Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:19 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

He's 22 now and still immature. When he was coached by Mourinho it was between the ages of 18 and 20. And just because Mourinho works brilliantly with many players it doesn't mean that he'll be able to work with everyone.

In some ways I think the fact that even Mancini hasn't been able to sort him out much, even though he has put himself out and bent over backwards for him, is a bigger indictment of Balotelli.

But he is still 22. He's got four titles and a CL winners medal. He's got some pretty impressive experience for someone so young and dumb. He's clearly not phased by pressure. Just look at the transformation in the last couple of seasons with Robin Van Persie. He was an okay, if injury prone player for most of his time at Arsenal, but he's only recently turned into the beast he is now.

He's been a top quality player averaging almost a goal every other game since about 2006/07ish. The only difference between the last couple of years and the previous 4 is the amount of games he has played allowing him to maintain form.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:29 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

He's been a top quality player averaging almost a goal every other game since about 2006/07ish. The only difference between the last couple of years and the previous 4 is the amount of games he has played allowing him to maintain form.

His problem is he hasn't developed as a player or as a person. Sometimes clubs can cope with idiots, but when they don't perform it's hard to justify employing them.

I watched Balotelli when he first broke through at Inter, he was pretty much the same player he is now, if not slightly better then (yes, I am talking about the 16/17 year old). When he came through, all he had to do was develop his decision making and mature his game, if you will. He still hasn't done it and his influence on games is becoming less and less. He's 6ft2, quick, agile, has terrific skill, a lethal shot and the ability to use either foot. He's the perfect striker but his game has never become consistent. Mancini would pick him in a variety of positions and the results would always be similar, flashes of brilliance with long spells of nothing but attitude.

I'm desperate for him to screw his head on and realise what he can achieve but I can't see it happening. He has to be the most volatile player I've ever seen. There's having a niggle, there's using stuff to motivate you, then there's Balotelli. Nuttier than a squirrel turd.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:05 am  

Man. City must be doing cartwheels to have gotten 23 million quid to be rid of the ****. God alone knows what Milan are thinking... He'll be offloaded to PSG for 10 million within 2 years, then Galatasary for 4 million within 3, then the MLS on a free within 4, Chinese football within 6 before ending his career playing in some Sultan's backyard. He's a sideshow clown and the living embodiment of everything that's wrong with top level football at the moment.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:18 am  

Saddened! wrote:

The cynic in me thinks it's just the board saying 'Oh look, we tried' as an excuse to get through the window without spending any money.

To be honest, this im afraid is the 1st thing i thought, they may surprise you though.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:14 am  

Tom Brady wrote:

At least serie A will be worth watching again with Mario at the San Siro.

Serie A has been much more interesting than the Premier League this season.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:56 am  

Roddy B wrote:

His problem is he hasn't developed as a player or as a person. Sometimes clubs can cope with idiots, but when they don't perform it's hard to justify employing them.

I watched Balotelli when he first broke through at Inter, he was pretty much the same player he is now, if not slightly better then (yes, I am talking about the 16/17 year old). When he came through, all he had to do was develop his decision making and mature his game, if you will. He still hasn't done it and his influence on games is becoming less and less. He's 6ft2, quick, agile, has terrific skill, a lethal shot and the ability to use either foot. He's the perfect striker but his game has never become consistent. Mancini would pick him in a variety of positions and the results would always be similar, flashes of brilliance with long spells of nothing but attitude.

I'm desperate for him to screw his head on and realise what he can achieve but I can't see it happening. He has to be the most volatile player I've ever seen. There's having a niggle, there's using stuff to motivate you, then there's Balotelli. Nuttier than a squirrel turd.

I was talking about Van Persie. I don't think it's true to say he was 'only' an OK player until the last couple of years, he's been top-notch for a while.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:09 am  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

Man. City must be doing cartwheels to have gotten 23 million quid to be rid of the ****. God alone knows what Milan are thinking... He'll be offloaded to PSG for 10 million within 2 years, then Galatasary for 4 million within 3, then the MLS on a free within 4, Chinese football within 6 before ending his career playing in some Sultan's backyard. He's a sideshow clown and the living embodiment of everything that's wrong with top level football at the moment.

It could be worse. He might find that when he's 25 he has to resort to asking Sheffield Wednesday for a trial.

[John_D]

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:12 am  

Villa. They're screwed aren't they

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:52 am  

John_D wrote:

Villa. They're screwed aren't they

Lambert can't think they'll stay up. There's only Benteke in that team who'd get picked up by a Premier League team if they went down, which shows the lack of quality. Youth might be the answer, but not when it's coming from Crewe, Sheffield United and Chesterfield and being thrown in at the deep, being told to stay up.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:37 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

I'm desperate for him to screw his head on and realise what he can achieve but I can't see it happening. He has to be the most volatile player I've ever seen. There's having a niggle, there's using stuff to motivate you, then there's Balotelli. Nuttier than a squirrel turd.

On the contrary, as an Inter fan, I hope he blows AC apart with his antics. I don't think that Allegri can keep a lid on him to be honest.