***Official Balo Watch Thread***

[PeterParker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3HHQfd2qqI

[Avalon]

The players have been saying for months that he's funny and that he jokes around a lot. I laughed though. Next you'll see him on hands and knees behind a player walking backwards.

His shift wasn't the best, but I don't think the entire team played that well anyway. I did like his shot on goal in the first half though, where he flicked the ball over his head.

I also noticed Balotelli walked up to Samba after the match and the two exchanged some pleasant words... well, both were smiling, so I presume they did. Considering Balo was born an African, I think Samba will be great for him.

[ant london]

All the messing about is fun to watch and he put a bit in again today but he was pretty crap wasn't he?

Agreed. I thought he was poor. His touch was crap and he couldn't hold up a washing line. Signs that his work rate is getting there, though.

It seems that not getting sent off, not acting like a nutter, laughing or doing something daft such as slapping or tripping up a team mate amounts to a good performance from him with some. Needs to do a lot more for me. His level of performance is being blown out of all proportion by some because of sheer relief when he doesn't act like a berk.

I think we would have had a much less stressful game and possibly a bigger margin of victory with Dzeko up top. The ball came back to easily.

I didn't think he was brilliant but he was far from alone in that respect. Adam Johnson was bloody woeful again, virtually anonymous all the time he was on the pitch bar a couple of flashes. Mario was similar but actually did a bit more than Johnno. Yaya equally was piss poor in patches, turning the ball straight over back to Blackburn or passing it straight out of touch. The ball came back from Mario sometimes but he was not the only culprit and it's mad to paint it like he was.

We need a decent winger in the summer, end of, for me. Kolarov can "whip a ball in" but usually to bloody no-one who plays for Manchester City. Johnson was better on the left (surprise surprise) but we need someone who actually has some pace who can go clean past a man and deliver quality into the box. Both Dzeko and Mario will make hay next season if we sort this out.

We are still too one paced and tend far far too often to build up in an incredibly narrow width of the field which makes us all to easy to stop at times when things aren't running for us (like yesterday).

I understand why some people (notably Doug who I do defer to as he sees the lad in training and far more than us) are down on Mario for his antics and debatable contribution BUT I think that conversely they are too down on what is a young lad still getting to grips with a new team and new league. I am increasingly optimistic that he will come good

[Slim]

Thank god for you ant, I just don't see it.

[ant london]

Thank god for you ant, I just don't see it.

Fair do's mate....we shall see won't we

EDIT: Funny cunt....I've just read the Tevez thread!

[carl_feedthegoat]

Mario Balotelli’s a City sticker
Published: Today
Add a comment (9)


IF MARIO BALOTELLI's Man City teammates set fire to one of his designer suits he would probably laugh in their faces.
The Italian striker loves the Crazy Gang-style pranks that his side are getting up to.

They aren't as ruthless as those which Wimbledon boys VINNIE JONES and DENNIS WISE played on each other back in the day but are enough to put a smile on Mario's usually moody mug.

Team-mate YAYA TOURE recently taped Mario's trainers to the dressing-room ceiling.

It was revenge for Mario tripping up Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya while messing about during training.

Just like Mario did to striker EDIN DZEKO in front of their team's fans as the Bosnian celebrated City's 1-0 win at Blackburn, in which he scored.

Mario's mates from home are getting in on the act, too. They've been calling his favourite Manchester restaurant, San Carlo, and ordering 20 pizzas to his apartment, saying he's having a party.

A source said: "Mario loves schoolboy pranks and his Italian friends are worse than the City lads.

"They have even put in orders at pet shops while pretending to be Mario.

"They also call him and bark down the phone, winding him up about his beloved dog who's still in quarantine back in Italy."

Last week Balotelli gave £1,000 in cash to a tramp outside Manchester's 235 Casino where he had just won £25k.

Which reminds me, Man City aren't playing tonight and I do a good Scottish tramp impression: "50p to look after your car Mr Mario, pal?"

The boy Mario is without doubt the signing of the season.

[blues-clues]

Mixed today - understood Mancini taking him off and thought he may have done it earlier.

Some of his positional play was poor, he stands still too much. He did track back and tackle a bit but seemed to give up when he lost the ball on several occasions when a run could easily have resulted in a challenge if not a chance to get the ball back.

Ballotelli bashing seemed to be a favourite past time of the commentators but there were times when the had a point.

Not his best game but far from his worst.

Just feel a fit Tevez would have scored today and given us more in the final third......if it hadn't been West Ham.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I watched the match today fromm the 3rd tier ( bit high for me) and it does give you a different ( not better) perspective on the game.You definitely see player's movements differently and opening are clearly there from up there that don't seem to be spotted on the pitch.
Watching Mario was a bit weird as at times his movement when the ball was with our deeper players seemed decent.Not great but occasionally thereatening to run behind and also along the line but when the ball is closer to the box and with the "better" more creative players I felt his movement was awful.

Overall today I thought he had a shocker. A tad unlucky with the one that hit the bar although looking at it another way he missed a great chance and the one Silva gave him just after was a poor effort and he knew it which is why he remained static for so long.But generally I though he offered very little in the way of a threat except when City got a breakaway and he had tons of space.His touch wasn't good (on a par with Edin?), his attitude awful,lucky not to be booked again (refs other than Webb might well have done). Just poor.

I am utterly baffled at those who have posted in places that even if Tevez is fit we should keep the same team with Mario on his own up front.Pulis might think that but surely not a sane City supporter.

[david yearsley]

Spot on about Tevez - he HAS to come back , the sooner the better. The game would have been put to bed early doors with CT, of that I have no doubt

[CityGer]

I watched the match today fromm the 3rd tier ( bit high for me) and it does give you a different ( not better) perspective on the game.You definitely see player's movements differently and opening are clearly there from up there that don't seem to be spotted on the pitch.
Watching Mario was a bit weird as at times his movement when the ball was with our deeper players seemed decent.Not great but occasionally thereatening to run behind and also along the line but when the ball is closer to the box and with the "better" more creative players I felt his movement was awful.

Overall today I thought he had a shocker. A tad unlucky with the one that hit the bar although looking at it another way he missed a great chance and the one Silva gave him just after was a poor effort and he knew it which is why he remained static for so long.But generally I though he offered very little in the way of a threat except when City got a breakaway and he had tons of space.His touch wasn't good (on a par with Edin?), his attitude awful,lucky not to be booked again (refs other than Webb might well have done). Just poor.

I am utterly baffled at those who have posted in places that even if Tevez is fit we should keep the same team with Mario on his own up front.Pulis might think that but surely not a sane City supporter.

I said in the match thread that I thought he had an awful game and that we were a man down with him in the side.

I don't get it. I don't get what Bobby sees in him. An empty jersey, fucking rubbish.

Was gutted for Edin today that he didn't get the nod to start the game. Fuck knows what he must be thinking, watching this clown start every week.

[Patrick]

Mario is going to score us some fucling outrageous goals..... FACT

[CityGer]

Mario is going to score us some fucling outrageous goals..... FACT

When?

He hasn't bothered to do so in the last 11 games.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I watched the match today fromm the 3rd tier ( bit high for me) and it does give you a different ( not better) perspective on the game.You definitely see player's movements differently and opening are clearly there from up there that don't seem to be spotted on the pitch.
Watching Mario was a bit weird as at times his movement when the ball was with our deeper players seemed decent.Not great but occasionally thereatening to run behind and also along the line but when the ball is closer to the box and with the "better" more creative players I felt his movement was awful.

Overall today I thought he had a shocker. A tad unlucky with the one that hit the bar although looking at it another way he missed a great chance and the one Silva gave him just after was a poor effort and he knew it which is why he remained static for so long.But generally I though he offered very little in the way of a threat except when City got a breakaway and he had tons of space.His touch wasn't good (on a par with Edin?), his attitude awful,lucky not to be booked again (refs other than Webb might well have done). Just poor.

I am utterly baffled at those who have posted in places that even if Tevez is fit we should keep the same team with Mario on his own up front.Pulis might think that but surely not a sane City supporter.

I said in the match thread that I thought he had an awful game and that we were a man down with him in the side.

I don't get it. I don't get what Bobby sees in him. An empty jersey, fucking rubbish.

Was gutted for Edin today that he didn't get the nod to start the game. Fuck knows what he must be thinking, watching this clown start every week.

I just cannot see fuckign ANYTHING about this guy.....even one against one hes shit...his first touch is pap...when he is hugging the touchline he tries his "stop..back into the player and try to turn them routine".....it never fuckign works.

Seriously....I have seen jack shit in this player so far.......there has to be something about the cunt as he won the best young player award......but imo..we have seen zilch to justify that award.

And I dont care what anyone says..his overall attitude is still shit.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Agree with Doug re Tevez. I've seen a lot of posts on here saying they don't want him in the final which is bewildering.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Mario is going to score us some fucling outrageous goals..... FACT

It sort of worries me that he might score an unbelievable goal soon and add to the strange cult worship that there already is to an extent.Some would no doubt forgive him everything if he did find a wonder goal and go on and on about the amazing talent he has and how we have to give him ore time because he is so young!!

Obviously I want that goal to happen and win a match for us but what I want even more is a good player contributing regularly for us game after game. A player who actually looks like he gives a damn and causes opposition defences problems all the way through games.Not one who we all hope will do something special but somehow does bugger all.

And still when he manages not to get booked he gets praised for showing a better attitude.When he on occasion is back in our own half and wins the ball gets undue praise for being there whilst conveniently forgetting all the times when he isn't around but manages to lose the ball regularly to put us under pressure.

[MaineRoadMemories]

Robinho is more effective than Balotelli. He has a loooooooooooooooooooong way to go to prove his worth.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

People seem to completely forget his age.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

People seem to completely forget his age.

Not at all.But do you mean his real one or his mental one?

[Beefymcfc]

Mancini needs to prove that his signing works, pity it's at the expense of a player who would be more worthwhile. And as for his age, if he's one for the future who needs to mature, then let him do that and don't waste a shirt until he's ready.

[MaineRoadMemories]

You don't spend over £20m and £100,000 a week for a "one for the future". He was bought for the here and now and he's not delivered for weeks now. Maybe next season we will see the best of him (in a Milan shirt :-) )