Lets hope so, it just all feels a bit **** at the moment and must do for the players as well. They desperately need some confidence from somewhere
What game time? Borini was barely involved in preseason or before the window shut. Now Sturridge is injured and he's not even always on the bench and did not start in the cup against Boro.
Brod as made his comments public so we have to live with that now. What I'd have preferred would be for us to wait for Studge to return and then drop Mario to the bench and see how the team perform. If there is a vast improvement then it would be up to Mario to force his way back in. The main problem we have right now is who plays if Balotelli doesn't? Not that I'm against Lambert or Borini having their chance, they just don't give us that lift when you see their name on the team sheet. If I twist that the other way though, I can't see too many defenders quaking in their boots at the sight of Mario Balotelli's name on the team sheet either.
This, unfortunately. I suppose because Man City had world class players coming out of their arse, Balotelli really didn't need to do too much other than goal poach. It's slightly different at Liverpool at the moment, because you're down on numbers with injuries, and some of your key players over the last few years are losing their legs. I'm really disappointed watching games and seeing him play week after week, knowing Borini would play his heart out for your club if he were playing instead. This would be different if Mario was scoring goals, but he isn't. I remember when we had Ba, the lad was on fire. We actually had supporters saying "he's so selfish, we'd play better without him"... Well, what nonsense that proved to be. There's room in a team for a player who scores goals consistently, even with little other contribution to the team (which tends to actually be quite a significant contribution, as the opposition usually mark those players a little harder, for one, freeing up space). Mario's not making the same case because he's about as prolific as a drowned Squid.
Even more so than Balotelli, these statements of ineptitude and inability should irk FSG, who after spunking upwards of 100mill got to be anything but sympathetic to excuses, excuses. And bad excuses at that... BR admits to Lambert being brought only as an impact sub for certain games, admits to Borini being considered surplus requirements and not good enough at one point, also admits to Sturridge being very injury-prone, AND to Balotelli being a significant risk. So? BR paints himself into a corner. Should have never signed Lambert, and gone to market for another mobile striker in any case. Balotelli requires a partner and movement around him at all times.
And you lot turned down Remy aswell Whatever was found in the medical that he supposedly failed, it obviously wasn't concerning enough for our Doctors to veto the deal. I think he would have suited you better than Mario.
owner surely? you could write it off if it didn't work out as you have plenty of other options, for us it was a bigger deal/risk.
I think you're harsh on Mario - he has worked hard. Everyone is expecting him to be like Luis Suarez which is an unfair comparison. He is constantly pressing and chasing players up front, but as the sole striker, he has more ground to cover. He tracks back as well. I have been disappointed purely because of the lack of goals but not for the lack of effort. His style of play requires runners and a partner. For me, he's done what is expected of him i.e. hold the ball up. It's not his fault he doesn't have the runners to pass to. If you took our keeper out, would you blame the defenders if they concede? The real issue is why we went for Mario in the first place - as a back up option? As a main striker? I'm not a Mario fan and I wasn't in favour of us signing him but I think he's been harshly targeted when other players have been far worse - Gerrard, Lovren, Migs.
I suppose the owner would make the final decision, but one would think he would defer to the medical opinion of the club doctors/physios. Surely if the doctor says "Dont sign him, he is a crock" the owner (even our owner) wouldn't still go ahead with the deal.
didn't you do something similar with Ba as well though? (ie i thought he was uninsurable?) i get your point, but you have to remember you are in a more fortunate position than most clubs where for you its a risk you can take ie has less importance both player wise to the team and financial, but gamble worth the risk, for others it has more impact on them.
I really don't like Balotelli as a player, he's lazy and inconsistent. Tbf he had worked hard up until the Basel game and then the old Balotelli came back. He's also a ticking bomb and at some point will do something to make the club look silly, I'd take a hit on his transfer fee if we could get a better player in and sell him.
>>>He is constantly pressing and chasing players up front, but as the sole striker, he has more ground to cover. He tracks back as well....<<< That's the catch 22. Do we really want Mario to be chasing and pressing IF that's not his game and tiring him so that when the chance comes he is knackered. I would not care a jot if he wasn't doing any of those things but scoring for fun. There are a few strikers like that: selfish as hell but score the odd chances that come their way. Suarez was a one off (chasing, pressing, creating and scoring!). We can't expect all to do that or should we?
Suarez is certainly a one off and a lot of fans are now expecting the same from everyone else who plays the game. Suarez's energy level and physical ability were an underrated quality. The man would be kicked all throughout games and still play the full 90 mins, EVERY game. No matter who we brought in, we just simply weren;t going to replicate Suarez. I do think there were options who are better suited to us though. Give Balotelli a partner and willing runners and we will see the best of him. We shouldn't be seeing him as a focal point of the attack - I know that's what people expect as he's a 'big name', coming in for suarez and now taking over from Sturridge. He's simply not a focal point. It's like putting Lambert up top - he's not going to lead the line because it's not his style or in his nature. These types of players compliment others. Sturridge, Suarez and Sterling were so lethal last season is because they were all focal points who could change a game. We were spoilt for choice.
Yes! Don't really know how good he is, and if he is good enough yet- but Balo has not set the world on fire yet. (only his house)
