Balotelli No Action?

[brite blu sky]

To be fair, he did win the ball. If this was Rooney, there would be nothing else said about it. Balo has been a knob, but the media are onto his every move. I recall one of the Arsenal players going in really dangerously on one of our players and going studs first on his ankle, without touching the ball. As the media has'nt made a massive deal over that one Im struggling to remember who it was by and who it was on..

You've raised some good points there. It was Barry who got studded.. by I think one of Song or Sagna.
Anyway comparing shrek to balo is interesting. Balo is marginally more of an idiot, but it is marginal and shrek is still at it even though he is older. Who did shrek boot in the shin totally off the ball earlier in the season? What did the press do? plead to let him off!! What would have happened if Mario had done that ?
It is a good point if you ask me and it gives some perspective. While we are at it shrek clearly and fuclin obviously get preferencial treatment from the smelly old tramp - and the club for that matter.

[Ted Hughes]

He trod on a bloke's knee & had he done it in December, he would now be facing a lengthy ban.

They can bring this up next season to prove their is no favouritism ( when Aguero gets a dodgy red card the week before the derby ).

[Mase]

It wasn't the worst tackle I've ever seen anyway. Wasn't Song the guy who stamped on Barton after the ball had gone and didn't get anything for it? What goes around comes around.

[Beefymcfc]

To be fair, he did win the ball. If this was Rooney, there would be nothing else said about it. Balo has been a knob, but the media are onto his every move. I recall one of the Arsenal players going in really dangerously on one of our players and going studs first on his ankle, without touching the ball. As the media has'nt made a massive deal over that one Im struggling to remember who it was by and who it was on..

It's a great point and one that every City fan should be focusing on. I've said in another thread that in the context of the game that those 2 yellows weren't even bookings and the clash with Song was more than probable accidental as he actually got the ball. The main thing is how it was highlighted by Sky, continually, and how this compares to other players. If that was Scholes or Rooney then it would've been laughed off and told that 'They're not very good at tackling' or in the case of Gerrard, 'That's passion for you, a real determination to get the ball'.

And what about Giggs, he did a sliding tackle, last week I think, and slid 5 yards straight through a player with feet raised causing the player to be upended and dumped unceremoniuosly on the floor. When the ref pulled out the yellow (I was screaming for red) Tyler (I think) basically said 'That's a bit harsh, Giggs isn't known for his dirtiness' while the other commentator just started laughing at his comments. It may sound nothing to some but when you consider the difference in tone from Sky itself, it's easy to understand how the land lies.

Sky have played us as the villains to their cash-cow heroes. Nothing will change until we start bringing them those extra armchair supporters that will be lost from the other Sky 4 dropping off.

[Ted Hughes]

The Song challenge was a nailed on red card.

The others were borderline yellows but because Ballotelli has done shit like the above, refs target him. It's not fair but he also brings it on himself with his antics.

If he just cut out all the shit, he could be fantastic but I don't think he can. He is a mental case.

[Im_Spartacus]

The Song challenge was a nailed on red card.

The others were borderline yellows but because Ballotelli has done shit like the above, refs target him. It's not fair but he also brings it on himself with his antics.

If he just cut out all the shit, he could be fantastic but I don't think he can. He is a mental case.

Fantastic at what?

Honestly, i have to ask this, because i havent seen him be fantastic at anything bar taking penalties and committing petulant fouls since he arrived here. He had a great game in the final vs stoke, but aside from that, i just cant fathom why people are so keen to fawn over this lad, because nothing he does on the pitch justifies it.

[Green & Blue]

The Song challenge was a nailed on red card.

The others were borderline yellows but because Ballotelli has done shit like the above, refs target him. It's not fair but he also brings it on himself with his antics.

If he just cut out all the shit, he could be fantastic but I don't think he can. He is a mental case.

Well said.Mancini must feel so let down by him after trusting so much faith in his ability.
His one man crusade to constantly land himself in trouble has just spiralled out of control.It's really disappointing that after all Mancinis patience and the amount of times he has publicly expressed his desire for Mario to learn from his mistakes that simply Balotelli appears unable to help himself.

If we had Mario with the right attitude we would have an unbelievable player on our hands rather than a ticking time bomb.

[Ted Hughes]

The Song challenge was a nailed on red card.

The others were borderline yellows but because Ballotelli has done shit like the above, refs target him. It's not fair but he also brings it on himself with his antics.

If he just cut out all the shit, he could be fantastic but I don't think he can. He is a mental case.

Fantastic at what?

Honestly, i have to ask this, because i havent seen him be fantastic at anything bar taking penalties and committing petulant fouls since he arrived here. He had a great game in the final vs stoke, but aside from that, i just cant fathom why people are so keen to fawn over this lad, because nothing he does on the pitch justifies it.

He's got loads of talent & has shown it. I posted a video of it on here recently & if you put the whole careers of Silva & nasri together, you won't find as much variety of skill, pace & brilliance as Balotelli has already produced in his short career.

The difficulty is bringing it out of him & cutting out the shit. His goal at OT is the best thing anyone has produced at City this season. Pure class when it mattered & counted most.

[brite blu sky]

As this has widened a bit and we are questioning his ability... as a package he really is suspect. He has skill though of that there really isn't any doubt. Great nicked goals front post mostly turned in with a deft touch, some cracking shots as good as the best out there. The sublime finish at the swamp and similar controlled finishes.

What he isn't so good at in my view is interplay. It maybe he isn't really suited to being on the wing, but he has to learn his trade somewhere. I think he could be a lot more aware as he receives the ball, he rarely seems to find a quick pass or knock forward from a longer pass he receives. He is quick thinking enough and has the touch to be doing better in that situation.. and the crux is perhaps he is looking for his own opportunities rather than the teams. In the end that makes him a much less effective player than he could be imo.

I don't know how many of you have had to deal with someone who is practically uncontrollable or has uncontrolled moments or is just OTT egoistical, but one way that they come down to earth is when their actions bring their world crashing down. Mario is not so stupid (like Tevez) to know that his options are receeding, he did the maths and decided he needed to apologise or he is stuck on a route that could quickly lead to oblivion as a footballer. He will also know that Mancini is in his best interest, others would not give him the time Bob has. Right now though City should close the sky around him and let him go through shit, cos it is the only way he is going to get serious about his own life and his responsibilities to his teammates, manager and club.

If he comes out the other side it will be worth it for what he can then give us.

[Ted Hughes]

As this has widened a bit and we are questioning his ability... as a package he really is suspect. He has skill though of that there really isn't any doubt. Great nicked goals front post mostly turned in with a deft touch, some cracking shots as good as the best out there. The sublime finish at the swamp and similar controlled finishes.

What he isn't so good at in my view is interplay. It maybe he isn't really suited to being on the wing, but he has to learn his trade somewhere. I think he could be a lot more aware as he receives the ball, he rarely seems to find a quick pass or knock forward from a longer pass he receives. He is quick thinking enough and has the touch to be doing better in that situation.. and the crux is perhaps he is looking for his own opportunities rather than the teams. In the end that makes him a much less effective player than he could be imo.

I don't know how many of you have had to deal with someone who is practically uncontrollable or has uncontrolled moments or is just OTT egoistical, but one way that they come down to earth is when their actions bring their world crashing down. Mario is not so stupid (like Tevez) to know that his options are receeding, he did the maths and decided he needed to apologise or he is stuck on a route that could quickly lead to oblivion as a footballer. He will also know that Mancini is in his best interest, others would not give him the time Bob has. Right now though City should close the sky around him and let him go through shit, cos it is the only way he is going to get serious about his own life and his responsibilities to his teammates, manager and club.

If he comes out the other side it will be worth it for what he can then give us.

None of our strikers play together or with anybody else very well. It's a fault in our system.

It was happening excellently at the start of the season, which suggests Bob had them working correctly beforehand, but as the season has gone on, & the games have got tighter, they have lost that cohesion & Tevez' link up with Nasri v Chelsea was a better example of teamwork than anything Balotelli Aguero & Dzeko have produced between them for months.

[brite blu sky]

As this has widened a bit and we are questioning his ability... as a package he really is suspect. He has skill though of that there really isn't any doubt. Great nicked goals front post mostly turned in with a deft touch, some cracking shots as good as the best out there. The sublime finish at the swamp and similar controlled finishes.

What he isn't so good at in my view is interplay. It maybe he isn't really suited to being on the wing, but he has to learn his trade somewhere. I think he could be a lot more aware as he receives the ball, he rarely seems to find a quick pass or knock forward from a longer pass he receives. He is quick thinking enough and has the touch to be doing better in that situation.. and the crux is perhaps he is looking for his own opportunities rather than the teams. In the end that makes him a much less effective player than he could be imo.

I don't know how many of you have had to deal with someone who is practically uncontrollable or has uncontrolled moments or is just OTT egoistical, but one way that they come down to earth is when their actions bring their world crashing down. Mario is not so stupid (like Tevez) to know that his options are receeding, he did the maths and decided he needed to apologise or he is stuck on a route that could quickly lead to oblivion as a footballer. He will also know that Mancini is in his best interest, others would not give him the time Bob has. Right now though City should close the sky around him and let him go through shit, cos it is the only way he is going to get serious about his own life and his responsibilities to his teammates, manager and club.

If he comes out the other side it will be worth it for what he can then give us.

None of our strikers play together or with anybody else very well. It's a fault in our system.

It was happening excellently at the start of the season, which suggests Bob had them working correctly beforehand, but as the season has gone on, & the games have got tighter, they have lost that cohesion & Tevez' link up with Nasri v Chelsea was a better example of teamwork than anything Balotelli Aguero & Dzeko have produced between them for months.

I'm fucling glad you have said that, because it has been one of my main points/issues over the whole season. The start with them playing well together was pure fucking luck (skill taken for granted). Dzeko had been crap last 1/2 season, Mario out for big chunks, Aguero and Nasri had only arrived literally a few days prior to the season, none of them had any time to get to know each other... so they just played and it worked. Having to get serious has cost.. as it does always.

[Dubaimancityfan]

Typical City, Mancini said he would not play for us again (probably thinking a rest-of-season ban), yet he will be available the last few games. Wonder if this is like when he said Tevez was done at City?

I don't know if this has been brought up in any discussion but a lot was said about Bobby's decision to keep Balo on the pitch after his first yellow which then resulted in him getting the 2nd and this 3 match ban.
Could it be that Bobby, having seen a replay of the challenge on Song during the break, had come to the conclusion that Balo's season was effectively over after the inevitable FA review of video evidence and therefore decided to keep him on to get out of him whatever possible in the last 45 minutes ??

[Blue Since 76]

Is it possible to give the same player two red cards in one match?

Only if the ref is Graham Poll

[Manx Blue]

I don't want to piss on anyones chips here....Now that a decision has been made can they reverse/amend it?

Last night on R5L they drew a comparison with the Thatcher incident on Mendes where the ref seen the incident, and the FA took additional action.

It wouldnt suprise me to see some form of media led agenda to get this extended.

[dazby]

We should keep him, but not rely on him. I would hate for another club to cash in on his abilities.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

We should keep him, but not rely on him. I would hate for another club to cash in on his abilities.

I wouldnt worry about that.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

We should keep him, but not rely on him. I would hate for another club to cash in on his abilities.

I wouldnt worry about that.

Why so Douglas? Because he won't be going anywhere or he'll never fulfill his potential?

[Blue Since 76]

We should keep him, but not rely on him. I would hate for another club to cash in on his abilities.

Before the arsenal game on the radio they were talking about RVP and the problems he had when first coming through at Arsenal and how he's matured (Krul incident aside). They didn't go into detail, but I do remember he was trouble initially, although more on the pitch than driving round women's prison trouble. I do recall he seemed to have a similar dislike for playing football though and always looked angry at something.

I've just about reached the end of my patience with Mario, so god knows what Mancini thinks, but it would be a shame to be watching him in a few years if/when he grows up. Whether I could take the pain of having to deal with him on the pitch for the next couple of years to get the potential future returns is debatable.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

We should keep him, but not rely on him. I would hate for another club to cash in on his abilities.

I wouldnt worry about that.

Why so Douglas? Because he won't be going anywhere or he'll never fulfill his potential?

I do doubt he will ever fulfil his potential as his attitude/mentality call it what you like, I fear will never grow to what is needed for success but more that ,if he does move on,it won't be to a club over here. I simply cannot see a club in England taking him on.