I really hope we do not sign Ballotelli. Only thing is, if he doesn't work out that well... we'd probably still make our money back on him. If he only costs £15m, then worse that will happen is he's sold back to an Italian team in a couple of years for £10m. Get him playing to his absolute potential and could be a star though. I guess in our position you sometimes needs to take a risk, but he certainly wouldn't be top of my list.
ok so there's a sliding scale here. right at the top is the very small chance of him becoming a top player next comes good pro and good player in our first 11 next is squad player worth the 15mil next is doesn't work out and makes us a 5 or 10mil loss then right at the bottom but not insignificant chance of a total nightmare that disrupts the club's playing staff morale and togetherness. In short the risk of him poisoning the "reputed" togetherness in our dressing room is far far far too big! if we don't have the togetherness to make the difference we'll be nowhere IMO. Everybody and their mother knows the guy has serious boredom issues (fireworks out windows etc) and also a huge chip on his shoulder due to the italians being racist towards him. He is badly treated ove rthere but he's also got a chip on his shoulder too which means if he arrives here and finds.... well there's a huge ethnic diversity in the squad and a real genuine no agenda on the topic) he can turn his ex-city rep into a racist issue and have the media on us as a result. I'd rather buy an average player to rely on... (no not a journeyman like aspas) than buy a guy who could be pure poison.
Just watching the Derby versus Rangers game at the i-pro(?) stadium. I hope we go in for Will Hughes before his price sky rockets (maybe next year?). Derby are 2-0 up and Rangers have just had a man sent off, so probably more goals to come. Everything both defensive and, especially, in attack is going through Hughes (In fact, he's spent most of the game in Gerrard's more recent position in front of back four -- except he bombs on more, being young). Great player for 19-years old. Reminds me of an Allen-type player, but with the potential to be much better, as he seems to skip past people better than Allen but still has an eye for a pass, and he can also tackle. 7 mins left, now, so Rangers look to be shutting up shop. Good game. Just whetting my appetite for our game later. Might even watch the Utd - Inter game.
not arguing there mate, i agree with you, don't want him either. i was just saying from the poison part, which we certainly got plenty of in the media from luis, but he was a quality player who helped get us to the next level, so then how do you decide which is better lol.
There are plenty of good players with ability out there (Balotelli isn't one of them) who aren't poisonous. I don't see why it should be a choice between one or the other
It's different though because Suarez, for all his faults, seemed to be a well liked member of the team. He never caused issues within the squad with fighting, arguing etc. Gerrard couldn't speak more highly of him. Therefor, he would only have a positive impact on morale. Balotelli, seems like he ruffles feathers within the team though.
But would it be good business to sell Borini for £14 million and sign ballotelli for £15 million? Obviously ballotelli would give us more goals and threat but would he cause discontent? Could Rodgers handle that and get the very best out of him? And why is he going so cheap?
Because he is a complete nutter with the mentality of a spoilt 5 yr old and causes unrest in every team he has ever been involved with. Not a bad player when he bothers to turn up, but not worth the hassle. If we signed him the rags would have a field day following him about and reporting everything he got up to, which would put more pressure on him and make him even harder for BR to control.
Would that be worse than we had with Suarez? Also Suarez is a nutter too but he didn't go cheap Not saying we should sign him at all much rather have reus, Shaqiri but he would be better than Borini
YESSSSSS!!!! suarez was 1000% committed every minute of every game and training session. His cheating, biting lunacy was something separate from his lifestyle and his effort. bad on telly.... couldn't get a bib on... got thick... was useless... got to to play wide, got himself sent off twice in about 5 minute after order. french had to haul off at half time for fear of him being sent off. He launched fireworks out his toilet window and the list of stupidity that directly affected him on field and then off field is well known.
But suarez's cheating and biting lunacy still had to be dealt with and Rodgers, I thought, handled it brilliantly. Could he do the same for ballotelli. I can't see Balottelli ever wearing a Liverpool shirt but not sure he would be more trouble than Suarez. Not as good mind.
why the comparison to Suarez? If we get ballotelli it will be at £15m, 5x (!) less than the value of Suarez and at least half the wage bill. I think he'd be a good signing. And for all his off-pitch senanigans, he doesn't come close to disgracing his clubs in the way Suarez has to us. Or gets himself suspends for huge swaths of games.
Our team depends on high work rate which Balotelli doesn't offer unfortunately. I would take him but you would have to cover a lot for him which will cause problems.
