Jack Grealish on loan could cost Everton £12m

If we don't, someone else will.

Considering the cash we have wasted over the last few years, £12 mill seems a pittance if he is successful and he helps to promote the club as a place to be playing. He has to prove himself with Tuchel for the world cup squad next year, so if he should be well motivated by that alone!
Get it done and it's his chance for at least on last WC dance!

So that's £3 million less than the transfer fee we paid for Maupay. Get it done ASAP will make the clubs profile much higher for other prospective signings.

If he can get us into Europe it will be money well spent.

How much did Maupay cost us? Now he can’t find a club to take him. Karma?

Colin, " If he can get us into Europe it will be money well spent."

Is that a new Night Club that has opened recently ?

Still not totally convinced, approaching 30, probably lost a few yards, why Pep has virtually dropped him like a hot potato, if he was that highly rated by him once, what has happened since ?

Stop quibbling over Dibling and get the kid in !

If Dibling is Moyes main target why not put the extra towards securing him as a full buy without add on clauses or sell on clauses, Grealish would improve our 11 for 1 year, then what ? We won't be able to keep up 300k per week.

Dibling is obviously one Moyes feels can start now for us and he will continue to do so for the whole of a 5 or 6 year deal.

Wouldn't do anything with Grealish for anymore than £150k pw max, and I'd keep an option open to return to sender at xmas/Jan window if he's not up to it.

In reference to what Maupay cost imo that's just crazy, we basically threw money away on him and many others, being stupid in the past does not justify being stupid with our money now.

Derek, I’m convinced Pep has ruined Grealish, like he’s doing with Foden and some other players. These are players who need a certain amount of freedom to express themselves. He tried to do the same with Aguero (goal hanger) but Aguero continued to bang in the goals and Guardiola had to relent.

Pep revolutionised football with his Barca and Man City teams but he’s become fossilised in recent years and teams have sussed him out. He’s too rigid these days as shown last season.

Grealish might have lost his mojo but I still think for 12m he’s worth the risk.

Ndiaye Grealish Dibling.

Come on, that is exciting.

I’d be surprised if this is a goer anymore.

If he plays RW, he pushes Ndiaye into the no 10 spot (so far so good) but pushes KDH and Alcaraz to the bench.

If he plays AM, Nidiaye resumes his usual position (again so far so good) but pushes KDH and Alcaraz to the bench.

I get we need squad depth, but this would be an odd way to use about £50m plus of our kitty.

In fact it robs us of depth because it duplicates unnecessarily in positions we’re already strong in but would leave us light in positions lacking players / cover.

There are plenty of other fun players to get as loans cum vanity signings - other Grealish style leftovers at Rich 6 clubs etc. so maybe more likely we go that direction.

Robert, Sky Sports reported 23 minutes ago that we have approached Man City about signing Grealish as though it was a new scoop.

I don’t mind Grealish on loan as he can play LW, No.10 and RW. He gives us options across the front line and allows us to concentrate our remaining budget elsewhere. Even if we signed Dibling, we would probably need another RW signing as back up. Grealish signing makes this unnecessary.

Unfortunately, I don’t think a deal for Dibling looks a goer now to be honest.

I see the point Steve but (a) Sky talk a lot of bollocks and (b) I just don't see Grealish playing right-wing. For what it's worth Transfermarkt say he's only played 17 games there is his entire career. I think Moyes would switch Alcaraz or Ndiaye there before resorting to Grealish.

I agree Dibling might not be a goer either though.

Here's a few daft loan options if Grealish doesn't work out:

- Sterling
- Nkunku
- Odobert
- Nwaneri
- Anthony
- Zirkzee
- Richarlison

And these are just forwards from the Premier League. Plenty more besides…

Yes Robert, Sky will report the same thing as breaking news tomorrow.

That will be followed up with a story that the deal has hit difficulties as it is “complex”, then that it has fallen apart as the clubs are far apart in their valuation of the player.

Finally, Sky will be quoting a “bemused” insider saying that the clubs never held talks.

Sounds about right Steve.

I see TalkShite are saying our Stubbsy tapped up Jack while they were both out on the lash in Marbella a few weeks ago.

After a few Coronas, and a strawberry daiquiri, Jack signed a letter of intent (to sign for us) on a piece of bog roll that Stubbsy had in his pocket (for emergencies).

A contract is a contract. Welcome aboard, Jackie lad.

£12 million, for what? five goals, maybe five assists, If that helped us get into Europe or he wins a cup for us then obviously worth it. If not, what's the point? Whole thing seems to me an American owner Hollywood signing. Rashford has just gone to Barcelona with all of his wages, £350,000 a week being paid by skint Man Utd. Please God the new owners aren't another Moshiri Kenwright, Laurel and Hardy double act. What's next? Moyes sacked and a Hollywood manager coming in, Koeman, Mourinho? Get a young hungry winger in for the right wing, not a 29 yr old, been there, done that, multi millionaire dodgy attitude for the left. Leave well alone, barge pole and don't put your fingers in the fire springs to mind.

Paul, just out of curiosity, who would you buy? I get the impression you like to be a contrarian. I may be mistaken but it’s just my impression.

Paul @16, I said early on that the Grealish could be coming from the owners more than Moyes, although he will have had a say.

Slight pedantic correction, Barcelona are paying all of Rashford's wages after he agreed to take a pay cut.

Last season, Villa were paying 75% of his wages for the several months he was there, so about £250k per week.

Colin 15, it didn't say whether it was a 'used' piece of bog roll or not !

In other words it is probably a load of shit ?

Derek, knowing Stubbsy (and I do from a long way back), it was probably used. My mum and Mrs Stubbs were good mates back in the day. We used to call Alan, snotty. Figure it out😉

Danny," Last season, Villa were paying 75% of his wages for the several months he was there, so about £250k per week." £350,000, £250,000 a week, ( the poor lad.)what's the difference to a multimillionaire? Hardly worth pointing out, other than an over rated, lazy man, is being paid obscene wages, and despite the fact he's vertually useless, that someone is stupid enough to want him. Going back to the whole point of the post, it's a bloody wonder that we weren't in for him!

Colin, contrarian me? So Grealish to Everton is a popular opinion is it? Oh, I didn't know that, silly me. Who would I buy? I would buy a right winger, not a left winger, that's my opinion. Someone who can cross the ball to our untried £27 million center forward. And yes I usually don't dive head first in to the waters of popular opinion, people tend to get soaked doing that.

If Everton can afford to throw £12 million in the bin for Grealish, then why not put that money to paying Southampton £50 million for Dibling, instead of hypocritically saying that's too much. Southampton are saying, if EVERTON can throw £12 million at Grealish, they are obviously not skint, so let's ask for more.

cos we want both Paul, and no doubt will as a result end up with neither.

Colin, Rafael Leão, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nico Williams. For starters all better than your fav boy Grealish.😁

Kevin, just one q. If we mistakenly get Grealish, where does McNeil play?

Paul, I don't think any Premier League player is virtually useless.

Also, your post @16, brought to mind the Sam Goldwyn comment, "I don't want the same old cliches, give me new cliches!"

And, I do think you are a contrarian. Having said that, I think you don't do "dull". Keep it coming!!

Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, Southampton...

Paul, McNeil? pardon my French but if he's lucky enough to be selected he'll play where he's told.

Joke time. A man comes home from work, walks up to his door, looks down and a snail is in the way, he kicks the poor snail out if the way and goes in.

A week later, a knock on the door, the man opens the door, no one there. He looks down and the snail he kicked says, "What the fuck was that for???"

A day 27. "I don't think any premier league player is virtually useless."
Holgate, Chermiti, Patterson, oh and Grealish.😁

Andy, sorry, bloody useless tablet.

You said I "don't want the same old cliches, give me new cliches" but that's the problem with Everton, it's always the same old same old, isn't it?

Paul 25, we couldn't afford even one of those players toe nails.

And McNeil btw, decent squad player that he is, isn't good enough to wash Grealish's left foot.

I haven't read the thread but £12M for one season seems alright doesn't it? Ludicrous I know, but if you imagine we had him on a 3-year contract and the fee was £36M to buy him, plus wages, then this would be considered a good deal?

Or am I missing something?

I say we should do it – as I said on another thread, having a player like Grealish isn't just a good signing on the football front, but also a good marketing signing for the club as a whole.

We need to raise our profile to match our new stadium and new direction and culture – that to me means signing established star names recognised across Europe and the world. Like him or loathe him, Grealish is that.

Absolute joke!

£12M for a season and even half his wages! Nonsense!!
We have to get a grip here. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Some saying "If he gets us into Europe" etc etc. No, not for me. I'd sooner get young players in and take a couple of seasons to build a more sustainable squad.

Rome wasn't built in a day!

John @35

Tyler Dibling at £50m on say a 4 year contract = £12.5m a year so same same isn't it?

As Moyes said - we need elite names in our elite stadium.

McNeil will get loads of game time even if Grealish signs, as Jack will need plenty of downtime for muscle injuries (aka hangover recovery).

As for Grealish playing only a small number of games on the right it is that same number of games more than Pirlo played at deep central midfield before he moved to Milan.

It's a no-brainer. Grealish will get spectators buzzing and I believe create chances and that will get us into a better league position. That can attract players in the seasons to come.

Dibling is more likely a slow burner, maybe not a regular starter and, as I have said earlier, if he is supposed to be that good, Everton would not be in the frame. The big boys would have snapped him up.

I thought we had become a more sensible an outfit now that we had new owners and Moshire had exited stage left. This talk of us taking on a footballer, who we don't know if he still can still perform for 12 months at a crazy cost of £12m or so, tells me that we haven't changed one bit.

Yes we need a winger. The lad a Soton may be the answer. Okay he is going to cost about £50m plus wages BUT he is ours and as such can be sold on if we make something of him so the actual cost is unknown and may well be NIL/PROFIT.

That is a sensible way of looking at it, so I just can't see the point of spending £12m on Grealish and encouraging the likes of City & Co to continue splashing out on players and wages that only they can afford.

Grealish = good marketing. Raises our profile. Attracts other big name players. Changes the view of Everton as a football club from the outside. I firmly believe this is the way to go in order to get us noticed and stop thinking like a small-time tinpot outfit as we have for the last 30 years.

Culture shift. Stop all this local thinking. It's time for a brave new world.

Remember when City bought Robinho - he was a catalyst.

When have we ever bought young players and had them change anything at the club in the short or long term? It never does anything because they never play - look at Chermiti as a recent example.

Nobody gives a shit, he never plays, he might as well not exist.

He's on the Man City contract until 2027.

I can't imagine City wanting him back after he's had a year with us - a year older and still on £300k a week. There's a deal to be done there.

The lad is simply the quality we need so badly... Get this loan deal done please, Blues... raises our profile massively too!

If we don't act fast on this one, others will!!!

There are too many amateur accountants on this site.

TFG are not gangster bagmen like our last owner and I trust them to understand the club's finances. If they think spending £12M on the wages of a player that, on his day, is one of the Premier League's finest, is okay, then that's good enough for me.

Peter #40, Everton's total payroll last season was £74M. Tell me why you think another £12M is so crazy.

It's tip money for our new owners.

James #41, I'd nominate Jarrad and Jake as young players we bought who have made a massive difference.

From a pure insurance risk point of view, £12M for one year (if that's what the actual cost is) who gets crocked, is a significant improvement on a 3- or 4-year £50M contract for someone who turns out to be a dud.

I still think Dele Alli was the worst football buy in history. Not just a lazy parasite but an obnoxious one who poisoned the dressing room while refusing to play.

Now, while I'm sure Dibling wouldn't prove as catastrophic as Alli, in recent times there have been quite a few "one season wonders" – Rashford, Bellingham, Nunez – who have proved very expensive "bets on youth".

Dibling for £20M for 3 years (he played for the spectacularly shit Southampton last season and scored virtually no goals, how good can he be?), and Grealish for £12M for a year sounds more rational to me.

Charles Brewer. Obviously Alli was a failed gamble.

However, the only poison being spread emanates from you.

The lazy parasite had a documented history of mental health issues prior to us getting him from sours. If hazard a guess the only reason we did get him is because he was damaged goods. The parasite also save our premiership place against palace.

There could be multiple solutions to the 300K/week wage problem.
1 hypothetical solution - everyone takes a cut of the wages: Man City pay 125K, Everton pay 125K, Grealish gives up 50K. Man City might agree because that is 175K/week = 9 million in wages off the books, for Everton 125K/ week = 6.5 million for 1 season doesn’t break the bank, and Grealish takes a 2.5 million haircut out of his 15 million wage packet to help him get to play regularly and a shot at the World Cup. And if he does well, I mean really well, like ‘10 goals + 10 assists’ well, then it would make sense for Everton to agree a 3 year deal at 200K/week, for example, which would cost the club 30 million in addition to any transfer fee agreed with Man City, which I imagine wouldn’t be too high. All hypothetical, I know, but the point is that sensible solutions could be worked out.

Charles #46

Bellingham 1 season wonder???? Turn it on son!

Mike - that wage figure is totally wrong.

Look at the club accounts and the wages bill is well over £120M.

This move will only happen if the player wants the move.

Maybe when other clubs find out what deal Everton have struck with Man City, then there will be more interested parties, I am sure.

Rarely have I seen so much ale house gibberish crammed into one post as Charles Brewer’s. Quite a feat.

Charles, that's just garbage. He didn't "poison" anything.

That sort of venom is inappropriate.

“To be honest, I had a night out with Jack in the summer over in Marbella. I tried my best to get him to Everton. I was telling him how much he'd be loved."

Alan Stubbs doing his best to play down Grealish's party boy rep.

Scott 44, some sense on here at last. The last accountant we had turned out to be more unreliable than Al Capone's.

These yanks just might know what they're doing (money-wise) so let's leave the penny counting to them and get on choosing our starting XI come 1 September.

I'll start….

True, Colin.

In the last 10 years we've had 7/8 of them with Viv Nicholson in charge of finances then a screeching reverse to Poundland budgets — it's no wonder we're not up to speed with realistic Premier League finances.

Mind you, I don't think any footballer should be of any more value than a Ford Focus.

If you're a professional accountant, can you comment then?

Jake, " Viv Nicolson"?
Respect!!

Just pay his wages; he's class.

James (36),

Yes, we do need elite names to play in our elite stadium but those elite names have got to be able to play consistently. Let's be honest, there is a big doubt whether Grealish is still able to turn it on — a very big doubt, I would think.

Not sure what version of Grealish has some people drooling.

I see someone that falls over in a stiff breeze, invariably slows play down, and looks like he can't be arsed most of the time.

Makes Sterling look like George Best.

Andrew, I'm one that's excited (perhaps not quite drooling). I get the potential frustration, but the Grealish you describe is hardly someone Guardiola would break transfer records for.

I see a player who would get me out of my seat, who can leave defenders looking embarrassed, and yes, who can buy a foul when it's needed. And a clear upgrade on what we have.

Lots of people talking about marketing and brand and bigger players wanting to join us but is that really true. James Rodriguez was a much bigger name in world football and his joining us didn't seem to move the dial greatly. People just see a fading star who's had to drop a level.

I've little interest in Grealish's profile but, if he's motivated enough to help get us into the Top 10, then great. If he's able to turn back the clock enough to get us into Europe, then that really does help move the dial.

I'm not sure how realistic that is this season which is why I'm more tempted by developing stars for the future but I'd be delighted for Grealish to prove me wrong.

Colin 33.

"And McNeil btw, decent squad player that he is, isn't good enough to wash Grealish's left foot."

But Grealish is right-footed, why would he want his left foot washed, he never uses it.😁

Comparing Rodriguez to Grealish is a bit of a false equivalence, Sam.

Grealish would probably see Everton on the same traditional level as Villa in a way Rodriguez wouldn't give a shit about, and I can see Grealish given an unleashed freedom he didn't have at City which he'd relish – a last chance for him to prove a point that he's a generational talent that just got stymied in Pep's single-minded machine.

I've gone from Grealish-cynic to thinking – if I'm playing for Everton, would I love it if Jack Grealish joined? Of course you would.

I’ve put my foot in it again, haven’t I, Paul?😉

Paul (66),

Isn't that Colin's point? He could've replaced “left foot”' with “darts arm” or “German shepherd” and I think we would've understood what he was saying.

Sam, I beg to differ.

Ancelotti and James Rodriguez were a marketer's dream, far bigger than the actual effect they had on the team, which is a different matter.

But their appointments raised the profile of the club world wide, especially in South America, didn't we light up a few skyscrapers and sold a zillion shirts (mostly fake because of our crap deal).

In our position, I would have taken a few aging world class stars instead of Harrison, Broja, etc... but it's more of an indictment of Moshiri that got us into Hail Mary territory in the first place.

Anyway, water under a bridge. Hopefully it won't be too long before we have current world class players contemplating joining us!

James Rodriguez came to us during Covid so nobody got to see him play – there was less fan fervour as a result. I see the comparison, but Covid put a massive dampener on him being an Everton player.

We can all make a case either way, and not one of us is right – which is all the rage on social media and sites like this. The desire to be right about everything. But at the end of it all, we just have opinions and views on all things for the most part – especially transfers.

It definitely does get people interested though, doesn't it? You have to admit that – not just Grealish but Everton get more press pages, more social media traction and therefore our profile goes up.

If we spend the same money on a young up-and-coming player, nobody cares, nobody talks about it and therefore our profile doesn't get raised.

You might not like the idea of Grealish for many reasons – he falls over, he gets pissed in Marbella, he wears a hairband or whatever other reason you pick, but it's a fact that a player like Grealish will, does and is already raising our profile.

Scott 69,

I think Paul realised that already and was taking the piss.

Many seem to be missing the point that the £12M quoted is wages at £300k per week. It's not a loan fee. We would never pay that much per week.

Let's say we offered £200k per week. That's about £8M for the season. Then consider that we have to have numbers in the squad anyway and we'll probably loan someone if it's not Grealish.

The alternative is that we could go and loan a fairly average player for £50k a week. That's already £2M just to have coverage in the squad.

So do you gamble an additional 6 million for the year on Grealish being good, or take a squad filler?

I think it's a 50/50 decision and comes down to whether City would accept sub-200k per week and whether Moyes sees him as a key player.

I actually think he fits a Moyes style. Start wide and fill or drift inside is pretty much the Moyes way. Can take a set piece too.

I’m seeing some interesting rumours on my Twitter feed that Everton will make a major announcement tomorrow before the game.

Moyes gone already Colin? Didn’t take long.

Ted Lasso to replace him.

Jake@67,

I'm not necessarily comparing their effect on the pitch just what it does for Everton branding wise and in terms of attracting other players. I think Grealish is in better physical condition than Rodriguez was and so could hopefully contribute more.

Christine@70 yes the skyscrapers etc made for good visuals but did it actually change much? Do we sell millions more shirts in South America? Did we get bumper revenue deals? Did we attract any top class players? I would again suggest it didn't really move the dial significantly and that only really happens with success on the pitch.

Janes@71 again I'm not sure that some more newspaper articles and clickbait social media links really helps us hugely. It won't get more coverage than we got for being docked points. We got a lot of online coverage when Rodriquez signed but it came to little. There was some fanfare when Gazza signed for us but only because he was a celebrity. I'd say it's fairly meaningless and even potentially unhelpful.

The only real consideration is what he can do for us on the pitch which is a hard thing to predict. If he is able to reach the heights, get us up the table and get back into the England starting XI then that definitely becomes more helpful of course and maybe that's plausible.

I'm positively surprised most posters agree this would be a good deal.

Much like monopoly money, football money is ridiculous and I don't get too caught up in it so to keep it simple.

Does Grealish improve the first team? Yes.
Can we afford £12M for a season, aprox £230k a week? Yes (I believe so).
Is it too much of a gamble or risk for a season? No.

Get it done!

Grealish and Dibling unveiled just before kick-off, Colin??

£300k a week would compromise our wage structure (such as we have one). I don't think your average footballer and his agent will buy the argument it's a one off for a season.

You can see differentials matter. It might be different if it was a proven world beater but Grealish is a risk on multiple levels. If Man City were okay with us paying him £150k, then maybe.

I'd much sooner we got a right-winger and right-back in sharpish. And I'd sooner we used Dewsbury-Hall as a yardstick for value, not Dibling.

Now Maddison is injured, I fully expect him at Spurs.

Jake #67

"I can see Grealish given an unleashed freedom"

So you're expecting that Moyes will be replaced as manager the day Grealish signs?

Thought I might get picked up on that, Eric.

“Slightly leashed” might be closer to the reality.

If it costs £12M to have Grealish on loan for 12 months, it would, hopefully, help us achieve a higher Premier League placing which would cover some, if not all, of the cost.

Anyone think Greenwood worth a punt?

Natural goalscorer, natural right-sided player, scored goals in the Premier League, done well in France.

I get he has a past but let's be honest, most footy players are gobshites, he's still with the same girl and has a kid by her.

Moving on, he's about 23 years old and has big potential to take us forward and/or move on for a profit.

Just a though.

Grealish has to go somewhere, he has to play football, that's his job. Is it at Everton? Most likely — if he doesn't want a family uproot. I think it will be done and dusted this week.

As for £12M loan fee per year, if on a 3-year contract, then £36M for him would still be a bargain with no sell-on likely.

As for wages, does the loan cover them? Also, bear in mind all the players off the books that were not having to pay wages to, ie, Doucoure's and Calvert-Lewin's would probably cover Grealish's wages.

Jack Grealish is now in agreement to join Everton on loan with talks over the financial structure between Everton and Man City continuing...

Decent of him to do business on a Sunday with a raging hangover…

Bit harsh, Jake.

Injury free for the season and he will most probably gain us a number of points so in that context £12m is not too expensive, especially if we are scrapping near the bottom once more.

It seems Jack Grealish is the only footballer who goes out and gets pissed.

I bet there are no others at all. Not one. No, no other professional footballer in the world gets pissed. Ever.

In fact every single player at Everton is teetotal.

And that's a fact.

James #90
Well getting pissed didn’t stop the skill of Gascoigne or Best

Neil@91 and James, a long time ago admittedly but the goal machine Jimmy Greaves liked the odd tipple.

Don't get what people's problem is with him on a year loan ??

We are not paying a big transfer fee, we are getting a quality footballer. If it doesn't workout we've tried, if we get half the jack grealish at villa, he's our most creative player !

Moyes was good at identifying talented players who had lost there way a little. Pienaar & Arteta spring to mind.

He may just want to be somewhere where he is the main man, well he has to prove he's not the party boy and he still has the desire to play in this league.

The upside far outweighs the downside in my opinion, what's the downside we pay half his wages and he's only as good as Jack Harrison?

Worth a go !

Neil (91) I don’t think alcohol helped George Best otherwise he would have lasted a lot longer than seven years as world class player which he was.

The same with Paul Gascoigne although injuries didn’t help him as well his drinking habits.

cheap shots are easy to make. Not much thought required.

Dixie Dean was known to have the odd tipple now and again, even on a Friday night and spending the night inside Goodison Park to sleep it off. Didn’t seem to do him any harm either!

He's hardly at the Best or Gazza levels, come on !
These were hardened alcoholics, there's a difference between that and being a bit of a party boy !

I don't remember pep actually saying he's not training well or unprofessional.
Yes his level may have dropped, but citys level is sky high.

Also they didn't exactly do that well last year when he didn't play.
Would they have done better with him starting more ?
Just saying !!

James, 90. And that is the root of all the problems.
The mid eighties side would have left Oliver Reed in their wake. Trebles !!

There's loads of YouTube clips where he has a lot of time for disabled kids (I believe his sister is) that's another side to him that doesn't often get reported.

Alan, if only that side could have managed trebles, one double was all they could muster...😀
And yes, Jack Grealish has a sister with cerebral palsy.
I imagine quite a few players do alot of unseen work outside their training/playing duties, as no doubt do alot of ToffeeWebbers in their spare time, most of which, if not all, doesn't see the light of day which is a pity.

Who said getting pissed or having a hangover is a bad thing?

Rooney was another renowned for his off-the-pitch habits.

As Dave says, with those two great players he mentions, I think Rooney would have lasted longer at the top level if had looked after himself better.

I couldn't care less if Grealish gets pissed every night. If he comes in and makes us successful, that's all that matters.

Rooney played 16 years in the Premier League and about 14 years for The England National Team!!

A lot of people forget that he started his career at the top earlier than most!

I don't think you'll find many who disagree with you, David. We all know and have often pointed that as well as what he achieved. No-one can dispute that.

My point is that he could have gone on longer at the top level.

Didn't have a bad career, did he, Danny?

I think that's what I've said consistently, Ryan? He had an outstanding career that many will struggle to match, and you could see it straight from the start.

A shame we didn't see enough of him and couldn't hold onto him longer, but he was always destined for the top. Sadly, when he came back, the legs were gone. A shame really, as he was still only 31/32?

I have as a close friend a man who played international rugby union for England and a successful British Lions. He liked a pint or plenty but when "professionalism" emerged in that sport all alcohol was proscribed by the management of the time, the visible net result being that my mate and everyone else in the sport improved no end, eventually becoming world champions.

My mate wasn't ever paid much but he's lauded to this day as a rugby union legend.

Booze and brilliance are incompatible ...... just ask my wife.

16 years at the very top of his game for Rooney. Best English (and Scouse ) player of his era.

Could have played any where on the pitch(bar goalie) and would’ve still been the best player on the day.

Get Grealish done. If they are only paying wages then probably same price as
Jack effing Harrison

And Lindstrom combined

Absolutely, Mike!

Danny, Maybe he could have but the type of player that he was and all the running that he did probably caught up with him. I loved him in a 10 or 9 but he was sacrificed too many times in a wide position.

David @113, that could well have been a factor. I was responding to the lifestyle theme that possibly contributed. And by no means am I comparing him to Gascoigne or George Best.

I sometimes wondered if he had a position David. He used to pop us everywhere, looking for the ball!! But yes number 10 was his best position. He wasn't an out and out striker.