Balotelli's Attitude

[Plain Speaking]

The interesting question is imo who will partner Aguero against scum next Sunday? Dzeko or Balotelli. Imo Balotelli has shown in the past few games that he deserves a start there, he's the in form striker of the two.

How about all 3 !

IMO Mancini would be happy with a draw and will start quite cautiously with one striker, possibly Balo because he is ineligible for Tuesdays CL? I think at some point Balo and Dzeko will swap and if Utd are ahead he will bring Aguero on.

[lyons07]

if shrek had scored that MOTD would be wanking themselves stupid

did you hear the commentator?

'oh and Balotelli HOOKS it in'

There's none of this 'what a spectacular overhead kick, one of the goals of the season so far'

It was a nice goal, but Milner's goal was by far better and, rightfully so, they were drooling over that goal. That initial pass by Milner, my fucking god...

I am so pleased Milner is getting his chance to play and is taking this with both hands. Two goals already. I like Milner and I hope to see him play more often. He's a great player.

I was using it as an example of what he COULD of said, I agree milners was a far better goal

[DoomMerchant]

if shrek had scored that MOTD would be wanking themselves stupid

did you hear the commentator?

'oh and Balotelli HOOKS it in'

There's none of this 'what a spectacular overhead kick, one of the goals of the season so far'

It was a nice goal, but Milner's goal was by far better and, rightfully so, they were drooling over that goal. That initial pass by Milner, my fucking god...

I am so pleased Milner is getting his chance to play and is taking this with both hands. Two goals already. I like Milner and I hope to see him play more often. He's a great player.

Realistically, Milner could make himself the player who plays on all the big days. Can't really see him being left out next weekend, can you? Milner instead of Samir prollee in my mind. Hard to say tho...selection issues abound for our Roberto ahead of next week. It's good to be a City fan.

cheers

[bigblue]

Seems like his attitude is great now. Hes in the zone and can't wait for him to line up this weekend:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ity-united

Mario Balotelli has established himself as Manchester City's very own chameleon but he is determined to stop changing with quite such bewildering frequency. An at times brilliant striker capable of rivalling the world's best believes that growing maturity and increasing faith in a once troublesome right knee will banish his hallmark inconsistency.

"The real Mario is coming now and it isn't the same Mario as last year," says a 21-year-old anxious to eradicate an infuriating penchant for constantly blowing hot and cold. "This year it's going to be better, I hope. It has to be better. Last year, because of my injury, I couldn't play at the top but I train good now and I feel good and that's how it should be always. I'm getting better all the time. It's four in four [goals in as many games] now and I hope to God it will be five in five [at Manchester United on Sunday]."

A notable recent reduction in both Balotelli's mood swings and form oscillations stems partly from a significant improvement in a knee which, following surgery early last autumn, hampered him for months. "With the injury I wasn't sure about myself or my body," he says. "Like with tackles, I didn't do them because I wasn't sure about myself. This year I feel more free."

Such liberation is not confined to that formidable 6ft 2in physique. By calling an apparent halt to the self-destructive scrapes which studded his induction to Manchester life, Balotelli has become if not exactly serene, appreciably more content than before.

"This is down to me; it's me that changed my life," he says. "I don't live in town any more. I'm outside now so it's more quiet. I try to stay at home more. Maybe I'll stay in now with my family, my brother or girlfriend. It's quieter now but also I am growing up. Everything is getting better. If last year I missed home so much, maybe now I miss it a little bit less. I'm OK now, I'm good. I'm happy – the only problem in England is the weather."

If having his adored family around him helps, this new-found emotional equilibrium is further enhanced by the enduring strength of Balotolli's bond with Roberto Mancini. The pair first developed an ostensibly unlikely chemistry at Internazionale and the City manager's loyalty to his protege has, at times, well exceeded the call of duty.

"With Mancini I feel very comfortable. I've known him a long time and he's a good manager," says Balotelli. "He believes in me. Even when no one in England believed in me, he did. And he kept on believing. I want to do something important here with him."

It is a desire fuelled by personal ambition. "At Inter I was top of the table," says Balotelli. "Last year we were second. That was the first time in my life I was second. For me it's normal to be top of the table. That's where I want to be."

He is not merely talking domestically. "We could be the best in Europe," enthuses an unusually versatile forward evidently undaunted by Barcelona's omnipotence. If that sounds like a potentially hollow boast, Balotelli underpins this bold prediction with sound logic based on the extraordinary strength in depth of Mancini's squad.

"We have many good players who are broadly at the same level, some a little bit more or a little bit less," he says.

"The level is high and that's good. There are not many teams like this. It doesn't matter who plays; we can win. And we have so many players who can come on and change games."

Along the way City have become much more fun to watch, with Balotelli's renaissance emblematic of Mancini's increasingly inventive attacking directives. Suddenly enjoying himself on the pitch, he has, tellingly, lost the urge to throw darts in the direction of youth team players, tour Moss Side or make unauthorised visits to women's prisons.

Undeterrred, City fans still relish serenading him with a gloriously irreverent tribute to past controversies.

"Oh Balotelli, he's a striker," they sing. "He's good at darts, an allergy to grass but when he plays he's fucking class, he drives around Moss Side with a wallet full of cash." The object of their affection appreciates the joke. "I like it, it's funny," he says. "It's the best song I've had sung to me."

Further renditions will be in order should he score at Old Trafford. "I think we can beat them," he says. "I think it will be a lot of fun – and soon United v City will be the biggest derby in the world."

[Bridge'srightfoot]

In the semi last season, he held the line by himself superbly in such a big game and he was a large part of why we won that day. He needs to play on Sunday, he's the type of player who thrives in big games.

[Bluebananas]

<null>

It was fuckin brilliant wasn't it

[freshie]

With the form that Milner and Balotelli are in they both have to start at the swamp on Sunday

[southaustralianblue]

balo will score

[Tony P]

And celebrate with a firework.

[Beefymcfc]

Mario Balotelli's house set on fire as he shoots fireworks from window

• Police and fire crews called to house at 1am on Saturday
• Mario Balotelli and friends using fireworks in bathroom

Mario Balotelli's remarkable capacity for self-inflicted problems resurfaced on the eve of the Manchester derby when he had to escape from his burning house after a fire caused by letting off fireworks in the bathroom in the early hours ofSaturday morning.

Balotelli escaped unhurt but will be summoned to see Roberto Mancini to explain the latest moment of madness in his chequered career. City have been contacted by the fire service and Mancini will want to know what Balotelli was doing putting himself in such a position before their biggest match of the season.

Two fire crews using breathing apparatus put out the flames after being called to Balotelli's house just before 1am on Saturday to deal with what has been described as "a substantial fire" on the first floor. The property, in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, sustained serious fire and smoke damage and the police were also called – in part to ensure Balotelli did not go back into the house. The striker is said to have been reluctant to leave his belongings and, at one point, to have run back inside to recover a quantity of money and a suitcase.

A police spokesman said: "At just before 1am on Saturday we were called to a report of a house fire at a residential home in Mottram St Andrew. Police provided assistance to Cheshire fire and rescue service as well as ensuring residents were accounted for and there was no danger to surrounding properties. At this time, the cause of the fire is being examined by fire investigators and the police. However, it is not thought to be suspicious."

Balotelli checked into a Manchester hotel and took part in training as normal at 10am. He has told club officials he and four friends were setting off fireworks through an open window. The bathroom towels set fire and the blaze quickly spread. Balotelli has claimed that one of his friends had set off the firework. That, however, is unlikely to spare him a reprimand from Mancini and a reminder that City's management staff would have expected him to be asleep at that time rather than endangering himself to the possibility of serious injury.

A statement from the fire service said: "Four breathing apparatus and two hose reel water jets were used to deal with the fire and a large fan was used to clear the smoke from the property. Crews managed to put the fire out within half an hour of arriving but remained at the scene until 2.45 am to prevent any possible flare-ups. Smoke alarms were fitted at the property and the occupiers were able to get out unharmed. The fire was caused by a firework."

The incident comes at a bad time for Balotelli after Mancini's recent statements about noticing a "big improvement" in the player's behaviour. Balotelli has scored in his last four games and a major part of City's pre-derby training has been set up around him getting behind United's defence.

Mancini said on Friday that he hoped Balotelli was "changing his mentality" and putting behind him the controversies that have accompanied since he signed from Internazionale for £25m last year.

Balotelli has established himself as one of the more controversial figures in English football, his list of misdemeanours including an internal investigation after he was seen throwing darts at youth-team players.

Balotelli was substituted in the first half of a pre-season match in Los Angeles after he was given a simple chance to score and tried to back-heel the ball into net, missing the target entirely. Yet he insisted in an interview in the past few days that he was growing up and would steer clear of controversy before, during and after the derby.

He has recently moved from Manchester city centre and said he was living in the countryside for a quieter life.


Ooooooooo, Balotelli, he's a striker, good at darts,
Has an allergy to grass but when he plays he's fucking class,
Sets his bath on fire with a Rocket from his arse.

Oooooooo, Balotelli....................................

[Tony P]

He is John Belushi reborn.

[kinkylola]

really hope bobby doesn't take it too far and bench him for the derby. I think he is fine form, and a good frame of mind on the field. Have a chat with him and the old "don't let it happen again" and let's end it.

I do like this story though.

[freshie]

Just when I thought that he was changing and keeping himself out of the front pages he pulls a stunt like this. I think we're just going to have to get used to the fact that he is not going to change and to expect stories like this to regularly appear in the papers. Having said that, I'd still start him tomorrow.

[Beefymcfc]

Just when I thought that he was changing and keeping himself out of the front pages he pulls a stunt like this. I think we're just going to have to get used to the fact that he is not going to change and to expect stories like this to regularly appear in the papers. Having said that, I'd still start him tomorrow.

I was thinking that, not so sure now. And that's the part that pisses me off.

[Exiled]

Oooooooh Balotelliiii
Firestarterrrr
He's good at darts
.....
......
....

[Dameerto]

"...a large fan was used to clear smoke from the property." I've got visions of a fat git in an overly tight Kun Aguero shirt wafting the smoke out of the bathroom window.

[CTID Hants]

Mario Balotelli's house set on fire as he shoots fireworks from window

• Police and fire crews called to house at 1am on Saturday
• Mario Balotelli and friends using fireworks in bathroom

Mario Balotelli's remarkable capacity for self-inflicted problems resurfaced on the eve of the Manchester derby when he had to escape from his burning house after a fire caused by letting off fireworks in the bathroom in the early hours ofSaturday morning.

Balotelli escaped unhurt but will be summoned to see Roberto Mancini to explain the latest moment of madness in his chequered career. City have been contacted by the fire service and Mancini will want to know what Balotelli was doing putting himself in such a position before their biggest match of the season.

Two fire crews using breathing apparatus put out the flames after being called to Balotelli's house just before 1am on Saturday to deal with what has been described as "a substantial fire" on the first floor. The property, in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, sustained serious fire and smoke damage and the police were also called – in part to ensure Balotelli did not go back into the house. The striker is said to have been reluctant to leave his belongings and, at one point, to have run back inside to recover a quantity of money and a suitcase.

A police spokesman said: "At just before 1am on Saturday we were called to a report of a house fire at a residential home in Mottram St Andrew. Police provided assistance to Cheshire fire and rescue service as well as ensuring residents were accounted for and there was no danger to surrounding properties. At this time, the cause of the fire is being examined by fire investigators and the police. However, it is not thought to be suspicious."

Balotelli checked into a Manchester hotel and took part in training as normal at 10am. He has told club officials he and four friends were setting off fireworks through an open window. The bathroom towels set fire and the blaze quickly spread. Balotelli has claimed that one of his friends had set off the firework. That, however, is unlikely to spare him a reprimand from Mancini and a reminder that City's management staff would have expected him to be asleep at that time rather than endangering himself to the possibility of serious injury.

A statement from the fire service said: "Four breathing apparatus and two hose reel water jets were used to deal with the fire and a large fan was used to clear the smoke from the property. Crews managed to put the fire out within half an hour of arriving but remained at the scene until 2.45 am to prevent any possible flare-ups. Smoke alarms were fitted at the property and the occupiers were able to get out unharmed. The fire was caused by a firework."

The incident comes at a bad time for Balotelli after Mancini's recent statements about noticing a "big improvement" in the player's behaviour. Balotelli has scored in his last four games and a major part of City's pre-derby training has been set up around him getting behind United's defence.

Mancini said on Friday that he hoped Balotelli was "changing his mentality" and putting behind him the controversies that have accompanied since he signed from Internazionale for £25m last year.

Balotelli has established himself as one of the more controversial figures in English football, his list of misdemeanours including an internal investigation after he was seen throwing darts at youth-team players.

Balotelli was substituted in the first half of a pre-season match in Los Angeles after he was given a simple chance to score and tried to back-heel the ball into net, missing the target entirely. Yet he insisted in an interview in the past few days that he was growing up and would steer clear of controversy before, during and after the derby.

He has recently moved from Manchester city centre and said he was living in the countryside for a quieter life.


Ooooooooo, Balotelli, he's a striker, good at darts,
Has an allergy to grass but when he plays he's fucking class,
Sets his bath on fire with a Rocket from his arse.

Oooooooo, Balotelli....................................

Stood here absolutely pissing myself, if they had said " a City player" we'd all knew who it was :)

Any other player would let off steam, but Balo LOL.

Next home game we should come out to this... http://www.youtube.com/index?desktop_ur ... min5WkOuPw

[lyons07]

this is amazing (pending he doesn't get dropped) on the front and back of most papers today! love it

[RodneyRodney]

Love him more with every passing brainstorm . He is an utter NUTTER ! He and City were MADE for each other .
Perhaps he should change his name to Manuel
(. . .eez not fire, eez only BELL!!!!)

[Dameerto]

As Bob would say, "Eeez abnormal"