Balotelli then.

[twosips]

He retired due to a head collision - explained why he was so over the top regarding Clichy's injury I guess.

[CityGer]

If anybody, I think Roberto over reacted.

Mancini is simply doing his level best to take a talent (whose talent we've actually seen all too little of) to a level and consistency which is necessary in the premier league and modern football.

And he's trying to take him there while also trying to create a team ethic.

I agree with most of your points on this thread. I think we're in the minority though.

Bobby was laying down a marker as he knows that we can't carry Balo if his behaviour this year mirrors that of last. He will cost us, whether that be with his petulance or his temper, and I reckon Bobby took the opportunity to remind him again of what is expected.

If nothing else, he certainly divides opinion.

I personally don't see him ever being a fixture in our side or making a significant contribution on a consistent basis. The lads a nutter, he lacks the professionalism required and whilst I understand why so many find him endearing, I think he's a liability.

Hope to be proved wrong. He showed in the cup semi and final a level of maturity I didn't think he had in him. Problem is, he can't maintain that level of performance, discipline and concentration as has a streak in him which leaves him prone to acting like a cunt. I can't see him shaking it any time soon or before time is called on him at City.

[zuricity]

If anybody, I think Roberto over reacted.

Mancini is simply doing his level best to take a talent (whose talent we've actually seen all too little of) to a level and consistency which is necessary in the premier league and modern football.

And he's trying to take him there while also trying to create a team ethic.

I can't disagree with you at all. I think it was a storm in a teacup. Roberto did the typical Italian reaction. It makes great
Television. Who knows ? I wouldn't be surprised when he was substituted if Roberto then said "and don't forget to throw your bottle on the floor when you sit down "....

[Kladze]

If anybody, I think Roberto over reacted.

Mancini is simply doing his level best to take a talent (whose talent we've actually seen all too little of) to a level and consistency which is necessary in the premier league and modern football.

And he's trying to take him there while also trying to create a team ethic.

I can't disagree with you at all. I think it was a storm in a teacup. Roberto did the typical Italian reaction. It makes great
Television. Who knows ? I wouldn't be surprised when he was substituted if Roberto then said "and don't forget to throw your bottle on the floor when you sit down "....

LMAO !

You can't disagree with me at all .......... but then you did anyway ?

Or I'm totally misreading you :-)

[Chinners]

They are just discussing Balotelli on 5Live at the mo ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bb ... _five_live )and the panel have mainly been critical of his actions in yesterdays match and have requested City fans opinion on him. They've just read out an email, roughly as follows:

Bertie from Stockport says that Balotelli is a magnificent player, possibly one of the best strikers in the world today and will score loads this season etc etc, you get the picture. The panal were in stunned scilence and just said 'wow' ..... mugs, and I've just sent in an email telling them so ... oh thats rags are funny

[zuricity]

Ipad is stupid at times but ,nope kladze i dont get what you are on about. I'm not disagreeing with you at all.

[Kladze]

hehe

ok :-)

[zuricity]

hehe

ok :-)

Well if you look at the pathetic media reaction to a nothing event, like ballo hearing a whistle and not shooting. Possibly being a nice boy instead of the monster he really is. You might be excused for thinking that "it's the end of the world as we know it".

Then again, the dollar and the pound are dropping like bricks..... Making my pints at wembley in two weeks even cheaper !

[saulman]

I remember reading a quote from an Inter fan when we bought him that read something like......"Mario? I just know whether to love or hate him."

I completely understand what they meant now.

[aaron bond]

1.5m hits on youtube for a video of a guy missing a failed trick-shot in a pre-season friendly...

You really couldn't make that up!

[Blue Blood]

1.5m hits on youtube for a video of a guy missing a failed trick-shot in a pre-season friendly...

You really couldn't make that up!

Honestly thought he was a twat for doing it but on reflection it's not a big deal really is it.

The overreaction is unbelievable, I think all the stories on newsnow for city have been on balotelli's showboat today.

Shocking stuff.

[twosips]

Exactly...he tried a trick shot. It's ridiculous.

[carl_feedthegoat]

40 odd pages on bluemoon..full of hatred..sad as fuck

Regardless of if he thought it was offside or not..it was a friendly against a nothing side

If it had gone in everyone would be creaming their knickers

Bob was WRONG to take him off..now we are going to have a media wankfest for a few days about splits in the camp

^^^^^ THAT

there is no way on god's earth that that was him shooting.....it was totally him pulling up as he thought the ref had blown

if you think otherwise....you need help

totally wrong to pull him off and talk about it. if he'd been left on fuck all would've been said. As he comes off he clearly puts a whistle up to his mouth to tell Mancini he thought the ref had blown. Fuck me some of you cunts are too stupid for words and very willing to get on the back of one of your own players on the basis of some overblown media shite and a terrible bit of management.

Mancini got this dead wrong

Best you jot down a few emails then cunt face..send them addressed "too stupid for words" to Mancini ,Joe Corrigan , Milner , De Jong to name but a few respected people that have slated his behaviour....they will understand how wrong they were once you have enlightened them.

TWAT.

[Kladze]

40 odd pages on bluemoon..full of hatred..sad as fuck

Regardless of if he thought it was offside or not..it was a friendly against a nothing side

If it had gone in everyone would be creaming their knickers

Bob was WRONG to take him off..now we are going to have a media wankfest for a few days about splits in the camp

^^^^^ THAT

there is no way on god's earth that that was him shooting.....it was totally him pulling up as he thought the ref had blown

if you think otherwise....you need help

totally wrong to pull him off and talk about it. if he'd been left on fuck all would've been said. As he comes off he clearly puts a whistle up to his mouth to tell Mancini he thought the ref had blown. Fuck me some of you cunts are too stupid for words and very willing to get on the back of one of your own players on the basis of some overblown media shite and a terrible bit of management.

Mancini got this dead wrong

Best you jot down a few emails then cunt face..send them addressed "too stupid for words" to Mancini ,Joe Corrigan , Milner , De Jong to name but a few respected people that have slated his behaviour....they will understand how wrong they were once you have enlightened them.

TWAT.

To say "He was just trying a trickshot" is too stupid for words, you're quite right Carl.

I grew up loving , and trying to emulate, Rodney Marsh. It wasn't unknown for him to try a bit of showboating was it?
But you can bet your bottom dollar that at the business end of the pitch all that would stop. He would do it where it couldn't hurt - or he would at least make sure the end product was there.

Best case scenario for Balotelli last night was that he genuinely thought he was offside ....... in which case he should still have stuck it in the net (I don't believe any of that for one second mind you).

Worst case scenario is that he decided his name was too important to just score the goal ...... he is Mario Balotelli after all ....... and had to fuck about first.

If that's the case then the "it was just a meaningless friendly" argument doesn't remotely stand up to scrutiny because it reveals a mindset which he will carry with him into the season proper, if it's allowed to go unchecked.

So, once again, I say "Kudos to Mancini".

[ronk]

A player who pulls of a very skillful move to beat a player, score a goal or extricate themselves from being under pressure are rightly lauded. Players who make a wildly risky move that's completely unnecessary just to look flash are not appreciated by their fans who want to see a match taken seriously, they are not appreciated by their teammates who worked so hard to create the chance and they are not appreciated by opposition players because these have been disrespected. That's when the trick even works.

If Mario had been closed down and he then did that move (successfully), people would rave about it. If he had no other option and he tried it and failed, well that'd be understandable. But he was clean through on goal and just stopped. If he really thought a whistle had gone then he risked a booking for kicking the ball away like that. He probably wasn't thinking but he needs to learn the subtle but fundamental difference in attitude.

He's there to score goals and score he should. If tricks get him to score goals that he might not otherwise have, he's a hero. If they decrease the chances of scoring, they are wasteful. This is not something that only applies to Balotelli: there was a big fuss a few years ago (2005) when Henry rolled the ball at a penalty for Pires.

You can't just go out and take the piss just because it's a pre-season friendly, there are players like Adebayor who aren't even on the tour.

[Blue Blood]

40 odd pages on bluemoon..full of hatred..sad as fuck

Regardless of if he thought it was offside or not..it was a friendly against a nothing side

If it had gone in everyone would be creaming their knickers

Bob was WRONG to take him off..now we are going to have a media wankfest for a few days about splits in the camp

^^^^^ THAT

there is no way on god's earth that that was him shooting.....it was totally him pulling up as he thought the ref had blown

if you think otherwise....you need help

totally wrong to pull him off and talk about it. if he'd been left on fuck all would've been said. As he comes off he clearly puts a whistle up to his mouth to tell Mancini he thought the ref had blown. Fuck me some of you cunts are too stupid for words and very willing to get on the back of one of your own players on the basis of some overblown media shite and a terrible bit of management.

Mancini got this dead wrong

Best you jot down a few emails then cunt face..send them addressed "too stupid for words" to Mancini ,Joe Corrigan , Milner , De Jong to name but a few respected people that have slated his behaviour....they will understand how wrong they were once you have enlightened them.

TWAT.

To say "He was just trying a trickshot" is too stupid for words, you're quite right Carl.

I grew up loving , and trying to emulate, Rodney Marsh. It wasn't unknown for him to try a bit of showboating was it?
But you can bet your bottom dollar that at the business end of the pitch all that would stop. He would do it where it couldn't hurt - or he would at least make sure the end product was there.

Best case scenario for Balotelli last night was that he genuinely thought he was offside ....... in which case he should still have stuck it in the net (I don't believe any of that for one second mind you).

Worst case scenario is that he decided his name was too important to just score the goal ...... he is Mario Balotelli after all ....... and had to fuck about first.

If that's the case then the "it was just a meaningless friendly" argument doesn't remotely stand up to scrutiny because it reveals a mindset which he will carry with him into the season proper, if it's allowed to go unchecked.

So, once again, I say "Kudos to Mancini".

I agree with you Kladze,

Mancini defo made the right call, Balo did something daft, Bobby swiftly dealt with it.. Case closed right??

WRONG!!

Page after page after page of articles today on the subject today picking every detail out of what realistically was a nothing incident, that was publicly dealt with, Ladyboy in the mail even took it so far as produce a diagram.....



Ian Ladyman, if your reading this, stop wasting your time making these fucking retarded play by plays and write a decent article for once, preferably using facts! (asking too much now I know)

This is total non story yet the press is milking it for all its worth.

The fact that papers and those who work for them get paid to sensationalise this non-event is the real crime here.

Time move on now folks.

[Kladze]

I agree that the press over-reaction is pathetic BB.

That can hardly be laid at Mancini's door though ...... and if you ARE trying to lay it there then you are totally wrong imo.

[1950]

The papers do what the papers do.

But I don't see how you can say that Mancini made the right choice? He fueled this nonsense. Take him off at half time, play it down in the media & hang him by the balls for all I care, but do it internally ffs.

Not impressed.

[carl_feedthegoat]

A player who pulls of a very skillful move to beat a player, score a goal or extricate themselves from being under pressure are rightly lauded. Players who make a wildly risky move that's completely unnecessary just to look flash are not appreciated by their fans who want to see a match taken seriously, they are not appreciated by their teammates who worked so hard to create the chance and they are not appreciated by opposition players because these have been disrespected. That's when the trick even works.

If Mario had been closed down and he then did that move (successfully), people would rave about it. If he had no other option and he tried it and failed, well that'd be understandable. But he was clean through on goal and just stopped. If he really thought a whistle had gone then he risked a booking for kicking the ball away like that. He probably wasn't thinking but he needs to learn the subtle but fundamental difference in attitude.

He's there to score goals and score he should. If tricks get him to score goals that he might not otherwise have, he's a hero. If they decrease the chances of scoring, they are wasteful. This is not something that only applies to Balotelli: there was a big fuss a few years ago (2005) when Henry rolled the ball at a penalty for Pires.

You can't just go out and take the piss just because it's a pre-season friendly, there are players like Adebayor who aren't even on the tour.

Stop being a" cunt and too stupid for words" Ronk...............

And to answer the "hill out of a mole hill media wankfest" if Ballo hadn't been a total cunt then we wouldn't have the media or fan negativity would we.

[Blue Blood]

I agree that the press over-reaction is pathetic BB.

That can hardly be laid at Mancini's door though ...... and if you ARE trying to lay it there then you are totally wrong imo.

Not at all, I think Mancini is totally correct in what he did. I would have done exactly the same.