Originally posted by Red_Polo
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How am I a racist?
Klopp on LFC vs MUFC (March 9th 2016) - "This is why I love football. This is why we watched it when we were young. I can still not have enough of it."
Always, keep your face to the sun, and shadows will fall behind you. -
I didn't call you a racist! But do you maybe fancy having a read over what you just said?
Like blood on ironComment
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What, that I said the Italian's are racist?
Most of them are, not all of course and racism is evident in all societies and countries but you don't see British fans chanting monkey chants at their own players.Klopp on LFC vs MUFC (March 9th 2016) - "This is why I love football. This is why we watched it when we were young. I can still not have enough of it."
Always, keep your face to the sun, and shadows will fall behind you.Comment
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Racist ****s the Italians are
and
There is a big problem with racism in Italy
Big difference innit.
Like blood on ironComment
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I think you realised that what you said was a tad overboard Slinky, hence the quick edit.
No big deal, we all make sweeping statements we regret at times, just that Red Polo isn't on hand to quote them all before the chance to edit..
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And i do know what you were trying to say Slinks.
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Spot-on advice a reality check for Liverpool new boy Balotelli
Aug 30, 2014 22:25 By Ian Doyle
Rodgers makes it clear from the off - there’s no special treatment, even for super Mario
It didn’t take Mario Balotelli long to realise that at Liverpool FC nobody receives special treatment.
The ink was still drying on the contract after completing his £16million move from AC Milan when the Italian made a polite if pointed enquiry.
“Mario asked who takes the penalties,” reveals Brendan Rodgers. “He is brilliant at penalties, and he knows it as well.
“But Steven Gerrard is our penalty taker.”
It was a gentle reminder of the striker’s place at his new club.
Balotelli may well have a fantastic record from the spot, but such seniority must be earned rather than instantly inherited.
That hasn’t always been the case for the controversial Italian, whose undoubted talent has too often been overshadowed by contentious behaviour both on and off the field.
Such antics have led to accusations of Balotelli being indulged at previous clubs, the most notable guilty party being Roberto Mancini, the man who gave him his debut at Inter Milan and who later brought him to Manchester City.
Ultimately, though, Mancini had his limits. And Rodgers, having previously warned of the dangers of pampering young footballers, has no intention of making Balotelli the ongoing centre of his attention.
“Young players are indulged, yes, but that’s not just with Mario,” says the Reds boss. “I’ve said this before. I see it with British players.
“The difference with Mario is he is a proven talent.
“I’m not going to criticise any club. I’ve not worked with Mario at Inter Milan, Manchester City or AC Milan. But you can give players too much (leeway).”
Rodgers adds: “Everything Mario does off the field gets monitored.
“A lot of what he does is kindness, I think. He does stupid things, yes.
“But for me, it’s just a case of making sure he is focused on his football and really makes sure this isn’t a circus around one player.
“This is a guy who I believe can help us. He is not the star of the team. It is about the team.”
Liverpool have already taken subtle steps to ensure the penny drops with Balotelli.
“Mario came in here and we were asked when the press conference was (for his signing),” says Rodgers. “We replied ‘what press conference?’
“He’s the same as every other player. We had no press conference for Adam Lallana or Lazar Markovic.
“It’s more a case of ‘get up the stairs, hold the shirt, get your photograph taken and get out’.
“He’s a good kid. But you can have young players feeling as though they are more than what they are and then the ego goes with it.
“Mario is a talented player. He is 24 years of age. But focus on the football and work your socks off.
“That’s what he has done this week. He has been working for 45 minutes extra doing extra training, specifics, practising free-kicks, even in the rain!”
Such work has put Balotelli in line to make his debut in today’s trip to top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur, a match that has taken on extra importance following the Reds’ 3-1 reverse at champions Manchester City last Monday.
And Rodgers has long since been made aware of the Italian’s attributes.
“Mario has wonderful charisma on the field,” he says. “I remember when I brought Fabio Borini to Swansea. He said the best player he had played alongside was Balotelli. They were in and around the Italy under-21 squad together.
“Mario has beautiful feet and a lovely touch on the ball - skill, power, pace, has a real aerial threat, and once he picks the element of how to be in this team, then you have a player who is a genuine world-class talent.”
Given the off-field fireworks, it’s easy to forget that Baloteli - who only turned 24 earlier this month - has won three Italian titles, an Italian Cup, the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup, as well as appearing in a European Championship final having scored two goals in the semi-final.
It’s a roll of honour few of his new team-mates can match.
“Mario has a winning mentality,” says Rodgers. “I recognise that whenever I speak to him.
“He came in at Man City and in his first season he won the FA Cup and in the second season he won the league.
“He is a winner. He has scored goals at the highest level for both club and country.
“When you see him working on the training field - and that has beenthe big thing this week - and you strip away all the background noise and all the stuff he is supposed to be and keep it simple, you see his qualities. They are clear.”
Not that Balotelli is the finished article. If there has been one continued shortcoming throughout his career it has been accusations of a lack of work-rate and fitting into the team ethic.
Rodgers, though, has already seen encouraging signs. “If you look at our team, with our intensity, pressure and press, that’s a big thing for us,” says the Northern Irishman.
“We had a few sessions on that this week, which was fun and interesting, but it highlighted what he needs to do.
“It also showed to me where other players were at before they came into here, and he is at the same stage they were at.
“Nobody ever associated Coutinho with pressing when he first came here, nor Sturridge or Sterling."
Rodgers adds: “What helped is that he played against us in pre-season in America and it was a big eye-opener for him.
“He actually said that AC Milan were almost acting like Liverpool’s reserve team, and talked about how he couldn’t get hold of Steven Gerrard playing in the deeper role. That’s how intense we are.
“Let us judge Mario over time. If we give him time, I’m sure he will be fine. You have to give the kid a chance.”
The same chance, as Rodgers would attest, as will be afforded every other player at Liverpool.
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Great article that. Rodgers is the polar opposite to Hodgson isn't he?
Hello mert.Comment
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Love reading stuff like that but hope we see it first and read about it afterwards.Go **** yourselfComment
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I wonder what happens if Mario wins a penalty? Will he hand the ball to Stevie or keep it for himself?Comment
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Course he'll hand it over.Hello mert.Comment
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Im not so sure. Lets seeComment
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Reckon he will ask the question...and get a clear response from Stevie."Its not about the long ball or the short ball, its about the right ball." Bob PaisleyComment
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Mario Balotelli
He'll probably take some just not when Stevie's on the pitch.
I think it'll force him to improve his shot accuracy anyway by not taking them - can't hide behind 'false' stats if that makes sense. 20 normal goals would be ideal this season.Hello mert.Comment
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Solid debut. Still rusty and getting reused to the pace of the league plus gelling with new teammates. He'll get there.
His defensive work was encouraging.I wear my heart on my profile name.Comment
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