‘Anyone who gets tackled that much is just not seeing the picture quick enough’: Graeme Souness says he’d have ‘loved’ playing against Jack Grealish and insists being the Premier League’s most fouled player is nothing to be proud of
- Graeme Souness has not been convinced by Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish
- The Villa midfielder is the most fouled player in the Premier League this season
- Souness revealed that he would love to play against Grealish in a match
- Emile Heskey came to defence of the 24-year-old and believes he needs a move
Graeme Souness has criticised Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish as he labels him as an indecisive player.
Grealish has become the most fouled player in the Premier League this season as his Villa side face a tough relegation battle in the final stretch of the season. He has won 150 free-kicks this season, with the second most coming from Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha with 108 free-kicks won.
The 24-year-old has been linked with a transfer to Manchester United, but former Liverpool midfielder Souness is yet to be convinced by the Villa star.
Graeme Souness said he is not yet convinced by Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish
When asked if he thinks Grealish is a good player, Souness replied to Sky Sports: ‘Not sure.
‘If I was a player, I wouldn’t want to be the most fouled player in the league. That means I’m holding onto the ball too long.
‘That means I’m not seeing the picture early enough, I’m taking extra touches when I don’t need to. There is no doubt about it. He has ability and he’s easy on the eye, silky on the eye. But, I am yet to be convinced by him.’
Grealish was named in the starting side for Dean Smith’s Villa as they put in a spirited display against newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield but were eventually beaten 2-0.
Souness thinks that the Aston Villa playmaker should be moving the ball quicker
Souness revealed he would love to have played against Grealish as he takes too many touches
Whilst he remains their main threat in attack, Souness said there are other midfielders he would have not wanted to face up against in comparison to Grealish.
‘I think anyone who gets tackled that much is just not seeing the picture quick enough. As an old midfield player, would I have liked to play against him?
‘I’d would have loved to have played against him. He allows me to get close to him, get physical with him. I don’t want to play a Scholes, Xavi or Iniesta. They are too quick – they pop it off in one or two touch. I want to play against people like him.’
However, former Aston Villa frontman Emile Heskey believes Grealish can be a great player once he leaves Villa Park.
He added: ‘If he was at a Barcelona or Manchester United, he would move the ball quicker because then you have the movement around him. He’s been linked before, at 24 he’s at the right age to move to a club like that.’
Grealish was unable to prevent his side losing 2-0 at Anfield despite a spirited display
The attacking midfielder has so often been relied on as Villa’s only hope on numerous occasions this season, with his team-mates often failing to match his standards.
The Birmingham club are still deep in a battle against relegation with five games to play and after the game Souness continued to throw questions towards their skipper.
‘There’s no doubt he has genuine quality. Do Liverpool carry passengers when they don’t have the ball, city, definitely not. No one has anyone standing with their hands on their hips when they lose the ball. That’s something that’s not in his game right now’, Souness added.
‘I’m not denying he’s got talent but for me there’s a big question mark.’
