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

[Maxiedge]

Never rated him but, towards the end of the season, he was showing signs of actually taking on board some advice and made a few good cameos.

He has untapped potential, I really do believe that, but that means nothing unless he starts using his brain on the pitch.

Personally, I'd keep him as 3rd/4th choice over Borini and Lambert unless he's actually being a troublesome influence behind the scenes...

[frank the tank]

i can see us loaning him to someone like Sampdoria on transfer deadline day, Balotelli having an awesome season for them and scoring something like 28 goals, being joint top scorer at Euro2016.........and then we sell him for €5.6m..........


I just dont think Rodgers can rely on him. Plain and simple. With 10 minutes to go and you need a goal, then putting Balotelli on the pitch is like playing bingo..... he might go on that one time and make a nuisance of himself, or 9 times out of 10, he goes on and do sweet fock all. And that is when the manager starts to think, "i should have given that chance to Jerome Sinclair" or "i should have just chucked Skrtel up there for a few minutes".

The frustrating thing is that I reckon Balotelli looks fricken brilliant in training. Why else would he get chance after chance after chance whilst Lambert was left scratching his nuts on the sidelines.

I would like the club to just put a value on Balotelli. Say £9m or something - if anyone meets that then he can go, but if they don't then he stays with the group. You would like to think that with Origi, Ings and maybe another striker passing him in the pecking order, that would make Mario think of his professional pride, pull up his socks and get his head down and motivated. Coupled with the fact that he might still have some sort of ambitions to make the Italy squad for next summer, then we might have a half-decent player on our hands...

Another point is the lack of training ground time that Brendan aluded to last season. That might have affected him getting Mario aligned to the tactical requirements at LFC.....plus the numerous formation and positional tweaks that Brendan made last year can't have helped either. Maybe with a more settled team, then Mario can add some value...... (I'm clutching at straws here!!!)

[red g]

think you only have to look at how many times he was 'poorly' the last 3 months of the season to see that something is not right, Just cannot see anyway he will be with us at the start of the season.

[Nicey]

His old man has passed ... RIP YNWA ...

I am starting to warm to the idea of keeping Mario

[Daniel 7]

I'd love him to harness that physicality he has with the moments of crazy ability that we've seen from him playing for other teams. I think he's too ****ed up mentally to make the most of what he has though.

But yeah, sympathies Mario. Not a nice thing.

[Angryred]

Mohicans all around

Again!

[frank the tank]

i know this sounds ****in stupid......but looking at the photos from training today, Mario looks pumped up and focused..... if he has had a word with himself and decided to really get his head down and focus on his career, then it could be a good thing for the club........

[Gray]

All very well and good but where does the talent come from?

[baitman]

Frank, dont start going all mushy and rose tinted...

[kev776]

Get a ****ing grip - he is a Grade A biff, get rid, rip up contract if necessary, just get rid.

[G]

Get a ****ing grip - he is a Grade A biff, get rid, rip up contract if necessary, just get rid.

people been saying this ****e about Balotelli for years. He'll never learn, why should he. He gets paid millions for doing his job really half arsed. He's winning at life as far as he's concerned. He has no professional pride.

[-V-]

Maybe, just maybe the death of his adoptive father might make him grow up a bit and finally mature. He is still very young. He's posted up his new boots with his dad's name on them. Might just give him some sort of focus #clutchingatstraws

https://instagram.com/p/46o8EULj4p/?taken-by=mb459

[topscorer]

Maybe, just maybe the death of his adoptive father might make him grow up a bit and finally mature. He is still very young. He's posted up his new boots with his dad's name on them. Might just give him some sort of focus #clutchingatstraws

https://instagram.com/p/46o8EULj4p/?taken-by=mb459

I love your positive outlook but unfortunately I think you are #clutchingatstraws.

[Pablo]

Clutching at straws is what keeps the Mario myth going.

If he stays (I hope he doesn't), I don't expect him to be anything other than a waste of money again.

[Rich]

I guess there's a slight glimmer of hope that the passing of his adoptive dad will make him buckle down, I'd love for that to happen as I think he's very talented when he's on it. Just not going to happen though is it? And even if it did I don't think he'll get in a look in this season unless we have a major injury crisis.