***Official Balo Watch Thread***

[Lee_R]

I cant believe some people are questioning thr boys talent and potential. Before he was having 'issues' here, he'd moved to a new country, new culture, was banging them in for fun and pretty much won us a few games practically on his own. And hes only 20!
Ok so hes looked a bit average lately but maybe all his stupid decisions and mistakes have knocked his confidence a bit? Also maybe thats why Mancini insisted he took the final free kick. All you doubters would have been creaming and talking about a new beginning if that would have gone in.
Yesterday I saw a young gifted footballer who looked like he at least wanted to play for us. Give the kid a break, and be patient.

[Lee_R]

I cant believe some people are questioning thr boys talent and potential. Before he was having 'issues' here, he'd moved to a new country, new culture, was banging them in for fun and pretty much won us a few games practically on his own. And hes only 20!
Ok so hes looked a bit average lately but maybe all his stupid decisions and mistakes have knocked his confidence a bit? Also maybe thats why Mancini insisted he took the final free kick. All you doubters would have been creaming and talking about a new beginning if that would have gone in.
Yesterday I saw a young gifted footballer who looked like he at least wanted to play for us. Give the kid a break, and be patient.

[Ted Hughes]

Making sure Balotelli took that last free kick was one of Bob's best moments as City manager imo, it was a tremendous bit of management, recognising a moment which could change a player's career & our season. Credit to Tevez for also realising it & not wanting to grab the ball as it was right in his area. If only it had gone in.. but the effect was still positive.

It may have gone unnoticed to many, especially some who can't see it on TV but Balotelli was still 'up for it' on 90 mins running back & wanting the ball. He'd put a proper shift in & was entitled to be taking his foot off the gas but he wasn't; he was getting better. That moment would have been reward for 90 mins solid work & kick started his City career. As it was, he still left the pitch with a big smile when it was saved.

For the 1st time, he'd started to look like one of the team. That's dangerous for any opposition as imo, the confidence is starting to come too.

[Dameerto]

I've not seen any match stats, but purely from my (dodgy) memory of the game i think he was our most accurate shooter, more shots on target than anyone I can think of.

[Rag_hater]

Making sure Balotelli took that last free kick was one of Bob's best moments as City manager imo, it was a tremendous bit of management, recognising a moment which could change a player's career & our season. Credit to Tevez for also realising it & not wanting to grab the ball as it was right in his area. If only it had gone in.. but the effect was still positive.

It may have gone unnoticed to many, especially some who can't see it on TV but Balotelli was still 'up for it' on 90 mins running back & wanting the ball. He'd put a proper shift in & was entitled to be taking his foot off the gas but he wasn't; he was getting better. That moment would have been reward for 90 mins solid work & kick started his City career. As it was, he still left the pitch with a big smile when it was saved.

For the 1st time, he'd started to look like one of the team. That's dangerous for any opposition as imo, the confidence is starting to come too.

The "up for it" was apparent on TV as could be seen when they showed him smiling earlier on when he had taken a shot that the goalie caught it and Mario sweating quite heavily.Also on TV in the minute before he won the free kick(the last minute)they showed that Yaya(the lazy fucker)making a great run and Carlos on the other side in space in a good shooting position.But Mario decided to try himself which in hindsight probably wasn't the best thing to do,but in the heat of a match people make mistakes.Also showed on TV that David's pass to Aj when he was flagged offside by a linesman who was nearer than most fans got it wrong and if the goalie hadn't made a fantastic save with his foot (which people the other side of the grond couldn't have seen) we would have more to complain about.

[john68]

@ Ant,
Your point regarding all goals, whether tap ins or 25 yard screamers being of the same value, is a valid point but you fail to note that many of the more spectacular goals are goals that would not normally be scored. Many are extra goals one would not normally expect to be scored and as such can win extra points.
Please try and give these matter a little more thought Anthony...Thank you....:-)

[CityFanFromRome]

@ Ant,
Your point regarding all goals, whether tap ins or 25 yard screamers being of the same value, is a valid point but you fail to note that many of the more spectacular goals are goals that would not normally be scored. Many are extra goals one would not normally expect to be scored and as such can win extra points.
Please try and give these matter a little more thought Anthony...Thank you....:-)

What you say is true, but the tap ins are just as difficult to score as a 30 yard screamer; they just require different abilities. A tap in from two yards out requires awareness of the game, of what could happen, timing of the off the ball movement so that you're not too early or too late for the pass; a 30 yard screamer requires accuracy on long range shots, power, technique in hitting the ball the right way.

And a tap in can be just as decisive and win extra points or a cup game just as a spectacular goal.

[john68]

@ Ant,
Your point regarding all goals, whether tap ins or 25 yard screamers being of the same value, is a valid point but you fail to note that many of the more spectacular goals are goals that would not normally be scored. Many are extra goals one would not normally expect to be scored and as such can win extra points.
Please try and give these matter a little more thought Anthony...Thank you....:-)

What you say is true, but the tap ins are just as difficult to score as a 30 yard screamer; they just require different abilities. A tap in from two yards out requires awareness of the game, of what could happen, timing of the off the ball movement so that you're not too early or too late for the pass; a 30 yard screamer requires accuracy on long range shots, power, technique in hitting the ball the right way.

And a tap in can be just as decisive and win extra points or a cup game just as a spectacular goal.

Shit...I chuck a tentative right jab at Ant's chin...and the ref stops the contest!!!....:-(

[ant london]

Agreed....a tap in is just as "skillful" in a way but the skill all takes place before the ball is delivered to the scorer

That said, a tap in is child's play compared to the "knob-in" that Patrick Vieira managed yesterday. That, my friends, is a goal that not many in world football could score.

[aaron bond]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 87,00.html

Berlusconi commenting on the behaviour of Balotelli. He's one to talk!

[me_innit]

Decent performance yesterday and unlucky not to score, more of the same Mario.

[Dronny]

Agreed....a tap in is just as "skillful" in a way but the skill all takes place before the ball is delivered to the scorer

That said, a tap in is child's play compared to the "knob-in" that Patrick Vieira managed yesterday. That, my friends, is a goal that not many in world football could score.

I thought his ball control was something to behold

[lets all have a disco]

Better.

[Wooders]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11863_6852287,00.html

Berlusconi commenting on the behaviour of Balotelli. He's one to talk!

lol he fucking is as well - right old rogue is silvio

[carl_feedthegoat]

I would like him to focus more on his passing...short passes are fine overall but his long passes are dire.

[Slim]

I would like him to focus more on his passing...short passes are fine overall but his long passes are dire.

When he did that long pass down the right wing for Tevez, we all laughed cause I think he is delusional over Tevez's top speed.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I would like him to focus more on his passing...short passes are fine overall but his long passes are dire.

When he did that long pass down the right wing for Tevez, we all laughed cause I think he is delusional over Tevez's top speed.

To be fair - Tevez might have got that months ago....he seems to have lost some of his energy lately which stands to reason as he has ran himself into the ground.

[Slim]

I would like him to focus more on his passing...short passes are fine overall but his long passes are dire.

When he did that long pass down the right wing for Tevez, we all laughed cause I think he is delusional over Tevez's top speed.

To be fair - Tevez might have got that months ago....he seems to have lost some of his energy lately which stands to reason as he has ran himself into the ground.

I think he has lost some sharpness and not entirely sure why, maybe he is shagging his new bird too much or his kids are taking up too much time or he really is looking for an exit in the Summer and has already checked out.

However, he is not the quickest and no version of Tevez reaches that ball first. (However, he may have hassled the defender off the ball)

[CityGer]

Fantastic, really pissed myself at that.

You know you've reached rock bottom when you're being provided with life coaching from Silvio Berlusconi.

[El_Quince]

From twitter, through @Marcotti : "If Balo were really crazy, he wd have turned this loser into a little puddle of oil"

http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/ca ... ente.shtml

"Another mishap for Mario Balotelli in England where he is not properly settled. The 'Bad Boy', as he is called in England, has not yet mastered the traffic signs and scratched his Maserati while parked in the city. A young man, certainly a United fan, saw him and mocked him with the "V" gesture, which in England is an insult. It does not mean victory, but f**k off."