Mario Balotelli (Liverpool -> Nice)

I think this is a pic of the so called incident

I think this is a pic of the so called incident

His leg is with the shoulder not with head 1st thing plus he was jumping to hurdle a tackle.

His leg is with the shoulder not with head 1st thing plus he was jumping to hurdle a tackle.

Not looking at him either, usually that is the first thing to look for.

I think this is a pic of the so called incident

The Wolves bench look to be fine with it.

One even looks as if he is smiling.

There was a similar incident in our game last season behind closed doors against Burnley when Suarez supposedly butted someone in the chest( probably just a badly timed bite ? )

 

One even looks as if he is smiling.

He probably plays in the same position and thinks he will soon be back in the first team

£50,000 worth of Mario Balotelli replica shirts were sold on the day he signed from AC Milan'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/11087203/Liverpool-striker-Mario-Balotelli-sold-50000-worth-of-shirts-on-day-he-signed-with-Anfield-club-says-Ian-Ayre.html

Time to step up on Saturday if he gets the nod ahead of Lambert.

Or together

Pity Studge got injured, Mario looked a few games off match fitness/sharpness against Spuds, ideally could've been doing with a few more with Studge also in the side. So if he starts, its a far chunk of pressure on the lad, leading the line at home after just arriving in the door.
Still, don't get the impression Mario is shy - and even if not looking 100% sharp, he got into good positions against Spurs and the ability is there.
So  ... g'luck Mario, we're rootin for ya!

Just bought a dog - wee west highland terrior / poodle cross (guarantees mental!).

Wee guy insisting on calling him Mario.

He'll come good this 'un.






And the mutt!

Going to bang a couple of goals tonight

Absolutely cracking finish and got plenty of praise off Stevie in the post match and rightly so.

When you consider his fitness levels are probably a bit below the main group he's doing very well, well in Mario.

His getting too much stick Imo. People who complain about him coming deep, it's what any striker does when being isolated up top, don't expect Mario to be any different.

Impressed me today, tracked back well and held the ball well and linked up positively with those around him.

Showed great persistence and awareness in his goal, his strength and first touch was great to set him up for that quick instinctive finish.

Here's to many more Mario.

Worked his socks off and took his goal really well. You can see with a few more games under his belt he will deliver the goods.

Worked hard, with little support and not much space or time.
Great work to create the space for his goal.

Fantastico.
Magnifico.

Interesting you two lads say he worked hard as I was listening to 5Live on the way home and they were talking about him not working hard.

I think many in the media have made their mind up about Mario and take little notice of what he actually does.

Thought Mario took his goal well, showed one or two nice touches, starting to get into his stride. Look forward to a few more goals, in the near future.

Interesting you two lads say he worked hard as I was listening to 5Live on the way home and they were talking about him not working hard.

I think many in the media have made their mind up about Mario and take little notice of what he actually does.

Definitely, Gerrard come out and when asked about how important the goal was for Balotelli said the bigger plus was him working his socks off for us.

And that he did, obviously he didn't go after every ball but he was pressing a lot and even was defending deep when needed, even saw him shout at Borini to press.

Media would probably say his finish was a fluke too.

Interesting you two lads say he worked hard as I was listening to 5Live on the way home and they were talking about him not working hard.

I think many in the media have made their mind up about Mario and take little notice of what he actually does.

Worked his socks off mate, saw him plenty of times tracking runners and when he was the deepest of our attackers he'd take the responsibility of trying to get back in. Including when he lost it of course.

Think his movement is slightly off the pace but so is his fitness, as you say there's a lot of preconceived ideas regarding Mario, for me he's started with a clean slate and done very well so far.

Not to mention they had 3 around him nearly all game and he did some terrific hold up play, stick Studge alongside him and we'll get much more out of him and I'm really looking forward to that partnership slapping in goal after goal and silencing all those critics.

Problem is about the media, is they say a leopard never changes it's spots. Now s the time to prove that theory wrong.

One thing is he never really celebrates his goals but he looked pumped up when he scored today. Great signs.

Took his goal well but I think he was very static when we actually had the ball. Just stayed in the one spot on the line of the defence and never really made any runs behind the lines. Never seen us play more crosses or long balls either, which I hope is not a tactic we will us in the future just because he is big and strong.

Worked his arse off in defence though and his finish was lovely.

One thing is he never really celebrates his goals but he looked pumped up when he scored today. Great signs.

Doesn't believe in it or something does he? Remember reading he said something about it being his job to score so he doesn't celebrate, like you don't see a postman celebrating when he delivers letters.

He could get more goals if he spent more time in the box rather than lurking outside/on the edge of it because of his strength, not many defenders will be able to get him off the ball.

But then he does have hell of a shot so obviously believes he can score from anywhere.

He's not a Suarez, not by a long shot but he will get us goals and I think he'd be better in general when Sturridge is in the team because it will open up more space for him, as we saw against Spurs.

Interesting you two lads say he worked hard as I was listening to 5Live on the way home and they were talking about him not working hard.

I think many in the media have made their mind up about Mario and take little notice of what he actually does.

It's annoying really.
Had to listen to that auld c**t Mark Lawrenson constantly have a go at him for not being up in the box.
He wasn't in the box because he was becoming isolated and, out of frustration probably, started to drop deep to get the ball.

Saw a lot of talk about Borini's movement and how it was lacking with just Balotelli.
This wasn't due to Balotelli. It was because Lallana and Coutinho didn't have good games.
When they came off for Lucas and Borini we had better movement behind Balotelli,
and he then didn't have to keep coming deep for the ball.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN BALOTELLI WAS AT FAULT.

Simple fact.
Lallana and Coutinho were both poor.
Most of the time attacks broke down it was with them.
Lallana should have had a goal, which would have been a Balotelli assist.

People complaining about his workrate are still fu**ed off about Suarez leaving.
Pin the tail on Balotelli because it's easy to do, ignore how the game actually unfolded.

It's annoying really.
Had to listen to that auld c**t Mark Lawrenson constantly have a go at him for not being up in the box.
He wasn't in the box because he was becoming isolated and, out of frustration probably, started to drop deep to get the ball.

Saw a lot of talk about Borini's movement and how it was lacking with just Balotelli.
This wasn't due to Balotelli. It was because Lallana and Coutinho didn't have good games.
When they came off for Lucas and Borini we had better movement behind Balotelli,
and he then didn't have to keep coming deep for the ball.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN BALOTELLI WAS AT FAULT.

Simple fact.
Lallana and Coutinho were both poor.
Most of the time attacks broke down it was with them.
Lallana should have had a goal, which would have been a Balotelli assist.

People complaining about his workrate are still fu**ed off about Suarez leaving.
Pin the tail on Balotelli because it's easy to do, ignore how the game actually unfolded.

Yep.

For a person to recover from a bug/illness on Friday, play 60 minutes Saturday and play 90 (and score) on Tuesday takes a massive physical effort.