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Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli believes he will need more games to adjust to English football, after starting his first Premier League game against Wolves on Saturday.

The Italian, who joined City for a reported £24 million in the summer, played the full 90 minutes in City’s 2-1 defeat away at Molineux at the weekend, and he admitted that he found it difficult to get used to a new style of football.

“It was difficult for me on Saturday because it was my first full game after all the injuries,” he told the club’s official website.

“Now I have to get as many matches under my belt as possible so I can understand the way the game is played here because it is very different from Italy.

“The tackles are harder and the referees don’t seem to blow very often for fouls – in Italy, when someone makes contact with you, it’s a foul, but that’s not the case in England.

“It was my first game and it wasn’t easy for me because I need to get to know my teammates on the pitch and understand their movement and that comes with time.”

The Italy international has high expectations of himself once he has adjusted to life in England.

“I want to be the best player in the world,” he said.

“It is good to have ambition. I’ve said in the past that I don’t care what other people want or expect of me because I know what I want.

“I will always give everything because I want to become the best. That is my aim and I am determined to make it happen.

“I am here at City to play Champions League football, that’s the competition I want to be in and that is what all the players here want to play in.”

However, after missing out on the fourth Champions League spot to Tottenham last season, City had to settle for competing in the Europa League this term.

Manager Roberto Mancini’s side face Polish club Lech Poznan in the group stage on Thursday night, and Balotelli is looking to progress in to the knockout stages of the competition.

“It is important we progress to the next stage,” he said.

“We are going to Poznan to win – but that is normal. We want to win every game we play. The quicker we guarantee a place in the round of 32 the better.”

Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli believes he will need more games to adjust to English football, after starting his first Premier League game against Wolves on Saturday.

The Italian, who joined City for a reported £24 million in the summer, played the full 90 minutes in City’s 2-1 defeat away at Molineux at the weekend, and he admitted that he found it difficult to get used to a new style of football.

“It was difficult for me on Saturday because it was my first full game after all the injuries,” he told the club’s official website.

“Now I have to get as many matches under my belt as possible so I can understand the way the game is played here because it is very different from Italy.

“The tackles are harder and the referees don’t seem to blow very often for fouls – in Italy, when someone makes contact with you, it’s a foul, but that’s not the case in England.

“It was my first game and it wasn’t easy for me because I need to get to know my teammates on the pitch and understand their movement and that comes with time.”

The Italy international has high expectations of himself once he has adjusted to life in England.

“I want to be the best player in the world,” he said.

“It is good to have ambition. I’ve said in the past that I don’t care what other people want or expect of me because I know what I want.

“I will always give everything because I want to become the best. That is my aim and I am determined to make it happen.

“I am here at City to play Champions League football, that’s the competition I want to be in and that is what all the players here want to play in.”

However, after missing out on the fourth Champions League spot to Tottenham last season, City had to settle for competing in the Europa League this term.

Manager Roberto Mancini’s side face Polish club Lech Poznan in the group stage on Thursday night, and Balotelli is looking to progress in to the knockout stages of the competition.

“It is important we progress to the next stage,” he said.

“We are going to Poznan to win – but that is normal. We want to win every game we play. The quicker we guarantee a place in the round of 32 the better.”

Always?

I'm worried on the back of that.

Ted Hughes wrote:Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

I find it particularly funny that he is surprised that tackles seem to be perfectly acceptable in good ol blighty

Original Dub wrote:Always?

I'm worried on the back of that.

Hehe, don't expect him to track back like Bellamy used to do, Mourinho often scolded him last season exactly because he didn't do that.

This said, he's just come back from injury so maybe he still isn't physically in top form.

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

I find it particularly funny that he is surprised that tackles seem to be perfectly acceptable in good ol blighty

I'm used to it because I have been watching Premioer League football for years now, but for someone who has never seen it, the level of tackling permitted in England is very different from Italy. He's right when he says here you get a foul at the slightest contact, which is why he may take a bit to adapt. However, Spain is not much different from Italy and Silva had no trouble adjusting...

On the contary CFFR Silva did take some weeks to find the pace (like most players from Spain and Italy) and Balotelli will do the same. Anyone who expected him to leap on and set the world on fire first match is sadly deluded. That's why Bobby says he needs 90 minutes, he's trying to accelerate him through to fitness.

I was a little surprised at that because he was clearly knackered after about 35 minutes and playing him right through risks another injury. Still it's a gamble Bobby is prepared to take and wouldn't be surprised to see him get another 90 in Poland.

Besides, little hints ('we need another striker') suggest Bobby can see the January window starting to loom, so even if Balo is injured, it's:

In: Dzeko
Out: SWP, RSC, Given

Of course he will take time to adapt. Most players need time to adapt just as Silva did. I also think the younger they are the more time is needed. Fake Ronnie took a season or so. As did Henry and Drogba. Quite why it comes as a surprise to people or why they feel to need to start getting the worry beads out after 1 game is a fucking mystery. Tevez took several months at WHU before he clicked into banzai mode.

And to keep it topical it took Garath Bale nigh on 3 fucking years..

BobKowalski wrote:Of course he will take time to adapt. Most players need time to adapt just as Silva did. I also think the younger they are the more time is needed. Fake Ronnie took a season or so. As did Henry and Drogba. Quite why it comes as a surprise to people or why they feel to need to start getting the worry beads out after 1 game is a fucking mystery. Tevez took several months at WHU before he clicked into banzai mode.

And to keep it topical it took Garath Bale nigh on 3 fucking years..

I didn't get that impression from this thread chief?

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

I find it particularly funny that he is surprised that tackles seem to be perfectly acceptable in good ol blighty

you would have thought he might have spent some time doing some research by watching his own team whilst he was injured or at least watching super Sunday every week. It might give him a better advantage than breaking into women's prisons

Wonderwall wrote:

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

I find it particularly funny that he is surprised that tackles seem to be perfectly acceptable in good ol blighty

you would have thought he might have spent some time doing some research by watching his own team whilst he was injured or at least watching super Sunday every week. It might give him a better advantage than breaking into women's prisons

But would be nowhere near as fun Bob

Wonderwall wrote:

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

I find it particularly funny that he is surprised that tackles seem to be perfectly acceptable in good ol blighty

you would have thought he might have spent some time doing some research by watching his own team whilst he was injured or at least watching super Sunday every week. It might give him a better advantage than breaking into women's prisons

I tend to agree with what you say there.This guys temperement is shocking mate..I was watching him the whole time against wolves...he basically argued from the time he came on till the time he came off the pitch - yellow card toboot.

This guy will either become a City Hero and we accept his baggage otherwise he will flop badly.

Though I was reading a Robinho interview at first which sends shivers down my spine tbh.

MaineRoadMemories wrote:Though I was reading a Robinho interview at first which sends shivers down my spine tbh.

Yes all that wanting to be the best talk does sound like Robbie ha.

Once he is fit and linking with Tevez, im sure this guy will do the biz for us.

I think we shoud note a few things about Mr Ballo.
He wasn't Mancini's 1st choice of 1st choice. Had the bids for Torres and/or Dzeko or any of the others we were rumoured to be chasing come fo fruition, then our SuperMario would have either been left in Italy or bought as "one for the future". Atbest, he could have hoped for a place on the bench.

The fact that Mancini/Marwood still seem to hold an interest in both Torres and Dzeko would lead us to believe that Mancini is still looking for a better player than Mario.

If mancini doesn't rate him as a 1st choice striker yet, maybe we are expecting too much. He is still only a baby.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

I find it particularly funny that he is surprised that tackles seem to be perfectly acceptable in good ol blighty

you would have thought he might have spent some time doing some research by watching his own team whilst he was injured or at least watching super Sunday every week. It might give him a better advantage than breaking into women's prisons

I tend to agree with what you say there.This guys temperement is shocking mate..I was watching him the whole time against wolves...he basically argued from the time he came on till the time he came off the pitch - yellow card toboot.

This guy will either become a City Hero and we accept his baggage otherwise he will flop badly.

One game and a frustrating one at that.

Let's give him a chance to get up to 100% and a few games under his belt. He is obviously talented but hasn't had the greatest start what with aeroplane trolleys and such, so a little patience might be to our benefit.

Slim wrote:

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:

IanBishopsHaircut wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Just start off with a little bit of light jogging during the game lad..

I find it particularly funny that he is surprised that tackles seem to be perfectly acceptable in good ol blighty

you would have thought he might have spent some time doing some research by watching his own team whilst he was injured or at least watching super Sunday every week. It might give him a better advantage than breaking into women's prisons

I tend to agree with what you say there.This guys temperement is shocking mate..I was watching him the whole time against wolves...he basically argued from the time he came on till the time he came off the pitch - yellow card toboot.

This guy will either become a City Hero and we accept his baggage otherwise he will flop badly.

One game and a frustrating one at that.

Let's give him a chance to get up to 100% and a few games under his belt. He is obviously talented but hasn't had the greatest start what with aeroplane trolleys and such, so a little patience might be to our benefit.

That was Boateng with the trolly dolly wasnt it?

I will indeed give him time as he is obviously talented..I just hope his temper tantrums are kept in check.

but that is normal.

He's obviously been groomed by Bobby on things to say during an interview.

Surprised Bobby didn't bring Balo on tonight to be honest

[quote="IanBishopsHaircut"]Surprised Bobby didn't bring Balo on tonight to be honest[/quote

Im not surprised........keeping Vierira on for the whole 94 mins and taking off Milner for Vinnie just about summed it up for me mate........Nothing he does surprises me.

Komps should have come on for Old Pat and Balo on for Milner in the last 15 when it was 1 - 1. Playing out for a draw was a stupid fucking idea. Why take him if your not going to play him, he needed a run out and a game against Brom to be up to speed in order to become a instant cult hero when he puts a hat trick round Manure wed week.

Rural x