Riyad Mahrez

[dagraham]

Have to say I'm amazed at some of the comments in here.

I can understand people worried about his work rate and concerns that he may have been a one season wonder, but "not good enough for Spurs" and comparing him to Sissoko .

It's all very well talking about Lemar and Costa, but I'd wager that they are pie in the sky ( and besides, neither of them have even played yet in the PL).

A bit of perspective needed. When we end up signing Barkley, Mahrez will suddenly seem like a quite a good signing indeed.

 

[tiger666]

A bit of perspective needed. When we end up signing Barkley, Mahrez will suddenly seem like a quite a good signing indeed.

Not sure why. Barkley out performed him last season.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Part of me kind of feels like whatever the hell happened at Leicester in 2015-16 was just some weird football anomaly. That includes their players actually, um, being good. Maybe I'm insane, maybe it was the PEDs, but I look at that unit and can't understand how those Bad News Bears of footballers won the league. And no, I'll never get over it.

Bringing it back to Mahrez. The guy is obviously a very silky footballer, and overall I do think he's a pretty good player. But my God, I can't see him being worth anywhere near what the supposed asking price is. Give me Hakim Ziyech if we want a player like Mahrez.

 

[dagraham]

Not sure why. Barkley out performed him last season.

Stats aren't everything. Leicester were always going to suffer this season after the miracles they achieved when they won the league.

Every time I've seen Mahrez since he's looked part of the general malaise of Leicester 16/17, but still with glimpses of the player the season before.

Every time I see Barkley I see a player with no composure in the final third and a lack of football intelligence.

I can see reasons why people would question Mahrez, but a lack of football ability isn't one. I think he'd thrive in our team and add a different dimension to what we already have.

 

[kitchen]

Part of me kind of feels like whatever the hell happened at Leicester in 2015-16 was just some weird football anomaly. That includes their players actually, um, being good. Maybe I'm insane, maybe it was the PEDs, but I look at that unit and can't understand how those Bad News Bears of footballers won the league. And no, I'll never get over it.

Bringing it back to Mahrez. The guy is obviously a very silky footballer, and overall I do think he's a pretty good player. But my God, I can't see him being worth anywhere near what the supposed asking price is. Give me Hakim Ziyech if we want a player like Mahrez.

Agree. Leicester winning the league was undoubtedly an anomaly. We can't afford to buy a player that has shown the sort of inconsistency that Mahrez has shown across 2 seasons. We need consistency if we're going to win a trophy.

Having said that, if Poch thinks he can make him consistent and the price is right it could be good business.

It's a gamble but we have to gamble because we can't afford the wages of finished products.

 

[tiger666]

Every time I see Barkley I see a player with no composure in the final third and a lack of football intelligence.

I keep hearing this. Even in Mahrez's wonder season, Barkley created more chances, key passes, pass completion last season. I'm not saying he's anything special, I don't particularity want Barkley either. But he doesn't lack "footballing intelligence".

 

[Bobbins]

Have to say I'm amazed at some of the comments in here.

I can understand people worried about his work rate and concerns that he may have been a one season wonder, but "not good enough for Spurs" and comparing him to Sissoko .

It's all very well talking about Lemar and Costa, but I'd wager that they are pie in the sky ( and besides, neither of them have even played yet in the PL).

A bit of perspective needed. When we end up signing Barkley, Mahrez will suddenly seem like a quite a good signing indeed.

Don't think anyone has compared him to Sissoko except someone who rates Mahrez?

Barkley is bang average and I'd avoid him like the plague, and no, neither of them are good enough for Spurs.

Would you want to sign a player who has never in his career, except in one complete anomaly of a season, got double figures for goals or assists including seasons spent in the travesty that is Ligue 2 and a year in the Championship?

 

[Lighty64]

Fair enough aside from the title winning year his stats are a bit mediocre. But I've a feeling he would do well in our team under Pochettino. Also I'd be more excited to bring him off the bench rather than Sissoko

that could be the problem though, would he want to join if he was sat on the bench too often.

 

[Hoddtastic72]

that could be the problem though, would he want to join if he was sat on the bench too often.

Hopefully with the champions league and squad rotation he would get plenty of opportunity to play. Our undoing this year has been the weakness of our squad overall. If we address this we must be considered one of the favourites for the title.

 

[Lighty64]

Hopefully with the champions league and squad rotation he would get plenty of opportunity to play. Our undoing this year has been the weakness of our squad overall. If we address this we must be considered one of the favourites for the title.

our weakness as you put it did cost us this season, but it doesn't mean we will definitely suffer the same amount of injuries this season coming.

at the moment we can only guarantee 46 fixtures, both Leicester and Chelsea won the league, and I would say at a guess they both used the least amount of players over the season. the only difference Chelsea had was getting to the final of the FA Cup, and going an extra round in the CoC compared to Leicester, but Chelsea rotated heavily in the FA Cup till the final, even against us they had Hazard and Costa start on the bench.

if Poch is going to rotate around cup matches we are going to need to get lucky in our opponents either side of our CL matches, and hope we don't suffer injuries.

at the moment if we were to sign Mahrez he would start on the bench, he will also most probably want to be receiving the same money as he was getting at Leicester, which would then mean having to boost every players wages up. if Levy ain't interested in giving players another pay rise this season after they all signed contracts early last season, he will have a lot of unhappy bodies paying Mahrez 100k for sitting on the bench

 

[Hoddtastic72]

our weakness as you put it did cost us this season, but it doesn't mean we will definitely suffer the same amount of injuries this season coming.

at the moment we can only guarantee 46 fixtures, both Leicester and Chelsea won the league, and I would say at a guess they both used the least amount of players over the season. the only difference Chelsea had was getting to the final of the FA Cup, and going an extra round in the CoC compared to Leicester, but Chelsea rotated heavily in the FA Cup till the final, even against us they had Hazard and Costa start on the bench.

if Poch is going to rotate around cup matches we are going to need to get lucky in our opponents either side of our CL matches, and hope we don't suffer injuries.

at the moment if we were to sign Mahrez he would start on the bench, he will also most probably want to be receiving the same money as he was getting at Leicester, which would then mean having to boost every players wages up. if Levy ain't interested in giving players another pay rise this season after they all signed contracts early last season, he will have a lot of unhappy bodies paying Mahrez 100k for sitting on the bench

The wages would be a problem I agree.

 

[Mr Pink]

Sincerely hope we're not interested. Sure he's got ability but character/attitude? Definitely not for me, downed tools like I've never seen before.

Pretty sure Poch places a lot of stock in attitude/mentality and I'd be amazed if he was on a genuine list of targets.

 

[ardiles]

Fair enough aside from the title winning year his stats are a bit mediocre. But I've a feeling he would do well in our team under Pochettino. Also I'd be more excited to bring him off the bench rather than Sissoko

In all probability, Sissoko would be sitting on the bench at another club next season and hopefully Mahrez too if his transfer fee is anything above £20m.

 

[Japhet]

Pro; Talent

Con; Turns up when he feels like it
Doesn't defend or work hard enough
100k wages and would most likely want more
Age
Terrible haircut (I'm scraping the barrel now).

 

[worcestersauce]

Sincerely hope we're not interested. Sure he's got ability but character/attitude? Definitely not for me, downed tools like I've never seen before.

Pretty sure Poch places a lot of stock in attitude/mentality and I'd be amazed if he was on a genuine list of targets.

I think this is it, Poch is all about the team and likes his players the same, Mahrez doesn't fit that profile.

 

[Mckenna88]

Weren't we linked with him prior to the start of last season? So Poch must have seen something in him then.

Also Leicester don't really press they sit and wait to counter so think it's a bit unfair to say he don't press as he may be told not too.

50m is way to much but as an option it's a no brainer at the right price

 

[tiger666]

Weren't we linked with him prior to the start of last season? So Poch must have seen something in him then

I'm not sure us being linked with a player means Poch has seen something in them.

 

[allatsea]

I'm not sure us being linked with a player means Poch has seen something in them.

Was the link even true ?

 

[tiger666]

Was the link even true ?

Well, that's it isn't it. We're linked to a lot of players. That doesn't mean Poch is interested in them, or even that the link has come from our side.

 

[klacey]

Our boys have so much passion for the game right now, Mahrez wouldn't fit, talented or not.