Jacob Ramsey - Gone

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Jesus he's good. He's so good! That goal was laser-precise.

And executed with an air of confidence that the ball was going exactly where he intended.

Before his injury I seen him as the boy Ramsey. He’s now very much the man. He’s what’s been missing and as big a player for us as Luiz currently is.

I was a bit concerned JJ was going to need some time to get back into the swing and form he ended last season. Memories of Slippy bringing him back too early came to mind but the Ramsey that came on was the same player that was peerless for England U21s before his injury.

[AV82EC]

He looked a bit lost and leggy for a few minutes when he came in but then seemed to find his feet and position and it was like he’d not been away. I’d give him 60 minutes against Zrinjski to help build the fitness back gradually.

[Risso]

JJ's a supremely fit young man. Just back from a long lay off and he's dancing round the Brighton defence like they're not there.

[eamonn]

His goal was the finish of a top-class player, on his return from injury to remind everyone how good he is.

[Brend'Watkins]

A mate of mine, not a big Villa fan but mainly a football fan, is and has been for some time convinced that JJ is better than Grealish. Not just now that Grealish's worth is less than a year ago but from when they were both in the same team when Grealish was at his peak. Not too sure about the last bit but may have a point on where they both are now.

[Dave]

Ramsay AND Buendia missing just compounds it though.

Very true. With everybody fit though, I think Buendia would be getting the same sort of game time as Tielemans at the moment, ie not much.

I think that the "squad" aspect we were aiming for would be much improved though. Buendia coming in against Legia or Everton and would have been a nice option to have.

[brontebilly]

A mate of mine, not a big Villa fan but mainly a football fan, is and has been for some time convinced that JJ is better than Grealish. Not just now that Grealish's worth is less than a year ago but from when they were both in the same team when Grealish was at his peak. Not too sure about the last bit but may have a point on where they both are now.

Ramsey is a better athlete but to be fair Grealish was a different level at his peak for us. I know they both kind of play on the left but very different players really. Ramsey definitely has a better shot on him, Grealish's shooting was never his strength but of late it's so predictable.

[pablo_picasso]

A mate of mine, not a big Villa fan but mainly a football fan, is and has been for some time convinced that JJ is better than Grealish. Not just now that Grealish's worth is less than a year ago but from when they were both in the same team when Grealish was at his peak. Not too sure about the last bit but may have a point on where they both are now.

I don't think there is even a debate to be had about their current level of play.

The fact that Grealish is hamstrung by being nothing other than another boring chess piece in Guardiolas asphyxiation football is down to Grealish's decision to move there, but as things stand, Ramsey is on another level to current Grealish.

If the Guardiola ball & chain is removed from Grealish's ankles, things may change, but we only have the data we have...

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

The thing to compare should be "end product" Greaser doesn't seem to have a lot!

[AV84]

Funny, talking about Grealish, there's an interview with him on the Man City YouTube that keeps popping up for me where he basically says what everyone on here keeps saying about him, and that's that Pep makes him do very specific things, whereas at Villa, Dean Smith would just give him the freedom of the pitch, and trust him to read the game as its in play. He says it like it's a positive thing though, and Pep has given him a bollocking if he goes somewhere he's not supposed to.

I think Pep being that kind of manager isn't a bad thing, but it is annoying how they'd buy a player like Grealish and turn him into that kind of player, when they probably could have bought any number of other players who could already do that specific job.

[pablo_picasso]

Yep.

Guardiola has coached all the creativity & flair out of an exciting player & made him just another chess piece.

And he paid £100m for the privilege...

Genius?

My fucking arse...

[brontebilly]

Yep.

Guardiola has coached all the creativity & flair out of an exciting player & made him just another chess piece.

And he paid £100m for the privilege...

Genius?

My fucking arse...

They did win a treble only a few months back with Grealish being a key player so there is that. He is a genius, Guardiola that is, Grealish is an idiot.

Unfortunately Ramsey is exactly the kind of player they will be after in future. More to his game than the guy they signed from Wolves for starters.

[pablo_picasso]

Yep.

Guardiola has coached all the creativity & flair out of an exciting player & made him just another chess piece.

And he paid £100m for the privilege...

Genius?

My fucking arse...

They did win a treble only a few months back with Grealish being a key player so there is that. He is a genius, Guardiola that is, Grealish is an idiot.

Unfortunately Ramsey is exactly the kind of player they will be after in future. More to his game than the guy they signed from Wolves for starters.

With the ability to spend £100m on a player they are going to make worse...

I take Man C championships with a touch of salt, as all are won by flat out cheating on ffp.

As Wenger phrased it years ago, its "financial doping".

Give Guardiola Macclesfield & their budget & see how his "genius" serves him then...

[Mister E]

They did win a treble only a few months back with Grealish being a key player so there is that. He is a genius, Guardiola that is, Grealish is an idiot.

Unfortunately Ramsey is exactly the kind of player they will be after in future. More to his game than the guy they signed from Wolves for starters.

After watching Grealish decline, my guess would be that Ramsey would either stay with us or go somewhere he can flourish - all hypothetical, of course.

[AV82EC]

Yep.

Guardiola has coached all the creativity & flair out of an exciting player & made him just another chess piece.

And he paid £100m for the privilege...

Genius?

My fucking arse...

They did win a treble only a few months back with Grealish being a key player so there is that. He is a genius, Guardiola that is, Grealish is an idiot.

Unfortunately Ramsey is exactly the kind of player they will be after in future. More to his game than the guy they signed from Wolves for starters.

With the ability to spend £100m on a player they are going to make worse...

I take Man C championships with a touch of salt, as all are won by flat out cheating on ffp.

As Wenger phrased it years ago, its "financial doping".

Give Guardiola Macclesfield & their budget & see how his "genius" serves him then...

For the level they’re at Macc have actually got quite a sizeable budget but I get the point you’re making.