Balotelli...Would you have him back?

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

Not for me.

 

[ell]

100%

 

[blue b4 the moon]

For the most part he was a distraction.

He's not worth the upset and media bandwagon he'd create.

 

[Damocles]

There are no footballing reasons to have Balotelli back.

Unlike Jovetic and Negredo he can stay fit. He can play up the top holding up the ball and is particularly great at the same thing all Italian strikers are: getting a ball over the top or through the middle and finishing one-on-one with the keeper which would fit our current team much more than the style we used to play where he was a bit of a square peg in a round hole. He can also do a job out wide and cutting side if asked to. He's as good if not better than Negredo but 5 years younger

He's popular with most of the staff/squad and Dzeko, Hart and Zabaleta have all said how much they enjoyed having him at City and playing with him. In addition to this he seems to have calmed down since his engagement and is much more professional on the pitch.

It's quite the opposite I find - people don't want him because of the circus he brings off the field rather than disliking him as an actual footballer.

 

[BlueTG]

There are no footballing reasons to have Balotelli back.

Unlike Jovetic and Negredo he can stay fit. He can play up the top holding up the ball and is particularly great at the same thing all Italian strikers are: getting a ball over the top or through the middle and finishing one-on-one with the keeper which would fit our current team much more than the style we used to play where he was a bit of a square peg in a round hole. He can also do a job out wide and cutting side if asked to. He's as good if not better than Negredo but 5 years younger

He's popular with most of the staff/squad and Dzeko, Hart and Zabaleta have all said how much they enjoyed having him at City and playing with him. In addition to this he seems to have calmed down since his engagement and is much more professional on the pitch.

It's quite the opposite I find - people don't want him because of the circus he brings off the field rather than disliking him as an actual footballer.

Although he didn't particularly fit here, unlike other players who we could sign and haven't played for our club, he can be judged also on his time here. A liability, a red card waiting to happen with a few glimpses of what he can do. Had a good season when we won the title, nothing spectacular. We wouldn't achieved what we have without him and he had some very direct influences into our trophies but when you judged his overall contribution; it wasn't good enough. He also plays for himself a lot, and his last half a season here was garbage.

So, when you factor in the media circus that comes alongside him, then coupled with the footballing reasons it equates to a resounding 'no' for the majority. But I wouldn't have him back on footballing merit either unless he actually realised some of his potential. Regarding Negredo, in half a season he scored 6 less than the whole of Balotelli's 2 and a half year City career. Talent doesn't always beat hard work, when talent doesn't work hard.

 

[the blue panther]

There are no footballing reasons to have Balotelli back.

Unlike Jovetic and Negredo he can stay fit. He can play up the top holding up the ball and is particularly great at the same thing all Italian strikers are: getting a ball over the top or through the middle and finishing one-on-one with the keeper which would fit our current team much more than the style we used to play where he was a bit of a square peg in a round hole. He can also do a job out wide and cutting side if asked to. He's as good if not better than Negredo but 5 years younger

He's popular with most of the staff/squad and Dzeko, Hart and Zabaleta have all said how much they enjoyed having him at City and playing with him. In addition to this he seems to have calmed down since his engagement and is much more professional on the pitch.

It's quite the opposite I find - people don't want him because of the circus he brings off the field rather than disliking him as an actual footballer.

He rarely did anything asked of him. It didn't work first time round, and there's no reason to suspect that he'd be any better 2nd time round. We don't need anyone like him when there are numerous dependable players as good if not significantly better and more reliable we could sign, and who wouldn't bring the unwanted baggage which does.

 

[stony]

There are no footballing reasons to have Balotelli back.

Unlike Jovetic and Negredo he can stay fit. He can play up the top holding up the ball and is particularly great at the same thing all Italian strikers are: getting a ball over the top or through the middle and finishing one-on-one with the keeper which would fit our current team much more than the style we used to play where he was a bit of a square peg in a round hole. He can also do a job out wide and cutting side if asked to. He's as good if not better than Negredo but 5 years younger

He's popular with most of the staff/squad and Dzeko, Hart and Zabaleta have all said how much they enjoyed having him at City and playing with him. In addition to this he seems to have calmed down since his engagement and is much more professional on the pitch.

It's quite the opposite I find - people don't want him because of the circus he brings off the field rather than disliking him as an actual footballer.

I always felt he was a red card waiting to happen. His reputation preceded him and this meant he was less likely to be given any leeway from refs. He got lucky a couple of times(the stamp on Parker) but for me its proof that his reputation off the pitch influenced his effectiveness on it. He loved the bad boy image and played up to it. The refs happily went along with it too and he picked up far too many red cards.
Does Negredo have a reputation as a sick note ? Its a bit unfair to say he can't stay fit because of one injury. Balotelli isn't fit to lace his boots, Alf produced more moments of brilliance in his first six months than Balo did in 3 years. Whats more, he comes without the attitude and is proper professional. For all his talent Balo is just playing at it.

Let's see how Jovetic does this year before labeling him a sick note too. He too is another player with the right attitude. If we get a full season out of him, he will eclipse anything that Balo has ever done.

Not sure about his supposed popularity in the dressing room either. There was plenty of reports of fights and bust ups with other players. Balotelli the player and person is someone who polarizes opinion, and not someone you want in your dressing room if you want a happy team.

Mario is more interested in being a celebrity than being a footballer. The team are well shut of him.

 

[Blue Til Death]

I would have him back any day, I think he would do well second time around and just to have him on the pitch playing the rags would be worth his wages.. !

 

[nijinsky's fetlocks]

Yes.

 

[m7mcfc]

I would have him back any day, I think he would do well second time around and just to have him on the pitch playing the rags would be worth his wages.. !

Made me smile.