#26 | Riyad Mahrez - 2020/21 Performances

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

 

[Craig]

I think it is harsh to call our opponents terrible.

I don't think Mahrez' form has been magnificent this season by any means but I also think most of the team has been below par attacking wise. I haven't isolated it to just the wide players so kudos if that really is the key.

No doubting Mahrez can frustrate but he had plenty to his name last seasons. His stats placed him in the top few performers in the league.

Agree he had some very good games last season (I’m actually a fan of his) and on the surface his stats from last season were very good. However, when you factor in the players around him,the amount of possession we have and how many times his greed ruins great opportunities for the team he needs to be scoring 15/20 league goals a season. Salah can be greedy playing in a similar position for Liverpool. The difference is he’ll score 25/30 a season so it’s basically fully justified. 10 or so from Mahrez shouldn’t be acceptable in a team like ours.

 

[toffee balls]

Our form is mirrored by Mahrez at this moment.
Pretty good but not quite enough end product.

 

[mccity]

I just don't think our style of play suits him, He'd be better in a ball over the top team like he was at Leicester. Undoubtedly a skillful player, and I would think he impresses in training, hence the reason he gets so many starts.

Although the style doesn't suit him, I am starting to wonder whether he's done as much as he could to bridge the gap.

I am still optimistic, mind.

 

[BlueMoon_Phil]

Mahrez is a class player, but he just doesn’t suit our style of play. It’s really that simple, he definitely suits a counter attacking team. I’d bite a buyers hand off it we could get 2/3rds of what we paid for him. His work rate off the ball IMO is suspect at the best of times.

 

[Mr HJ]

The truth is we don't have room for him in the side. I have been waiting for him to be a difference maker and he can never say he's not had many chances, but I just don't see it. For 20 mins the other night he looked better but he is too set in his ways and reverted to type. I'm sure if he moved on he would be great for whoever he signs for. For us he is and always has been a poor fit.

The issue is we now have Torres who has forced his way into being a regular. I believe the idea was to gradually ease him into the team this season. We look so much more of a balanced team with the younger front 3 or 4 to choose from. I don't buy into those saying he can play in midfield like Kev - he can't do that because he doesn't have the discipline and work rate. That is not his fault he was brought in to play as a wide attacker to break down teams that defend deep and had adjusted to the way we play - he was to be our plan B,C or whatever.

I don't have anything against the man as in another system (as he proved with Leicester) he can be unplayable - hand on heart I can't remember a run of games when I have ever thought wow he won us that game. Onto the rest of this season now we are getting back our injured players I hope we don't try to accommodate Mahrez as that could lead to another Sane situation. During the 100 pt year Sane was deservedly in the side more, the following year Pep felt he had been unfair to Mahrez - played him, put Sane on the bench in many games and I have to believe that Leroy felt pushed to one side and whereas it wasn't the only reason he left it certainly didn't help the situation. Looking at us on the anniversary clips on twitter you see how many goals came from having Sterling and Sane as our wide men - Torres is ready to do that now.

I'd sell him in January and bank whatever we get for him then look to get a centre forward in at some point.

 

[nickamon]

Injured?

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Injured?

Shit.

 

[wolviedinho]

I enjoyed the game a lot more knowing he was not available.

 

[nickamon]

Shit.

Lol, I ain’t a Mahrez hater although he can be frustrating, but that was a funny response!