I'd like to defend Balo but, looking at the incident objectively, you can't; for a nano-second he lashes out because he's getting frustrated at Parker's constant nagging and physical presence (he's done much the same when he was booked moments earlier). His reaction immediately afterwards -he quickly looks for Webb's whereabouts - evidences that he wanted to "send a message" to the Spur's player.
Anyone who's played the game at any level will admit to having done the same.
City are in the media gold-fish bowl now. It's the price of where we are. There's no way in a million years that the FA would fail to bring a charge here. Everything about City is big news and the FA will not want one of the stellar English clubs to be setting a bad example in the on-field/off-field behaviour stakes. If that's unfair, then so be it; it's the price of our "success".
My view is that the Club will accept the charge. The issue is how clever we can be in exploiting the appeal/disciplinary process in order to hedge the downside of Balo's 4-game ineligibility. If we contest the charge he can play against 'Pool, but we run the risk that he gets penalised for a frivolous appeal and they ban him for another game. Since our next three fixtures after Pool are Everton, Fulham and Villa, I think the club shold accept the charge today and stand him down immediately. In some ways, removing him from the "cauldron" of Anfield is advisable.
Final comment; the club need to get some serious life-coaches in to work with Mario and rid him of this "red mist" tendancy. You can still be aggressive and powerful, but you've got to be clever with it. At the moment Balo sometimes acts on the field as if he's under 5!
