Mario, time to say goodbye?

[Anonymous]

No way. Back him 100%. Stick with him through this rough patch. Show him the love next time he plays, and reap the benefits for many years to come. Has the talent and the right manager to become a legend here if we stick together and stick two fingers up to all the jealous wankers getting on his case.

This ^^^ If the dippers can stick by a player done for racism the I will stick by a player who just needs to grow up ..

Agree with both these...

 

[waspish]

Say city Rang up Napoli and put this deal to them would they take it?

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Agreed, I'm sorry but you cannot trust the guy. He is a liability and unfortunately he will never rid himself of the stupid Self Destruct Button he has in his head.

I want him to do well and want him to realise his potential with us. Just cannot see it happening.

This is not a knocking thread, Matt.

Some of the best players ever had a self-destruct button.

However, in the current showbiz and social media times, Mario is the national whipping boy, justified at not on occasion.

 

[bobmcfc]

It's bigger than Mario. It's about sticking two fingers up at the establishment and old boys club. They don't fucking like us, do we care ?

 

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

Love Mario. he is different but sometimes stupid...He is young and will learn in time-I hope.

If we get rid then we lose.

Take the ban and move on.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

Cowardly to get rid and one thing Mancini isn't is a coward.

He gets a raw deal and he causes some trouble but he has the potential to be the best player of his generation. We would be mad to let him go. Once we win the league the way he is treated will change and this will change the way he responds.

We need to replace Teves not Balo.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

I'd rather he stuck two fingers up by getting on with it and having the kind of impact on games that he had at old trafford. He is good enough to play a big part in us winning the league despite getting targetted by officials. Needless to say that someone needs to make it clear to him that the best way to piss people off is to give them as little ammo as possible. We need a 4th striker this window imo anyway so the last thing we should be doing is letting him go.

 

[samharris]

If we get rid then we may as well bend over and take a big FA & media cock up our arse every week..

Dont let the fuckers win..

 

[GStar]

Anyne saying get rid, imo, has a poor attitude.

If Mario doesn't lash out, he doesn't get these kinds of backlashes. Mancini is the best manager for him and the PL is a better place with him in it.

Managers should be expected to manage and coaches coach... do your job and get the potential out of Mario Balotelli. There's few with his skill and mentality combined, we'd be foolish to let him go.

Before this latest outburst, he was winning over collumists, commentaters, general football fans. He's not bigger than the game and he's not been villified by everyone unless he's caused it himself.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Whilst there is no dispute to the wealth of natural talent Mario has, it's a wider question.

Sometimes you have to let go the ones you love, for the good of the main parties concerned.

Mario WILL NEVER realise the player he needs to become in this country. I have reached this conclusion over the last 12 months.

His previous will continue to be raked up and as a result, his future, massively impacted.

A yellow card is the default position for every game he takes part in, justified or not, as reputation proceeds him.

As a result of the Parker incident, and the moral outrage over every cough and splutter, it is only going to get worse.

I believe a ban is warranted for the latest foul-up, and he has again let himself and us down.

I just think it would now make good sense between now and the window to stick two fingers to the system and sell him in exchange for another top class striker.

We are only delaying the inevitable IMO. Mario has become larger than the game itself in this small-minded country and his character and talent is why WE LOVE HIM.

But sometimes you have to do right by the ones you love.

I suppose we should continue to trust the powers-that-be at City, but if down to me, I would consider a swap proposal for Cavani at Napoli right this minute.

Naples, outside of Madrid, might be the only footballing town big enough to protect their own.

Interesting premise and subject, Tolm, but for me, the answer is No. Not now. In summer we should certainly look at it, but I'd question how many teams would pay him anything like what we do.

With genius often comes madness, and I still sense that that genius is yet to come from Mario. He has all the attributes - pace, strength, skill, a finish, movement, workrate - to be one of the best in the world. He isn't that yet, but he's shown enough to be first choice for us and to convince me that when he "clicks" he'll be unplayable.

Give him a final warning, another kick up the arse, accept the rough with the smooth and try to squeeze another 10 goals out of him before summer. Then review.

He'll be far from the only player in the game with a reputation. Some have used it to their advantage.