27 Nov 2011

GRAEME SOUNESS blasts: "He's a liability..."

First it was Carlos Tevez who got it in the neck, now it's Mario Balotelli's turn to feel the wrath of former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness. The volatile Italian International was sent off against Liverpool earlier today (unfairly in my view), and Souey wasted no time sticking the knife in.

Souness, who recently labelled Carlos Tevez a 'disgrace to football', scathed:

"He [Balotelli] deserved to be sent off. His first card for pulling down Glen Johnson was totally unnecessary. I thought he really led with his elbow, and smashed him [Skrtel].

"From the minute he came on, I wasn't sure what he was offering for City. I'm still waiting to be convinced by him. Yes, he's capable of great things but, if he's capable of that time and time again then he becomes a liability.

"He's letting his team-mates down; It's as if he just wasn't in the mood today, and if you're a team that's looking to win something, you can't be carrying passengers like that. You can't have people who are not reliable; you must have consistent performers".


I think Souness is way to harsh with his assessment here; nine goals in his last ten appearances (prior to today's game) suggests that Balotelli is clearly not a liability.

I personally agree with Roberto Mancini's view that the Italian didn't deserve to get sent off; it was a clumsy challenge, but it didn't look to me like there was any premeditated intent to 'smash' Skrtel.

Once again at Anfield, Liverpool had the chances to win and just didn't take them, and Souey feels the players will be frustrated by that:

"Liverpool will be slightly frustrated...they deserved to win it, and if it hadn't been for Joe Hart, Liverpool woul've won it".

As usual this season, it's a case of 'what might have been', but 4 points out of 6 against Chelsea and Man City is definitely a pleasing return overall.

Jaimie Kanwar


29 comments:

  1. 'I personally agree with Roberto Mancini's view'???, jaimie, are you serious?, were you at the match?, I was!, and Balotelli deseved both bookings!!.

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  2. After watching what N'Zonzi got away with at Stoke on Shawcross and Whelan for Blackburn I thought Balotelli was unlucky he didn't throw an elbow like N'Zonzi.

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  3. Rednred should Skrtel have been booked for obstructing Aguero as Balotelli was against Johnson?  Skrtel should get an oscar for the rolling around on the turf for a big lad he certainly went down easily....!

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  4. Your comment makes very little sense obviously, but what is your point? say for example skrtel was on a yellow. Would that make balotelli leading with his arm any less foolish?

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  5. Clearly not a yellow card, inconsistent refereeing at it's best. Lucas did the same thing: no booking.. 

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  6. When was that then? As a matter of interest how do you think the match would have finished if balotelli was on the pitch for the remaining minutes?

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  7. I not going to speculate as to what would have happened if he stayed on the pitch I am mearly attempting to make the point that Balotelli's first yellow card was an inconsistant decision by Atkinson. If Skrtel wasn't booked should Balotelli have been?

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  8. so unpredictable these refs wasnt it martin atkinson who didnt show carra a red or even a yellow for clattering into nani or atkinson didnt show any card for rafael hitting lucas in a studs up challenge that didnt win the ball. But mario's elbow earns a second yellow from the same ref martin atkinson!!! balotelli did let his club, teammates, manager, and fans down though. 1-1 aint bad from the team that thrashed utd at trafford or spurs at lane. a win was deserved though

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  9. What are you on about? Martin Atkinson didn't ref the game last season against Man United, that was Phil Dowd! 

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  10. I bet you your comment will be deleted by tomorrow.
     

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  11. He pulled him back in a way that is likely to lead to a booking. That's what happens. This game did not turn on refereeing decisions. City are not as good as many think and liverpool proved that today, though that's not to say that liverpool are  brilliant.

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  12. Ballotellis first yellow card was the clearesdt cut I have seen. You cant simply pull people off the the ball with your hands its not football. YELLOW CARD. The second card was even more of a clear yellow. He clearly knew where skyrtel was and made no attempt to get the ball instead leading with his elbow. YELLOW CARD DEAL in other words RED. Anyone who cant see that is a dumb F.

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  13. Shame leave the manc now he has had a hard week with "poor ref decisions" probably the only time they have a case. Weve had a case every week almost. Unpunished back passes etc.

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  14. I've seen them given I've seen them not given, both challenges were stupid whatever way you look at it and I dont't think Mancini can feel too agreived. Anyway it did not affect the game in the end.

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  15. Unlike many of us who attend our home games, Jaimie is merely an armchair critic who happens to have a decent vocabulary of the English language.

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  16. Did you know that Jaimie has blocked the words Hillsb0r0ugh and char1ty from appearing on his website... almost as if he wanted people to forget the five hundred quid bet he said he would donate and never did!

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  17. was a sent and will be

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  18. You really are quite dim?.....I have not once denied that they weren't yellows (even thought the second was very soft) I am trying to get across that the referee wasn't consistant in his decisions.  Is that clear enough for you now?

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  19. Bit rich calling people dim with your spelling.

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  20. Oh come off it. Where in the world is being pulled of the ball from behind a silly booking Glen Johnson was away and it was a professional foul. Second booking, well you just can't lead with an arm bound to be punished. Talk about inconsistent refereeing decision then Kompany should have been the first to go! He's completely taken out Charlie Adam and hasn't touched the ball. Would have been his second yellow in the first half. Once again a money bags Manchester team get away with a point at Anfield this season alone

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  21. Too much star treatment given to all the players makes them too aloofa no down to earth feeling.

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  22. Oops Back again...Jaimie....I thought that you're always preaching, about fairness....so why do you keep banning those comments, that are of opposite opinion to yours?.

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  23. graemes is right,balotelli knew exactly what he is doing,and jamie u r talking the biggest pile of **** ever.

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  24. Your calling skrtel for rolling round coz hes a big guy why dont you look at your own player called aguero that rolled around holdin his eye like he had been elbowed in the face when he got hit in the back of the head not the front at least skrtel was holding the rite place were he got hit you idiot

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  25. Balotelli has got a lot of talent, but alas, he is just like Rooney. They both cannot help doing stupid things on the pitch. They will both get caught more often than not, but Rooney being one of the England teams best forward, gets away with a lot more than Balloteli will ever do in the prem. They will never grow out of it so they will always be a liability.

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  26. Jamie, I have one question for, assuming we both saw the same game.
    The first one was a yellow card no doubt!
    Why was balotelli leading with his elbow?
    lets try to "analyze" because thats what you try to do

    Was he jumping for the ball and needed to lift his arms for balance? -- Answer would be I dont think so.

    He just put his elbow in there. I agree he didn't swing it! but none the less.. yellow card for me. As a matter of fact at that time even Mancini looked disappointed of him. He has to support him in front of the media, hat lad has got him 9 goals! But I am pretty sure he would have given him a stick later!

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  27. Rock this shizz.

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  28. I wish Liverpool had that liability.
     Ryan Babel was never sent off playing for LFC, so was he a perfect player?

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