#26 | Riyad Mahrez - 2019/20 Performances

[WallyA]

As stated this is not about whether or not Mahrez is a good player, he is clearly a good player.

The point being made is that this team doesn’t have the full backs to accommodate inverted wingers and because of that, we look a much worse team now, than we did 2 years ago when we played with traditional wide men. Opposition teams typically pack the middle against us, they know our wingers want to come inside and our full backs can’t/won’t overlap and hurt them on the outside. If Mahrez had TAA (or similar) behind him, I would have a completely different opinion on this.

For me, we either go back to wingers on their correct side, or we replace Walker with someone who can step foot into the opposition half. There was little wrong with the Sterling/Walker partnership on that side, whereas Walker and Mahrez are an awful double act.

Exactly this.

Without a fullback to overlap, Mahrez is kind of forced wide quite permanently and far from goal.

His main assets are goals and assists and close ball control/dribbling, at Leicester he always had a fullback wide right and could play inside, he even played as a 10 for Leicester for large amounts of time and was successful.

Now the counterpoint to this is that KdB sometimes goes wide (if KdB is playing RCM) to let Mahrez come inside, but this doesn't happen nearly enough (KdB barely played the last game and didn't play well, that's okay) as a fullback does for their winger.

False 9 Mahrez should be seriously looked at (or atleast play him as a 10), Sterling right and Jesus left (I've liked him as a winger). He is quicker than Bernardo at it and is quite good at scoring with both of of his feet. I use to think Bernardo was the closest thing we had to a false 9 Messi, but now I think Mahrez (or Foden) are better.

 

[jay_mcfc]

He was tremendous in the first half, played much quicker and passed earlier. More of that and he'll make the team better.

 

[Phil1]

He’s infuriating but can’t deny his quality.

 

[mccity]

I think his pressing has improved a lot over the past year.

 

[Saddleworth2]

He should also have had a hat trick yesterday.

 

[Julien]

He's a very good individual player but he slows us down and he kills a far too high % of moves with his desire to do everything himself.

It's frustrating because at times he will do what no one else does, and pull the trigger from 20 yards out and get us a goal that stops the 60 minute slogs we've had to break teams down this season.

And of course the other big problem is that his inclusion means Sterling on the left where he's nowhere near as good either.

If we get a proper Sané replacement and Bernardo finds his form again I genuinely don't think we'll see much of him next season.

So you mean we need to get rid of PFA Player of the Year 2016/17?

 

[coliotte]

That's invalid argument,
but i think he is the second-best city player this season

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

no idea why Pep took Mahrez off and left Jesus on the pitch tonight against the Goons , he should have hooked Jesus put Sterling in the middle and Foden on the left wing , Jesus offered nothing tonight

 

[Gabriel]

First-half, three against three, Sterling clear on his left and Jesus with two men on his right...

Now okay, we all know Sterling would miss it anyway, but you've got to at least give him the ball.

 

[Blu1]

Strange player one minute he’s in the mood the next he goes missing.