Mario could be in trouble again {merged}

[Anonymous]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

You may ask why I keep referring to others but I tend to feel that all players should be judged on a level playing field. Why should we always be the ones that have to be whiter than white?

With the exception of Adam (who I agree is a dirty dirty bastard), the rest of the players you refer to are part of Team England. You know they're judged differently, that's just the nature of the beast. Our England players are treated differently too ...

Anyway, I'm still judging Mario based on his indiscretions rather than anything someone else gets away with. The red against Liverpool is a prime example of his stupidity. Already on a booking he had no reason to challenge Skrtel the way he did. It wasn't malicious, but plenty of players in the league get bookings and red cards for high elbows. He was sent off for a similarly stupid challenge against Kiev last season. Honestly I can understand Mancini's exasperation with him at times.

 

[cleavers]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

I just think he's dumb and petulant and does things which really at the level he's playing at, he shouldn't be doing. To balance the argument, I personally love him as a footballer. He's comfortably the best forward we have, and when he's focused he's unplayable.

I don't think he's "dumb", in fact the impression I get is he's quite bright for a footballer, but he's 21, hasn't learned (or rather been taught) how best to behave (like most 21 year olds, in most walks of life).

I don't think Mancini is tired of him, in fact I think he see's it as a challenge to be won, and he's going about it the right way. Slowly but surely Mario is getting the hang of it. On the pitch his daftness has improved considerably in the last year, for instance no longer does he react to every referee non decision against him (and he gets more than most), so Mancini is winning there. Off the pitch we are still hearing too many things, but even these are getting less frequent.

As for his game, I've seen people describe his performance on Saturday as poor, but this amazes me, I'm sure (well hopeful) what they really mean is his finishing was poor, because from where I sit, everything about his game on Saturday was good, his movement was good, his work rate was excellent, he tracked back, filled in for Yaya in midfield a number of times, he was thoughtful in his play, he just didn't finish every chance he got, and nobody does. But he still scored the game clinching goal, with a very instinctive finish when he really shouldn't have expected to receive the ball at all. I don't believe his finishing had anything to do with being out late the morning before, it certainly wasn't his best performance but it was good enough for me.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

I just think he's dumb and petulant and does things which really at the level he's playing at, he shouldn't be doing. To balance the argument, I personally love him as a footballer. He's comfortably the best forward we have, and when he's focused he's unplayable.

I don't think he's "dumb", in fact the impression I get is he's quite bright for a footballer, but he's 21, hasn't learned (or rather been taught) how best to behave (like most 21 year olds, in most walks of life).

I don't think Mancini is tired of him, in fact I think he see's it as a challenge to be won, and he's going about it the right way. Slowly but surely Mario is getting the hang of it. On the pitch his daftness has improved considerably in the last year, for instance no longer does he react to every referee non decision against him (and he gets more than most), so Mancini is winning there. Off the pitch we are still hearing too many things, but even these are getting less frequent.

As for his game, I've seen people describe his performance on Saturday as poor, but this amazes me, I'm sure (well hopeful) what they really mean is his finishing was poor, because from where I sit, everything about his game on Saturday was good, his movement was good, his work rate was excellent, he tracked back, filled in for Yaya in midfield a number of times, he was thoughtful in his play, he just didn't finish every chance he got, and nobody does. But he still scored the game clinching goal, with a very instinctive finish when he really shouldn't have expected to receive the ball at all. I don't believe his finishing had anything to do with being out late the morning before, it certainly wasn't his best performance but it was good enough for me.

I agree with all of that Cleavers. The one thing I'll say is that he may well be 21, but he's a 21 year old who needs to grow up faster than most 21 year olds do. There's so much about him as a man and as a footballer that I admire. The racism he faced growing up alone is enough to forgive him having any sized chip on his shoulder. But as Mancini has reiterated over and over again, if he wants to be seen as one of the greats, then his behaviour simply needs to improve. There's no harm in him saying that because it shows that he cares and that he believes Mario can be one of the greats. We as a club need him to grow up because he can win us countless trophies and score countless goals for us. But he needs to be playing to do that, and Mancini's already shown that he's not afraid of dropping him for a prolonged period of time if he feels his head isn't right.

Maybe i am being overly harsh in some of the things I've said - I say them because I love him and want the best for him ... :)

 

[mancityvstoke]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

Most match going blues LOVE Balotelli

 

[Skashion]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

Not for the first time I almost totally disagree with BillyShears.

Firstly, the idea that off-field actions should affect on-field refereeing is totally absurd. We know it does but the idea that you would defend that behaviour kind of nullifies any point you may have had in pointing to the 'letter of the law'. The reality is that the game is not refereed to the letter of the law. The referee has enormous discretionary power and can treat two similar incidents completely differently and still be within the letter of the law.

Balotelli being dumb, no don't buy that, whatsoever. He's daft, occasionally petulent I'll grant you that. The two things are very different. One is fixable, one is not. Balotelli is intelligent, not just footballing intelligent but generally. Having said that I'm a staunch of a player having personality. Very few seem to. It's mostly harmless and nothing which impairs his football.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

He was apparently kicking off at the Trafford centre last night according to Twatter rumours circulating today

Was escorted off the premises because Super Mario refused to remove his hoodie.

Wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

He was apparently kicking off at the Trafford centre last night according to Twatter rumours circulating today

Was escorted off the premises because Super Mario refused to remove his hoodie.

Wouldn't be surprised.

He's a rebel y'know .... :)

 

[Super David Silva 21]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

He was asked to remove his hood but instead left the premesis very politely.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

He was asked to remove his hood but instead left the premesis very politely.

Maybe he just didn't want to be there .... Lord knows I'd rather be most places than the Trafford Centre!

 

[redmizzle]

Re: Mario could be in trouble again

He was asked to remove his hood but instead left the premesis very politely.

So it wasn't ''kicking off'' then.