Am I the only one who think that 'Pool need Balotelli like a hole in the head? The man is damaged goods. He's far worse than Goofy, and not as skillful. He will be a nightmare for 'Pool. Yes, he will be pure comedy gold for the rest of us fans, but the man is a complete knob-end, from top to bottom. Make no mistake on that. If he screws up for 'Pool - which he will - no team will want him, and 'Pool won't be able to give him away. As some proof to what I'm saying, I hear that 'Pool is insisting on all types of "behaviour" clauses in the deal. I should imagine that these clause will not only be in Balotelli's contract (ie. "**** us about, and you're sacked immediately, with no compensation"), but also in the sale contract with AC Milan (ie. "he ****s up, and you give us back our £16m"). If 'Pool can get that kind of deal, then it may be worth while taking the risk. Personally, I wouldn't want the poisonous twat any where near the Spurs dressing room.
The Dippers are apparently paying Balotelli £5m a year after tax, that is around 200K a week. Their wage bill must have gone through the roof, they are no doubt gambling on CL qualification again to pay for it.
He's going to be one room over from the Spurs dressing room next weekend! Actually... I wouldn't put it past Balotelli to go naked streaking through Spurs dressing room setting off fireworks before the match!
Is he going to be one of our match officials? Wouldn't be any worse, probably. Is there a player that's more of a direct replacement for Suarez in all of football? Equally mental, equally talented and both get away with murder when playing us. No idea why both of them took a pop at Scott Parker though, of all people. The Barca Biter kicked him in the stomach and elbowed him in the head, while Fanny's bloke only stamped on his face. Why always him?
Balotelli looks a good piece of business for £16M if Borini is offloaded for £14M, although his wages are ridiculous. However, his potential to disrupt the team/squad makes it a risky signing nonetheless. He didn't play consistently well at City and caused a lot of trouble, which ultimately Mancini couldn't handle and City were off the pace in 2012/13. AC Milan seem content to get rid after one season. He could prove to be a very good or very bad addition for Liverpool. I don't think he'll be anything in between.
Everyone else seems to be saying 120K. Are you sure you are not confused with what Falcao was asking for?
Balotelli is certainly not worth that amount, a talented player but very inconsistent, the Italian Danny Welbeck.
12:57: Mario Balotelli: Good for Liverpool? More from Sunday Telegraph football writer Jason Burt on MOTD2 Extra: "There was an interesting piece by Graeme Souness in the Sunday Times today. He made the point that when he was coach of Italy, Cesare Prandelli went to great lengths to get Mario Balotelli on the straight and narrow. "After the World Cup, Prandelli was asked if he had any regrets, and he said: 'Picking Balotelli.' There's a reason why he's been bombed out of so many clubs." (lifted off the BBC Football website). I rest my case.
Yes, I read Souness's article. Very thoughtful. His points about the possible damage to the collective, and Balotelli's laissez-faire attitude feeding through and being used as an excuse for similar behaviour by weaker minded members of the squad, were well made. As has been said, he's 24. And with his talent should be changing hands for 3 times the price. He's cheap, but cheap for a very good reason.
The problem is, as we all know, that the Mousers have no shame when it comes to players like Balotelli. Remember how, with Goofy, they not only forgave him for his racist behaviour (towards Evra), but also condoned it by getting the whole of Klanfield to wear those silly tee-shirts? When the twat kicks off again, we'll all have to stand witness to the dreadful spectacle of watching Rodgers bend over, parting his own buttocks, to take a very rough humping for the club. It makes me feel sick.
I agree with some of you and I don't want Balotelli anywhere near the club. We have a good team spirit and it could be ruined by Mario who is lazy and an idiot.
As much as I want us to stuff pool and to watch them crash n burn I think this transfer is a no brainer...16m for a proven goalscorer is too good a deal to pass up imo. But heres hoping he is another konchelskey for them
It's a £16mil punt. If it pays off, you've got a bargain. If not, you've bought a very expensive, probably unsaleable lemon!..
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but... I hope 'Pool manage to scrape a lucky draw, tomorrow. I can't see it happening, but, then again, stranger things have happened. A draw would fall right into our title challenge, and would have the bonus of pushing the Gunners down to sixth.
after 2 games? The table hardly matters. If things go really well this season, we are competing with Pool for 4th, can't see us catching City in a month of Sundays