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

[captainfog]

Scoring goals is only half the battle, Rodgers wants his strikers to put the effort in for the whole match.

last Thursday he put more effort in that Sturridge, but the manager made no comment about that.

He's **** anyway, but it's not right the way he's been treated.

[dom9]

Did he play last night?

[captainfog]

Did he play last night?

Nope, left on the bench. Must be depressing for him having Lambert and his massive head lumbering onto the pitch ahead of him.

[dom9]

Deleted

[captainfog]

That I think he should play ahead of Lambert.

[DannyMan2006]

last Thursday he put more effort in that Sturridge, but the manager made no comment about that.

He's **** anyway, but it's not right the way he's been treated.

Difference is that Sturridge is building his fitness up. Mario should be full of energy. Frustrating as in periods of games he does put the effort in, but if he's not getting the ball his head goes down and he stops putting effort in.

I fancy he'll play v Blackburn though, and he may even start. Just a hunch.

[chadrtc]

I'm quite surprised this needs spelling out, but it's clear he isn't performing as instructed by Rodgers. We've seen Mario putting more effort in of late, but that is mostly limited to chasing back. The standard of his pressing is awful... he hardly does it affectively and Rodgers has spelled out repeatedly that this is what he needs from his centre forward in this system.

Mario has scored a couple of goals and showed more willingness to put effort in, but he's still quite clearly not focussing that effort in the way the manager has instructed him to. That is the reason he's not playing much, it's nothing to do with being mistreated by the boss.

[BigChief]

I'm quite surprised this needs spelling out, but it's clear he isn't performing as instructed by Rodgers. We've seen Mario putting more effort in of late, but that is mostly limited to chasing back. The standard of his pressing is awful... he hardly does it affectively and Rodgers has spelled out repeatedly that this is what he needs from his centre forward in this system.

Mario has scored a couple of goals and showed more willingness to put effort in, but he's still quite clearly not focussing that effort in the way the manager has instructed him to. That is the reason he's not playing much, it's nothing to do with being mistreated by the boss.

We don't see what the manager sees. And the manager's little fingernail knows more about football management than all us posters put together.

[danperkins]

I'm quite surprised this needs spelling out, but it's clear he isn't performing as instructed by Rodgers. We've seen Mario putting more effort in of late, but that is mostly limited to chasing back. The standard of his pressing is awful... he hardly does it affectively and Rodgers has spelled out repeatedly that this is what he needs from his centre forward in this system.

Mario has scored a couple of goals and showed more willingness to put effort in, but he's still quite clearly not focussing that effort in the way the manager has instructed him to. That is the reason he's not playing much, it's nothing to do with being mistreated by the boss.

Balotelli is never going to be a CF that defends from the front. It's just not in him & that seems to be an integral part of what Rodgers is trying to do. We may see some chasing back and effort but ffs that should be standard in any player. Just because it's Mario that shouldn't be seen as some kind of achievement or improvement.

He is polar opposite to the way we want to play. My only hope is that if he does get some game time, that he can score a goal or two & not manage to anything ****ing stupid.

[Fivex]

I think he's wildly underestimated the numbers there.

[chadrtc]

Balotelli is never going to be a CF that defends from the front. It's just not in him & that seems to be an integral part of what Rodgers is trying to do. We may see some chasing back and effort but ffs that should be standard in any player. Just because it's Mario that shouldn't be seen as some kind of achievement or improvement.

He is polar opposite to the way we want to play. My only hope is that if he does get some game time, that he can score a goal or two & not manage to anything ****ing stupid.

I don't pretend to know enough to tell what the triggers are for our press, but lets suppose they keep happening repeatedly and Mario doesn't instigate the press. Our whole game plan then breaks down in that phase - if that is as I suspect the case (as Mario still doesn't really press), no wonder he isn't getting much time on the pitch.

[danperkins]

I don't pretend to know enough to tell what the triggers are for our press, but lets suppose they keep happening repeatedly and Mario doesn't instigate the press. Our whole game plan then breaks down in that phase - if that is as I suspect the case (as Mario still doesn't really press), no wonder he isn't getting much time on the pitch.

I think the simplest way to put it is, if Mario was succeeding at LFC...he would be a starter.

[fidget]

last Thursday he put more effort in that Sturridge, but the manager made no comment about that.

He's **** anyway, but it's not right the way he's been treated.

[McDermotX]

Big hand to this lad as well.......one good thing, and even that was helped on by a defender.

Still it must be hard when your teammates and manager hate ya.

[danperkins]

Big bad balo. ****e