Balotelli then.

[Blue2]

I love Balotelli. If I ever found myself hating him, I'd have to give up watching football.

Agree 100%. I like Mancini and have backed hime all the way, but I think his reaction by subbing him was a bit OTT. Shoul have waited until half time.

[Moonchesteri]

he's a bit prone to making himself look like a twat but he's still alright in my book - was only a friendly

I agree.

But please let's just move on now, it wasn't that big deal.

[ashton287]

I love Balotelli. If I ever found myself hating him, I'd have to give up watching football.

Agree 100%. I like Mancini and have backed hime all the way, but I think his reaction by subbing him was a bit OTT. Shoul have waited until half time.

It might have been over the top in your eyes. But balo is like a child and mancini has to come down hard on him whenever his twattyness or what could easily be perceived as twattyness comes out.

It's basically a naughty child not getting the benefit of the doubt anymore. Balo can stomp up the stairs and slam his door all he wants but sooner or later he will learn to behave.

My opinion is he thought he was offside but mancini did what he needed to do and if it was harsh or unfair the only person balotelli has to blame is himself, im sure if it was milner mancin would of asked him wtf he was playing at when half time came.

[Ted Hughes]

I don't think many people are suggesting we hang him upside down & pour petrol over him, then stand there smoking a cigar.

Just that it was total crap in every way, disrespectful, unprofessional, not funny & not very well executed & Bob was right. He's made his point & we move on.

[Tokyo Blue]

It was obvious from the reaction of Dzeko, that the offside story is bullshit. It's an excuse brcause he's realised he fucked up. You see players do that all the time when they miss open nets etc. Mancini is dead right on this & those of you who can't see it are living in the old world where these things were a jolly piss up. If you're going to do that, you do it when you're 5_0 up & there's 5 to go. It went down like a sack of shite with most of the worlds football fans who saw it. That's not because they're killjoys, it's because they saw it for what it was; shite.

And if it had come off and he had scored it, would you, along with billions of others apparently, be giving him so much grief then?

I suspect not.

It's a pre-season friendly. If he does it at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League semi, then yeah, be miffed. Against some fucking no-mark American team with the ever-respectful-to-Manchester-City david beckham in it, I really couldn't give a shite.

Ultimately Balotelli is a City player and he won't get better for being screamed at by fuckwits, who are of course all perfect. Eh.

[pepsi_dave]

I love Balotelli. If I ever found myself hating him, I'd have to give up watching football.

Think you have just helped me hit the nail on the head re: Balo... I know he's a dick at times, but I find him such an entertaining character... would love for him to be at City long enough to be our mad genius!

[Hazy2]

It was obvious from the reaction of Dzeko, that the offside story is bullshit. It's an excuse brcause he's realised he fucked up. You see players do that all the time when they miss open nets etc. Mancini is dead right on this & those of you who can't see it are living in the old world where these things were a jolly piss up. If you're going to do that, you do it when you're 5_0 up & there's 5 to go. It went down like a sack of shite with most of the worlds football fans who saw it. That's not because they're killjoys, it's because they saw it for what it was; shite.

Balo needs to have the team ethic thing slapped into him, for me Dzeko gets a goal from Balo's set up and who knows Edin starts to love Balo for the pass, score lots of goals we love Edin, Balo has the thought process of no big deal, no goal for us,Edin's thinking you are tossing of goal ops as though taking the piss is OK I need goal you prick even you think fuck it who gives a shit,

Not the same thing but I thought Silva was almost guilty of taking the piss against Stoke, clean through he wanted to check back score after making mugs of the defenders, difference is no stick, Balo is not Silva, so he gets major stick for this and that is Mancini's to sort out as he knew Balo is eccentric to say the least. Teams win league not 1man johnies.

[Wonderwall]

I love Balotelli. If I ever found myself hating him, I'd have to give up watching football.

Think you have just helped me hit the nail on the head re: Balo... I know he's a dick at times, but I find him such an entertaining character... would love for him to be at City long enough to be our mad genius!

unpredictable with fantastic skill, if Mancini and his own team mates havebnt got a clue whats coming next, then god help the opposing managers in trying to plan on how to handle him.

[Dazzacity]

Chill out !! it was only a poxy friendly!! Im sure he wouldnt have done it in a game that actually had some meaning. Everyone would be kissing his arse if he pulled it off. Fair play for trying something different.

[Ted Hughes]

It was obvious from the reaction of Dzeko, that the offside story is bullshit. It's an excuse brcause he's realised he fucked up. You see players do that all the time when they miss open nets etc. Mancini is dead right on this & those of you who can't see it are living in the old world where these things were a jolly piss up. If you're going to do that, you do it when you're 5_0 up & there's 5 to go. It went down like a sack of shite with most of the worlds football fans who saw it. That's not because they're killjoys, it's because they saw it for what it was; shite.

And if it had come off and he had scored it, would you, along with billions of others apparently, be giving him so much grief then?

I suspect not.

It's a pre-season friendly. If he does it at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League semi, then yeah, be miffed. Against some fucking no-mark American team with the ever-respectful-to-Manchester-City david beckham in it, I really couldn't give a shite.

Ultimately Balotelli is a City player and he won't get better for being screamed at by fuckwits, who are of course all perfect. Eh.

If it had gone in I'd have been saying 'it's a fucking good job that went in or he'd have made a right cunt of himself in front of evrybody' . It didn't go in.

Anyone can attempt to be a smartarse in a friendly game & almost succeed. Usually it happens in testimonials involving veterans like Frank Worthington though, not full strength practice games.

By the way, who is screaming at him other than DeJong & Mancini? They are fuckwits?

[avoidconfusion]

In my opinion, this is a complete non story.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I would love to know what our owners think of this latest Balotelli episode?

They want us to become a world name and brand but surely for the right reasons.

[dazby]

Having just watched it, it's a storm in a teacup. He's obviously thought the play had stopped.

[Ted Hughes]

Having just watched it, it's a storm in a teacup. He's obviously thought the play had stopped.

Tbf, after everything I've said, I've just seen it on a better monitor & I now think you could be right!


Apologies to Mario & everyone!

Now I know why people like RH are constantly making twats of themselves.

I need beer or something stronger.

[The Foggy Blue]

He thought he was offside.

As some like to say: "end of"

[ant london]

Having just watched it, it's a storm in a teacup. He's obviously thought the play had stopped.

Tbf, after everything I've said, I've just seen it on a better monitor & I now think you could be right!


Apologies to Mario & everyone!

Now I know why people like RH are constantly making twats of themselves.

I need beer or something stronger.

Thank god for that....as one of those who normally talks sense I was shocked at your initial appraisal.

You almost got a bit of the old abuse!

[ryanmjo]

I too think he thought he was offside. Still, why go half speed? No problem attempting a silly backheel, but at least look like you're trying.

[colonel_muck]

Fucking hell if you ask me mancini has way over- reacted even by taking him off. He's just trying a little bit of skill it's a friendly for fuck sake.

[ant london]

it's ok......Balotelli now has full backing of Sir Joseph of Huyton

Elsewhere, Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the incident.

He wrote: 'Mario Balotelli is fully off his barnet... from now on am referring to him as "The Renegade"... he amuses me greatly with his antics.'

Later he added: '"The Renegade" is definitely mentally unstable, some of his stunts are the ultimate in lunacy. How do u manage such a complex person??'

In another tweet, he said: 'Am genuinely worried that "renegade" might harm himself if this perverse behaviour, is not addressed. He needs understanding not undermining.'

[Redna]

Properbly Balo thought he was caught offside and Bobby overreacted. I see Balo as an orphan that finaly have come to a firm foster father (Bobby) that will guide the kid to a succesfull future.
CTID!!