Riyad Mahrez - 2018/2019 performances

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Different formations, different players, different tactics, different expectations - will that do for starters.

No, not in the least. Completely lacking in any sort of detail as to what he’s being asked to do that is radically different from what he was asked to do at Leicester. He might be being asked to recycle the ball more, if he is unable to find a pathway into opposition boxes that are more crowded than they were at the King Power, or play more short give and go passes, but broadly speaking we’re seeing the same starting position and the same MO - cutting in and either curling the ball in the direction of the far post, or doing the double step over on the outside - and there is nothing being asked of him that is so complex that he should not be able to assimilate it and produce better results than he has done so far. He’s not lived up to expectation for me, either mentally or physically, which is why he hasn’t started a game for weeks. Not to say he can’t or won’t improve as many others have done under Pep, but thus far he’s minced around on the fringes of the action far too much, and for someone who’s had 5 years in this league, he’s not shown a lot of appetite for what is required of him at this higher level

 

[jimharri]

 

[kaz7]

That will upset a few people

 

[BlueTG]

I seem to recall a certain David Silva not exactly ripping it up in his first season here - he wasn't even a regular starter. Vinny wasn't great in his first season and how long did Zabba take to become established. The way Pep wants individuals to play takes time - look at his first season here - so to condemn Mahrez so soon is disgusting. This is someone who has a great first touch, wicked left foot, an ability to to stand players up in the box and go past them as well as bringing others into the game. So he doesn't have the pace of Sterling or Sane but then again who does?

Revisionist. Silva started 30 of the 35 premier league games he was available for that first season, making 53 appearances in all competitions, starting 45 of them.

 

[Love_Each_Day]

I feel our players just haven't really accepted Mahrez and don't look to involve him in the game if at all possible, Aguero in particular seems to see him as a rival rather than a mate similar to when he was playing with Dzeko. The exception being Bernardo who enjoys linking with him, kind of surprised we haven't seen more of a Bernardo-Mahrez right side after the game at Wembley when they were toying with Spurs at times. Sterling and Sane manning the flanks has worked well so far but can be a bit one dimensional, fully integrating Mahrez is a step to take us to the next level.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

We have'nt seen the best of Mahrez , he still makes selfish decisions going for glory rather than passing to a team mate in a better position , he was the superstar at Leicester now he is just another squad member which probably takes some adjusting to , quite sure Pep will make him see the light so i would give him a season to settle into our style of play before judgement rather than continually slag him off , like some on here.

 

[Rolee]

Revisionist. Silva started 30 of the 35 premier league games he was available for that first season, making 53 appearances in all competitions, starting 45 of them.

And he started producing in the October of his first season, that Blackpool game was the turning point and he just got better and better from then on.

 

[mccity]

Not at all. Even Kun had to take a back seat whilst he came to grips with Peps system. I am not knocking anyone, just putting forward an argument as to why it takes time and the time is not linear.

I was going to post but I don't think there's much I could add that you or others haven't. Personally, I just don't get the determination people have to write him off. It's like they'd rather he fail at times (I know that's not true, but that's how it looks).

This is what happens when Gundogan misses a game. He needs to be a better sport and work his way into the first team more often to protect his teammates.

 

[caseball]

After a 10-0 stroll.

People get on his case because he turns the ball over time after time with poor passes and crosses. If he's being told to keep stepping inside to hit a diagonal cross then the coach needs to have a word with himself because it's shit. If not, then Mahrez needs a boot up his arse. There was one moment in the second half where he had to make a forward run for Danilo and he came short and stayed short until he was almost level with City's back line. Finally Danilo gave him the ball which he dribbled into the middle and lost. At one point he ran it into the middle and fired it at Aguero from about 3 yards. I would guess that his critics doubt the lad's got it up top.

 

[allblackcitizen]

Doesn't look happy or comfortable in his surroundings to me. On all the OS vids (tunnel cam and Inside City) he's on the edge of things and doesn't seem to smile much. Doesn't seem to have made many friends in the dressing room. That in itself is probably affecting his game.

For me he's doing OK. His stats are reasonable for a first season. He's scored some important goals (the winner at Spurs), but will forever be haunted by his penalty miss v the dippers and it seems not forgiven by some.