mario you got to love him

[john68]

I'm sorry Ant but I have to disagree Mate.
I am not buying into anyone's hysteria and certainly not the rag loving media, who I am certain would enjoy nothing more than to cause upset within our ranks.
Where he was and what he was doing there are almost irrelevent Mate. What is important is that he was not where he was supposed to be and not doing what he was supposed to be doing.
Mario was bought and is paid a shedload of money, to be a proffessional footballer and whilst I find his antics funny, he wasn't bought to be the village idiot or the club court jester.

[ant london]

I'm sorry Ant but I have to disagree Mate.
I am not buying into anyone's hysteria and certainly not the rag loving media, who I am certain would enjoy nothing more than to cause upset within our ranks.
Where he was and what he was doing there are almost irrelevent Mate. What is important is that he was not where he was supposed to be and not doing what he was supposed to be doing.
Mario was bought and is paid a shedload of money, to be a proffessional footballer and whilst I find his antics funny, he wasn't bought to be the village idiot or the club court jester.

John my friend....I can 100% see your point of view (ditto those of other John, Ted etc all set out above).

We'll have to agree to disagree as my view on this is that...yes there may be a rule around being home by midnight but insofar as Mario isn't drinking or doing anything else (bar being up late...which he could quite as easily done "without breaking rules" by being in his own house/at a friend's/not being spotted) which might affect his performance then I honestly don't have an issue with it and...furthermore.....I don't really think such a "rule" is worth the paper it is written on as it is so easy to flout and IMPOSSIBLE to police consistently without giving each player a minder who is with them 24/7.

I am certain that most members of the squad routinely break this rule.....and we don't get this furore. And for that reason alone this is all a crock of shit. I "get" everyone's points (including yours) but I just disagree.

[john68]

@ Ant,
"We'll have to agree to disagree"....and then you go on to argue your point? GERRARAVIT!!!! You're not getting away with that Mate. I disagree to disagree (erm...I think). Anyway....
The point you make regarding the futility of the rule and the impossibility of policing it is valid mate but that is not the issue for City.
We are aiming for the top...the very top...In fact we are actually aiming higher than that...we are aiming to dominate the top and be on top of the top...(you following this?...almost poetic!...fucl me, I'm good!!!).
In that very rarified atmosphere of ultimate champions, success and failure are minutely separated. There is not only a requirement of talent, skill, abilty etc, there is the requirement of determination, the will to be the best as well as DEDICATION. Without those latter factors, a player/team will never reach his/their potential.

It is to those levels that City are aiming and Mario just hasn't switched on to that yet.

Disagree with that yer tart...:-)...yerv got all day to do it,cos I'm fuclin off to bed....Luv n hugs.

[ant london]

hahahaha....I thought I might be able to get that by you. Sharper than you seem even at those advanced years Mr 68!

[Ted Hughes]

Tbh, I don't think anyone else in the squad would get away with it, not if they go where the general public are likely to see them. We saw what happened when Barry & Co went to a party during their time off. The media would be delighted to catch a few more out; they could then say the whole squad were a bunch of loose cannons.

If it's ok for Mario to do this & he is a just a good ol boy maverik who likes to flaunt rules, let him do it in Italy, when he's with the international team. Let's see how that works out.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Tbh, I don't think anyone else in the squad would get away with it, not if they go where the general public are likely to see them. We saw what happened when Barry & Co went to a party during their time off. The media would be delighted to catch a few more out; they could then say the whole squad were a bunch of loose cannons.

If it's ok for Mario to do this & he is a just a good ol boy maverik who likes to flaunt rules, let him do it in Italy, when he's with the international team. Let's see how that works out.

The media would indeed love to catch any City player out but Mario is the prize.I doubt there are enough photographers to go around all the players though as most will be on call for Mario and Carlos.It sounded like Mancini said what he said as it's the best way of moving onto something else plus it's important to say it for the rest of the squad to hear.

[Ted Hughes]

Tbh, I don't think anyone else in the squad would get away with it, not if they go where the general public are likely to see them. We saw what happened when Barry & Co went to a party during their time off. The media would be delighted to catch a few more out; they could then say the whole squad were a bunch of loose cannons.

If it's ok for Mario to do this & he is a just a good ol boy maverik who likes to flaunt rules, let him do it in Italy, when he's with the international team. Let's see how that works out.

The media would indeed love to catch any City player out but Mario is the prize.I doubt there are enough photographers to go around all the players though as most will be on call for Mario and Carlos.It sounded like Mancini said what he said as it's the best way of moving onto something else plus it's important to say it for the rest of the squad to hear.

Agree, good tactics by Bob.

With the number of phone cameras knocking about though, it doesn't need an official photographer to catch people, just someone to grass them up.

When Ferguson was on top of his game, he did actually have spies following the players about & once turned up at a party, to kick Giggs & Lee Sharpe out.

[King Kev]

I couldn't care less what Mario gets up to off the pitch - so long as it doesn't affect what he does on the pitch.

Unfortunately, yesterday I think we saw evidence that his late night did affect his game. If he was his usual sharp self he would have easily had a hat-trick yesterday.

I hope he is fined the maximum allowed as Bobby says and that he starts to behave in a more professional and respectful manner.

[Ted Hughes]

I couldn't care less what Mario gets up to off the pitch - so long as it doesn't affect what he does on the pitch.

Unfortunately, yesterday I think we saw evidence that his late night did affect his game. If he was his usual sharp self he would have easily had a hat-trick yesterday.

I hope he is fined the maximum allowed as Bobby says and that he starts to behave in a more professional and respectful manner.

I don't think it did affect him, but for all I know , you could be right & there lies the problem.

What if he'd missed an open net & bolton had won 1-0 ? Even if his night out had no effect whatsoever, the media & millions of football fans would be putting two & two together & if that cost us the title, Mario would be in the doghouse forever with many City fans.

This is how easily shit can go wrong & why it's wrong to suggest that Mario's off field actions are trivial.

[Blue Since 76]

I couldn't care less what Mario gets up to off the pitch - so long as it doesn't affect what he does on the pitch.

Generally agree, however, once you lay down a rule, be it regarding nights out or drinking or smoking or standard of dress on away days, it has to apply to everyone. Over the last few years we've indulged too many players because they were bigger than the club.

Those days have gone and it's time for Mancini to pick a set of rules and enforce them. Up to him what the rules are, but he has to be the one in charge - football isn't a democracy

[King Kev]

The Muppets on Sunday Supplement just asked, would Mario get away with it with Fergie.

A £240,000 fine is hardly 'getting away with it' is it?!

[Tokyo Blue]

... once you lay down a rule, be it regarding nights out or drinking or smoking or standard of dress on away days, it has to apply to everyone. Over the last few years we've indulged too many players because they were bigger than the club.

Those days have gone and it's time for Mancini to pick a set of rules and enforce them. Up to him what the rules are, but he has to be the one in charge - football isn't a democracy

That sums up my thoughts exactly. Nice one.

[Tokyo Blue]

The Muppets on Sunday Supplement just asked, would Mario get away with it with Fergie.

A £240,000 fine is hardly 'getting away with it' is it?!

The same fergie who let lee sharpe snort himself to oblivion.

Right.

[Ted Hughes]

The Muppets on Sunday Supplement just asked, would Mario get away with it with Fergie.

A £240,000 fine is hardly 'getting away with it' is it?!

The same fergie who let lee sharpe snort himself to oblivion.

Right.

Ten years ago Ferguson may have reacted in a draconian manner. Nowardays, his players miss drug tests, drink & smoke, shag their brother's wives etc etc & he does next to fuck all.

[Tokyo Blue]

The Muppets on Sunday Supplement just asked, would Mario get away with it with Fergie.

A £240,000 fine is hardly 'getting away with it' is it?!

The same fergie who let lee sharpe snort himself to oblivion.

Right.

Ten years ago Ferguson may have reacted in a draconian manner. Nowardays, his players miss drug tests, drink & smoke, shag their brother's wives etc etc & he does next to fuck all.

Why should he care? He'll be dead before the end of the season apparently.

[phips]

Very glad we fined him...he cant do shit like this.