10 | Rayan Cherki - 2025/26

BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
We agree to disagree.

Cherki came to us with a penchant for showboating - and this is but one example.

As Pep remarked, the best player in world football history, never, ever, did this, insofar as Pep can tell.

If Cherki can eliminate needless flair from his game he'll be a much better team player and will be less likely to be injured - because if some fucker tried a ribonna against my side, I'd sure as hell try to fuck him up the next chance I had to make a tackle on him.
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Yep I disagree strongly - I was trying to put a rational argument against a team full of water carriers - last year for example we lacked something and became a very dull watch at times - yes injuries played a part but without Kev at his best we were a team that had players who were risk adverse and would rather keep it simple - we had a midfield with a 95% pass completion rate yet were not the same team that terrified opposition.

When I played it made no difference to me if any player tried outrageous stuff, I did my job (badly at times) and would never think of fucking anyone up - and that was in the old 4th division full of hard bastards. Sometimes you had to just accept that certain players were just better than you. The action you are so set against was not exactly like Balotelli missing an open goal in pre season by trying something ludicrous - come back when Rayan has cost us a match by being a bit of dick which he has simply not done to date.
 
Mr HJ said:
Yep I disagree strongly - I was trying to put a rational argument against a team full of water carriers - last year for example we lacked something and became a very dull watch at times - yes injuries played a part but without Kev at his best we were a team that had players who were risk adverse and would rather keep it simple - we had a midfield with a 95% pass completion rate yet were not the same team that terrified opposition.

When I played it made no difference to me if any player tried outrageous stuff, I did my job (badly at times) and would never think of fucking anyone up - and that was in the old 4th division full of hard bastards. Sometimes you had to just accept that certain players were just better than you. The action you are so set against was not exactly like Balotelli missing an open goal in pre season by trying something ludicrous - come back when Rayan has cost us a match by being a bit of dick which he has simply not done to date.
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And yet, Mr Goat has missed penalties whilst trying the ‘panenca’, which is infinitely worse than what Cherki did. Might explain why Bernado wasn’t called out for doing the same against Madrid…
 
Marvin. said:
What happened in the 2nd half vs Sunderland that brought Cherki to prominence? I don't remember him doing anything in the first half. Did Sunderland just get tired?
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The game opened up more and we played more from the right where Bernie was out there a lot in the first half
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Cherki is awesomely talented.

I do wish, however, that he'd eliminate his showboating.

Why? Because it:
1) Is less likely to succeed;
2) Pisses the opposition off - they're going to purposely foul you and you are much more likely to be injured;
3) Places self, above team. You're showboating to impress fans, at the expense of team;
4) Encourages such behavior from other players in our side;

Even if you - as a player - are OK with 1 & 2 - and even if you only try this when up by two goals or more - it still risks your side losing points - us especially, because our entire team is going through a rebuilding phase and at the moment we're unfortunately prone to let big leads slip.
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What the fuck are you going on about? Why on earth would you eliminate his showboating?? You’re either a troll or you’ve copy and pasted that from chat gpt.

Aren’t you the poster who bases their whole football opinions on what random YouTubers say? I’m sure it’s you. I Can tell.
 
Pep must have an issue with his work rate in games and in training, ludicrous thing to say otherwise.

90% of what Pep says about players in post match and pressers is designed to provoke a reaction. Hence praising Savinho when he has been absolutely woeful all season.

Not sure we can take it at face value. The only attacking player he ever seems to be sincere about is Phil imo.
 
CΛL said:
Pep must have an issue with his work rate in games and in training, ludicrous thing to say otherwise.

90% of what Pep says about players in post match and pressers is designed to provoke a reaction. Hence praising Savinho when he has been absolutely woeful all season.

Not sure we can take it at face value. The only attacking player he ever seems to be sincere about is Phil imo.
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I would imagine it's just about keeping him grounded. Pep's always wanted a team that works hard for each other on and off the ball. Standards have slipped in that regard. Savinho's been woeful and years ago he'd have been hooked even if he came off the bench and performed like he did. Sane used to get an earful for certain mistakes he made. Foden got hooked when coming through for a few stray passes. Pep's always been a hard taskmaster.

Savinho worked harder off the ball than he had been so was praised. Clearly Pep wants him to gain confidence and not feel like his performances are just measured in goals and assists.

Cherki just needs to keep working hard and not get carried away by being too flamboyant. There's a balance.

Personally I fucking love the flair he brings, some players just have that in their game and it makes you excited to watch them. It's more exciting than playing keep ball. But City winning is the main thing.
 
His assist on Saturday was the highlight of my season so far. A display of outrageous skill that had the whole stadium of their seats and smiling. I really don't care that Messi never did a Rabona cross. He did plenty more that was outrageous skill. We should nurture what Cherki has rather than trying to regiment it. He has the capability to be as important a player as Erling and I don't say that lightly.
 
Only on blue moon would someone actually criticise someone getting an assist off a rabona in an all round good team performance purely because he might try it one day and some team might break and score against us.

If Cherki fucks up a rabona in the opposition box and they break and score against us by running the near full length up the pitch, then good luck to them, id be asking a lot more questions of the team for allowing that to happen.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
We agree to disagree.

Cherki came to us with a penchant for showboating - and this is but one example.

As Pep remarked, the best player in world football history, never, ever, did this, insofar as Pep can tell.

If Cherki can eliminate needless flair from his game he'll be a much better team player and will be less likely to be injured - because if some fucker tried a ribonna against my side, I'd sure as hell try to fuck him up the next chance I had to make a tackle on him.
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You know what Pep never mentions about Messi, that the fucker would stroll around the pitch wating for an attack or to pick up a loose ball in the opposition half, he was adept at blocking passes and interceptions but he was hardly busting a gut to chase down. a forward or gettingback in the box to block a shot (something Haaland does)

never got why he bemonas players like cherki for such when his greatest talent was not much different.

A flair maverick like him or cherki best form of defence is their skill and waiting to steal the ball and create, they don't need to be on. our 18 yard line putting in tackles, the "he doesn't track back" nonsense doesn't matter if he is assisting 2-3. goals.
 
The best squads have a range of strengths. If Cherki provides the imperious guile that nobody else can, then it adds to the strengths. That does not exclude the fact that he can become a better team player, and can work harder off the ball, and can learn when and where to use his genius for the best effect on the team and its results. The guy can do things others can only dream of. If he can improve on the 'givens' of hard work and team play, he can be the best in the world, and that has to be the dream outcome for all, including him. It is a privilege to have him as one of the cogs in the team and I find it inconceivable that a player like him will not take what Pep said as a chance to improve. Why would you come to Manchester City and Pep if it was not for the chance to improve your game?
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Cherki is awesomely talented.

I do wish, however, that he'd eliminate his showboating.

Why? Because it:
1) Is less likely to succeed;
2) Pisses the opposition off - they're going to purposely foul you and you are much more likely to be injured;
3) Places self, above team. You're showboating to impress fans, at the expense of team;
4) Encourages such behavior from other players in our side;

Even if you - as a player - are OK with 1 & 2 - and even if you only try this when up by two goals or more - it still risks your side losing points - us especially, because our entire team is going through a rebuilding phase and at the moment we're unfortunately prone to let big leads slip.
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A rabona is not always showboating.

If the ball is slightly behind you, a rabona can be the only way to get any power behind it in the right direction, also it's the fastest way to do so. Another benefit is that it'll often catch the defender by surprise, whereas a conventional pass is more likely to be blocked.

Similarly, if you need to completely change the direction of the ball and a back-heel isn't possible, a rabona's the way to do it. A perfectly valid technique.
 
urban genie said:
You know what Pep never mentions about Messi, that the fucker would stroll around the pitch wating for an attack or to pick up a loose ball in the opposition half, he was adept at blocking passes and interceptions but he was hardly busting a gut to chase down. a forward or gettingback in the box to block a shot (something Haaland does)

never got why he bemonas players like cherki for such when his greatest talent was not much different.

A flair maverick like him or cherki best form of defence is their skill and waiting to steal the ball and create, they don't need to be on. our 18 yard line putting in tackles, the "he doesn't track back" nonsense doesn't matter if he is assisting 2-3. goals.
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Horses for courses - Jimmy Greaves, genuinely one of the most natural goalscorers of all time, used to question why he had to run round the pitch in training.

"I don't need to be able to run for miles - I just need to be the quickest over 5 yards...".

After the dirge of last season, how on earth can anybody resent a rabona assist?!?
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Fuck off.

I'll bet you'd change your tune if Cherki is out for a year because some pissed off opponent broke his leg.

Or if we're up 3-1 against the Scum, Cherki tries this sort of thing, it doesn't work, the ball turns over and they score, and now it's 3-2... and the Scum come to life in a game that was done-and-dusted for us is now up for grabs... with the eventual score ending 3-3... or worse.
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Deary me, player entertains fans, fans think he’s an idiot. The Rabona was a thing of beauty , how the fk can anyone have negative feelings about it?
 
I can still see Best, Kinkladze gliding past half the opposition like Cherki did at least twice including setting up robot Haaland for a sitter. Thats what i pay to watch and hes already lit up our season.
 
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