Riyad Mahrez

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mattcity5 said:
Okay, let me ask you a question. Why didn't Mahrez get selected to start in any of the following games towards the end of last season?

Arsenal at home, 4-1
Bayern at home, 3-0
Bayern away 1-1
Real away 1-1
Real home 4-0
united cup final 2-1
Inter CL 1-0.

The biggest games.

Not sure where I said most academy forwards could do what Mahrez does? I'm not saying Mahrez isn't good, this isn't about that. He just isn't key, I don't see how anyone can deny that. He wasn't picked in the biggest games, he played in lesser games towards the end of the season. Something other younger talented players could manage.

There are games he has a big impact in, but if City don't think Palmer could get to that level with regular games, then there's no point persisting with him, we may as well sell him now.

Foden could certainly do well there as did Bernardo.

Alvarez is different. He isn't as reliable in possession, but has way more desire and energy than Mahrez.
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Those are all games at the end of the season.

Simple. Against Leipzig (first Leg), Mahrez scored the only City goal and was MOTM. In the second half of that game, Leipzig dominated and Pep saw that the right side needed more defensive solidity as Leipzig dominated. Right after that, Pep put Silva in the right side to bring more defensive solidity. Since then, it has been Silva as RW til the end. So, the simple answer is: defensive duty.

Mahrez does not have a strong physical body to play as defender (he does what he can) but no one matches his attacking skills on the right wing. He has scored against Cheslsea, Liverpool, Tooteenham, Sevilla, Leipzid, ...

Don't forget that his G+A in all comps is better than those of Foden and Silva this ending season.
 
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HelloCity said:
Because Bernardo is better and in better form.

This idea that a younger player could just fill in the gap left by Mahrez is nonsense and what would lead to our squad becoming much weaker. This is a player who is consistently within our top performers for G/A. If you want a player to play back up to a better right winger (Bernardo) then you aren't going to get better than Mahrez. People overlook this when they judge people on whether they should start or not. Not a huge starting key player but very important to our squad quality.

Keep in mind that if Bernardo goes as well then losing Mahrez on top of that would be a huge blow to our squad and leave the right hand side of our attack requiring a ton of money to bring back up to the same level, and from what I can tell, there aren't many good right wingers available.
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Fair points.

Disagree about the reason Bernardo was selected slightly though - I'd say it was mainly the increased workrate and ability to influence from a deeper position centrally as well, while Mahrez is always under instructions to stick out on the touchline. I think Bernardo played himself into form, but wasn't necessarily in it when picked over Mahrez initially.

We managed without a centre forward for a season though. It's not always about replacing like for like. As people have pointed out there aren't many RW options available to buy, I just feel we have the players to cope. And then we can buy when/if the better option appears and is available.

Any of our young players mentioned could do a job against the likes of Everton, Luton, Wolves etc.
 
Constantine said:
Those are all games at the end of the season.

Simple. Against Leipzig (first Leg), Mahrez scored the only City goal and was MOTM. In the second half of that game, Leipzig dominated and Pep saw that the right side needed more defensive solidity as Leipzig dominated. Right after that, Pep put Silva in the right side to bring more defensive solidity. Since then, it has been Silva as RW til the end. So, the simple answer is: defensive duty.

Mahrez does not have a strong physical body to play as defender but no one matches his attacking skills on the right wing. He has scored against Cheslsea, Liverpool, Tooteenham, Sevilla, Leipzid, ...

Don't forget that his G+A in all comps is better than those of Foden and Silva this ending season.
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Agree with you on all of that. :-)

Just think that we'd find a way to cope, it's what we (or more specifically Pep) do.
 
Del_Bosque said:
If he goes fair play but he’ll need replacing with proven high quality not McAtee, Palmer or Bobb
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The replacement should be Bernardo IMO. Bernardo as a full time winger to replace him. Reckon Pep will love Kovacic, so we’ll probably see Foden out wide as well (my guess is 50/50 in midfield and out wide). Bernardo and Foden as the primary options, and then Bobb and McAtee as backup options. Apart from Rodrygo and Saka, who’s not available, I don’t think there is a single RW on the market that would be a significant upgrade on what we already have and be a starter right away.

Cherki and Olise would be good options, but would be prospect signings and I’m not sure they’d be a much better option than Bobb/McAtee. Would make more sense to sign a midfielder if Mahrez goes IMO
 
HelloCity said:
Replacing a player like Mahrez is a lot harder than people think. You won't buy a player as good as Mahrez right now just to sit on the bench that's for sure. Yeah, he's frustrating at times but he's also a good option when we need to change things up.

If we were to lose Bernardo as well then we'd be struggling badly on the right.

Alvarez is brilliant in the middle, decent in attacking midfield and completely unproven on the wing, while Palmer didn't progress last season and looked a bit like a 'random youth player on the wing' type.
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The problem we have Mahrez doesn't want to sit on the bench I think he wants to go no smoke without fire pep will always rotate his players there doesn't seem like there's many options out there
 
Looks more like Jack to me. Moves around a lot more with the ball, often in a horizontal fashion. Makes sense that pep likes him.
 
Dribble said:
Agree with everything up to this point, but I want to point out Riyad is 1 in 4 for assists & 1 in 3 for goals since coming to City.

We can't jump off a cliff edge without adequately replacing this level of output, but from whom?

Several of us have put forward many different names with no clear consensus on which younger player could replace Mahrez with no drop off in skill & team contribution.

Also, we shouldn't forget how desperate he was to come here. He went on strike & made it absolutely clear he only wanted City, unlike others we've been interested in who've jumped at other competing offers when the chance arose like Maguire, Cucurella etc...

Like Walker, Riyad has another two seasons left at the very top, & I think we should seriously be using that time to find another Mahrez-like player to eventually replace him.

He'll go down as one of the most underrated City players of all time imo. I can't see what the benefit of £40m is to City, if we're losing a player of this calibre with his level of goals & assists.

We'd be better off keeping him until his contract is up... )(
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I'm not concern free his stats don't lie it's a great output that isn't easily replaced, we simply have to adapt to those we can't easily replace there's always a danger we come unstuck, even without his output Mahrez's first touch is as good as anyone I've seen in a City shirt too.

I'm not sure whether Foden will play wide right or centrally next season, but he has the capability to match those numbers from the right and I'm hoping that Phil, Bernardo (if he stays) and Alvarez can cover adequately for Mahrez, while also allowing for some kids to be bled in when the others are needed centrally or up top.

We always want players who are desperate to join and fully committed, Riyad was fully determined to join and although he'd be missed... I reckon after our summer spend is over, we'll have the senior players to fall back on anywhere, mainly because our squad versatility is bettered by nobody thanks to Pep.


We've faced similar obstacles when replacing Silva or Yaya or Tevez or Aguero or even Sterling, questions always arise how will we replace them and others at the back like Fernandinho or Kompany, none of us were totally sure who was going to replace all those or what they brought to us leadership wise tactically or their output.

Now we're all wondering who will replace Gundogan, plus maybe Bernardo or Mahrez or Walker too in case any of those decide to leave, it'll be the same with De Bruyne too when his time comes as he might go down as our greatest ever player.

They're all seemingly irreplaceable with what they bring they all have unique skill sets, none of them easy to replace but we rarely directly replace our former stars, we usually try to adapt the best we can without them, we've done well before so I'm confident in our ability to adapt to whatever problems we could face, if we lose Mahrez as with others in the past I'm confident that Pep will find a way without him.

I'm sure Pep and Txiki are working hard together to prevent any troubles potentially occurring, I've got total faith in our management to again come up with the right solutions.
 
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Keeper! said:
FFS was and still is a quality player.

His first touch is one of the greatest I have ever seen on ANY player to have played the game.
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Totally true.

Right up there with the best I'd say Bergkamp probably has the best touch in Prem history, at least from the players I grew up watching..

Riyad's touch though really is sublime, one of the very best in the the Prem era and full stop during my lifetime, he's got crazy good technique the way he can just trap a ball.
 
Delphinho said:
Can play centrally as well. Here’s some highlights from the PL2 derby last season, playing in the David Silva role. Kid is destined for greatness
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looks brilliant. Even shades of Sane in the way he turns and carries the ball on the left. Very excited. Hopefully get to see him in the first team.
 
Kinkladze's crazy skills said:
I not concern free his stats don't lie it's a great output that isn't easily replaced, we simply have to adapt to those we can't easily replace there's always a danger we come unstuck, even without his output Mahrez's first touch is as good as anyone I've seen in a City shirt too.

I'm not sure whether Foden will play wide right or centrally next season, but he has the capability to match those numbers from the right and I'm hoping that Phil, Bernardo (if he stays) and Alvarez can cover adequately for Mahrez, while also allowing for some kids to be bled in when the others are needed centrally or up top.

We always want players who are desperate to join and fully committed, Riyad was fully determined to join and although he'd be missed... I reckon after our summer spend is over, we'll have the senior players to fall back on anywhere, mainly because our squad versatility is bettered by nobody thanks to Pep.


We've faced similar obstacles when replacing Silva or Yaya or Tevez or Aguero or even Sterling, questions always arise how will we replace them and others at the back like Fernandinho or Kompany, none of us were totally sure who was going to replace all those or what they brought to us leadership wise tactically or their output.

Now we're all wondering who will replace Gundogan, plus maybe Bernardo or Mahrez or Walker too in case any of those decide to leave, it'll be the same with De Bruyne too when his time comes as he might go down as our greatest ever player.

They're all seemingly irreplaceable with what they bring they all have unique skill sets, none of them easy to replace but we rarely directly replace our former stars, we usually try to adapt the best we can without them, we've done well before so I'm confident in our ability to adapt to whatever problems we could face, if we lose Mahrez as with others in the past I'm confident that Pep will find a way without him.

I'm sure Pep and Txiki are working hard together to prevent any troubles potentially occurring, I've got total faith in our management to again come up with the right solutions.
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With Silva we had a ready made replacement in Silva. Different but nearly equally as effective. The same can be said of Fern/Rodri.

The ones we didn't replace in time were Kompany & Aguero. For Aguero we mended & made do using a false 9 for a couple of seasons. For Kompany we suffered as I predicted we would. Dias proved a brilliant alternative & luckily Stones got his head sorted, managed his injuries & came into his own last season. They key to our backline was the £15m we spent on Akanji! What a bargain!

Personally, I don't see the point in taking unnecessary chances. Why not shelve the reported £40m offer & continue to use Mahrez until we definitely have his successor either bought or promoted from the EDS, but properly bedded in as we did with Rodri & Fern? It makes perfect sense to me mate.

As for Foden, I think we can pretty well guess he'll be playing centrally next season. We won't reportedly see KDB until October-ish anyway, & with question marks over Bernardo AGAIN, Kev's longterm physicality, I think Phil's served a brilliant apprenticeship & it won't be a problem for us where he's concerned next season.

Yes, we can shift players around & start squeezing square pegs in round holes, but I personally think it better we have an evolution, not a revolution. I suppose we'll find out soon enough as the season starts & progresses.
 
Constantine said:
According to you, most academy forwards can do what Mahrez does. You can say this on Bluemoon. You would be laughed at if you say it somewhere else.
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But we aren't just anyone else for anyone else someone like Mahrez would be playing.

mattcity5 said:
Okay, let me ask you a question. Why didn't Mahrez get selected to start in any of the following games towards the end of last season?

Arsenal at home, 4-1
Bayern at home, 3-0
Bayern away 1-1
Real away 1-1
Real home 4-0
united cup final 2-1
Inter CL 1-0.

The biggest games.

Not sure where I said most academy forwards could do what Mahrez does? I'm not saying Mahrez isn't good, this isn't about that. He just isn't key, I don't see how anyone can deny that. He wasn't picked in the biggest games, he played in lesser games towards the end of the season. Something other younger talented players could manage.

There are games he has a big impact in, but if City don't think Palmer could get to that level with regular games, then there's no point persisting with him, we may as well sell him now.

Foden could certainly do well there as did Bernardo.

Alvarez is different. He isn't as reliable in possession, but has way more desire and energy than Mahrez.
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The fact we could leave Riyad out of those games doesn't mean he's any lower quality to others we have, it's down to our quality in more forward areas we're truly blessed up top.

If Mahrez was at Bayern during his City stay he'd be held up in similar reverence to Ribery or Robben, his best strengths are literally like a mixture of both players best qualities, they'd have absolutely loved him at Bayern he'd have been a constant in their selections.
 
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Dribble said:
With Silva we had a ready made replacement in Silva. Different but nearly equally as effective. The same can be said of Fern/Rodri.

The ones we didn't replace in time were Kompany & Aguero. For Aguero we mended & made do using a false 9 for a couple of seasons. For Kompany we suffered as I predicted we would. Dias proved a brilliant alternative & luckily Stones got his head sorted, managed his injuries & came into his own last season. They key to our backline was the £15m we spent on Akanji! What a bargain!

Personally, I don't see the point in taking unnecessary chances. Why not shelve the reported £40m offer & continue to use Mahrez until we definitely have his successor either bought or promoted from the EDS, but properly bedded in as we did with Rodri & Fern? It makes perfect sense to me mate.

As for Foden, I think we can pretty well guess he'll be playing centrally next season. We won't reportedly see KDB until October-ish anyway, & with question marks over Bernardo AGAIN, Kev's longterm physicality, I think Phil's served a brilliant apprenticeship & it won't be a problem for us where he's concerned next season.

Yes, we can shift players around & start squeezing square pegs in round holes, but I personally think it better we have an evolution, not a revolution. I suppose we'll find out soon enough as the season starts & progresses.
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That's always the risk we have to take it pays off more often than not, even when it doesn't work like in Kompany's case it's usually quickly remedied.

With that particular case though I feel it was mostly out of our hands, Kompany left quite out the blue (no pun intended) to player/manage his boyhood team... I think that possibly caught us really off guard and we weren't fully prepared to replace him with anyone second rate, it was kind of last minute we expected him to be here longer unlike the others where we were fully prepared.

I do get your point he's a fantastic player Riyad with very high qualities, he won't be easy to replace but we're constantly evolving, Pep might think the defensive demands needed by our new system might not be to his strengths, that's not to say he didn't work hard tracking back a few times last season once it was implemented.

Pep though is a ruthless manager if he's sensed that we can move Riyad on I trust that judgment, personally I'm torn but I think that he might want players with more energy to quickly win the ball back... Like Phil or Bernardo or Alvarez they don't have the numbers Mahrez does, what they bring off the ball might be the deciding factor for Pep, I'm not saying it's defo the case but he's ruthless and that's why he's the best.

We should just be careful not to lose Gundogan Bernardo and Mahrez in the same summer window, this could be a serious problem but if we keep Bernie another year to cushion the blow I'm happy, if not we definitely need at least one more high quality midfield signing.

Only time will tell where our players will play next season but I can see a lot more evolving, a few surprises with chopping and changing thanks to our really versatile squad, especially with KdB potentially out a while but it'll be a good test for the lads early on.
 
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