The Riyad Mahrez Appreciation Thread

[SJN-Fox]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...iverpool-arsenal-january-window-a8155551.html

 

[H T B]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...iverpool-arsenal-january-window-a8155551.html

Does that actually say anything that we didn't already know.
Journalism (!!!!) Easy money.

 

[bloo]

Does that actually say anything that we didn't already know.

Well I didn't know this....

There is no desire to sell the player now – asides from N’Golo Kante, the club has a strong record of standing firm in the face of buyers’ interest

...and here was I thinking that there was little we could do about Kante going because of the release clause in his contract.

When they (journalists) get stuff like that wrong you have cause to doubt the entire article.

 

[H T B]

The only strong record of not selling, iirc, is not selling muzzy to middlesboro. That was only because of the money he was on at the time.
Everyone else has either gone or got a better contract ! ( I'm old enough to be cynical)

 

[Jimmy Lad]

Apparently awesome again today from what I heard (I haven’t seen it). IMO he is on the same level as Sanchez, Hazard etc. It’s only because he plays for Leicester that he’s not talked about in the same breath.
For Leicester he is priceless. Probably worth £100m but we’ll no doubt end up with £40m odd.
I have it from a good source that he has bought a house in London so we’ll see what’s going on. Hope it’s nothing imminent but I’m not holding my breath.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Chelsea would be the only attraction down there if he wants the CL.

 

[Lako42]

Chelsea would be the only attraction down there if he wants the CL.

Stamford Bridge offered the most pathetic atmosphere other than Man Utd and possibly Arsenal yesterday.

It was eerily silent as the players were read out and then no ****er joined in with that tragic dreary old song they play before the kickoff.

I would hate to see him playing for them entitled, tourist wankers.

 

[glyn]

I have it from a good source that he has bought a house in London so we’ll see what’s going on. Hope it’s nothing imminent but I’m not holding my breath.

The Times said yesterday he has moved to somewhere outside Milton Keynes.

If we get anything less than £75m in the current market we will have been robbed. If he played for a big 6 team they’d be demanding 100.

 

[Blaarev]

So he’s got one house in Leicester, one in Liverpool, one in London and one in Milton Keynes. Bloody property speculant twat!

 

[Micky]

Over 2 years left on his contract. For me he is better than Coutinho. Over £100 million gets him.

 

[glyn]

So he’s got one house in Leicester, one in Liverpool, one in London and one in Milton Keynes. Bloody property speculant twat!

Apparently sold his house in the “Leicestershire countryside”

 

[Brown Nose]

So he’s got one house in Leicester, one in Liverpool, one in London and one in Milton Keynes. Bloody property speculant twat!

He's probably bought a house to accommodate an agent in every major City.

 

[bloo]

I hear he's building an airstrip too...

 

[harrowfox]

I hear he's building an airstrip too...

I read that as airship. Now there's an idea

 

[Blaarev]

http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...-league/11210878/transfer-target-riyad-mahrez

 

[bloo]

He's growing as a player isn't he? There is a maturity to his recent displays. He might become our Messi yet.

 

[H T B]

He's growing as a player isn't he? There is a maturity to his recent displays. He might become our Messi yet.

Starting to link up with Silva quite nicely.

 

[bloo]

Starting to link up with Silva quite nicely.

Yes, that's what I was seeing. Iborra too. Almost like we'd started playing a different kind of football. There was some lovely interchange in the 2nd halve, Okazaki too joining in. Quick, short passes. I was seeing Mahrez start to shine in another way; someone that would learn from the experienced footballing heads of both Silva and Iborra and become something more than the tricky wizard when the ball was at his feet. That kind of composed movement was something we've not really seen before, neither from Mahrez nor as a team. In time, I think. Mahrez will learn how to take up good positions, look for the ball, get involved and dictate play in a manner that he hasn't done before.

Of course, this all should have started happening 18 months ago but we are where we are. It's perhaps taken Puel to shift towards it, aided by a couple of experienced heads in Iborra and Silva. Tbh, and without disrespect, I don't think Shakespeare was capable of that kind of a shift in thinking. Ranieri perhaps was but not allowed to go there, by chicken wedges and over privileged senior players. Whatever, that's all history.

I do think we're starting to see something new. I reckon we'll hang on to Mahrez in this window whilst he bides his time to see where we go, because it looks promising for him as a platform for his talents to grow. Then, in the summer, I reckon there's a chance he'd stay whilst he develops further and begins to assert his talents on the game, and direct its flow. Once he adds that ability (and he's a confident and talented guy, so I think he both can and will) then maybe his dream move will be on. I really do think that, as I say, we are the platform for him to be able to achieve that.