All true. We used to worry about Sturridge being selfish, but Balo makes him look like Father Christmas in comparison. However, there are distinct signs that BR is getting a bit more work out of Mario than he's ever offered in the past so perhaps there's some hope that he might one day turn into a team player.
Mario isn't working any less than Sturridge does. Suarez and Sterling were the key pressers in our attack last season, with Sturridge not pressing as much to preserve his legs. The problem for Mario is that no one else is pressing in the current attack so he too looks useless.
I don't like him because I think he's a poor defender lol. Genuine question - why do you think he had a good season last year?
It's not so much the pressing, it's more the movemebt off the ball. Balotelli doesn't really offer much where as Suarez & Sturridge all used to run in behind the defence to stretch them and offer a pass.
to get anything out of balotelli you need to find some means to supply th right ball to him. his movement is short and acorss peoepl, not in behind or even down channels. he's lazy in that... he's the type who should play against lesser sides and for roy hodgson or someone who cross 20 in at.
Oh yeah, I completely agree in that respect. But we should remember that simply isn't his game. It goes back to a) why did we sign him in the first place and b) why not play to his strengths, until Sturridge is back? We can't play our natural game with him as the lone striker. Movement is an art and a very underrated skill - Suarez is possibly the best in the world, and we were spoilt with his skill as well Sturridge and Sterling. Borini and to some extent Lallana move around a lot but don't have great movement (if that makes sense). Making the right run at the time is different to just running around aimlessly.
Maybe Rodgers wanted to adapt the team and was going to play 2 up, 1 who makes the mvoemebt in Sturridge, and one who stays centrally in Balotelli (oftern last year Sturridge & Suarez would both run wide leaving no one centrally) but because of the injury to Sturrudge we've not been able to see that yet. I think Borini actually offers good movement, makes intelligent runs in behind and away from goal to draw defenders away from the space.
Because he got stuck in, got his head on things and swept up well too. I can't say he held shape or lead the line since neither of those things existing, we just outscored the opponents As I said, I'm not a Skrtel fan. I'd happily see him replaced but that doesn't mean I'm going to ignore the good performances he makes. Same as my dislike for Mari won't stop me saying he did well when he came on last night if for no other reason than changing the game and getting the goal. What irritates me most on these boards is when someone forms an opinion on certain players and no matter what that players does, its not good enough. Why can't people eat a bit of humble pie every now and again? Of course, your insistence that defenders scoring goals hampers our views is quite annoying too. It suggests you think we're all too dumb to look beyond the goals which simply isn't true. Same applies to when discussing a local lad such as Flanno. Neither of which have anything to do with my opinion on the players in question.
i thought lovern did ok in that game but was slightly at fault for ball watching and leaving his man go for their goal but i'm not sure as the great danger might've been from a shot etc and was he ball watching or not? who knows i'd need to look a few times... he certainly left him go then the ball deflected to the guy. but... its more about how when toure was managing him and organizing it was running ok.
There is also a unwritten defensive rule that CBs shouldn't cross over, Lovren would have broken this had he tracked his man. Should we randomly blame Toure instead? The defenders attempted to stop the danger (shot) but got unfortunate with the deflection. It happens, no ones fault and we simply move on.
I think Balotelli was just a case of 'who's available with in this budget'. I think we are still working on finding the perfect Suarez replacement. It could be Reus.
Fair play lads, had a great trip to Liverpool. It's a lovely City, but tell someone to sort out your transport system!
Think you need to re-read that comment, he says it looks like it in real time before pointing out it wasn't
Gridlock suggests car or coach - not public transport issues? Funnily enough my other half was at the game, guest of a client, went by car and home in good time
In my post I said transport system. The two occasions I have been for a night match it is total gridlock in the centre. We seemed to only travel a maximum of 100 metres before stopping, all the way to the ground. For the record, I was on a service bus in and out of Liverpool 1, but it's not the bus companies fault, it's the City planners. I'll be walking next time because it's far quicker
