Riyad Mahrez - 2018/2019 performances

[domalino]

I'm pretty sure the only reason he played was because we prepped for the game with Sterling on the left and Bernardo on the right.

Then Bernie gets a knock and it's a choice between Mahrez, who can play on the right, who is probably closer to Bernardo in playing style, or picking Sané and changing Sterling over to the right, playing with more width and less midfield support etc.

 

[quiet_riot]

Pep praised him, do not pretend that Pep was out of his depth ! The lad worked his socks off and was continously tracking back, he was far from being lazy last night.

Remember this from the All or Nothing doco?

"In the press conference, I will defend you until the last days in our lives. But in here (dressing room) I tell you the truth."

What Pep, or any manager says in press conferences is largely worthless.

 

[DTeacher]

How and why some posters use the Mahrez fee as another reason to abuse him is interesting.

"Oh, he was our RECORD buy. Oh, he should be much better than this. Oh, Mahrez should be nowhere near the side. Oh, why did we let Sancho go? (We didn't, HE went, but that doesn't suit the narrative), Oh, Mahrez is shit..waste of money"
Etc etc.

So, £60m. Aaaaargggh, our record buy.

A bit of context might help.

£60m in today's market? Take a look at players around the globe. Hey, let's take MAN CITY as an example.

Ederson worth more than £60m? I reckon so.
Laporte worth more than £60m? Tick.
Sterling worth more than £60m? Check.
Kevin De B - see where this is gping, guys?
Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva....want me to continue?

We may have PAID a record fee for us, but get real. Most of our squad would go for more.

Stop making Mahrez the fall guy.

 

[nellyonthewing]

Still don't think sticking him out on the right wing.

 

[DTeacher]

I'm pretty sure the only reason he played was because we prepped for the game with Sterling on the left and Bernardo on the right.

Then Bernie gets a knock and it's a choice between Mahrez, who can play on the right, who is probably closer to Bernardo in playing style, or picking Sané and changing Sterling over to the right, playing with more width and less midfield support etc.

Wonders never cease. A sensible post.

On Bluemoon. ;)

 

[domalino]

Wonders never cease. A sensible post.

On Bluemoon. ;)

It was still a bad decision IMO and he was still shit.

 

[DTeacher]

It was still a bad decision IMO and he was still shit.

What would you have done? I didn't think he was any worse than Aguero and a few others on the night.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

You needn't worry about him tracking back or defending well hes shite at that as well. The cowardly streak is the deal breaker for me. A poor mans peter beagrie.

I keep imagining what it would be like if Martin Petrov were still at the club, and him and Mahrez had to tackle each other in a training exercise. They'd circle the ball for hours, both run towards it at the same time and then shy away, over and over again. Caretaker would lock up and tell them to turn the lights off once one of them had finally plucked up the courage to 'win the ball'.
The prize tag is academic. He's been a shocking buy. You'd get more courage and sense of conviction if you asked a field mouse to run across a tightly cropped lawn in a flourescent jacket during a falconry display. Some nice touches, but mentally and physically weak, and little in the way of end product.

 

[domalino]

What would you have done? I didn't think he was any worse than Aguero and a few others on the night.

I would have played Leroy and Sterling on the wings, same way we battered Spurs home and away last season.

We tried Raheem & Mahrez vs. Spurs in the 0-1 win earlier this season and the game was very similar to last night - too tight, too condensed in midfield, very edgy. That day we scored the early goal and rode it out, maybe yesterday would have been the same if Aguero had buried the penalty, but the 2 wingers high and wide destroyed Spurs last season, and it would have worked again because there's no other way to defend against pace except dropping off and leaving more space in midfield.

 

[Ardwick Green Blue]

[QUOTE="Exeter Blue I am here, post: 11689218, member: 3752] He's been a shocking buy. You'd get more courage and sense of conviction if you asked a field mouse to run across a tightly cropped lawn in a flourescent jacket during a falconry display. Some nice touches, but mentally and physically weak, and little in the way of end product.[/QUOTE]

Quality Sid Waddell-esque comparison :)