad this time.

Amidst the glory of his exquisite passes, his problem lies in the seemingly simplest thing - daring to shoot, daring to take risks.

Statistics don't lie

There are players who are remembered for their graceful dribbling, and Grealish is one of them. But in the modern game, grace is no longer enough without efficiency. The Everton numbers paint a paradox: Grealish has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League (17), more than Bruno Fernandes (16), but has also managed just two open shots in six games – both blocked.

According to Opta data, the 30-year-old takes just 0.39 shots from open play per 90 minutes, down from 1.51 last season at Manchester City – already his lowest figure in four years with Pep Guardiola. Compared to his direct England rivals, Grealish is far behind: Jarrod Bowen averages 2.3 shots per game, while Eberechi Eze averages 2.1.

That is, Grealish creates twice as many chances for others as he allows himself to attempt.

Since moving to Everton, Grealish has changed. He was freed from the strict tactical mould at Manchester City by David Moyes, encouraged to hold the ball, dribble and create. But that “correctness” has become a barrier.

Moyes did not hide his admiration, but was also frank: “He is too standard, too safe. I want Jack to take more risks, get into the box more, shoot more. He has a powerful shot, good cutting skills - there is no reason not to try.”

Jack Grealish is reviving at Everton.

In fact, Grealish has created four assists, contributing to nearly half of Everton’s goals this season. But when you look at the stats for the top wide forwards – Bowen (five goals), Eze (three goals, two assists), or even Anthony Gordon (three goals) – the question is: is Grealish limiting himself to a service role?

That hesitation is not new. Under Guardiola, he was a “last passer” – rarely shooting, always aiming for the safe ball. Now, with Tuchel wanting attackers who can dictate games for themselves, Grealish’s lack of goalscoring instinct leaves him vulnerable.

The pressure of attention and the ghost of oneself

David Moyes has admitted that the media has also contributed to Grealish’s struggles. “From the first few games, people paid more attention, opponents immediately marked him with two men. They knew Jack was coming back, and they did everything they could to stop him.”

Grealish, after years of being worn down by City’s brutal system, is now breathing more freely at Everton. He leads the league in key passes (17), ranks in the top five for final-third pass accuracy (84%), and remains one of the most fouled players. But none of that changes the fact that he has yet to score in 540 minutes of football.

The problem isn’t technique – as Moyes put it, “he’s got a rocket shot”. It’s mentality. Grealish plays as if he’s more afraid of messing up a play than of missing a goal. He opts for the safe pass rather than the reckless finish – a beautiful choice, but not by the standards of modern football, where wingers like Salah, Saka and Bowen are all natural goalscorers.

The only thing Jack Grealish is missing is goals.

Tuchel wants match-winners, not just playmakers. With an England squad brimming with creative talent, Grealish needs to show he is still a player who can make a difference with goals. His salvation now lies not in the number of passes, but in the number of goals on the scoresheet.

This weekend's clash with Crystal Palace, with Everton without Dewsbury-Hall (suspended) and both Beto and Barry in attack, is a chance for Grealish to "try his luck" - or rather, to test himself.

At 30, he is no longer the “young player with potential”. He is the one who needs to prove that finesse can still go hand in hand with decisiveness. Because without the ability to score, those creative numbers – 17 chances, 84% pass accuracy, 4 assists – will be a beautiful shadow of a player once considered “a specialty of English football”.

Jack Grealish doesn’t need to change his nature, he just needs to take more risks. Sometimes, to get back to the top, a player has to dare to lose some of his “decency”. Because in football today, people no longer count dribbles – they count goals. And only by daring to shoot can Grealish truly return to the England shirt.

Source: https://znews.vn/jack-grealish-can-tao-bao-hon-post1590609.html