In the eyes of Dean Smith, the narrative is not only exaggerated, it is plain wrong.
Speaking after the 2-2 draw with Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion, Smith was at pains to point out Aston Villa’s sudden and dramatic loss of form started before Jack Grealish’s injury problems (Express & Star).
And on Sunday, he argued, Villa showed they can still create chances, score goals and pose a threat without their home-grown Holte End hero.
But the performances, results and, most intriguingly, transfer speculation paints a different picture.
Aston Villa have not only struggled to score in Grealish’s absence, they have rarely looked like scoring either – that West Brom thriller aside.
In their past 11 games, the claret and blues have found the net just nine times – and three of those came against soon to be relegated Fulham. It’s no coincidence that, as Grealish watches on from the stands in a collection of natty jackets, Aston Villa have been crying out for the unique brand of cutting-edge chaos only he can provide in the final third.
Furthermore, Aston Villa’s transfer plans certainly suggest Dean Smith is keen to ease the creative burden on his talismanic number ten.
The Sun (25 April, page 67) reports Norwich City’s £40 million-rated playmaker Emi Buendia is one name on the club’s wish-list. With 14 goals and 17 assists this season, the silky Argentine has blossomed into one of the finest footballers ever seen in the Championship.
Buendia’s £30 million-rated teammate Todd Cantwell is also a target. And it’s impossible to overlook the obvious similarities between Cantwell and Grealish – a pair of elegant, forward-thinking attacking midfielders at their best when slaloming in from the left-hand side (Daily Mail).
The Athletic, meanwhile, claims Aston Villa were so impressed by Matheus Pereira’s latest twinkle-toed performance on Sunday that, given the chance, they would be tempted to raid their Midlands neighbours for the gifted Brazilian.
If Dean Smith really believes Aston Villa can cope without Jack Grealish, why would his side be in the market for three highly talented number tens?
What Smith says and what Smith thinks may be two very different things.
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