***Official Balo Watch Thread***

[Mikhail Chigorin]

He certainly does have everything and last night he even smiled a few times, which was lovely to see; mind you, the media/press morons won't like it as they've typecast him as some sort of scowling AntiChrist who just lives to be miserable.

Moreover, his intervention last night when he assumed the role of a UN peacekeeping force, will also go unnoticed and without media comment, as it would be seen to be totally out of character and, therefore, couldn't possibly have happened.

He's definitely a complex character, a mass of contradictions and a pure enigma, but in SuperMario we've certainly got something special on our hands.

Just hope in a few years time, we can all look back and laugh at the worries and concerns we are experiencing now, as to where his undoubted talents will take him.

[Ted Hughes]

He certainly does have everything and last night he even smiled a few times, which was lovely to see; mind you, the media/press morons won't like it as they've typecast him as some sort of scowling AntiChrist who just lives to be miserable.

Moreover, his intervention last night when he assumed the role of a UN peacekeeping force, will also go unnoticed and without media comment, as it would be seen to be totally out of character and, therefore, couldn't possibly have happened.

He's definitely a complex character, a mass of contradictions and a pure enigma, but in SuperMario we've certainly got something special on our hands.

Just hope in a few years time, we can all look back and laugh at the worries and concerns we are experiencing now, as to where his undoubted talents will take him.

Unfortunately, that will most likely be away from City. If we can manage to get him settled & part of the club, he'll become a huge favourite but if there's always a feeling of him just learning his trade before he fucks off, the relationship will always be a bit strained.

Refs are definitely booking him at every opportunity & it just shows how easily influenced they are by outside pressure & is a good indicator of why the rags get away with it, when they constantly apply such pressure.

[gaudy]

the ref blew for the free and had no intention of producing a yellow until the villa players surrounded him and presured him.
in a 50-50 in the refs mind he'll never give balo the benifit of the doubt,be that from his rep given out by the media or by presure from opposing players.

edit
just reading in another thread he got a yellow for somethin else?was it not the elbow or was i watchin another game!?

[Avalon]

I'm just pleased to see people are finally realising what we have with Balotelli. I have said it a few times before in that people spend too much time fussing about his attitude.
I'd rather have this terrible attitude + goal ratio than a player like Samaras.

[lets all have a disco]

He's done jack shit for us yet.
Let's see how we go before we start hailing him as the next coming.

Was a lovely goal though.

10 goals in 13 starts. Love to see what he does when he contributes.

You know what the beautiful thing is? He isn't even playing well, poor infact.

I have to agree with GG Kiers..saying he has done 'jack shit' couldn't be further from the truth

If Balo was a tevez style grafter he would currently be the most acclaimed player we have with a goal/game record like that

The fact he's Mario and doesn't run around like a headless chicken seems to have clouded yours and many others judgement

He gets paid to score..he's not even playing to his full potential yet and despite having an injury is already in double figures

I just don't know what the fuck else he has to do?!?

Im not doubting his scoring record or ability so far.
But it gripes me the way a player comes in a scores a few goals and is proclaimed a genius whatever,he has got a dodgy attitude and there is the chance it wont work.

Stevie Ireland anyone?


All im trying to say is lets not get ahead of ourselves here.

[Ted Hughes]

I'm just pleased to see people are finally realising what we have with Balotelli. I have said it a few times before in that people spend too much time fussing about his attitude.
I'd rather have this terrible attitude + goal ratio than a player like Samaras.

That's not saying much though. I'd rather have piles than Samaras.

[Original Dub]

He's done jack shit for us yet.
Let's see how we go before we start hailing him as the next coming.

Was a lovely goal though.

10 goals in 13 starts. Love to see what he does when he contributes.

You know what the beautiful thing is? He isn't even playing well, poor infact.

I have to agree with GG Kiers..saying he has done 'jack shit' couldn't be further from the truth

If Balo was a tevez style grafter he would currently be the most acclaimed player we have with a goal/game record like that

The fact he's Mario and doesn't run around like a headless chicken seems to have clouded yours and many others judgement

He gets paid to score..he's not even playing to his full potential yet and despite having an injury is already in double figures

I just don't know what the fuck else he has to do?!?

This constant shit that's spouted annoys me more than anything when talking about Tevez' workrate.

"Running around like a headless chicken" is more the reason we (and other teams before us) bought Tevez. His goals have merely made him one of the world's most valuable players and are a bonus.

What he does when he's acting all "chiken-like" is drag opposition players around the pitch, whether they have the ball or he does. He never gives them a minute's peace and that alone creates space for players who don't carry on like "headless chickens"... or "lazier players" depending on what side of the fence you're on.

In a nutshell, its called workrate and its very important, particularly to a team that is trying break into the elite. Mario showed tiny glimpses of it last night, along with a cracking finish.

[Manx Blue]

He's done jack shit for us yet.
Let's see how we go before we start hailing him as the next coming.

Was a lovely goal though.

10 in 14

[Beefymcfc]

Did I see glimpses of him starting to celebrate last night?

[craigmcfc]

Did I see glimpses of him starting to celebrate last night?

Aye and smiling too. He'll be jumping into the crowd and getting sent off before we know it

[Beeks]

He's done jack shit for us yet.
Let's see how we go before we start hailing him as the next coming.

Was a lovely goal though.

10 goals in 13 starts. Love to see what he does when he contributes.

You know what the beautiful thing is? He isn't even playing well, poor infact.

I have to agree with GG Kiers..saying he has done 'jack shit' couldn't be further from the truth

If Balo was a tevez style grafter he would currently be the most acclaimed player we have with a goal/game record like that

The fact he's Mario and doesn't run around like a headless chicken seems to have clouded yours and many others judgement

He gets paid to score..he's not even playing to his full potential yet and despite having an injury is already in double figures

I just don't know what the fuck else he has to do?!?

This constant shit that's spouted annoys me more than anything when talking about Tevez' workrate.

"Running around like a headless chicken" is more the reason we (and other teams before us) bought Tevez. His goals have merely made him one of the world's most valuable players and are a bonus.

What he does when he's acting all "chiken-like" is drag opposition players around the pitch, whether they have the ball or he does. He never gives them a minute's peace and that alone creates space for players who don't carry on like "headless chickens"... or "lazier players" depending on what side of the fence you're on.

In a nutshell, its called workrate and its very important, particularly to a team that is trying break into the elite. Mario showed tiny glimpses of it last night, along with a cracking finish.

Funny that dubbers..here was me thinking that the object of the game of football is scoring goals?

Out of interest does anyone know how many games it took Carlos to get to 10 goals for us?

I'm not slagging our Apache..he is a brilliant player..but trying to compare Mario to him is like chalk and cheese

The point I was trying to make is that a lot of fans are under the misconception that you have to 'toil and sweat' to make an impact..Tevez is that sort of player

Whereas Mario might phase in and out of the game he will pop up in goal scoring positions..make defence slicing runs and score shed loads even when he looks like he's not arsed..because he has a brilliant footballing brain

you never saw Ian Rush running around tirelessly..or for that matter any of the great strikers..our Carlos is a rare breed on that front..strikers are not usually that industrious..and going back to the original point they are just there to score goals..and Mario does that so quit whinging ;-)

[lets all have a disco]

He's done jack shit for us yet.
Let's see how we go before we start hailing him as the next coming.

Was a lovely goal though.

10 in 14

It has been noted.

I want to give this relationship time,rather than saying he is the second coming.

I say again,He is a fantastic talent im looking forward to the future lets just hope he can fulfill it.


IM DONE. Phew.

[Beefymcfc]

Did I see glimpses of him starting to celebrate last night?

Aye and smiling too. He'll be jumping into the crowd and getting sent off before we know it

It was the way he seemed to just let himself go for a split second, then realised what he was doing and pulled himself back. Only saw it on the replay last night because I was too busy doing the Poznan ;-)

[1950]

Out of interest does anyone know how many games it took Carlos to get to 10 goals for us?

22

[Slim]

According to the commentator on the highlights, Balo is 10 from 16 now. Still a great strike rate.

[Sister of fu]

Just seen footage of Balo escorting that little girl mascot from the pitch last night and he was really sweet with her, would never have thought to see that side of him, smiling and everything. Wonders will never cease!

[The Original Special One]

the ref blew for the free and had no intention of producing a yellow until the villa players surrounded him and presured him.
in a 50-50 in the refs mind he'll never give balo the benifit of the doubt,be that from his rep given out by the media or by presure from opposing players.

edit
just reading in another thread he got a yellow for somethin else?was it not the elbow or was i watchin another game!?

There's no doubt in my mind but that Clattenburg wasn't going to book him until the Villa players started badgering him; those players should all have been booked. As the FA keep telling us - when we're trying to get Man U players get their due punishment- there's only one referee on the field, and he should not be a member of one of the participating teams!

[Ted Hughes]

He's done jack shit for us yet.
Let's see how we go before we start hailing him as the next coming.

Was a lovely goal though.

10 goals in 13 starts. Love to see what he does when he contributes.

You know what the beautiful thing is? He isn't even playing well, poor infact.

I have to agree with GG Kiers..saying he has done 'jack shit' couldn't be further from the truth

If Balo was a tevez style grafter he would currently be the most acclaimed player we have with a goal/game record like that

The fact he's Mario and doesn't run around like a headless chicken seems to have clouded yours and many others judgement

He gets paid to score..he's not even playing to his full potential yet and despite having an injury is already in double figures

I just don't know what the fuck else he has to do?!?

This constant shit that's spouted annoys me more than anything when talking about Tevez' workrate.

"Running around like a headless chicken" is more the reason we (and other teams before us) bought Tevez. His goals have merely made him one of the world's most valuable players and are a bonus.

What he does when he's acting all "chiken-like" is drag opposition players around the pitch, whether they have the ball or he does. He never gives them a minute's peace and that alone creates space for players who don't carry on like "headless chickens"... or "lazier players" depending on what side of the fence you're on.

In a nutshell, its called workrate and its very important, particularly to a team that is trying break into the elite. Mario showed tiny glimpses of it last night, along with a cracking finish.

Funny that dubbers..here was me thinking that the object of the game of football is scoring goals?

Out of interest does anyone know how many games it took Carlos to get to 10 goals for us?

I'm not slagging our Apache..he is a brilliant player..but trying to compare Mario to him is like chalk and cheese

The point I was trying to make is that a lot of fans are under the misconception that you have to 'toil and sweat' to make an impact..Tevez is that sort of player

Whereas Mario might phase in and out of the game he will pop up in goal scoring positions..make defence slicing runs and score shed loads even when he looks like he's not arsed..because he has a brilliant footballing brain

you never saw Ian Rush running around tirelessly..or for that matter any of the great strikers..our Carlos is a rare breed on that front..strikers are not usually that industrious..and going back to the original point they are just there to score goals..and Mario does that so quit whinging ;-)

Ian Rush was famous for his defending from the front actually. Possibly the best ever at it.

[blues2win]

I think we all like to see attackers pressuring the ball and tackling back but you can still be a fine striker without doing that. I don't remember Thierry Henri doing much tracking back and he would hurdle tackles to avoid injury. Still you've got to perform very well at the top end of the pitch if that's how you play and you can't afford more than one player like that in a successful team.

Tevez's movement off the ball is excellent, he's a constant handful nipping at defenders and then of course there are his goals. He does create for others too but is a shade on the greedy side. There again which top striker isn't? It's in their DNA to want to score goals.

[Ted Hughes]

I think we all like to see attackers pressuring the ball and tackling back but you can still be a fine striker without doing that. I don't remember Thierry Henri doing much tracking back and he would hurdle tackles to avoid injury. Still you've got to perform very well at the top end of the pitch if that's how you play and you can't afford more than one player like that in a successful team.

Tevez's movement off the ball is excellent, he's a constant handful nipping at defenders and then of course there are his goals. He does create for others too but is a shade on the greedy side. There again which top striker isn't? It's in their DNA to want to score goals.

Barca used to allow Ronaldinho to be a lazy twat & the rest of the players were happy to do his grafting for him, but that was when he was mid 20's & the best player in the world (imo better than Messi is now) not at age 20 & never been a regular 1st choice starter in the team.

If Balotelli starts to run games & dominate whole competitions like Fat Ron used to, I'm sure the other ten players & the fans will give him some leeway. In the meantime however, he'll have to put the work in or people won't wear it. I think he will do once he's fully fit & not worrying about his knee.