Riyad Mahrez

[Pizy 18,368]

5 minutes ago, the wes said:

Forget this guy Sanchez or B.sliva can take us to the next level in the CL not Mahrez 

Sanchez is probably impossible for us. Their fans would riot in the streets of Wenger sold him to Chelsea.

Bernardo has to be our top choice but we'll likely have tons of competition from around Europe. Mahrez is the perfect fallback option.

[Beigl 1,387]

39 minutes ago, Jason said:

He is. I mean apart from last season, what other notable things has he really done - be it with Leicester or one of his former clubs? The last thing we want now is to buy another mid-tier player - as we already have some in the squad - when we should get top-tier players.

The same could have been said about Kante a year ago.

[Jase 43,479]

2 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Sanchez is probably impossible for us. Their fans would riot in the streets of Wenger sold him to Chelsea.

Well, Wenger did sell Van Persie to Man United. So...

2 minutes ago, Beigl said:

The same could have been said about Kante a year ago.

True but then you could argue that Kante has proved last season's form was no fluke. But Mahrez? I know Leicester have struggled this season but he's done nothing to suggest he's the real deal. And is he really better than what we have now?

[Pizy 18,368]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

Well, Wenger did sell Van Persie to Man United. So...

True but then you could argue that Kante has proved last season's form was no fluke. But Mahrez? I know Leicester have struggled this season but he's done nothing to suggest he's the real deal. And is he really better than what we have now?

That's true, but making them relive that sort of nightmare would be too much I think. Though, we did them a favor and gave them Cech so perhaps we have some good will in the bank. 

[Beigl 1,387]

14 minutes ago, Jason said:

Well, Wenger did sell Van Persie to Man United. So...

True but then you could argue that Kante has proved last season's form was no fluke. But Mahrez? I know Leicester have struggled this season but he's done nothing to suggest he's the real deal. And is he really better than what we have now?

No not at all, I think we have some other options to consider before thinking about Mahrez like Bernardo Silva or Sanchez. 

[LAM09 6,744]

Forget this guy Sanchez or B.sliva can take us to the next level in the CL not Mahrez 

Only plus about getting him would be his price tag compared to the other two. Sanchez would be the best fit despite him being older.

[Dahnald 256]

Right now, I label Mahrez as a one-season-wonder in my book because he's a shadow of his former self from last season. 

But that could be because of the problems at Leicester surrounding Claudio and other things. Basically like us last season and to be fair, Hazard was pretty much like Mahrez is right now. Maybe Antonio can get him back to his peak form. 

No doubt Leicester will sell him, they even have to sell as I think he wants to leave. I don't know. We need a winger and I think Sanchez joining us is not happpening so. I'd spend a lot of cash on Bernardo Silva I guess. Don't trust Mahrez. 

[mashimaru161 77]

Has anyone watched him this season. Is he actually better than willians or pedro? At least Will can shoot and take free kich while the other guy can plays as a supporting striker.

[the wes 7,212]

2 hours ago, mashimaru161 said:

Has anyone watched him this season. Is he actually better than willians or pedro? At least Will can shoot and take free kich while the other guy can plays as a supporting striker.

Zaha has hada better season than Mahrez this season if we want to challenge for the CL  we need to sign a top notch signing the like of Sanchez or B. Sliva would do

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

He's still a skillful player who can help us albeit from the bench... He doesn't make our starting XI better and truly that should be our aim.

[robsblubot 3,502]

he is a good player, but a bit like Willian. We already have that... we need players to give us an edge against other top sides. Mahrez isn't it.

[coolhead23 1,146]

Decent player with decent technique ... but this season pulled down all the momentum for him. He didnt really get going when it went down just like our players last season. Hence I dont see him at Chelsea atleast till Conte is there ... He demands a lot from his players. 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

He was cought on camera praising Chelsea.

 

Isco or Griezmann if we realy want to improve that right side. 

If those two aint possible, Pedro is allright until someone is available.

I dont rate Sanchez that much, while Mahrez had poor season and could either turn good or bad. Lemar wants to stay in Monaco.

Silva is good to, but for that quoted price we can try Griezmann instead and add few more millions.

[El P. 1,354]

I don't see this guy as an upgrade to Pedro, tbh.

[Special Juan 27,421]

This would be so underwhelming, Pedro has performed at levels Mahrez produced last season in the last few months and not just that but Pedro has worked immensely hard on and off the ball too.

[Pizy 18,368]

23 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

This would be so underwhelming, Pedro has performed at levels Mahrez produced last season in the last few months and not just that but Pedro has worked immensely hard on and off the ball too.

I love Pedro, but Mahrez was insane last season and on a completely different level. While I agree that Mahrez wouldn't be a large upgrade on what we already have, I still think he'd be a great signing if the likes of Sanchez and Bernardo aren't possible. Like Hazard, he has the ability to dribble past a defender (or 2 or 3) at will. He's a nightmare to mark. That's super valuable for a side that'll be up against a lot of parked buses next season.

Mahrez could be great value for £25-30m when compared to the likes of Sanchez/Bernardo/James etc who would be minimum £50m probably.

[Jase 43,479]

17 minutes ago, Pizy said:

I love Pedro, but Mahrez was insane last season and on a completely different level. While I agree that Mahrez wouldn't be a large upgrade on what we already have, I still think he'd be a great signing if the likes of Sanchez and Bernardo aren't possible.

That's the thing - it was last season and it was only ONE season. Are we really sure what Mahrez did last season was his true ability and not just a complete freak? You said he was on a completely different level but I would argue that how many of the other teams last season played to their true level? Not discrediting any good Mahrez did last season but at the same time, he was good because the other players didn't play to their true level.

26 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Like Hazard, he has the ability to dribble past a defender (or 2 or 3) at will. He's a nightmare to mark.

Okay, Mahrez has decent dribbling skills but let's not make like he's another Hazard because he's not that good. Ask any defenders out there who would they rather mark - Mahrez or Hazard - and I'm certain everyone would say Mahrez. And if Mahrez is really as good as you're trying to make him out to be, why hasn't he been talked on the same level as Hazard?

28 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Mahrez could be great value for £25-30m when compared to the likes of Sanchez/Bernardo/James etc who would be minimum £50m probably.

If you put it from a financial perspective, then obviously Mahrez could be of great value at just £25-30m. But if we want to dominate the league, compete against the very best in Europe again, then we have to get the top-tier players, players who can actually improve and make us better and that means spending big money for them. The last thing we want now is to repeat the blunders of 2010 and 2015 again, when we became stingy, bought duds and ended up with a poor season.

On top of that, there's plenty of good factor around the club now - just won the league, Conte being in charge, there's a strong unity in the dressing room, have Champions League again etc - and if we don't take advantage of that to get the top tier players this summer (especially when we seem to be the No.1 attraction in England right now, ahead of City and United), then we might live to regret that. And getting those kind of players will also help to persuade the ones that we have now - e.g. Courtois, Hazard - to stay for the long term.

[Special Juan 27,421]

3 minutes ago, Jason said:

That's the thing - it was last season and it was only ONE season. Are we really sure what Mahrez did last season was his true ability and not just a complete freak? You said he was on a completely different level but I would argue that how many of the other teams last season played to their true level? Not discrediting any good Mahrez did last season but at the same time, he was good because the other players didn't play to their true level.

Okay, Mahrez has decent dribbling skills but let's not make like he's another Hazard because he's not that good. Ask any defenders out there who would they rather mark - Mahrez or Hazard - and I'm certain everyone would say Mahrez. And if Mahrez is really as good as you're trying to make him out to be, why hasn't he been talked on the same level as Hazard?

If you put it from a financial perspective, then obviously Mahrez could be of great value at just £25-30m. But if we want to dominate the league, compete against the very best in Europe again, then we have to get the top-tier players, players who can actually improve and make us better and that means spending big money for them. The last thing we want now is to repeat the blunders of 2010 and 2015 again, when we became stingy, bought duds and ended up with a poor season.

On top of that, there's plenty of good factor around the club now - just won the league, Conte being in charge, there's a strong unity in the dressing room, have Champions League again etc - and if we don't take advantage of that to get the top tier players this summer (especially when we seem to be the No.1 attraction in England right now, ahead of City and United), then we might live to regret that. And getting those kind of players will also help to persuade the ones that we have now - e.g. Courtois, Hazard - to stay for the long term.

Brilliantly put Jase.