#26 | Riyad Mahrez - 2020/21 Performances

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Lovely touch on that goal, then gets away with pissing about to actually score. Kind of summed him up tbh, unbelievably ability, takes too long to do anything because he won't use his right foot.

A touch that good put him with a clear goalscoring chance on his right foot, but he instead has to cut back inside, then back outside, then back inside, because he doesn't have the confidence to just shoot with his right in that situation. Sometimes you'll get away with doing that, plenty of times the chance will get away from you.

Therin lies the problem. There’s plenty of times with us he’s received a similar type ball. The difference is if he is positive and quick with his first touch and movement then he looks a much better player. We saw it on occasions last season.
However, whether he can change his mindset of holding onto the ball too long and generally just bring greedy then at his age I doubt it.
Think those habits and mindsets are ingrained. It’s like that with many players even, dare I say it, our genius Merlin. His first instinct is always to pass and that’s part of what makes him a great player. But at times it’s infuriating - the stand out moment being the league cup last season at the Etihad with us all shifting ourselves with the tension - Slabhead passes it to him from 6 yard box and with an open goal virtually, David passes it sideways.
I could live with Mahrez if he worked harder, got that positive and quick early movement because it might then open up more opportunities. As it is though I suspect his days may be numbered.

 

[twosips]

what about these defenders? what about these defenders? (Nicolás Otamendi,Eliaquim Mangala,Vincent Kompany ....) they are amateurs?

I think it's fair to say the Premier League is kinda used to him now. He rarely does that anymore. Edit - also that goal is nowt like what he was describing. He beat his man and shot. Direct. Not a load of drag backs.

 

[Fame Monster]

Good to see the rest of the team responding to it:

 

[balotellishaircut]

You obviously don’t like him but to say that wasn’t brilliant is just silly. Put it this way I doubt anyone else in our squad could have done what he did with that first touch and then finish it off with his right foot so we’ll.

I reckon Gabby Jesus could have done that, brilliant goal though I have to agree.

 

[teddykgb]

I’m not here to mock him. It’s a brilliant touch.

I just hope Real Madrid were watching. Defenders in England aren’t taking the dummy

 

[ws01]

One of the real powerhouses of world football, them Zimbots.

 

[domalino]

what about these defenders? what about these defenders? (Nicolás Otamendi,Eliaquim Mangala,Vincent Kompany ....) they are amateurs?

I literally commented no one has fallen for Mahrez's schtick since 2018 and as a counter argument you've posted a video from 2015/16.

 

[Kadour75]

I literally commented no one has fallen for Mahrez's schtick since 2018 and as a counter argument you've posted a video from 2015/16.

Against his former team this season he played the same trick on a Leicester defender, last season he sent MU defender packing, there must be other similar situations I do not recall. So, yes he has embarassed many defenders in PL since 2018. Yesterday goal is a worldy, let’s just enjoy it and hope he will transmit his national team performance to City.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Nicolás Otamendi,Eliaquim Mangala,Vincent Kompany ..

Two of those three are utter shite, to be fair.

Not that I'm trying to take anything away from Riyad's goal because it was a lovely bit of skill to add to the collection.

 

[Mr HJ]

Great performances for the national team will only help enhance his value. After watching the scintillating performance of Ferran Torres tonight against a decent team it is clear to me that we must not under any circumstances block his way to the first team. Selling Mahrez in January must now be a real option given how quickly Torres has settled. I would hate to see Ferran's time being limited and possibly a repeat of the Sane situation. Back to Mahrez, I feel it is in both his and the clubs best interests if he moved to France or Spain in January. He is just not consistent enough and we need to look to a transition to a forward line packed with youth and players who can be the backbone of the team for 3 to 5 years. Talented - yes a player capable of sublime moments but also one that has periods of complete ineffectiveness. Sell and bank some cash for a run at buying a young striker in the summer and possibly a short term goal scorer for this year.