Ballotelli

[carl_feedthegoat]

Mario Balotelli is more of a team player than Carlos Tevez.

His 50 goals makes up for it.

Helped in no small part by a largely injury free 18 months playing as a main striker and taking all penalties whilst already familiar with the English game, hopefully Mario can match or better that in similar time given that he's the most natural finisher at the club according to coaches.

If that happens, it won't matter whether you're a Tevez or Balotelli fanboy because it's the team and the club that will bebefit.

I'm not a fan per se of either..they are all mercenary fuckers but Tevez at least gives 1000% for the team on the pitch....does that mean hes a team player or not?..hes a greedy cunt that doesn't pass as often as he probably should but 50 goals tells us we shouldn't give a fuck.

Ballotelli - he needs to cut out the stupidity of his game and personality and then we might just get to see what the real Ballo is like.

[Bingo Lewis]

Mario Balotelli is more of a team player than Carlos Tevez.

His 50 goals makes up for it.

Helped in no small part by a largely injury free 18 months playing as a main striker and taking all penalties whilst already familiar with the English game, hopefully Mario can match or better that in similar time given that he's the most natural finisher at the club according to coaches.

If that happens, it won't matter whether you're a Tevez or Balotelli fanboy because it's the team and the club that will bebefit.

definate RAG, he mentioned bebe.
burn him.

[Rag_hater]

Can't see why the kid is getting so much stick.Think his attitude is great.I know if I was his age and had the kind of money and prospects our Mario is looking at I'd be a much bigger cunt , think he is restraining himself admirably.And if anybody watching him play can't see how hard he is trying and the effect he has is obviously to busy waiting for the mis-behaviour.

[Green & Blue]

Balotelli urged to be patient amid worries over form and fitness

By Ian Herbert, Northern Football Correspondent

Tuesday, 22 February, 2011

Mario Balotelli was frustrated with himself as he left the field on Sunday.

Mario Balotelli was frustrated with himself, rather than his manager, when he left the field after an hour of Manchester City's FA Cup win over Notts County, having felt that that he should not have missed out on goals. Balotelli's characteristically vivid expression of frustration – he threw his snood to the ground – was interpreted as a reaction to Roberto Mancini's decision to substitute him, though the 20-year-old is understood to feel that he had a poor game and that he missed out in a way that his team-mates did not.

The Italian has emerged unscathed from the clash of heads with County's Krystian Pearce – which caused him to leave Eastlands for hospital in an ambulance when he later felt nauseous and unwell in the City dressing room. Balotelli was soon making light of the injury, though there was a need for a scan. Balotelli has been unfortunate with head injuries, Sunday's heavy clash being the latest of three that included a collision with a post when playing for Internazionale at Genoa.

The Italian is being urged to display patience – not his strongest suit – after nearly two months out with a recurrence of the knee injury he sustained in his club's Europa League qualifier at Romanian side Timisoara at the start of the season.

His team-mate Yaya Touré said of the striker yesterday: "Sometimes it's difficult for him. He's young but he's a fantastic player and the team need him. It takes time because football here is not the same as in Italy. I feel sorry for him because he had a long-term injury. When you have been out for a while it's not easy. He wants to play, score and give enjoyment to the fans."

It was an accurate assessment. Balotelli is a young man in a hurry to make his mark in English football, though his own haste has been an impediment to progress in a season blighted by his knee ligament damage. Patience and self-discipline have been needed during Balotelli's rehabilitation from the injury though these are qualities the striker is taking time to learn. Privately, Mancini is more frustrated by the time it has taken Balotelli's knee to heal than he has revealed publicly.

The manager's frustration is borne of an awareness of what he can do. Balotelli is a more naturally talented striker than Edin Dzeko, though the Bosnian's demeanour looks more suited to quick adaptation and his partnership with Carlos Tevez was impressive on Sunday. Dzeko, signed from Wolfsburg, admitted yesterday that he is finding it hard to get used to the more lenient refereeing over physical contact that he perceives in the English game.

"The referees don't whistle for everything here – in the Bundesliga every small contact is a foul. I hope I can get used to it, and have to get stronger. In some situations in Germany where I am not so strong it is no problem but in England ... you have to fight for every ball. I am OK mentally. When I don't score for two or three games and then lose the ball I always keep my head up."

[Goataldo]

I think we should have a little more faith in Mancini sorting Balo's head out. He knows him well enough to understand what a stark raving lunatic he is, and has decided that his talent sufficiently outweighs this factor.

Surely he can't get any more mental - but he can mature - and this will also help him develop his talents as a footballer. In the meantime, he may on occasion, have a negative effect on our development (i.e. getting sent off/needlessly booked)- it's a trade off - it's always a gamble spending that much money on someone, especially if they'r that young.

I know people are entitled to be wrong, sorry, to have their own opinion, but his movement, touch, and technique are fantastic. To question his ability (as some here do) just sounds your making stuff up to hate him about. I bet you have chicken-head-glove hats you unstable freaks, you should be put in the stocks and have broken bottles chucked at you.

If he actually starts to become more and more mentally weird, and his attitude gets worse and worse, I may start to think it's not worth it, as the negative impact could outweigh the goals he gives us. Some people round here are too quick to judge imo though.

Whether it's 11 games or 12, as far as pitch time goes (that's the important thing surely), he's not been here long and bagged 8. Focus on that.

[Crossie]

Reminds me slightly of fake Ronaldo, he use to get frustrated with himself for missing any chance that came his way. I think the article above is bang on the money.

Balo is fucked off with how things go for him on the pitch, he is so keen to show he skills and prove his worth that everything that doesnt go his way, winds him right up.

I like it that way.

Sooner or later it will click and the team will learn to play with Balo upfront, Silva will learn his runs, Yaya will spot his runs, Tevez will know where to play the through ball and Dzeko will know where to aim his knock downs.

[branny]

disagree about him not showing appetite ... I think he needs to work on how he expresses his appetite, but I don't question that he has desire to win.

Doesn't show much when he loses the ball.

[me_innit]

Mario Balotelli is more of a team player than Carlos Tevez.

His 50 goals makes up for it.

Helped in no small part by a largely injury free 18 months playing as a main striker and taking all penalties whilst already familiar with the English game, hopefully Mario can match or better that in similar time given that he's the most natural finisher at the club according to coaches.

If that happens, it won't matter whether you're a Tevez or Balotelli fanboy because it's the team and the club that will bebefit.

definate RAG, he mentioned bebe.
burn him.

Yep. I'm waiting at the stake soaked in petrol.

[john@staustell]

Reminds me slightly of fake Ronaldo, he use to get frustrated with himself for missing any chance that came his way. I think the article above is bang on the money.

Balo is fucked off with how things go for him on the pitch, he is so keen to show he skills and prove his worth that everything that doesnt go his way, winds him right up.

I like it that way.

Sooner or later it will click and the team will learn to play with Balo upfront, Silva will learn his runs, Yaya will spot his runs, Tevez will know where to play the through ball and Dzeko will know where to aim his knock downs.

Spot on mate.

He's just 20, and come back from long injury. People who talk up the likes of Weiss, still 'developing' at 21 or whatever, are keen to run down Balotelli, who's clearly about 18 classes above him. I dont expect too much from Mario this year, next year will be the one. But even so he still bangs a few in.

[bigblue]

Mario Balotelli is more of a team player than Carlos Tevez.

His 50 goals makes up for it.

Helped in no small part by a largely injury free 18 months playing as a main striker and taking all penalties whilst already familiar with the English game, hopefully Mario can match or better that in similar time given that he's the most natural finisher at the club according to coaches.

If that happens, it won't matter whether you're a Tevez or Balotelli fanboy because it's the team and the club that will bebefit.

I'm not a fan per se of either..they are all mercenary fuckers but Tevez at least gives 1000% for the team on the pitch....does that mean hes a team player or not?..hes a greedy cunt that doesn't pass as often as he probably should but 50 goals tells us we shouldn't give a fuck.



Ballotelli - he needs to cut out the stupidity of his game and personality and then we might just get to see what the real Ballo is like.

If that's how you talk about players on your own team, I'd hate to see how you talk about players on teams you dislike. FFS they're City players, give them some support!

[carl_feedthegoat]

Mario Balotelli is more of a team player than Carlos Tevez.

His 50 goals makes up for it.

Helped in no small part by a largely injury free 18 months playing as a main striker and taking all penalties whilst already familiar with the English game, hopefully Mario can match or better that in similar time given that he's the most natural finisher at the club according to coaches.

If that happens, it won't matter whether you're a Tevez or Balotelli fanboy because it's the team and the club that will bebefit.

I'm not a fan per se of either..they are all mercenary fuckers but Tevez at least gives 1000% for the team on the pitch....does that mean hes a team player or not?..hes a greedy cunt that doesn't pass as often as he probably should but 50 goals tells us we shouldn't give a fuck.



Ballotelli - he needs to cut out the stupidity of his game and personality and then we might just get to see what the real Ballo is like.

If that's how you talk about players on your own team, I'd hate to see how you talk about players on teams you dislike. FFS they're City players, give them some support!

So the word mercenary rankles with you does it??? wobble your head mate....99% of players are mercenary..deal with it.
I support all players that play for us....I dont have to like them like I did for ex players that wore the shirt..Goater..Rosler...to name but 2....I have already said what I had to say about Ballotelli...his attitude stinks...most level headed fans can see that...the blind cunts obviously cannot.

[Slim]

Who said that?

[carl_feedthegoat]

Who said that?

Cant believe there are 7 pages t be honest - there should have been one only......,,,,Ballotelli has a cunt of an attitude and needs to fucking improve it and everyone agrees...the end...I thought it was quite simple.

[Slim]

Who said that?

Cant believe there are 7 pages t be honest - there should have been one only......,,,,Ballotelli has a cunt of an attitude and needs to fucking improve it and everyone agrees...the end...I thought it was quite simple.

Yes but in simple terms, "shut your fucking gob and give him some time, you can round up the good 'ole boys and go on a lynching in 12 months".

How's that?

[CityFanFromRome]

Who said that?

Cant believe there are 7 pages t be honest - there should have been one only......,,,,Ballotelli has a cunt of an attitude and needs to fucking improve it and everyone agrees...the end...I thought it was quite simple.

Problem is that not everyone cares about the attitude, as long as the player is talented and does the business on the pitch; I for example could care less if Balotelli had a reaction like that everytime he is subbed, if he plays well, which he has done for most of his appearances for us this season; injuries have kept him out of the squad for long periods, but when he's played he's showed what he made of, both the good and the bad; but the good, imho, largely outshines the bad, which is why I'd hate for him to leave us before at least another two seasons when he's had the chance to completely adjust to the English game; if by then he still hasn't curbed his silly acts and he has not performed on the pitch, then we sell him, not earlier.

[kinkylola]

honestly I think a lot of the problem comes from the fact that here we have a very talented black man, who has an attitude and displays it carelessly on the pitch. He has designs above his station, and when that happens we see old school british racism pop out it's ugly head. If he was white and petulant ... or even just not black and petulant, he would get no where near the derision he receives, not only from opposing sides, but from his own teams' fans. cristiano ronaldo was as much of a cock and every bit as petulant, he was shamed and laughed at ... but not derided by his own fans. He never received this amount of vitriolic bile that spews from some people's mouths.

It's quite discomforting to witness.

[Arjan Van Schotte]

honestly I think a lot of the problem comes from the fact that here we have a very talented black man, who has an attitude and displays it carelessly on the pitch. He has designs above his station, and when that happens we see old school british racism pop out it's ugly head. If he was white and petulant ... or even just not black and petulant, he would get no where near the derision he receives, not only from opposing sides, but from his own teams' fans. cristiano ronaldo was as much of a cock and every bit as petulant, he was shamed and laughed at ... but not derided by his own fans. He never received this amount of vitriolic bile that spews from some people's mouths.

It's quite discomforting to witness.

i can certainly see the point of why someone would defend balotelli due to his age, background and talent.

Your post however is utter nonsense. Alongside tevez - (arguably) the most popular players of the last year or so have been de jong and kompany. recent threads would suggest that a poll of the biggest cock to have played in the top division would involve kevin muscat, robbie savage, joey barton (and probably el hadji diouf) (and would clearly be won by roy keane).

doesn't quite fit your attempt at racial profiling does it?

[Ted Hughes]

honestly I think a lot of the problem comes from the fact that here we have a very talented black man, who has an attitude and displays it carelessly on the pitch. He has designs above his station, and when that happens we see old school british racism pop out it's ugly head. If he was white and petulant ... or even just not black and petulant, he would get no where near the derision he receives, not only from opposing sides, but from his own teams' fans. cristiano ronaldo was as much of a cock and every bit as petulant, he was shamed and laughed at ... but not derided by his own fans. He never received this amount of vitriolic bile that spews from some people's mouths.

It's quite discomforting to witness.

i can certainly see the point of why someone would defend balotelli due to his age, background and talent.

Your post however is utter nonsense. Alongside tevez - (arguably) the most popular players of the last year or so have been de jong and kompany. recent threads would suggest that a poll of the biggest cock to have played in the top division would involve kevin muscat, robbie savage, joey barton (and probably el hadji diouf) (and would clearly be won by roy keane).

doesn't quite fit your attempt at racial profiling does it?

I agree.

I've supported Balotelli on this thread but the suggestion that the negative reaction to him is a national trait & has anything whatsoever to do with racism is the work of a complete fucking anti British bigot & the sort of unfair, bullshit attitude that trivialises the cause when racism truly does raise it's head. To call people racists because they're annoyed by the unhelpful attitude of a player on £100,000 plus per week, is as low as it gets imo. Shameful stuff.

Absolutely disgraceful, disrespectful argument & completely unfounded.

[blues2win]

Absolutely ridiculous argument. Micah Richards, Nigel de Jong, Vincent Kompany all popular players. In his time SWP was and that has changed not because he's black but because he hasn't performed well in his second stint at the club. Yes there have been complaints about Vieira but that's because a lot of people think he's too slow at 34 to perform, not because he's black. A lot of people, myself included, were very excited at the prospect of such a highly rated young talent as Balotelli coming to the club. Some people have written him off because you'll always get a certain type of supporter who's not prepared to give a player time.

A lot of fans are put off Balotelli because of his appalling body language and occasional carelessness. Most of us still hope that he'll come good and can't wait to see him banging them in.

[kinkylola]

i don't think it trivializes racism at all, merely hints at how endemic it is. All the other players you mentioned, they are model professionals, they all act the way you want them to act. Balotelli can be arrogant and petulant and puts himself in your face for good or bad. I never mentioned any of the other players, because like I said, Balotelli has an in your face attitude, he doesn't act the way you want him to act.

You're telling me because he is petulant and immature, that is what is drawing all this hatred? I don't buy it. Someone gets subbed and is pissed about it, throws his snood down ... that gets ranting posts about how he can fuck off and this and that, he's a disgrace, he's whatever. There's something more to it then just people not liking his attitude, that much is clear.

Also, you can calm down with your anti-brit, bigot witch hunt. Same situation exists in the USA, all over the world in fact, there's no denying that. I don't think Americans in general are any better. So, there's that out of the way, maybe we can address a serious subject.

edit: It's amazing how loose you all are with words, but then bristle up at the first hint of an american making a negative observation about brits. I certainly never see negative generalizations about americans ... heavens no.