How often has Jack Grealish been fouled this season?

Jack Grealish is a very flashy and talented player. However he is no stranger to being foul.

In this answer I look at the total number of fouls he has received and speculate on the reason.

Way too many times. Although I don’t know how much I trust the data on this unusual statistic.

According to the Telegraph the Aston Villa star was the recipient of 140 fouls over the last season. All of this reached a height during the post lockdown Chelsea match, when Grealish was fouled nine times. Apparently the people who keep track of this claim that it is a single match record. Aston Villa demand more protection for Jack Grealish as he becomes most fouled Premier League player in one season.

Grealish in his patented position - on the floor reeling in pain. Source: STATS PERFORM

For some reason the Grealish-foul fiasco seems to be a persistent theme. In fact Sports Bible almost marked it with a celebratory round of drinks.Jack Grealish Breaks Premier League With Nine Games Left Of The Season

90 min added to this with similar click bait although it appears that Wilfred Zaha now owns the single match record. Who said that Crystal Palce wouldn’t hit the high spots? Jack Grealish Breaks Premier League Record by Becoming the Most Fouled Player This Season.

Having watched Grealish in many matches this season he clearly is the recipient of a large number of fouls. In fact one cannot speak of the man without mentioning the tackles he has received.

But why is that the case? Theories are plentiful from his almost invisible shin pads to his flashy play. His fouls almost seem woven into his innate style as though he is personally begging other players to do the dirty deed.

There are likely elements of truth in each of these notions but for me the obvious answer resides more simplistically in a fault of his play - he hangs on to the ball too long. Talented as he is, Grealish is no Lionel Messi and therefore needs to work on the nuances of the critical early release.

Get that right and he will grow to become more effective as a player and reduce the probability of a career threatening injury. He certainly has talent. A look at the ‘how to’ as demonstrated in vintage Zinedine Zidane footage would help.