What's eating the most expensive English player ever?

Manchester City's unprecedented crisis is old news. The Cityzens' struggle has lasted for almost two months. However, one man's hardships have been overshadowed by the City's setback, although he could be a personification of the club - Jack Grealish.

Boxing Day marked the 376th day since his last goal for the Cityzens, as his last "victim" were Crystal Palace on December 16, 2023, when he netted the opener in a 2-2 draw at Etihad. He probably couldn't have imagined that he'd have to wait for the next goal for over a year and that Man City would be only seventh in the Premier League behind Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. Still, it happened.

Dyched City! Pep's depleted army drops points against Everton

Grealish is still the most expensive English player (and seventh in history) since City splashed out £100 million (€117 million) to bring him from Aston Villa in August 2021. He was immediately given #10, and the expectations were immensely high. But so was the pressure.

If his initial failure to meet the projections could have been justified with the adaptation period after three years at Etihad, it's high time to sum things up. In 143 appearances with the highly offensive team that Man City are, Grealish recorded 14 goals and 20 assists.

Therefore, it's no wonder he's recently been compared to former Arsenal and current Man United wingers Nicolas Pepe and Antony, who have been harshly criticized and pronounced "flops."

Everyone remembers Grealish's famous photo from City's Champions League celebration and his description, which said, "Hang it in the Louvre." Well, just like that picture, his dreadful goalless spell certainly won't be forgotten. Jack Grealish fell short.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 18

Thursday

Manchester City - Everton 1-1 (1-1)

/Silva 14 - Ndiaye 36/

Bournemouth - Crystal Palace 0-0

Chelsea - Fulham 1-2 (1-0)

/Palmer 16 - Wilson 82, Muniz 90+5/

Newcastle - Aston Villa 3-0 (1-0)

/Gordon 2, Isak 59, Joelinton 90+1/

Nott. Forest - Tottenham 1-0 (1-0)

/Elanga 28/

Southampton - West Ham 0-1 (0-0)

/Bowen 59/

Wolverhampton - Man.Utd. 2-0 (0-0)

/Cunha 58, Hwang 90+9/

Liverpool - Leicester 3-1 (1-1)

/Gakpo 45+1, Jones 49, Salah 82 - Ayew 6/

Friday

22.30: (1.70) Brighton (3.90) Brentford (4.90)

23.15: (1.13) Arsenal (8.50) Ipswich (19.0)

***odds are subject to change***