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

[Kenneth]

If we find him frustrating imagine what he's teammates must think of him. If he continues to be ****e and greedy you'd have to worry about the effect on 'the dressing room'.

[topscorer]

BBC say he's had the third highest number of shots in the league and I think they said something like 14 shots on target. That stat has to be a lie. I can barely remember him doing anything all season never mind 14 shots on target and the third highest number of shots in the league.

[Bender]

Brendan Rodger has defended Mario Balotelli after Liverpool legend Jimmy Case branded the striker “a waste of space”.

In an incredible, crazy climax Steven Caulker’s own goal handed the Reds the points after QPR twice drew level in the final eight minutes.

But Case was scathing about Balotelli, who missed two gilt-edged chances – one an open goal that he blasted five yards over the bar.

Case said: “To be bitterly honest Mario Balotelli is a waste of space at the minute. He is just not a team player.”

Rodgers later stuck up for the Italian, saying: “It will drop for the boy. The most important thing for me is his work rate.”

Richard Dunne’s 10th own goal put Liverpool ahead in the 68th minute but substitute Eduardo Vargas hit his first QPR goal in the 87th minute.
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[Tee]

What work rate???!! That is the biggest issue for me, he offers no pressing and barely gives the creative midfielders decent enough movement to work to.

[G]

He's been so lazy in the past that any amount of running and tracking back is passed off as great work rate. It is great work rate in comparison to what he used to do but it's still pitiful. And he just doesn't make any incisive runs which is a massive problem for our creative midfielders. He runs if we are breaking forward and he might got in the end of something but he doesn't make runs that actually create opportunities for us. We simply can't play him on his own up top.

[Zapater]

What do you guys expect Rodgers to say?

'He has been with us for a few months now and his performances have been ****, there have been no positives and we wasted a lot of money on him'

Basically that's the kind of quotes some people seem to be looking for. Rodgers knows exactly what the issues are in his game, but to come out to the press and maul a new player who is short on confidence is hardly constructive.

[Bender]

What work rate???!! That is the biggest issue for me, he offers no pressing and barely gives the creative midfielders decent enough movement to work to.

There was a clip of him v Qpr when he just shrugged his shoulders

[Slinky Skills]

Summed him up for me when we scored through the Dunne own goal and he didn't even celebrate cos it wasn't his goal. Plays for himself, not the team.

Couldn't believe it when I saw it, oh wait. Actually I could.

Sean Dundee will be gutted, his status as worst ever forward for us is under serious threat.

There might have been worse players, but not by a lot. For someone who is supposed to be a finisher his efforts today were pathetic, with someone decent we'd have won that game easily despite playing badly imo.

Honestly, this "better with a partner" thing is just the latest in a line of excuses for him that just don't cut it. While it might make him slightly more effective within the team system.... and let's face it,he couldn't be worse... it won't actually change him as a player. He doesn't need a different style of play, or a manager that understands him, and he isn't tired either, he just isn't any good. Play him with the best partner possible and he will still stroll around aimlessly, fail to make incisive runs at the right time, and slash the ball into the stands 10 times a game when there are a ton of better options.

I have never seen a more wasteful player in a red shirt ever. When Sturridge is fit he shouldn't play with Balotelli, he should play instead and our actually good players like Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho might actually have someone to pass to whose ability matches their vision.

Scathing but absolutely true, every word of it.

[Vermilion]

Don't blame him for being gutted when Dunne tucked it away, same with the last og tbf, he was in great psoitions both times and is desperate to score, he must have been thinking...wtf is going on!! are QPR that desperate to stop me scoring!!

[Muddled]

What do you guys expect Rodgers to say?

'He has been with us for a few months now and his performances have been ****, there have been no positives and we wasted a lot of money on him'

Basically that's the kind of quotes some people seem to be looking for. Rodgers knows exactly what the issues are in his game, but to come out to the press and maul a new player who is short on confidence is hardly constructive.

You know it.

[Alex]

Mario scores a lot of his goals from dead ball situations if I recall. Could his inability to get a good start be down the the fact that Gerrard has them locked down? With a couple of others ahead for the freekicks too?

As has been said above, he is better than what we are seeing now. Lots better. I just wish he would start to show it.

[Kenneth]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRol8fqN91Y"]Funny Balotelli free kick - YouTube[/ame]

[Mark79]

Mario scores a lot of his goals from dead ball situations if I recall. Could his inability to get a good start be down the the fact that Gerrard has them locked down? With a couple of others ahead for the freekicks too?

As has been said above, he is better than what we are seeing now. Lots better. I just wish he would start to show it.

Gerrard has been sharing free kicks with him, he's even gone close with a couple of them. Either way, he still needs to score more from open play, especially the free headers and open goals.

[Lecter]

He needs a strike partner as he cant play up top on his own. In a front two he will get goals.

To be honest I dont think its just him that is struggling with our change in system

[Vermilion]

Funny Balotelli free kick - YouTube

Unlucky there tbf, wind got under it!