I just think Balotelli needs a run of games with a good partner in a strong team before we totally write him off. Him and Sturridge looked good in their only performance together at Spurs and although I'm not saying that 1 performance shows that they will be the new SAS, it at least shows that they are capable of doing a good job together.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder springs to mind here. Mario is ****, the fact we've been performing woefully since he got injured doesn't make Balotelli a better player I'd rather play Sterling upfront and I don't want Raheem up top!
He just doesn't suit the style of 1 man upfront. Stick him with a partner and he looks a better player. He wasn't **** at City, he wasn't **** at Milan... no reason he suddenly turns **** here. The guy can stick the ball in the net if given a chance when he's confident. We are hardly scoring for fun without him.. why not give him a proper run with a partner and see what happens? I'm sure Lambert would rather play with a partner as well and he at least then adds a bit of pace into the forward line and there's no doubt he's been working on his movement as well as he had improved since the start of the season. If we don't play him... we try and sell him in Jan and get what, half our money back if we find any takers?
He was woeful at Man City! He had one half decent season... 2010-11: 28 games and 10 goals (0.38 per game) 2011-12: 32 & 17 (0.53) 2012-13: 20 & 3 (0.15) Total: 80 & 30 (0.38) Plus, the goals he did score often papered over the very apparent cracks whilst he was there. His best ever spell at any club was with Milan too, he got 30 in 54 games (0.55 per game). He's always been a lazy player, no manager or club will ever change that. It doesn't suit our style in any way whatsoever, his presence actually undermines what other players want to do because he's stood in the middle taken up valuable space. As for getting our money back; that money is gone and we've got the player. We get the best deal we possibly can from the situation we are in. We can't alter what we paid for him but we can alter the effect he has on the squad!
How many of those were from sub appearances though? And remember he was 20-23 when he was at City.. still miles from his prime. I mentioned yesterday had a better goal scoring record for City at the same age than Sturridge did for Chelsea despite them starting similar games and Balotelli having less appearances from the bench. How many times have we needed a player in the 6 yard box and had no one there? Play him and Sturridge and get one of them to stay central while the other goes wide and we still pose a threat in the middle then. Yes he may not be the most energetic but neither I Lambert? Lambert tries, and tries hard which I can't fault but he tries to go out wide and get the ball but can't do anything with it when he received it.
I know most are against the idea of Sterling and Markovic up front - I agree that they won't be as clinical as SAS but at this moment in time, it's not about that. For 4 months, we've had nothing but poor performances bar the Spurs game. We hardly create any chances and have about 1-2 shots on target in the first 70 mins of a game. We need a drastic change. I don't even care if Sterling and Markovic don't score in those positions - but what they will do is stretch the defence with pace and movement - things that have been lacking since the Spurs game. As soon as we took of Lambert, we had more energy up top. I've said it before - I rather Sterling and Markovic create and MISS opportunities than playing with Lambert and Gerrard and creating f*ck all other than slow, pedestrian football. I don't even care about the results anymore - what we need is a change in approach so we as fans can see an ounce of improvement in performances because at the moment - rodgers is doing the same things over and over again. And if he doesn't change things up on Sunday, and persists with the same negative tactics and selections, completely disregarding the youth, then I want him out.
I'm just surprised you didn't pick on the fact I used stats in that argument He was ****e at Man City. He had the odd decent game (he's done that here too) but they a far and few between. Not good enough for this level of football. Nothing you will say will convince me that Balotelli is even a half decent player. He is everything I dislike in a footballer and unless we completely change our approach to suit him, he'll never fit in either. I'll always choose hard working consistent players over flash lazy player. Its a team game. I like Lambert. He shouldn't be first choice, nor should he play more than a game a week, preferably less than that, but at least he's willing to put a shift in and leave everything on the pitch.
