Balotelli??

[the_georgian_genius]

Where is he? Pretty bizzare that one of best players is absent and no word of why.

[london blue 2]

I thought he was just gonna run on in his civvies and start tackling people, bit disappointed in him.

[Whassat]

Eh he was at the game. Not on the bench tho. Ankle injury...

[Richard]

Anyone have any idea of a return date?!

[Manx Blue]

Anyone have any idea of a return date?!

Physio room have no date but have Dzeko back on 16th

[Blue Toy]

MEN's Rob Dawson just tweeted: The only missing from derby day was Mario Balotelli....until he walked into Nandos in Spinningfields and paid for everyone

[Douglas Higginbottom]

MEN's Rob Dawson just tweeted: The only missing from derby day was Mario Balotelli....until he walked into Nandos in Spinningfields and paid for everyone

Mario was at the derby as he was shown on telly.So if the first part was wrong I wonder what to make of the 2nd part.

He did train yesterday but nothing involving contact. Cant be that far away from playing

[Goaters 103]

We were missing the spine of our team today and it showed - Hart, Kompany (for all bar 10 mins), Ya Ya, Mario.

[Ted Hughes]

We were missing the spine of our team today and it showed - Hart, Kompany (for all bar 10 mins), Ya Ya, Mario.

Imo we missed Barry as much as any of those.

If Barry had been playing their first goal would never have happened.

[ronk]

Mario was at the derby as he was shown on telly.[b]So if the first part was wrong I wonder what to make of the 2nd part. [\b]

He did train yesterday but nothing involving contact. Cant be that far away from playing

It's a joke. Since there a so many made up stories of him throwing money around in some silly way, why not satirise them?

[Spurge]

on the os Mancini when asked about available strikers for Wednesday said 'I don't know, we'll know when we publish the team sheet'

Soudned rather worrying to me, unless he just wants to keep cards close to his chest, which for a semi final would make sense to keep the dippers guessing.

[Bluez]

We were missing the spine of our team today and it showed - Hart, Kompany (for all bar 10 mins), Ya Ya, Mario.

We were playing 10 v 12 for 80 mins. It's impossible to make conclusions other than we didn't fold

[Douglas Higginbottom]

We were missing the spine of our team today and it showed - Hart, Kompany (for all bar 10 mins), Ya Ya, Mario.

Mario can be called many things but not yet part of the spine of our team.

[Goaters 103]

Id say GK, Centre-half, Centre midf and centre forward constitutes part of the spine Doug.

Good point on Barry Ted. Agreed.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Id say GK, Centre-half, Centre midf and centre forward constitutes part of the spine Doug.

Good point on Barry Ted. Agreed.

I would say the centre forward constitutes part of the spine as well. But Aguero plays there and Mario usually,when he plays, comes from the left as 2nd striker.He isnt our key/main centre forward yet.

Also I think when talking about the spine of any team you are talking about the absolute key players in their position who play game after game and can be relied on for top performances and effort etc. Again not Mario.... yet.

[Manx Blue]

We were missing the spine of our team today and it showed - Hart, Kompany (for all bar 10 mins), Ya Ya, Mario.

Imo we missed Barry as much as any of those.

If Barry had been playing their first goal would never have happened.

Agreed. And I'd like to think he would have made an effort of blocking their second

[Mase]

We were missing the spine of our team today and it showed - Hart, Kompany (for all bar 10 mins), Ya Ya, Mario.

Imo we missed Barry as much as any of those.

If Barry had been playing their first goal would never have happened.

Agreed. And I'd like to think he would have made an effort of blocking their second

I'd like to think anyone being paid a very good wage would have made an effort of blocking their second.....obviously not.

[bobby brows]

saw him leaving the ground at full time with the missus and entourage...mobbed isn't the word!