Mario Balotelli [General]

[lickedlollipop]

..but i really don't understand how can they publish that and then go for public apology. don't they think first???

[Fosterbloke]

What was the cartoon supposed to say? What's the significance of the footballs being swatted away?

[Maxiedge]

Balotelli storming off the pitch last night at the final whistle. What a tool.

[dom9]

Balotelli storming off the pitch last night at the final whistle. What a tool.

Big deal.

[Phoenix07]

Balotelli storming off the pitch last night at the final whistle. What a tool.

He came back though, collected his medal and watched the Spanish celebrations.

[Maxiedge]

Big deal.

Not really. Pretty minor really.

[dom9]

Not really. Pretty minor really.

[Maxiedge]

He came back though, collected his medal and watched the Spanish celebrations.

He's a character, I'll give him that, but he's an over-rated footballer and a bit of a nasty character imo that gets away with alot by playing dumb.

Anyway, it's not worth discussing as dom9 has pointed out.

[saj]

He's a character, I'll give him that, but he's an over-rated footballer and a bit of a nasty character imo that gets away with alot by playing dumb.

Anyway, it's not worth discussing as dom9 has pointed out.

and he seems to have lost the ability to beat a player. At Inter, he looked like he could beat 3/4 players but not now. And I'm sure of the 17 goals he scored for City, about 7 were penalties.

[dom9]

More relevant is talking about his performance overall, which I wasn't that enthused with.

Commentators (Lawro) last night were commending him for trying so hard. I found it a bit strange that somebody playing in such a high profile game should be commended for trying hard. Every one of those players should have been (and were) trying hard.

Was he effective? I didn't think so. He had the ball a reasonable amount given Spain's dominence, but he wasted it almost every time. I don't remember him looking up at all. Had he been able to pass to team mates in a better position, he may have actually ended up with some decent chances, rather hitting and hoping from 20 - 30 yards.

Yes, he can score goals, but he's far from a complete player imo, and I'm surprised the Italy didn't have better.

[Maxiedge]

More relevant is talking about his performance overall, which I wasn't that enthused with.

Commentators (Lawro) last night were commending him for trying so hard. I found it a bit strange that somebody playing in such a high profile game should be commended for trying hard. Every one of those players should have been (and were) trying hard.

Was he effective? I didn't think so. He had the ball a reasonable amount given Spain's dominence, but he wasted it almost every time. I don't remember him looking up at all. Had he been able to pass to team mates in a better position, he may have actually ended up with some decent chances, rather hitting and hoping from 20 - 30 yards.

Yes, he can score goals, but he's far from a complete player imo, and I'm surprised the Italy didn't have better.

Yep, that sums up his performance. He's one of those players that divides opinion between people that love the game just for the entertainment value and those who also want to strip it down further and look at other facets like work rate, attitude, team spirit, decision making etc...

What he's shown on the pitch the last two years or so is completely disproportionate to the palaver and circus that follows him. As I said before, he's an interesting character in the modern game, can finish spectacularly (when he hasn't got time to think ) and as long as he's well away from Liverpool FC, then that's fine.

Not a fan and thought his childish reaction last night takes him back to square one. Was also very surprised by the lack of striking options for the Italians.

[destinydude]

He's not overrated at all. If anything he's under rated.

[dom9]

Go on...

[destinydude]

He's 21 FFS. Still pretty young.

[Shaggy]

He's going to be a Dad