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

[Chris]

You can take my post which ever way you like Chris but I'm done firing shots on the internet. My posting style obviously irritates you hence your cheap shots. I've said it to you before and I'll say it to you again if you have problem with me send a pm and we'll take it from there. Quit running your mouth behind your keyboard.

Shut up, Anderson Silva.

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.

Exactly, not really getting the problem here, Rodgers blasted him a few weeks ago and it's resulted in his best performances since he's been here, scoring or helping to score goals. Perhaps the guy who has been with him nearly every day for the last 7-8 months and sees him in training all the time actually knows what he's doing?!

[MrMichael]

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

And your equally obvious bias against Rodgers isn't?

[Kenneth]

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?

Indeed. But he did also say 'after he came on', which is more of a general comment covering half an hour, whereas 'after the penalty' was about 10 mins. He should probably have chosen his words better if he was making a more specific point.

[marcus50bucks]

Carragher called Rodgers stupid on super sunday for giving Balotelli stick in the press after his best week for the club. Bang on!

[captainfog]

And your equally obvious bias against Rodgers isn't?

If that's the case then why was I one of the few saying we should wait till the end of the season before deciding whether or not to sack him?

I've given Rodgers plenty of praise in the last 3 seasons. I've also given him plenty of stick when I feel it's warranted.

[BobTheCharmer]

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?

Well without seeing the evidence yourself you are very quick to take in Rodgers comments as gospel. It could be there was a single instance where Mario didn't close down and Brendan is using that as the point for his comments rather than your take that for some reason his weekly wage should become relevant and his was being a lazy cunt. Rodgers obviously saw something. Not sure it was worthy of making it public mind, however you can't wait to launch in.

[MrMichael]

Indeed. But he did also say 'after he came on', which is more of a general comment covering half an hour, whereas 'after the penalty' was about 10 mins. He should probably have chosen his words better if he was making a more specific point.

Yeah I did think that was a touch confused too, but I'd tend to go with the clarification he provided when asked, which makes it clear he was annoyed about what happened after the penalty

Pushed on whether he was content with the contribution Balotelli made, Rodgers said: “No, not really, no. We need to ensure that whatever level of the game we are playing at we have everyone working as a team but once we get the penalty he stops working. So he needs to improve on that facet of his game to play in his position, rather than standing on the side of the football field.

[captainfog]

I think Rodgers has more of an issue with the committee and he's using Mario as a stick to beat them with.

[Paddy]

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.

[dom9]

If that's the case then why was I one of the few saying we should wait till the end of the season before deciding whether or not to sack him?

I've given Rodgers plenty of praise in the last 3 seasons. I've also given him plenty of stick when I feel it's warranted.

I think you should keep your comments in house rather than airing them all over the Internet for all to see.

[RichC]

I'm sure Carra would call most on here stupid with some of the stick dished out to players the manager and the owners

[captainfog]

People been saying all season that Mario will play better when Studge returns from injury. Low and behold that is exactly what has happened. Publicly talking **** has probably had very little to do with it, if it had then it we would have seen Mario improve much sooner.

I'm not convinced he has improved that much, but goals make everything look better even if they are just a tap in and a penalty.

[MrMichael]

If that's the case then why was I one of the few saying we should wait till the end of the season before deciding whether or not to sack him?

I've given Rodgers plenty of praise in the last 3 seasons. I've also given him plenty of stick when I feel it's warranted.

Oh come on now, there was hardly a consensus among fans at any point this year that he should be sacked at any stage, let alone immediately, don't set yourself up as "one of the few" because that isn't accurate.

Clearly I am biased against Balotelli because I think he's a disaster of a footballer, and am quite ready to jump behind the manager (or anyone else) in any criticism of him, I freey admit that. However some people on here are, equally, quite ready to use any slight opportunity to stick the knife into Brendan and have been since the moment he took over at the club, and observationally you would have to come pretty high on that list.

The only difference for me is that unlike Mario, Rodgers has actually done some things at Anfield to deserve some faith and leeway.

[captainfog]

I think you should keep your comments in house rather than airing them all over the Internet for all to see.

This is our house, not my fault Mr Michael lets in a load of hoopleheads.

[dom9]

This is our house, not my fault Mr Michael lets in a load of hoopleheads.

We all live in an est1892 forum

An est1892 forum

An est1892 forum

Etc etc