02 Feb 2015 12:29:24
Have we completely written off Balotelli yet or is there anybody who still thinks he may come good?
I myself have a shred of dying hope that he might finally buck his ideas up and be a decent back-up striker, but i think it'll happen far too late for him to realise his full potential. Like it or not though, we're stuck with him until his contract runs out because nobody is going to buy him for what we want.
We can either perservere with him as a squad player, or pay for him to go out on loan to Italy (like we did with Aquilani) until his contract runs down. I'm really dissapointed that our coaching staff couldn't succeed where others had failed. I genuinely had faith in Rodgers to get the best out of him and Balotelli to finally change his attitude. Clearly my faith in both of them was misplaced.
Me as well. We had no plan for him hence, we are just as responsible for his failure as he is. Will he come good? Nobody knows now because Sterling is the new striker now so he will be the start along w/ Studge. IMO, we should just sell hi and stop messing about w/ trying to get too much mony because frankly, NOBODY will even pay 10m-12m for him because of his past and present as well as everyone know we are desperate to get shot of him. Get what we can get for him so he can carry on his career and we can move on as a club.
02 Feb 2015 12:54:42
I think Balo would play best for us playing behind Sturridge, I think that would give him the space he needs to play the sort of football he does. he's not been great so far but I would like to see him given more time to play and then make the decision at the end of the season.
02 Feb 2015 12:59:14
Can easily see him as the kind of player we take a hit on to get rid of the wage bill and who spends the bulk of his career in America or the Middle East because he wouldn't do the work required to make it in a top league
{Ed002's Note - I would think that he will return to Italy at some point.}
I am not disappointed in the coaching staff.I am disappointed in the committee for even thinking it could work.
As I said at the time, a multitude of managers couldn't get him to show the right attitude. He only has himself to blame when he's not looked back upon fondly. This will hopefully be a good lesson in how to to engage in transfers.
Sorry to say but any one who thinks he will still come good is deluded. An expensive lesson for BR, the staff and FSG. and I'm sorry to say the fans that love ''marquee'' signings
The thing is though Bob, BR is part of the Committee. He could have said 'no' just like he did with Remi (as Ed001 or 2 mentioned). BR wanted him because he thought he could work on him and get him to do a job for LFC. This, despite BR knowing that he didn't fit into any system that he (BR) would be employing. It's what happens when one goes on a last minute, bargain hunt panic buy. Btw, I wouldn't call him a marquee signing as such.
{Ed002's Note - Would Ings be a "marquee signing in the summer?}
Wonder if anything would have been different, for the better, had Sturridge not had injuries.
I recall a good game against Spurs, maybe a good partnership would have continued?
If it wasn't for pointless internationals and poor training while away from LFC we may have found out.
Balotelli not a marquee signing, Come of it?A big name, clearly big wages, well known and many of the board predicting him to hit 20 goals a season. .In fact almost every one was using that definition at the time regarding him from pundits to fans
Also I am fully aware that BR is part of the committee.Why you have brought that up I don't know. Just as BR could have said no.I imagine the others members could have altered their positions, so clearly to rest or atleast majority of that committee wanted him too. I don't know what point you are trying to make there in all honesty. I mean if it comes down to BR wanting him against the committee and the player being bought, what's the point in the committe. so surely some of the other must have agreed. Like I say it's an expensive lesson for every one involved.
It was a high risk transfer which I was disappointed the club proceeded with - not sure why anybody believed the coaching staff would somehow work a miracle where other high quality coaching staff had failed but I have to say Balotelli's time here has been completely predictable.
02 Feb 2015 15:04:03
Probably Eds, but I just can't see him doing much there anymore - he's been hit and miss there so far at best, and it's been the weakest of Europe's top 5 leagues for a couple of years now
02 Feb 2015 17:16:27
They was Predicting Balotelli to hit 20 goals a season ?!!! In the Prem?? Who was???
These people need sacking if they did because they know nothing about football?!!!! Even my son says Balo's awful infront of goal on FIFA so I don't know where these 'experts' are getting their ideas from.
Mario Balotelli thinks he can just walk around and be amazing. Like Bergkamp or Zlatan,,, but in all honesty plays like more like a one legged 59 year old Berbatov getting a piggy back off a slug
I predicted he would score less than ten and ed 1 agreed with me. I do hope to be proved wrong
02 Feb 2015 17:56:41
Maybe your son is the one awful at Fifa DBol, he's clinical for me and scored 50+ in all competitions second season!
I don't think Balotelli has ever hit for 20 in his career and he only had 7 from open play all last year at Milan.
I think I had guessed he'd get about 8 this season, apparently I was wildly optimistic.
Well I was mainly talking about people on here claiming he'd score 20 goals a season, I even had a littler £10 wager with EMS which I'm hoping he'll honour.
2 pundits said he was worth the gamble given his goals to return lawro, and I think Keown when I was watching footy focus. (Lwro 2 months later subsequently said he never understood why Liverpool bought him and he shouldn't have been in considertion)
02 Feb 2015 20:16:41
Haha Probably hjikle. . Anyone who's watched football regularly over the past 5 years knows Mario isn't a goalscorer. Certainly thought he had the tools to be world class player though when you remember him as a teenager. Sadly his attitude has destroyed his ability
BTW sidenote (EMS I found the thread) if Balotelli doesn't start banging them in you'll be £60 down