Riyad Mahrez trial at St Mirren

[neil7908]

I totally missed this story but apparently he had a trial at St Mirren when he was a teenager:

https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-transfers-weird-the-story-of-riyad-mahrezs-failed-trial-at-scottish-side-st-mirren-20210505.amp.html

And we wonder why Scottish football is in such a state.

[Andy74]

I totally missed this story but apparently he had a trial at St Mirren when he was a teenager:

https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-transfers-weird-the-story-of-riyad-mahrezs-failed-trial-at-scottish-side-st-mirren-20210505.amp.html

And we wonder why Scottish football is in such a state.

What does this have to do with Scottish football being ‘a state’?

He was away from home, he was freezing in the snow and didn’t fancy hanging around. He goes in to say he developed and improved with the experience.

[Speedy]

What does this have to do with Scottish football being ‘a state’?

He was away from home, he was freezing in the snow and didn’t fancy hanging around. He goes in to say he developed and improved with the experience.

He scored 7 goals in 4 games and they pissed about debating whether to make an offer.

[neil7908]

What does this have to do with Scottish football being ‘a state’?

He was away from home, he was freezing in the snow and didn’t fancy hanging around. He goes in to say he developed and improved with the experience.

It's pretty clear to me if you read the article that it wasn't his talent that's the issue:

"It went well. I played four friendlies and I scored seven goals - I killed them. And then they made me wait for two-and-a-half months."

In Scotland we still favour physicality over ability. Its less than 4 years since the national team manager blamed our players being too short for not qualifying for international tournaments. Maybe things have changed but I'm not sure.

[neil7908]

He scored 7 goals in 4 games and they pissed about debating whether to make an offer.

Yeah I thought that was pretty clear.

[Andy74]

He scored 7 goals in 4 games and they pissed about debating whether to make an offer.

He was a teenager who then went on to start in the French fourth division.

That’s an incredible amount of hindsight needed to see it as a big deal and certainly to be a reflection of Scottish football.

Quite common I’d have thought for plenty goals to be scored at that age and level so the 4 in 7 doesn’t really count for too much.

[calumhibee1]

I totally missed this story but apparently he had a trial at St Mirren when he was a teenager:

https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-transfers-weird-the-story-of-riyad-mahrezs-failed-trial-at-scottish-side-st-mirren-20210505.amp.html

And we wonder why Scottish football is in such a state.

:agree:

Mind they were apparently close to signing Ronaldinho as well!

[Hibby70]

:agree:

Mind they were apparently close to signing Ronaldinho as well!

I remember when they signed Victor. Be lucky to get the one from Still Game these days.

[MWHIBBIES]

I totally missed this story but apparently he had a trial at St Mirren when he was a teenager:

https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-transfers-weird-the-story-of-riyad-mahrezs-failed-trial-at-scottish-side-st-mirren-20210505.amp.html

And we wonder why Scottish football is in such a state.

I don't wonder. See it all the time on here that a majority favour and judge players on physical qualities. Energy, drive etc rather just being a genuinely good footballer. I see centre backs being called too slow. We brand good technical players show pony's. It's troglodyte stuff.

Football is played in the brain. Technical and mental quality is far more important than running about smashing into folk. Physical sides always have a ceiling, technical passing ones don't. The ones who can mix clever, efficient running, pressing, tackling with keeping the ball, stretching the game, controlling it etc are the best sides.

That's not to say physical quality isn't important btw, it is undoubtedly. The best players have it all. But mental and technical quality is more important.

[H18 SFR]

Their GOAT signing has to be Mark Yardley.

[CJHibby]

The Mahrez story should be commonplace for a club like Hibs. We need to dig out hidden gems and I personally think the continent/North Africa for technical and Scandinavia for defensive players would be my seach radar.

[JDT]

Didn't St Mirren also trial Ronaldinho and deem him not good enough or is that urban legend?

[Hibernian Verse]

Didn't St Mirren also trial Ronaldinho and deem him not good enough or is that urban legend?

They tried to sign him when his Gremio contract expired. A year later he scored that free-kick against David Seaman. Fair play to them for trying!

[calumhibee1]

They tried to sign him when his Gremio contract expired. A year later he scored that free-kick against David Seaman. Fair play to them for trying!

In my head it was a work permit related signing. Would have been on loan from PSG or something along those lines?

[SHODAN]

They probably thought he was too wee. That's the classic line.

[Saint Hibee]

Surely this is just Mahrez's agent spinning stuff to get him a trial at a proper big team like Hearts?

[Irish_Steve]

Don`t be daft - as if the Fartz would take a St Lie Down player

[bingo70]

He scored 7 goals in 4 games and they pissed about debating whether to make an offer.

St Mirren wouldn’t have had an infinite amount of money to just buy everyone they want to. Obviously in hindsight it looks like a crazy decision but maybe at the time they never had the money to sign him and other players that were of a bigger priority to them.

The fact it took so long maybe means they were trying to finance a deal, possibly by shipping a player out but just didn’t manage it.

Or of course it could just mean that Scottish football is ***** of course 😔

[Billy Whizz]

Their GOAT signing has to be Mark Yardley.

He was a great signing for them. Now got a street names after him, in the houses on the old Love St land