Ballotelli

[Ted Hughes]

I'd really drop it now mate if I were you as, whatever your motives, you are beginning to come across as patronising and superior.

i'm sure you read the thread and after this comment I did offer up an apology. I'm being genuine in everything I say here, and I do believe that racism is a huge problem. And I do believe that there are other factors at work behind the treatment of balotelli beyond his attitude. It just doesn't fit.

"casual racism" and good ole boy mentality go a long way ...

I don't expect balotelli to get special treatment because of his situation, be it good or bad. Right now he is receiving a whole lot of negative treatment from all sides, for reasons that I can't see.

as regards RSC: he got nowhere near the hatred that mario is getting. RSC was never an object of hatred for anyone, he was just became a joke. No matter what he did or didn't do, there were plenty of people who believed he could come good given the chance. Even the people who didn't think he would come good never hated him, they just laughed at him and blamed Hughes. It's not RSC's fault for his injury record after all. No mention of the fact that when he did play he never looked like doing much of anything ... but there is hatred for balotelli.

Plenty on here despised RSC & were downright nasty about him. You're assuming City fans exist only on an internet forum though, there are many many thousands who actually go to watch football matches, where a percentage of them would slaughter RSC for missing the target even in the warm up & some would shout abuse at him for the slightest miscontol in a game, even if the bloke next to him was doing it twice as much. One wrong touch brought screams of abuse, people standing up near me telling him to fuck off etc.

Balotelli doesn't get one tenth of the shit RSC got, in fact I've not heard him get any whatsoever in my area, most people seem to like him quite a lot & find him amusing. That will change if he behaves like a twat & costs us, but either way; your whole premise is wrong.

More importantly, does anyone know; can he play v Aris or does the 'concussion' type thing mean he has to miss the game?

[Slim]

I'd really drop it now mate if I were you as, whatever your motives, you are beginning to come across as patronising and superior.

And that's my job.

[BadKompany]

[More importantly, does anyone know; can he play v Aris or does the 'concussion' type thing mean he has to miss the game?

He is in the squad and available.

[kinkylola]

they made it out to be quite bad when it happened ... and it looked rough, but i'm glad it's not a concussion because that could have ended his season. Concussion are no joke.

[Slim]

I don't want to get into the racism side of this argument cause it's silly to even make that assumption and really shows the low opinion of your fellow blues to go there so quickly. Flipping the coin over, one could argue that anyone defending him, myself included, is doing so only because he is black. I think under the definition that would be racism as well, but then we get into murky waters where people will get offended and I think lola if you haven't already, a bit of a blanket apology and we leave it at that, sound fair?

However, the reason I am defending him is because he is obviously talented, I was the first to point out that his attitude was god awful and IBH(fuck Beeks, he is a pussy, bring back IBH) made a point that reminded me of Drogba during his first season and how he seemed to fall over if the wind changed, generally stomped his feet and had a tanty right out there on the pitch. He was obviously talented as well and after he settled in at Chelsea was probably one of the finest centrefowards to ever play in the league. So I thought I would give him time to settle in, see if he can turn himself around like Drogba and then my god, what a player we would have.

There is every possibility I am wrong on this, he could just be a petulant twat with a horrible attitude and a god complex that will never change. Certainly Mancini didn't put up with this in Robinho and while he is Bobby's signing and will undoubtedly get more time than a player he inherited, I have no doubt that should Balo not get it together, he will be shipped in similar fashion and more likely end up on the same team as Robinho. For now...time, in a year or so we will see.

[Beanieboy]

I'm black and if you are not you will NEVER be able to understand racism PERIOD.

Sorry to say this mate, but i'm not black and i kind of find that a racist remark in itself, i understand racism to be :
•Discrimination or prejudice based on race
•The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability

*p.s Lola, does this make me racist now for picking out this post?

[Alioune DVToure]

I'd really drop it now mate if I were you as, whatever your motives, you are beginning to come across as patronising and superior.

And that's my job.

Quite!

[Ted Hughes]

[More importantly, does anyone know; can he play v Aris or does the 'concussion' type thing mean he has to miss the game?

He is in the squad and available.

Cheers. I always look forwrd to the possibility of him playing as I know he can do something special at any moment.

Agree with Slim; Balotelli has everything he needs to be an absolute world beating player but it's always possible he could cock it up. Now isn't the time to be making those judgements about him though.

[sandman]

I'm black and if you are not you will NEVER be able to understand racism PERIOD.

Sorry to say this mate, but i'm not black and i kind of find that a racist remark in itself, i understand racism to be :
•Discrimination or prejudice based on race
•The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability

*p.s Lola, does this make me racist now for picking out this post?

I find the most rascists people are often the people who bang on about it. I cant stand watching will smith because he never shuts up about it.

I dont notice the colour of his skin until he starts banging on about it. And he does it far too much.

[Bingo Lewis]

I'm a massive racist, but I always find it hard to be racist towards black men coz they've all got massive cocks.
I just pick on the asians and the jews.

[john68]

Slim,
My doubt about Mario is not about his talent, nor the job he can do for us. You don't get the Ballon D'or if you are not at the top of your game...That is understood.
I go back to a word used at the start of our project...DYNASTY...To me, that suggests building something that is as permanent and as long term as football allows. In the last couple of seasons we have gone through massive changes in our playing list. Do you not think that at some point we should be looking for some stability and a more settled long term squad to take us forward?

Silva, Tevez, Johnno, Mario and Dzeko are potentially a formidable strike force that needs a little more time to settle. If any of those were to leave, it would be a step backwards and inhibit opur progress.

[john68]

For those who insisted on bringing racism into this thread,
I agree that racism, like many other isms is wholly detestable in any of its forms. Racism should be wiped from the face of the World,not only football and I don't think you would find many on here that would disagree.
However, while racism was endemic in football for many years, I have not encountered it in any of its forms at City for a long time, with regard to any City player. Over the years we have had many black players, some have become legends and heroes and some we would rather forget.
Do not mistake fair criticism of a player's ability, no matter what his colour or creed, as racism. As I said, racism is wholly detestable and if you upturn enough stones, you may find some. But please don't look for it where it doesn't live.

IT IS NEITHER ALIVE NOR WELL AT CITY.

[Alioune DVToure]

For those who insisted on bringing racism into this thread,
I agree that racism, like many other isms is wholly detestable in any of its forms. Racism should be wiped from the face of the World,not only football and I don't think you would find many on here that would disagree.
However, while racism was endemic in football for many years, I have not encountered it in any of its forms at City for a long time, with regard to any City player. Over the years we have had many black players, some have become legends and heroes and some we would rather forget.
Do not mistake fair criticism of a player's ability, no matter what his colour or creed, as racism. As I said, racism is wholly detestable and if you upturn enough stones, you may find some. But please don't look for it where it doesn't live.

IT IS NEITHER ALIVE NOR WELL AT CITY.

Hahaha - that's got to be the strangest turn of phrase of all time!

[Tru_Blu]

I'm black and if you are not you will NEVER be able to understand racism PERIOD.

Sorry to say this mate, but i'm not black and i kind of find that a racist remark in itself, i understand racism to be :
•Discrimination or prejudice based on race
•The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability

*p.s Lola, does this make me racist now for picking out this post?

Ok Here let me make it easy for everyone to understand how i can make this kind of statement.

Lets say your an border officer(of any race) in any one of the worlds countries, you see someone from a distance whats the most obvious identifier of ethnicity from say 100 yards. I would say skin color. This simple fact alone puts people of dark skin at a disadvantage. Because of my dark skin you may have already drawn conclusions that i am a black man from 100 yards away. Now lets say next to me is a pale skin person. The same officer could not easily identify his ethnicity, so he may wait till the individual is 50 yards away before he can say whether he was spanish, white or asian. Basically I'm saying no matter how i dress up this body just from the color of my skin i get judge where as anyone of pale skin get the benefit of the doubt until they dig a little deeper

[Beanieboy]

I'm black and if you are not you will NEVER be able to understand racism PERIOD.

Sorry to say this mate, but i'm not black and i kind of find that a racist remark in itself, i understand racism to be :
•Discrimination or prejudice based on race
•The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability

*p.s Lola, does this make me racist now for picking out this post?

Ok Here let me make it easy for everyone to understand how i can make this kind of statement.

Lets say your an border officer(of any race) in any one of the worlds countries, you see someone from a distance whats the most obvious identifier of ethnicity from say 100 yards. I would say skin color. This simple fact alone puts people of dark skin at a disadvantage. Because of my dark skin you may have already drawn conclusions that i am a black man from 100 yards away. Now lets say next to me is a pale skin person. The same officer could not easily identify his ethnicity, so he may wait till the individual is 50 yards away before he can say whether he was spanish, white or asian. Basically I'm saying no matter how i dress up this body just from the color of my skin i get judge where as anyone of pale skin get the benefit of the doubt until they dig a little deeper

ok, this shit has gone way too far off topic

[aaron bond]

I'm black and if you are not you will NEVER be able to understand racism PERIOD.

Sorry to say this mate, but i'm not black and i kind of find that a racist remark in itself, i understand racism to be :
•Discrimination or prejudice based on race
•The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability

*p.s Lola, does this make me racist now for picking out this post?

Ok Here let me make it easy for everyone to understand how i can make this kind of statement.

Lets say your an border officer(of any race) in any one of the worlds countries, you see someone from a distance whats the most obvious identifier of ethnicity from say 100 yards. I would say skin color. This simple fact alone puts people of dark skin at a disadvantage. Because of my dark skin you may have already drawn conclusions that i am a black man from 100 yards away. Now lets say next to me is a pale skin person. The same officer could not easily identify his ethnicity, so he may wait till the individual is 50 yards away before he can say whether he was spanish, white or asian. Basically I'm saying no matter how i dress up this body just from the color of my skin i get judge where as anyone of pale skin get the benefit of the doubt until they dig a little deeper

Are you saying all Spanish, White and Asian people look the same???

Bit racist isn't it???

[Arjan Van Schotte]

Ok Here let me make it easy for everyone to understand how i can make this kind of statement.

Lets say your an border officer(of any race) in any one of the worlds countries, you see someone from a distance whats the most obvious identifier of ethnicity from say 100 yards. I would say skin color. This simple fact alone puts people of dark skin at a disadvantage.

disadvantage? only if the person spotting you thinks it's to your disadvantage to be black

Basically I'm saying no matter how i dress up this body just from the color of my skin i get judge where as anyone of pale skin get the benefit of the doubt until they dig a little deeper

your saying that everyone who happens to notice that you're black therefore automatically thinks "less" of you in someway? and by the way - i've lived for years in the caribbean and africa and my blond hair stands out a bit!

don't get me wrong - am not one of those that's listened to a bit of peter tosh and thinks that i "understand" - coz i'm sure i don't. but it looks to me like you must have had some pretty poor encounters with people if you're assuming that everyone you've met is thinking "ey up - here comes a black man, watch out".

coz they're not.

[john68]

THAT IS AN UTTER LOAD OF CODSWALLOP AND TRIPE. ffs STOP PLAYING THE FUCKING MARTYR BY CONSIDERING THAT EVERYONE WHO SEES A BLACK SKIN GETS SOME NEGATIVE VIBE ABOUT IT.

1...Why is being identified by a border officer or anybody else for that matter, as having a dark skin disadvantagious?
You are making a massive and wrong assumption that anyone who sees a dark skinned man, will think negatively about him, simply because of his dark skin. That is abject shite and nonsense.
I spend most of my time sat on taxi ranks, either watching the World in all its shades walk by or putting passengers of wevery hue onto my back seat. It is very insulting to me that you should consider i make any negative judgements, based solely on skin colour.

2...Your 2nd point about identifying the origins of either black or white is also as plainly daft. That man has a white skin colour, so he could be from one of many nations, may be correct, but have you considered that being dark skinned could mean that you also could come from one of many nations and cultures. Black is NOT a NATION, nor is it a CULTURE. So how the fuck would it be possible to identify what nation or culture that dark skinned man was from?

3...Why do you assume that people of a skin colour which is not dark do NOT get judged? Why do assume that dark skinned people ALWAYs get judged and that judgement isd ALWAYS negative.

Your post says more about your personal issues than the reality of life.
...and no I am not a racist, I don't give 2 fucks what colour skin you or anyone else has. You could be green, pink, purple or peuce and yellow fucking polka dots. My judgement is on the stupidity of your post NOT your skin colour.

[london blue 2]

I'm black and if you are not you will NEVER be able to understand racism PERIOD.

Sorry to say this mate, but i'm not black and i kind of find that a racist remark in itself, i understand racism to be :
•Discrimination or prejudice based on race
•The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability

*p.s Lola, does this make me racist now for picking out this post?

Ok Here let me make it easy for everyone to understand how i can make this kind of statement.

Lets say your an border officer(of any race) in any one of the worlds countries, you see someone from a distance whats the most obvious identifier of ethnicity from say 100 yards. I would say skin color. This simple fact alone puts people of dark skin at a disadvantage. Because of my dark skin you may have already drawn conclusions that i am a black man from 100 yards away. Now lets say next to me is a pale skin person. The same officer could not easily identify his ethnicity, so he may wait till the individual is 50 yards away before he can say whether he was spanish, white or asian. Basically I'm saying no matter how i dress up this body just from the color of my skin i get judge where as anyone of pale skin get the benefit of the doubt until they dig a little deeper

how does darnell fit this equasion?

[Arjan Van Schotte]

and to go back to kinkylola's point. in my very honest opinion, the subject of racism is a very different thing in the UK than it is in the US. in my experience, attitudes are very different.