Riyad Mahrez

[Kokonut1307]

No but you claiming we are inflating the market for players and suddenly posting criticism and negatives after joining in 2013 and posting nothing raises certain suspicions im afraid.

Wow, want me to send you a picture of my season card for the past 5 seasons?

 

[domalino]

The only thing I don't understand is why we refused to get him in January when all the same reliable sources reported Leicester were asking the same price.

 

[blueinsa]

Wow, want me to send you a picture of my season card for the past 5 seasons?

No not really.

Just understand its a City forum and whilst you are free to criticise, so are those that disagree free to tell you so.

 

[OB1]

Echo this. Obviously I'd like to see Pep give Mahrez a Salah-like transformation, but statistically how likely is that to happen? How many Salahs have we really seen? Let's not forget Pep also repeatedly says that if a player doesn't already have a good degree of talent, then Pep can't perform magic.

So it seems to be it's a bit of a game of probability here where we're kind of relying on Mahrez to have some enormous untapped potential at the age of ~28. And, if history is to go by then the odds don't necessarily seem to be stacked in Mahrez' favor to pull a Salah.

On the flip side, I guess if we can't sign a top player, then what more can City do? Gotta get someone and not leave gaps in the squad.

I don’t think City are relying of Mahrez having large amounts of untapped potential, they simply buying a top class player.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Echo this. Obviously I'd like to see Pep give Mahrez a Salah-like transformation, but statistically how likely is that to happen? How many Salahs have we really seen? Let's not forget Pep also repeatedly says that if a player doesn't already have a good degree of talent, then Pep can't perform magic.

So it seems to be it's a bit of a game of probability here where we're kind of relying on Mahrez to have some enormous untapped potential at the age of ~28. And, if history is to go by then the odds don't necessarily seem to be stacked in Mahrez' favor to pull a Salah.

On the flip side, I guess if we can't sign a top player, then what more can City do? Gotta get someone and not leave gaps in the squad.

He was p.o.t.y a couple of seasons ago, playing in a team of largely kick & rush players.

He was actually the 'Salah' or 'Hazard' of that season. Salah scores more & Hazard has been one of the best players for some years, but both are basically Elvis with top 5 teams playing as their backing band.

It's not about Mahrez doing something he has never done before, it's just about him doing the same thing, next to better players with Pep Guardiola's tutoring & running about more.

If it doesn't work, we will still be in the picture, when the next Sané, Jesus, Mbappe or Kompany, comes along, regardless.

 

[Kokonut1307]

The way you’re coming across is really arrogant.

Ok I accept criticism for come across as arrogant but people embarking on a crusade because I stated an opinion and brandishing people rags for not conforming is toxic. I started my initial opinion off as this may be controversial but I was not expecting an onslaught.

 

[pudge]

With reports of a fee being close to agreed, every time I see this thread bumped I get a tad excited.

Only to see the usual tripe continuing.

 

[Neville Kneville]

With reports of a fee being close to agreed, every time I see this thread bumped I get a tad excited.

Only to see the usual tripe continuing.

Get back to teletext.

 

[FantasyIreland]

You asked for my opinion on a topic and used your deductive skills to come to the conclusion that I perceive myself superior to Pep?

You dont think we need the lad,Pep thinks we do.

So.......that would lead one to believe,you do indeed think you know better than our manager.

 

[Hamann Pineapple]

It’s just that level above I’ve been craving, however that’s not to say Pep can elevate Mahrez to such heights. I think we can all be honest and say we’re yet to get such ilk over the line, it would evolve us forther, on and off the pitch!!

Mbappe is on 400k Euros a week net at PSG rising 100k every year

 

[Kokonut1307]

You dont think we need the lad,Pep thinks we do.

So.......that would lead one to believe,you do indeed think you know better than our manager.

I apologise for coming across as someone who knows everything and I hope you understand that I was just trying to state an opinion to have a discussion. As I said the club makes the decision and I will back it as City is the most important for all of us. Unfortunately I triggered an unintended response which I did not intend to do so.

 

[FantasyIreland]

I apologise for coming across as someone who knows everything and I hope you understand that I was just trying to state an opinion to have a discussion. As I said the club makes the decision and I will back it as City is the most important for all of us. Unfortunately I triggered an unintended response which I did not intend to do so.

Its all good pal.

Lets hope he proves worth every penny(whatever that maybe)and more!

 

[blueinsa]

I apologise for coming across as someone who knows everything and I hope you understand that I was just trying to state an opinion to have a discussion. As I said the club makes the decision and I will back it as City is the most important for all of us. Unfortunately I triggered an unintended response which I did not intend to do so.

No worries mate.

Post some more.

 

[mosssideblue]

Ok this will be my last off topic response as I don’t want to annoy the mods. If he is a starter then two of Sane, Sterling or Bernardo will be benched and after some time they will want to leave and we will sacrifice massive young talents with higher ceilings. I had the same issue with Sanchez being a potential distuption to the squad. If he comes here as a sub then we are really wasting money which we could invest elsewhere and ruininh our academy players. It is unfortunate how the Sancho situation played out as he was the cover that we needed.

I think you have little understanding of how we now run as a squad. And, as this is the Mahrez thread, what we have discussed has been "on topic"

 

[franksinatra]

Ok I accept criticism for come across as arrogant but people embarking on a crusade because I stated an opinion and brandishing people rags for not conforming is toxic. I started my initial opinion off as this may be controversial but I was not expecting an onslaught.

You have not come across as arrogant to me even though I disagree with you.

I would not be surprised to see Mahrez play on both wings and also in the inside forward as well as being a cracking winger he is also technically excellent on the ball.

For me he varies our attack so much. Great in one on one situations and can beat a man in tight spaces. Perfect against packed defences and with his shooting prowess gives us another threat.

Take your point about the kids but not sure Diaz is ready as yet and stretching the pitch is a neccesity against packed defences and as much as I like B Silva he does not offer that in the same way.

 

[Kokonut1307]

I think you have little understanding of how we now run as a squad. And, as this is the Mahrez thread, what we have discussed has been "on topic"

Well none of us really have good knowledge on how we are managed but I am happy to hear your take on it (it can be in a PM so it does not annoy others). All I wanted to clarify is that having a lot of stars inevitably creates some tension for competing players despite our amazing team spirit at moment and I felt like youth tolerate squad rotation roles better. However Bravo, Gundogan and Delph have been fine with their limited roles so maybe Mahrez works out similarly.

 

[Kokonut1307]

You have not come across as arrogant to me even though I disagree with you.

I would not be surprised to see Mahrez play on both wings and also in the inside forward as well as being a cracking winger he is also technically excellent on the ball.

For me he varies our attack so much. Great in one on one situations and can beat a man in tight spaces. Perfect against packed defences and with his shooting prowess gives us another threat.

Take your point about the kids but not sure Diaz is ready as yet and stretching the pitch is a neccesity against packed defences and as much as I like B Silva he does not offer that in the same way.

Mahrez is a scintillating inverted winger and I like him as a player. My only two reservations are his current price tag because I would prefer City not become market conformers like United but it is not my money so if the Sheikh wants it he can have it. The other concern is fitting all these players onto the pitch. Maybe injuries and long cup runs will balance that but who knows. All we can do is wait and see how we look in about 3 months time.

 

[ojeme]

This will be an unpopular opinion but I do not understand why we are so desperate to buy a right sided inside forward who clearly won't be able to play on the left. Sterling and Bernardo are already occupying that spot. Pep has been very reluctant towards using Bernardo in that CM position so I find it very unlikely he has suddenly changed his opinion. I know youth players may not be ready to start but if we continue with buying back up players to our starting 11 by breaking transfer records we are never going to have a successful academy. It is not my money but I still find it ridiculous that we are about to spend this much on Mahrez. I really don't care about how inflated the market is, because we are just making it worse by agreeing to such exorbitant rates.

You have already decided for Pep that Mahrez will be Sterling's back up, making your argument fundamentally wrong. What if Pep had envisioned Mahrez as a starting 11 player, would your argument hold water?

 

[Silva_Spell]

Is that a euphemism ?

Seriously?

 

[Shaelumstash]

I appreciate the correction and what I meant was inverted winger when I spoke about Mahrez.

Yeh no worries mate, I got the jist of what you were saying.

As others have said, I think Mahrez has played so much on the right for Leicester because he’s their best player and second biggest goal threat. Obviously he’s a bigger goal threat on the right, cutting inside on his left foot.

But I think he’s definitely got the capability of playing on the left for City. He’s absolutely superb 1v1, fast, good final ball. I think he’s a great alternative to Sané and even though he’s not played on the left too much, he’s got the best coach in the world to teach him. :-)