Shearer on Balotelli

[SWP's back]

I loved how desperate they were for him to fuck up the penalty... Hanson especially, fucking lot of them started shouting "Come on Joe!".

They were not playing around either, you could hear in the tone of their voice how much they hated him.

It was pathetic right from the start of the programme when Hansen was saying that Mario always "divides the dressing room", an accusation that is frankly laughable when you see the reaction to him from the other City and ex-City players (e.g. Given) he's played against in this tournament.

You and I must be living on different planets. I thought it was widely acknowledged that Balotelli divides opinion - be it with the fans (on the forum or in the stadium) be it in the dressing room. We all remember the 'that's your boy!' shouts at Arsenal, and him being pulled away from the free-kick at Sunderland, and the fights he's had at training. Even Mancini's divided over him. Whether you think he's a good player or not, I'll have to disagree that Hansen's accusations are 'frankly laughable'. To tell you the truth, I think he could be onto something there.

On a different note, I'd like to see Alan Shearer lose his job at the BBC. I just don't get what he brings to the team.

Oh just fuck off. Balotelli couldn't be more popular in the dressing room.

As an aside regarding Balo, granted he is no Welbeck, but he's a decent player.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Perhaps the Italian commentators said the opposite on their coverage, that Balotelli was saying something positive and Gerrard was being his miserable-looking self?

is that relevant? The fact is the Italian commentator probably did not scrape the barrel in the same way, and we can only comment on what we hear ourselves from our own commentators and "expert" analysers - which was pure unadultered shite all night, a large chunk of which was juvenile anti-Balotelli bollocks - a garbage performance from England, a far worse performance from the bbc

My point is that England's broadcasters were sticking up for their team and having a pop at Balotelli in the process, (not like he doesn't do himself any favours is it?). The Italians may well have been doing exactly the same.

yes I understand your point but I do not agree with it - the comments about Mario last night in my opinion went way beyond national bias, it verged on something more sinister - have a read about some of the stuff that black players at Liverpool used to go through - not just from the fans but from people within the club, senior players etc - particularly the likes of (Howard?) Gayle - Hansen and Lawrenson regularly show themsleves as petty amd small minded, that might be the least of their problems

 

[Pigeonho]

is that relevant? The fact is the Italian commentator probably did not scrape the barrel in the same way, and we can only comment on what we hear ourselves from our own commentators and "expert" analysers - which was pure unadultered shite all night, a large chunk of which was juvenile anti-Balotelli bollocks - a garbage performance from England, a far worse performance from the bbc

My point is that England's broadcasters were sticking up for their team and having a pop at Balotelli in the process, (not like he doesn't do himself any favours is it?). The Italians may well have been doing exactly the same.

yes I understand your point but I do not agree with it - the comments about Mario last night in my opinion went way beyond national bias, it verged on something more sinister - have a read about some of the stuff that black players at Liverpool used to go through - not just from the fans but from people within the club, senior players etc - particularly the likes of (Howard?) Gayle - Hansen and Lawrenson regularly show themsleves as petty amd small minded, that might be the least of their problems

So you think their taunts are because they are racist then?

 

[The perfect fumble]

On and on it goes....

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/euro2012/4392697/Wayne-Rooney-and-Mario-Balotelli-verdict.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... rdict.html</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro2012/article-2164146/Euro-2012-Mario-Balotelli-watch-v-England.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro20 ... gland.html</a>

would you expect anything different from the scum and ian ladyboy?

You're right, if you add up all things Balotelli has done that have "earned" him this bad boy title they add up to very little. Where are the players limping from broken limbs courtesy of Mario, who's wife has he shagged, what drug tests has he missed, what racist slurs has he uttered, where's the cheating, the fights, the spiteful Twitter messages the bad mouthing of fellow players?

 

[GStar]

I'm getting bored of his 'wacky' antics.

For the most part he didn't trouble Lescott, the times when he broke our offside trap, he still didn't convert. He reduced himself to blazing shots over from 30+ yards or diving at the slightest contact.

He's not changed from the player who nearly cost us the league and who's subsequent suspension coincided with our return to form.

The frustration is his goals against the likes of Everton and Spurs helped us gain points, and of course his pass to Aguero on the final day.

But whils the's still unable to control his head and his form is streaky i don't think he'll be comanding a starting spot for us come August.

 

[Deleted member 14625]

Several things as I seethe over my coffee this morning:

1. Shearer is a remarkable cock. He also had a failed career. What? Top Premiership scorer, I hear you protest. And what did he win, for all his goalscoring prowess? ONE premiership medal. With that many goals you should have a handful. Which is what Balotelli already has.

2. Mark Lawrenson personifies everything that is wrong with BBC coverage: self-serving, patronising, irreverent, and blinkered. Lawrenson sounds like he is auditioning to be the pantomime dame. Off-mic jokes (that he laughs at himself), banal comments, ignorant analysis, and constantly pulling focus. With his voice and his hair he is the perfect Widow Twanky.

3. England progressed pretty much as far as they could. If they had beaten the Italians it would have been a mugging.

4. Having watched Balotelli take penalties all season, let there be no doubt, that was the best one he has ever put away. Mario knew Joe would not commit and so he had to put it away deep in the corner and with pace. Joe guessed right but just couldn't there quick enough. Balo knew he had to step up in order to beat Joe. Great penalty.

5. Ashley Young: shit tournament, worse penalty.

Can't see past the Germans, now.

But did you hear Lawrenson when Mowbray was talking about moles?
Lawrenson; "Moles?...do you mean spies in the camp?"
Mowbray; "no, i was talking about the dark hairy ones"
Lawrenson; "ooh, nice!"

Now that was funny!

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

I think both the ITV & BBC coverage of this competition has been shite I mean Roy Kean FFS!
But last nights by the BBC was just embarasing, Mark lawrenson is one of those blokes you move away from in the pub, thinks he is funny but just sounds like a pratt, stupid little comments all night about Mario, & when they went back to the panel it sounded like they were all sat in a dustbin?

That sums up Lawrenson perfectly.

 

[BluePurgatory]

I loved how desperate they were for him to fuck up the penalty... Hanson especially, fucking lot of them started shouting "Come on Joe!".

They were not playing around either, you could hear in the tone of their voice how much they hated him.

It was pathetic right from the start of the programme when Hansen was saying that Mario always "divides the dressing room", an accusation that is frankly laughable when you see the reaction to him from the other City and ex-City players (e.g. Given) he's played against in this tournament.

The Beeb need to take a long hard look at tonight's coverage, it was as poor as England's showing from HT onwards.

Apparently a couple of days before the game a english journo tried to interview Mario. Mario replied in english "I dont speak English" Class if true!

 

[shadygiz]

I'm getting bored of his 'wacky' antics.

For the most part he didn't trouble Lescott, the times when he broke our offside trap, he still didn't convert. He reduced himself to blazing shots over from 30+ yards or diving at the slightest contact.

He's not changed from the player who nearly cost us the league and who's subsequent suspension coincided with our return to form.

The frustration is his goals against the likes of Everton and Spurs helped us gain points, and of course his pass to Aguero on the final day.

But whils the's still unable to control his head and his form is streaky i don't think he'll be comanding a starting spot for us come August.

now now chris, thats my boy you're dissin' there ;/

 

[GStar]

Haha, i've defended him in the past, we need characters like him in the PL... in football in general.

He just needs to get the balance between ecentric and footballer. The novelty is just starting to wear thin as the returns are few and far between.

Saying all that i still back to come good.