Mancini - Balotelli

[argyle]

Fuck Redknapp.

The guy who did bugger all in his career, sat on the bench for most of it, could only sidepass the ball when he was on the pitch has the balls to say that a guy that has scored 17 goals is lazy and useless?

Sad thing is a lot of fans on here now agree with him.

I don't remember Redknapp writing off Drogba, Ronaldo, Rooney etc when they were young petulant brats.

For some reason when it comes to Mario everything is magnified, like only he has ever done a bad tackle etc.

 

[combster]

I know he hates Balotelli but Redknapp is more or less spot on IMO. Ignore his Shrek fawning though.

-

No respect for the fans or the shirt... it's time to sell Balotelli
By Jamie Redknapp
PUBLISHED: 22:17, 8 April 2012 | UPDATED: 22:17, 8 April 2012

When I look at Manchester City, I see a club divided: talented, professional footballers, people like Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, James Milner and Joe Hart.

Watch their faces as they left the field yesterday as the Sky cameras captured the hurt and pain after their defeat at Arsenal.

cant fault redknapp on mario everything he says is true ,mancini as backed him way to much
Then I look at Mario Balotelli.

This is a proper football club, a club who have suffered a great deal before reaching the position of title contenders.

The relegations and the heartbreak, while living in the shadow of their mighty neighbours.

When I watch Balotelli, I see a player who has no respect for the shirt, no respect for the history and no respect for the supporters who have been to the lower reaches of the Football League before suddenly finding themselves watching an oil-rich club who can compete financially with anyone in the world.

Balotelli has ability and he has scored 17 goals, including two in the 6-1 victory at Manchester United, but does his quality outweigh the negative shadow he casts across the club? No.

Sir Alex Ferguson must have watched Balotelli implode and had a quiet chuckle to himself. Manchester United have not been without their mavericks, but each of them - from Best to Cantona to Rooney - have a burning desire and a love of the game, a passion to succeed and a drive to be the best.

Rooney has not been without his problems. But he hasn't been booked in the Premier League this season and looks to be growing up.

Balotelli is incapable of growing up.

I understand at City, the feeling among the other players is that there is one rule for Balotelli and another rule for the rest.

If the owners are to sack Roberto Mancini for coming up short this season, then it is his handling of Balotelli that has exposed his failings as a manager more than any other. He signed him.

He knew what he was letting himself in for. When Jose Mourinho sold Balotelli, it was because he didn't believe he could change his ways.

Mourinho is the master motivator and can deal with egos. He couldn't deal with Balotelli. If the Special One is to be the next manager of City, Balotelli will be sold. No question.

On Sunday, he was wearing YOLO on his T-shirt, under his City top. You Only Live Once. Well, this is a player who has used up his lives.

I played with mavericks, players like my friend Robbie Fowler. But he understood it was about the team, not just about him. Balotelli doesn't get that. He doesn't get a lot of things.

He has failed his manager and his club. Even if they stay with Mancini, they should sell Balotelli. He is not worth the hassle and he proved it again on Sunday.

 

[argyle]

He made a terrible tackle. He will be rightly banned.

However he hasn't been the first and won't be the last. It's sad that some City fans have decided to turn on a player, with viciousness too, over something which has been done by good/great players before.

Did he jump into stands and kick and punch a fan? (Cantona)
Did he deliberately try to end someones career? (Keane)
Did he push over a ref? (Di Canio)
Did he head-butt a player (Zidane)
Did he deliberately fain injury and get a player sent off? (Rivaldo)

All those players had wonderful careers, and were seen as fantastic players regardless of whether you liked them or not.

People are acting like Mario's the worst player and person to have ever played the game.

He hasn't helped himself for sure, but too many fans have bought into the media bullshitathon concerning Mario.

You're totally right about overreaction. Mario's not cost us the league, he's simply one member of the squad who 'on balance' probably didn't offer enough to be worthy of a place at the club next season. It's not a hatred or vitriolic assessment, just a fair one I'd say (and he's not alone in not having done enough to warrant another season).

However, to you point about other famous players.

Those players won leagues (repeatedly), European Championships, or talismen that turned positively influenced the fortunes of their clubs. Is was those 'achievements' what afforded them an ability get away with some truly shocking stuff far worse than Mario.

Mario however, rightly or wrongly, will not be afforded that, since there's very little to 'counter' his actions. What all those guys did was shocking (Keane's being the worst of all - with genuine malice).

Mario shouldn't be hounded and made a scapegoat. But the fact remains. He should be let go. We're a fair club, we give players a chance (so I'd like to think), but we're also moving on and progressing, and we reward hard working players with a good attitude too don't we? What's it saying to players who can't get in the team, but graft hard... when you're pandering to Mario? At some point, the long term good of the team and club has to come before Mario.

They were fantastic players who did win things for those clubs. Mario could be the same.

Rooney, Ronaldo, Drogba, Anelka etc, were all petulant brats when they were younger.

Yet he won't be allowed that chance to become great either here or anywhere else in England, because for what ever reason anything he does is magnified and sensationalised. I mean if you were to hear and read Redknapps points only Balotelli has ever done a terrible tackle or been a problem player in his youth.

 

[didactic]

I know he hates Balotelli but Redknapp is more or less spot on IMO. Ignore his Shrek fawning though.

-

No respect for the fans or the shirt... it's time to sell Balotelli
By Jamie Redknapp
PUBLISHED: 22:17, 8 April 2012 | UPDATED: 22:17, 8 April 2012

When I look at Manchester City, I see a club divided: talented, professional footballers, people like Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, James Milner and Joe Hart.

Watch their faces as they left the field yesterday as the Sky cameras captured the hurt and pain after their defeat at Arsenal.

Then I look at Mario Balotelli.

This is a proper football club, a club who have suffered a great deal before reaching the position of title contenders.

The relegations and the heartbreak, while living in the shadow of their mighty neighbours.

When I watch Balotelli, I see a player who has no respect for the shirt, no respect for the history and no respect for the supporters who have been to the lower reaches of the Football League before suddenly finding themselves watching an oil-rich club who can compete financially with anyone in the world.

Balotelli has ability and he has scored 17 goals, including two in the 6-1 victory at Manchester United, but does his quality outweigh the negative shadow he casts across the club? No.

Sir Alex Ferguson must have watched Balotelli implode and had a quiet chuckle to himself. Manchester United have not been without their mavericks, but each of them - from Best to Cantona to Rooney - have a burning desire and a love of the game, a passion to succeed and a drive to be the best.

Rooney has not been without his problems. But he hasn't been booked in the Premier League this season and looks to be growing up.

Balotelli is incapable of growing up.

I understand at City, the feeling among the other players is that there is one rule for Balotelli and another rule for the rest.

If the owners are to sack Roberto Mancini for coming up short this season, then it is his handling of Balotelli that has exposed his failings as a manager more than any other. He signed him.

He knew what he was letting himself in for. When Jose Mourinho sold Balotelli, it was because he didn't believe he could change his ways.

Mourinho is the master motivator and can deal with egos. He couldn't deal with Balotelli. If the Special One is to be the next manager of City, Balotelli will be sold. No question.

On Sunday, he was wearing YOLO on his T-shirt, under his City top. You Only Live Once. Well, this is a player who has used up his lives.

I played with mavericks, players like my friend Robbie Fowler. But he understood it was about the team, not just about him. Balotelli doesn't get that. He doesn't get a lot of things.

He has failed his manager and his club. Even if they stay with Mancini, they should sell Balotelli. He is not worth the hassle and he proved it again on Sunday.

I now know Louise must have said she thinks Balotelli is handsome or even worse he fucked her. This is personal this is the same guy who said that Adebayor and his 13 goals are worth more than Mario and his 17.

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

Why does Mancinni stick with Balotelli. He should have been sent off and we should be down to 10, all would have been down to Mancinni.

Thankfully the ref missed it and he'll be banned in the week.

fucking wankers I want them both fucked off from my club ASAP

 

[FanchesterCity]

He made a terrible tackle. He will be rightly banned.

However he hasn't been the first and won't be the last. It's sad that some City fans have decided to turn on a player, with viciousness too, over something which has been done by good/great players before.

Did he jump into stands and kick and punch a fan? (Cantona)
Did he deliberately try to end someones career? (Keane)
Did he push over a ref? (Di Canio)
Did he head-butt a player (Zidane)
Did he deliberately fain injury and get a player sent off? (Rivaldo)

All those players had wonderful careers, and were seen as fantastic players regardless of whether you liked them or not.

People are acting like Mario's the worst player and person to have ever played the game.

He hasn't helped himself for sure, but too many fans have bought into the media bullshitathon concerning Mario.

You're totally right about overreaction. Mario's not cost us the league, he's simply one member of the squad who 'on balance' probably didn't offer enough to be worthy of a place at the club next season. It's not a hatred or vitriolic assessment, just a fair one I'd say (and he's not alone in not having done enough to warrant another season).

However, to you point about other famous players.

Those players won leagues (repeatedly), European Championships, or talismen that turned positively influenced the fortunes of their clubs. Is was those 'achievements' what afforded them an ability get away with some truly shocking stuff far worse than Mario.

Mario however, rightly or wrongly, will not be afforded that, since there's very little to 'counter' his actions. What all those guys did was shocking (Keane's being the worst of all - with genuine malice).

Mario shouldn't be hounded and made a scapegoat. But the fact remains. He should be let go. We're a fair club, we give players a chance (so I'd like to think), but we're also moving on and progressing, and we reward hard working players with a good attitude too don't we? What's it saying to players who can't get in the team, but graft hard... when you're pandering to Mario? At some point, the long term good of the team and club has to come before Mario.

They were fantastic players who did win things for those clubs. Mario could be the same.

Rooney, Ronaldo, Drogba, Anelka etc, were all petulant brats when they were younger.

Yet he won't be allowed that chance to become great either here or anywhere else in England, because for what ever reason anything he does is magnified and sensationalised. I mean if you were to hear and read Redknapps points only Balotelli has ever done a terrible tackle or been a problem player in his youth.

yes, but, it's not just about his future potential.

His potential is a 'gamble'... we don't know for sure how good he'll be (or not), what we do know is that there's a price to pay now. Is that 'price' today a worthwhile gamble for the future?

With Rooney and Ronaldo, they had a manager likely to be in situ for the long term duration...and in teams that already had significant success. Enough to 'nurture' a player into an already winning formula.
Anelka didn't get set off like Balo, he simply never settled.
Drogba had 3 red cards in 3 years.

I don't think anybody doubts Mario MIGHT become a wonderful player one day.
I just don't want City to be gambling on that happening when there are much 'safer' bets for a team trying that needs stability and establishment as CL regulars. If we're going to gamble, I'd rather buy Torres and take a punt on him shining at City.
City has been a merry go round of wild 'punts' for far too long. I'll stick with safe percentage footballers that are high quality, reliable and over the course of a season are a better bet at getting a positive return from them.

With most punts you have an idea of the least you'll get (not a lot), and a hope for the best you MIGHT get (loads of goals / contribution etc).
But with Mario, the gamble can go negative as well as positive, you don't know what DAMAGE he might do too. That's the problem with the Mario gamble.

 

[Marvin]

The worst thing is that even without the baggage, Mario does not deserve a starting place.

He has produced the odd special moment, but his overall game is not good enough.

 

[Jumanji]

Did Bobby really say he will probably sell Mario?

Can't find a link anywhere...help

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

When Mourinho, one of the best managers in the world, says Balotelli is unmanageable then you know he's trouble.

 

[Blue Haze]

Jumanji, here is one link

City likely to sell Balotelli at end of season - Mancini

By Mike Collett
LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Controversial striker Mario Balotelli will not be picked again this season by Manchester City and is likely to be sold at the end of the campaign, said manager Roberto Mancini after their 1-0 Premier League defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
Balotelli was sent off for the second time this season as City's hopes of lifting the top-flight title for the first time in 44 years were effectively extinguished at the Emirates.
"I have finished my work with him, I am finished today, but I love him as a guy," Mancini told reporters. "He is not a bad guy and he is a fantastic player but at this moment I am very sorry for him as he is continuing to lose his talent and his quality.
"I hope he understands he is in a bad way for his future and he must change his behaviour. He will not play again (this season) and I will probably try to sell him in the summer.
"He is a fantastic player but I can't continue to have Mario on the pitch. We have problems every time," Mancini said of his fellow Italian after Manchester United opened an eight-point lead over second-placed City at the top of the table.
"Every time we risk a sending-off, like today. Okay today it was in the last few minutes but you can score a goal in the last minutes."
Balotelli has kept the front and back-page headline writers busy with a succession of on and off-the-field antics all season.
The Italian international was lucky to stay on the pitch after a dangerous studs-up first-half challenge on Arsenal's Alex Song that the referee did not see.
Two separate yellow cards later for nasty challenges on Bacary Sagna meant he was dismissed in the 90th minute.
During the week Mancini said that if he had been a team mate of Balotelli in his own playing days he would probably have ended up punching him and even now he does not speak to him every day "because if I did I would need a psychologist".
MOURINHO REMARK
Having known him since Balotelli was a 17-year-old player at his former club Inter Milan, Mancini said he understood his good qualities too.
"I punished him earlier in the season," Mancini said, "and anyone who says I allow different behaviour from Mario to the other players - this is totally false".
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, during a spell in charge at Inter, once said Balotelli was "unmanageable".
"If Mario continues like this I probably agree with that," said Mancini, "but he is 22 and when you are young you make mistakes. But I hope for him, not for me, that he can change.
"I don't know if he will be banned for the next three or four games but now I need to be sure I have 11 players on the pitch and with Mario this is a big risk.
"It is clear he creates problems but he also scores important goals. It was Mario who scored two goals against United when we won 6-1, it was Mario who scored a penalty in the last second against Tottenham.
"But he needs to change if he wants to continue to play. I have seen a lot of players in my life like Mario that are fantastic and good guys but they lose all their talent and finish their careers in two or three years.
"That's where Mario is. He must change." (Editing by Tony Jimenez)

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/10185779" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/10185779</a>

Per Reuters