STUHILL Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Maybe a controversial topic to post after such a good win, but I think watching the team work so hard tonight has only highlighted the lack of work Mahrez does in defence and in a 4-4-2, it is pretty essential. He seems to half heartedly track back and even when in position, he will allow players to easily beat him and not track runners, so a 1-2 pass easily gets in behind as he won't follow his man. There were a few situations tonight I saw Simpson marking a player back post and an opposition player would then enter the box behind, and Mahrez would simply watch and not see the danger or see it and just not respond, I know he doesn't have the defensive abilities of a winger like Albrighton, but that doesn't excuse not tracking a man or marking someone. That's just effort, not ability. We allowed it last year, partly due to Kante but also because he was so important to us in attack as well. Even tonight though, he didn't contribute much in attack and I was hoping Gray would come on for him. He has become so predictable with his cut inside on his left. He does still have moments of magic in him, but I think most would agree, that Gray does too and looks far more capable of producing them at the moment. If we are sticking with a 4-4-2, I would start Albrighton on the right, and try Gray on the left. I think Gray works harder in defence and at the moment, offers more in attack too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tielemans63 Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Got to agree and it's not as though he contributed a great deal in attack either is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hazels shorts Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionheart10 Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynamark Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 He can do better but that going round the outside of the full back was just brilliant. Shaky had him out on the touchline tonight both sides just lurking and bang we were in good for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozwin Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 What are you talking about? I thought he had a decent game. We were playing Liverpool, a side with Mane, Coutinho, Lallana and Firminho all rotating and we made them look sub standard. He got back to help and got into some great positions up top too and ultimately we won 3-1. What more could you want? Liverpool are no chumps, it took a lot from everyone, Mahrez included, to make them look that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyJones Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Do you actually understand the game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry - LCFC Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 I thought he was improved tonight. I suspect if the team continues to perform we'll see something from him soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvisfmcfly Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Our worst player today.either drop him or play him on the left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgfualol Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Put in the pre-hull team that I would drop him for Gray but not that sure. Didn't think he was that bad today. He has put in a lot of defensive effort in this season considering he should be at the other end of the pitch. I just want to enjoy the last few games we will have with him in the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentatonic Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Seemed absent for much of the game, but had a hand in the third goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeGuy Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 I generally like your posts but have to completely disagree with you on this one. Kinda tired of hearing people asking from a flair player to defend like a work horse. He was on about 0 confidence when when it came to get rid of his defender and made some quite crappy passes tonight. But don't forget the third came from him as he ran like crazy to save an overhit cross from Vardy and then beautifully linked up with Fuchs. He should've got an assist if Drinky was a bit more precise. He didn't have a great game by his standards but still is way above Gray in terms of influence on the game and end product. And to the contrary to the myth on FT, Gray doesn't defend better as him. By a long shot. What he does need for a couple of games is benching though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecretPro Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 I'd leave him in for now, though he was much improved. Given the forward players Liverpool have, Mahrez lack of defensive abilities and only weighing about three stone I don't know what more you can ask of him defensively. He switched off a few times, but when he switches on again he's worth his place in the team, no doubt. He was instrumental in the third goal. He's looked sub standard this season because going forward we have been non existent. We know he isn't great defensively but that's all he's been doing all season. Hopefully now we are getting the ball forward quickly he will have more freedom to produce the magic that he is capable of. Game changing magic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HybridFox Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Agree with this. Was infuriating to watch at times when the whole team was putting in a shift and he simply let men run past him. On another day, we'd be punished for it. He's always been a laid back guy but this is the highest level now, Shakey really needs to emphasize this to him. I don't know what work goes on at the training ground but his game certainly needs work on. I'm hoping the emergence of Demarai Gray can drive up some competition for places. But to do that they've got to drop Riyad imo. The team comes first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEnglandFox Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Decent for the 3rd goal but other than that tried to over complicate things. I'd prefer Gray right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARTY_FOX Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Stopped a few crosses from coming in today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeGuy Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 18 minutes ago, TK95 said: Agree with this. Was infuriating to watch at times when the whole team was putting in a shift and he simply let men run past him. On another day, we'd be punished for it. He's always been a laid back guy but this is the highest level now, Shakey really needs to emphasize this to him. I don't know what work goes on at the training ground but his game certainly needs work on. I'm hoping the emergence of Demarai Gray can drive up some competition for places. But to do that they've got to drop Riyad imo. The team comes first Lol, he was actually laid back and still PFA at the highest level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUHILL Posted 27 February 2017 Author Share Posted 27 February 2017 3 minutes ago, BoyJones said: Do you actually understand the game? I understand that in Gray I think we get a player who is offering more in attack right now and also works harder in defence. Starting Gray also means we can have Albrighton on the right, which I think is his best position. I thought we were great tonight. I just saw some warning signs when Mahrez didn't track his man or didn't spot or react to potential danger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadno'r Cymoedd Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 I thought he failed to track back enough this evening. He had some nice attacking touches especially the 2nd Vardy goal. But needs to up his efforts defensively. Hopefully he will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claridge Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 17 minutes ago, STUHILL said: Maybe a controversial topic to post after such a good win, but I think watching the team work so hard tonight has only highlighted the lack of work Mahrez does in defence and in a 4-4-2, it is pretty essential. He seems to half heartedly track back and even when in position, he will allow players to easily beat him and not track runners, so a 1-2 pass easily gets in behind as he won't follow his man. There were a few situations tonight I saw Simpson marking a player back post and an opposition player would then enter the box behind, and Mahrez would simply watch and not see the danger or see it and just not respond, I know he doesn't have the defensive abilities of a winger like Albrighton, but that doesn't excuse not tracking a man or marking someone. That's just effort, not ability. We allowed it last year, partly due to Kante but also because he was so important to us in attack as well. Even tonight though, he didn't contribute much in attack and I was hoping Gray would come on for him. He has become so predictable with his cut inside on his left. He does still have moments of magic in him, but I think most would agree, that Gray does too and looks far more capable of producing them at the moment. If we are sticking with a 4-4-2, I would start Albrighton on the right, and try Gray on the left. I think Gray works harder in defence and at the moment, offers more in attack too. Knob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vacamion Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 Coulda had a pen if he'd gone down after skinning their defender. He's capable of brilliance. You can't have a team full of Albrightons, just as much as you can't have a team full of Mahrezes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkyrobot Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 There were times when he had 4 men marking him. Stick with him, he's class. That Drinky chance was down to a bit of Mahrez magic. He'll score against hull I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattCan Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 4 minutes ago, elvisfmcfly said: Our worst player today.either drop him or play him on the left. Right. Make him follow Ranieri steps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torten Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 He'll pick up, I'm sure. He did show glimpses of his class today, especially when he rounded Can with such acceleration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpe's Fox Posted 27 February 2017 Share Posted 27 February 2017 I was thinking this before the third goal. Then I realised I'd said the same thing all last year until he did something amazing. That skill to get the ball to Fuchs was top class and had it been Albrighton in that situation, as good as he was tonight, it probably would have been a Liverpool thrown in instead of sealing the 3 points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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