Loaded Man said:
Weird character, Balotelli.
For a man who has spent most of his career perfecting the art of looking like someone who couldn’t care less about the togger, then his desperation to get his hands on the ball for the penalty last night all seemed a bit odd.
(As I heard someone say about him on local radio the other day, he looks like one of the few players who actually can’t wait for his career to finish. A bit depressing really).
That said, he played well when he came on last night – and offered that something ‘a bit different’ that we were crying out for – as he has done in the last couple of games, to be fair. Maybe there’s a player in there somewhere, after all….though I won’t be holding my breath just yet.
I think Henderson did well to diffuse the whole situation last night both on and off the pitch though. I like Henderson – good player - and displays all the required attributes of being a captain in waiting.
Gerrard really should have followed this lead in his post-match interview, and kept his opinions to himself whilst on national TV – got the distinct impression he was fuming about it when I watched it back this morning actually - but I didn’t necessarily disagree with too much that he said all in all.
A good result in the end last night in what was a hard fought victory.
Up the reds!
Last night showed us a few things. Henderson is a shithouse. He was the designated penalty taker, but he let Balo take the ball off him without so much as a whimper. Sturridge, who I initially thought was moaning because he wanted to take it, was actually telling him to man up.
It also showed that Rodgers hasn't got a fucking clue, the man is a fraud. He's letting his dislike of Balo come before the team, and the same can be said of Gerrard, who really should just have shut the fuck up.
It all smacks of a dressing room split with Gerrard and his fellow billy big bollocks mates getting their noses put out because of Balo.
Rodgers, Henderson and Gerrard all behaved unprofessionally. For Rodgers not to have Balo as his number 1 penalty taker is just fucking ludicrous. No matter what you think of the player, he is arguably one of, if not,
the best penalty taker in the world.
As for Balo, I doubt he will be at Liverpool more than a season, and for once he will have a genuine reason for not wanting to stay.
The most telling part of the whole thing was the huge cheer that went up from the kop when Balo took the ball. The fans knew who the best man for the job was, even if Rodgers, Gerrard, Henderson and Sturridge didn't.