Aston Villa are dire, Jack Grealish has been about as impressive as the rest of his teammates and the man who was willing to go to bat for him has now been sacked. It hasn't been a great start to the season for the much discussed youngster.
As a result, it's looking rather unlikely that the former Ireland u21 international will be able to force his way into contention for Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 plans but that doesn't mean he's yesterday's news already.
The British press can be an unforgiving mistress at times and Grealish has, over the past year, become something of a touchstone for grainy videos and pictures of wild nights on the town. Granted, the fun in Tenerife may not have been the best look for an aspiring footballer but being in the vicinity of alcohol the night after a game is hardly shocking behaviour.
Nevertheless a video has been uncovered which shows Grealish in a nightclub after Villa's 4-0 defeat to Everton with the most serious crime being the following;
Footage shows Grealish, 20, singing into the camera in an enthusiastic manner at Panacea before champagne bottles and sparklers arrive at the table.
That's fairly tame stuff by our reckoning but the headlines have not been kind on the 20 year old.
Villa fans may not be delighted to see him out on the town as they stayed rooted to the bottom of the Premier League but, with no training on Sunday and no proof that he even consumed alcohol, it's a bit much to be throwing him to the wolves.
Come to think of it, if this is the reaction after he chose to represent England, he may have made the correct decision. Imagine the added vitriol if he'd be getting if he'd actually decided to represent Ireland.
