Mario, time to say goodbye?

[Didsbury Dave]

Sometimes I think that when he's not played for a while, he's so frustrated that he's not played that he brings this extra aggression out onto the pitch when he does finally get on which is unnecessary.

I think that's a valid point. But I've seen players before able to turn that frustration into a match-winning moment of magic. Adam Johnson a couple of times recently, and who can forget Uve Rosler gesticulating to Alan Ball after equaliser in a derby at Maine Road?

So how do you channel that anger in the right way? I'm not a man who suffers greatly from the red mist, but I've known people who have. Am I right in thinking that to exercise any control over it you need to look at what they call Neuro Linguistic Programming?

Do we look at something like that for him? WE have specialists for every kind of physical injury. Why not send him to some real top dollar head doctors?

 

[Aphex]

I really can't buy into this agenda business

No matter what is said, how can football be corrupt? Sure the media have proved to be so.

I think if the ref could see an image of a player to decide a booking, it would stop all this tit for tat agenda business.

 

[Chris in London]

First, I would genuinely hate to lose what Mario brings us on the pitch. He is an exceptional talent. Even accepting that this comes at a price, IMO it is a price worth paying.

That has always been the case of course...the madness comes as part of the package. But the price is getting higher, not lower, and therein lies the rub. And Tolm makes an extrememly valid point...his reputation now has upped that price even further.

I agree entirely that it's a valid debate. I agree entirely Mario is a marked man I just disagree with the conclusion reached by some that we are better off getting rid.

With 4 fit and functining strikers, we would rotate them anyway. The problem is worse right now because of Tevez. But once we are up to full strength, we can look on Mario's inevitable suspensions as part of the rotation process...


;-)

 

[Juan King]

No way. We should back him.

 

[theperfect10]

Haven't read the whole thread, in fact I've only read the first and last pages but my two penneth;

1- His age. Whatever anyone says he can and will learn to deal with things. Imo, despite Sunday, this season has already been a huge improvement. He was sent off wrongly against Liverpool and may be suspended wrongly here too. I understand this is part of the problem but he has been only partly to blame for the games he has and will miss. If he improves as much next year as he has next he'll be well on the way to behaving more like a normal player.

2- His improvement on the field and his match winning ability. He has turned into a real important player for us to the point that when he doesn't start we are considered to be under strength. That's for a guy who is 21! I understand again that part of the problem is that he will miss too many games if always suspended but he is worth the risk, for now, based on what he has done on the pitch this season.

3- Mancini. The best thing about this is that Mancini as a player was as close to Balotelli as anyone has been over the past couple of decades. At the moment Mancini feels like the refs and the FA are against City and especially Balotelli but what would be best for everyone is if Mancini forgets all that and concentrates on looking after Mario. He more than anyone needs to get into the mind of the man because if he can't, no-one will. I would give it another season at least to see if Mancini can handle him even better than he already has.

4- The FA and refs. They cannot be allowed to dictate who we sign and sell. The comments by Poll absolutely disgusted me and confirmed all my fears about referee's. The FA are completely and utterly lacking in any kind of continuity and fairness. We should be creating a siege mentality against them and let them not that, whilst Balotelli is far from innocent, we will not allow there to be one rule for one and one for another. It is unacceptable that a club like ours would consider selling one of their best players because he isn't treated fairly. Would Fergie have sold Cantona?

This.

Balotelli's potential is too great to cast him aside. I want the future to unfold with Balotelli as a City player and I want him and the club to acheive great things.

Yes the pressure is immense at the moment, but we shouldn't let others influence our future, which by the way looks pretty damn good.

 

[lee-mcfc]

Leave it out mate - you clearly haven't understood the thread. He asks a valid question - is Mario's reputation making his position at the club untenable?

I have understood the question and i have disagreed and so have a lot of other posters in this thread,isn't that what a forum is all about?
but because its "tolmie's hairdoo" he's obviously always correct i suppose...

That's right, cite and hide behind other posters, safety in numbers and all that, that's what cowards and bullies tend to do.

You have not offered an opinion, you simply said you disagreed, without qualifying it, as others have also not done.

No need to make me out to be no more than another blue poster, trying to spark a relevant debate and being interested in other people's opinions.

So it's okay to defend one of our players, yet feel the need to tar a fellow blue?

Question for you - do you think the owners and Mancini will be happy about this latest situation?

bullying by saying your one of the "respected posters" on here? Erm ok..

and obviously no he and the owners wont be happy about this as balotelli looked like he was turning a corner and starting to get his head down but the last thing mancini would do is get rid.

 

[Anonymous]

Is there then a challenge there for squad rotation?
Is there a liability if he is being rotated?

Personally I think Mancini should bollock him before he takes the field. Remind him to not lose his shit the first time he feels he's been wronged by the ref!

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone care to hazard a guess at how many games he's missed due to injury or suspension since he joined...?

For me that's what this is going to boil down to. Mario is what he is - there's little chance of him having some life changing epiphany and change his attitude. The club need to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. ie. can we keep him fit suspension free for long enough to make a big impact on a season.

Right now it's difficult to for me to call. I love him as a player and agree he has the potential to be the best. But I also think he did stamp on Parker, and regardless of whether he meant to do it or not, to every neutral football observer on the planet bar one or two, it looked for all the world like it was deliberate. He's let Mancini down massively, and as much as he has the backing of nearly every Blue around (me included) he has let us down as well.

Personally I don't think he'll get sold this summer simply because nobody in Italy can afford his transfer fee never mind his wages. However, with Carlos on his way out, and Dzeko being nothing but consistently inconsistent - we need another forward player this summer. Without question...

Just to pick up on one point, in the form of a question:

Are you still the same type of person you were at 21 (apologies Billy as I assume you are more my age than a young 'un!)?

If you aren't, is it because you had an epiphany or did you just 'naturally' grow up?

 

[RodneysMarsh]

Question for you - do you think the owners and Mancini will be happy about this latest situation?

What worries me is given how well connected you are, you are just trying to position the idea that Mario will be moved on. I hope not.

City will succeed with or without Mario; but I hope he will stay and reading this thread, so do the majority.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

First, I would genuinely hate to lose what Mario brings us on the pitch. He is an exceptional talent. Even accepting that this comes at a price, IMO it is a price worth paying.

That has always been the case of course...the madness comes as part of the package. But the price is getting higher, not lower, and therein lies the rub. And Tolm makes an extrememly valid point...his reputation now has upped that price even further.

I agree entirely that it's a valid debate. I agree entirely Mario is a marked man I just disagree with the conclusion reached by some that we are better off getting rid.

With 4 fit and functining strikers, we would rotate them anyway. The problem is worse right now because of Tevez. But once we are up to full strength, we can look on Mario's inevitable suspensions as part of the rotation process...


;-)

The thread was playing Devils' Advocate, nothing more.

Personally, I love Mario to bits, I don't see or speak to a blue who doesn't.

Now taking that out of the equation, forget the press aspect, also.

Mario IS a marked man and will continue to be so until he leaves English football.

Call it corrupt, calling agenda, whatever you want.

He is a convenient scapegoat for opposition fans when we play away from home, a leverage every time he attempts a physical challenge.

The Parker incident will ramp this up x10. Mario can act like a saint, but in the eyes of officials, they will continually have the instinct to act first, ask questions later.

They are covered either way by the rules and retrospective action.

Doesn't help us if we are down to ten men at Old Trafford and the ref decides two days later he got it wrong.