Definitely not Yaya, a point is better than a forfeit and points deduction (or expulsion from a knockout comp) for fielding an ineligible player.For me this is the real benefit of this signing.
Imagine we are drawing with 20 to go.
Weve one sub left.
Who do you bring on, yaya, nmecha or mahrez?
Also means our wing options can be out and out pace sane and sterling. Or tricky, bernardo and mahrez. Or a combo.
Hard to put a plan in place for that
Breaking our transfer record at £70m is a hell of a lot of money to pay for a player that won't weaken the team.
Breaking our transfer record at £70m is a hell of a lot of money to pay for a player that won't weaken the team.
How is it , we are a very strong team, someone at the same level will be expensive.
How much would sane or Sterling cost? Circa £70m or more. It would be hard to pay less and get a player who would not be a bit of a step down. It's not cheap but it's not bad value in the current market. I would not be suprised if a load of one game wonders get bought after the world cup for £30-£70m. Seems teh going rate for a decent player but the difference with mahrez is you know he will do the business in th epremier league, he has won it and been POTY already.
Why would we want to do that ? If we don't need to.As it is think we'll spend about 100 mill bring in about 50. So not taking into account wages and other bits it will cost us about £10 mill /year.Well cleary it's a lot of money.
Now if we sold Gundog for upwards of the 25m we paid then I think that would go some way to balancing the deal.
Why would we want to do that ? If we don't need to.As it is think we'll spend about 100 mill bring in about 50. So not taking into account wages and other bits it will cost us about £10 mill /year.
How do you know for sure Sterling will not improve he is 4 or 5 years away from his peak?Honestly the bollocks on here. Had Raheem or Leroy of this season replaced Mahrez of 2 years ago Leicester would not have been champions.
Raheem will never be a better player, and as of now Leroy isn't. I expect he will be better as he develops.
The reason I say this is how cool he is under pressure. It is not an attribute given to many.
In current market 75m is good value. He's a Cantona sort of signing if I can mention that twats name.
I see. That is why you are struggling with Mahrez. We dont have a first team anymore, we have a squad of very talented footballers all with something to add to the party. Game by game Pep will decide the best starting 11 based on form, opposition, tactics and no doubt a plethora of other considerations.So who would you drop for Mahrez from the automatic first team players?
Sterling will be back soon too :)Considering it’s World Cup year I’m thinking Mahrez will be one of our most used players for the first month or 2 of the season! Him coming in allows sane and sterling to get the desired rest/pre season under their belts!
If mahrez is flying by this point it’ll be down to one of those 2 to displace him!
Well I think Gundog is the weak link in the squad. That doesnt make me right of course but I am not alone in that opinion. And I also think that we have a proliferation of creative midfielders therefore it's not a high priority position especially when most seem to think he wouldnt necessarily improve the first team and finally although neither of us know for sure I would be very surprised if we carried on spending the way we have in past windows.
Well cleary it's a lot of money.
Now if we sold Gundog for upwards of the 25m we paid then I think that would go some way to balancing the deal.
Breaking our transfer record at £70m is a hell of a lot of money to pay for a player that won't weaken the team.
Well I think Gundog is the weak link in the squad. That doesnt make me right of course but I am not alone in that opinion. And I also think that we have a proliferation of creative midfielders therefore it's not a high priority position especially when most seem to think he wouldnt necessarily improve the first team and finally although neither of us know for sure I would be very surprised if we carried on spending the way we have in past windows.
Bang on.I really agree with you. For me Mahrez will have an incredible next year if he signs for us. Some posters tell you he isn't better than for example Raz. But there are 3 things you have to answer first.
1. When was the last time you have seen fully motivated Mahres fighting for something? The year he won Player of the year, and title for LCFC. That season there were times he was almost unplayable. Year after his team was shit, he fought for nothing, but he still made some stats. Last year he just wanted out. I bet he wasn't giving 100%, as was his team. If you have a dream, you fight for PL, CL all the players up their game, if you fight for mid table, and wants out, and your club blocks you, how could you play and give it all week in week out?
2. How were LCFC attacks built? How much of the ball they had, how many chances they created, how much they bossed their games? Even in the season they won PL, they weren't even in 40% as dominant as City are every week. Even taking that into consideration, you can easily compare his stats to top top players in better, more dominant teams. How many goals/assists he would have in team like City this year?
3. The most important question for anyone stating he won't improve our team: is he worse finisher than for example Raz? ehhhm not. Maybe he is worse assister? not really. Worse dribbler? I really thing he is one of the best 1 vs 1 in world football. Maybe he has worse first touch? no he has not.
He has decent speed, not as fast as Sane/Raz, but really decent, can score from distance, is great finisher, can assist, and can unlock packed defense with his 1 vs 1 + he was begging for a move for 2 years, and he doesn't break under pressure - in LCFC tittle winning year he was their main man, and the better opposition were, the better he played (I still remember goal against us, when he left our 2 players in blocks and his shot left Hart on his feet). He will be fully motivated, hungry as ever, fresh with no WC, PL proven, and has all raw attributes to really step up his game to world class level as Salah did this year. He just enters his best years, and will be on his 200% self to show everyone why he wanted to be sold to one of the top teams 2 years ago, last summer and in january.
I am not saying he will end up our new best player, but look for some clips from his POTY year, and ask yourself: is it really impossible that this guy could take Raz out of the team? I can easily imagine that, even if I love Raheem and think he is great.
Mahrez is pure class and will suprise few on here.
I don't get why any City fan would not want this lad in the squad! He is utterly world class and would fit into our system brilliantly. It would also allow Sane, Sterling and Bernardo to develop secondary positions more centrally (I can deffo see Leroy playing inside in the future like Ronaldo and Bale) It's and absolute no brainer for me. Plus he's desperate to come!
Are you not contradicting yourself? Mahrez @£70m is too expensive (your words) but no matter who we sell Mahrez is still £70m