With the Spanish Waiter having returned to Merseyside to wait tables there is little else to add to this thread. I have read over the posts that followed my article and would just like to make a few comments.
In relation to Balotelli, I would just like to comment on his supposed bad attitude and training ground “brawl”. I find it interesting that Ibrahimovic was involved in an incident this season at Milan but very little was reported or said about the matter. In September, he kicked, teammate Rodney Strasser for no apparent reason. A link of the video follows:
http://www.nevercaptainnickybutt.co...-kicks-ac-milan-teammate-rodney-strasser.html
Two months later, in November, Zlatan and teammate Oguchi Onyewu came to blows and Allegri had to abandon the training session:
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1614...n-zlatan-ibrahimovic-and-oguchi-onyewu-forces
Once again, very little was reported on this incident. I take the view that training ground incidents are inevitable when professional footballers are fighting for their respective positions in the starting eleven. I think it shows that players are competitive and passionate about their football and not too much should be read into such incidents. But of course, we are talking about Balotelli so everything is blown out of proportion and exaggerated.
In relation to Mario’s lack of acknowledgement for Mancini when being substituted during a match, I believe some posters on here are selectively blind when it comes to posting their comments.
Milito had issues with the Waiter early in the season when he was substituted in consecutive matches and Materazzi refused to attend and failed to be present for the World Club Cup trophy presentation as the Waiter brought on Santon and did not give him time on the pitch at the end of the game. Also, there was Stankovic’s “open wound” comments for not being selected to play in the World Club Cup final.
What is more disrespectful? A player being upset at their coach for not being able to play a full 90 minutes as in Balotelli’s case or players commenting on their coach’s team selection and refusing to attend a trophy presentation to acknowledge the work his teammates. Perhaps this question does not need to be answered, I merely comment on these incidents in order to provide examples of insubordinate behaviour within our own camp to which some posters have conveniently turned a blind eye when commenting on supposed indiscretions of Balotelli.
With regards to Balotelli, all I have left to say is that at this point in time with Milan staring down at us from a 13 point lead and given his overnight hat-trick, I would rather have him in our team as an option, alternative or contributor rather than a homesick prospect that will return to Italy and Milan and cause us to swallow bitter pills of Irony.
Lastly, I would like to briefly comment on the Waiter. I acknowledge and rate the likes of players such as Torres, Alonso, Mascherano and Kuyt but take the view that the Waiter is more renowned for his acquisition of mediocre players than unearthing, acquiring and adequately managing match winners or world beaters.
Improvements in league positions on a yearly basis and runner-up trophies mean absolutely nothing to me. I also take the view that Manager of the Year awards mean even less. If you consider these to be achievements then it is evident that you judge the game by a different standard. I care little for what the Waiter supposedly “achieved” at Liverpool or how the team “improved” while he was coach. His earlier victories in La Liga and UEFA Cup were so long ago that it is inevitable that questions about recent achievements are asked. With the exception of the Champions League victory against Milan, Benitez’ record is that of a coach that will always be the Bridesmaid whereby the absence of winning a recent league title stands out as a major deficiency.
Such a record may be acceptable on Merseyside but Moratti rightly recognised that within the space of approximately 6 months under the Waiter’s tutelage, Inter went from being Europe’s Champions to a mediocre “team” that was a former shadow of itself. No amount of injuries, bad luck or lack of signings can explain such a shortfall in commitment, effort, performance, and results and Inter should be thankful that Benitez has left.
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http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/858538?cc=3436
Mancini: Balotelli has big future
December 28, 2010
By ESPNsoccernet staff
It has been claimed that the 20-year-old wants to return home, less than six months after leaving Inter Milan to join the Blues revolution.
Certainly Balotelli has not always looked the happiest figure and even after his two penalties and first-half tap-in that steered City towards an impressive 4-0 win over Aston Villa at Eastlands, he was not as ecstatic as most of his team-mates.
But Mancini feels that public non-expression of joy is just an act, and that the pangs of unhappiness are merely the normal reaction of a young man separated from his family. "It could be that he is homesick,'' said Mancini.
"But I don't think it is a long-term problem. He is 20. It is the first time he has left his family. It is normal for him to miss them.''
As for the reluctance to celebrate, something Mancini chided Balotelli about less than a week ago, the City boss reflected: "Every player has his behaviour.
"That is part of his image. Mario is a good guy. He is not like he is on the pitch. He likes to create this image of being hard. But today he was happy because the supporters supported him throughout the game.''
Mancini even joked that his wish for 2011 would be for Balotelli to smile far more often. The Italy forward will have something to smile about at the end of the season if City continue to meet opponents as ragged as Villa were.
Gerard Houllier's side simply had no answer to the brilliance of David Silva, who toyed with the midlands outfit and had a major part in two of Balotelli's goals. Adam Johnson claimed the other two assists, the first a corner that Joleon Lescott steered home with a near post header that might not actually have crossed the line before Barry Bannan cleared it.
Nevertheless, that bit of fortune had no bearing on a result that put City top for what Mancini expected to be a limited period of time. "Three hours,'' he said, clearly feeling that Manchester United's 17-match unbeaten league record would not be lost at Birmingham.
"Football is strange. But it is good for us. It is good for the supporters. They deserve to stay there. And if we can improve we could eventually stay there for longer than three hours.''
All this talk is lost on Houllier, who has won just three times in 14 Premier League matches with Villa and now concedes his side are in a relegation dogfight.
It is not a scrap they look particularly well equipped for on this evidence and the total absence of City old-boys Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland, who had a knee injury but would not have been selected anyway, is a mystery given the performances of those who did turn out.
"Before this game, another three points, which we could have got against Fulham or Manchester United, would have put us in the top half,'' reflected the Frenchman.
"But I told the players they also have to look the other way. There is a drop zone behind and we are very near. We are in a dogfight for that. We have to acknowledge that.''
Houllier revealed Ashley Young may return from a knee injury when Villa face fellow struggling Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Norwegian striker John Carew should also come into contention too after strangely telling Houllier he was not fit enough to play having missed a couple of days' training after getting caught in the travel chaos that accompanied the recent snow.
"John Carew would have been in the squad but he came to me and told me he was not fit enough,'' said Houllier. "We gave the players two days off after the Wigan game. He went to Norway and got stuck. I have to accept the explanation. There was snow everywhere.''
10 years of FIF
