Mario Balotelli [On the Road to Ballon d'or)

[dom9]

I'm amazed people think its acceptable for the club to wash it's dirty linen in public.

Is it? I don't think so.

[captainfog]

Is it? I don't think so.

Everytime the manager openly criticises Mario that is exactly what he's doing. Maybe I'm just a square from the past, but I'd like our club to sort out internal problems internally. Give the parasites in the media nothing to feed on.

[Cormack74]

Everytime the manager openly criticises Mario that is exactly what he's doing. Maybe I'm just a square from the past, but I'd like our club to sort out internal problems internally. Give the parasites in the media nothing to feed on.

I think that's a fair point.

By and large I don't think too many of his predecessors would have done it - at least not to this extent.

Except the Bodge obviously.

[Muddled]

Which is nigh on impossible in this day and age. What is Rodgers going to say during the various press conferences he has to attend? 'No comment'?

Everything Rodgers says can be twisted and manipulated to suit.

[dom9]

Everytime the manager openly criticises Mario that is exactly what he's doing. Maybe I'm just a square from the past, but I'd like our club to sort out internal problems internally. Give the parasites in the media nothing to feed on.

I disagree, again.

Some players need more carrot, others need more stick.

Brendan is a pretty intelligent guy. He knows exactly what he's doing.

Obviously you object to it. I don't.

[Buzzo]

I reckon he should change his name to Bario Malotelli.

[Fosterbloke]

I don't care what he says, if he eventually picks Balotelli to start then surely that says it all?

[baronvonskidmark]

Personally I'm inclined to think that, whether we agree with his course of action or not, Rodgers knows Balotelli's mindset better than any of us. Rodgers' strengths are not in the transfer market imo, but in coaching and managing to get the best out of players - maybe we need to just trust him here and have a bit of confidence in Rodgers' strengths as a coach.

[Muddled]

Personally I'm inclined to think that, whether we agree with his course of action or not, Rodgers knows Balotelli's mindset better than any of us. Rodgers' strengths are not in the transfer market imo, but in coaching and managing to get the best out of players - maybe we need to just trust him here and have a bit of confidence in Rodgers' strengths as a coach.

Amen.

[MrMichael]

Guy getting paid £100,000 a week thinks he can stand around not putting effort in to protect a crucial lead just because he scored a penalty, but the manager is out of order for mentioning it to the media in passing?

Seems a bit backwards to me, its not like Rodgers was making a huge issue out of it or anything but the fact is that Mario with the on-pitch attitude he appears to have arrived at Anfield with last autumn was an absolute disgrace (lets not pretend btw that putting in effort was a completely alien concept to an Italian international and ex Inter Milan player) and absolutely anything it takes to prevent him falling back into that is ok with me.

As long as Rodgers says the same thing to Mario's face in private then I don't see the issue and hardly think it qualifies as "washing dirty laundry".

[Slinky Skills]

I'm not a big fan of Balotelli and I've made that clear for a long time however, these past few appearances he's really shown signs of improvement and I thought he was excellent the other night when he came on.

Regarding Rodgers slating him in public. I'm in agreement with most and that is he shouldn't be doing it, he's best keeping it in house. If he's been positive in his training and preparation and so on then yes, tell the media that but there isn't any real need for the other stuff.

[BobTheCharmer]

Guy getting paid £100,000 a week thinks he can stand around not putting effort in to protect a crucial lead just because he scored a penalty, but the manager is out of order for mentioning it to the media in passing?

Did you see this happen? Because I didn't. There wasn't much defending to do as the ball was in their half. You really hate him.

[captainfog]

Guy getting paid £100,000 a week thinks he can stand around not putting effort in to protect a crucial lead just because he scored a penalty, but the manager is out of order for mentioning it to the media in passing?

Seems a bit backwards to me, its not like Rodgers was making a huge issue out of it or anything but the fact is that Mario with the on-pitch attitude he appears to have arrived at Anfield with last autumn was an absolute disgrace (lets not pretend btw that putting in effort was a completely alien concept to an Italian international and ex Inter Milan player) and absolutely anything it takes to prevent him falling back into that is ok with me.

As long as Rodgers says the same thing to Mario's face in private then I don't see the issue and hardly think it qualifies as "washing dirty laundry".

Yeah, well, I think your obvious bias against Mario is clouding your judgement.

[captainfog]

Did you see this happen? Because I didn't. There wasn't much defending to do as the ball was in their half. You really hate him.

Exactly.

[MrMichael]

Did you see this happen? Because I didn't. There wasn't much defending to do as the ball was in their half. You really hate him.

Right, so Rodgers pulled it out of his arse for no reason did he? Are you really suggesting that the manager, with all his access to prozone stats etc, would state that Mario stood about doing nothing after scoring if he hadn't?