Earlier this month, Luis Suarez claimed (once again) that he's happy at Anfield, but Liverpool are still reportedly preparing for the his departure, and Brendan Rodgers has identified controversial AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli as a potential replacement for the Uruguayan.
According to the Daily Mail:
"Mario Balotelli is set to return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Liverpool likely destinations.
"Liverpool will move in for Balotelli if Luis Suarez is lured away to Real Madrid or Barcelona after the World Cup".
This has to be one of the most wildly improbable transfer rumours in a long time. Balotelli sideshow at Anfield? Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire! £25m-rated Balotelli is a very good player, and he's endlessly entertaining, but I can't see Liverpool spending big-bucks on a player who could potentially cause more problems than Suarez.
Balotelli has a patchy reputation, but AC Milan Boss Clarence Seedorf refutes the repeated accusation that the striker is a bad apple. In a recent interview, he noted:
“I still have to understand where this ‘bad’ is in Balotelli. Mario is a sweet kid and very likeable. He might make the odd mistake, but since I’ve been here he has worked with a professional and determined attitude"
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli is also impressed with Balotelli's professionalism, and at Italy's World Cup training camp, he raved:
“Balotelli? He is impeccable with us – scoring goals and behaving well"
In a recent interview with Four Four Two, Balotelli admitted that he 'misses' the Premier League and its fans, and with the persistent racism he experiences from the neanderthals of Serie A, a return to England could be on the cards.
With 36 goals/assists in 54 appearances for Milan, Balotelli is certainly doing the business in Italy, but, domestically, he is not (IMO) on Suarez's level.
Should LFC consider Balotelli if Suarez leaves?
Author: Jaimie K
According to the Daily Mail:
"Mario Balotelli is set to return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Liverpool likely destinations.
"Liverpool will move in for Balotelli if Luis Suarez is lured away to Real Madrid or Barcelona after the World Cup".
This has to be one of the most wildly improbable transfer rumours in a long time. Balotelli sideshow at Anfield? Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire! £25m-rated Balotelli is a very good player, and he's endlessly entertaining, but I can't see Liverpool spending big-bucks on a player who could potentially cause more problems than Suarez.
Balotelli has a patchy reputation, but AC Milan Boss Clarence Seedorf refutes the repeated accusation that the striker is a bad apple. In a recent interview, he noted:
“I still have to understand where this ‘bad’ is in Balotelli. Mario is a sweet kid and very likeable. He might make the odd mistake, but since I’ve been here he has worked with a professional and determined attitude"
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli is also impressed with Balotelli's professionalism, and at Italy's World Cup training camp, he raved:
“Balotelli? He is impeccable with us – scoring goals and behaving well"
In a recent interview with Four Four Two, Balotelli admitted that he 'misses' the Premier League and its fans, and with the persistent racism he experiences from the neanderthals of Serie A, a return to England could be on the cards.
With 36 goals/assists in 54 appearances for Milan, Balotelli is certainly doing the business in Italy, but, domestically, he is not (IMO) on Suarez's level.
Should LFC consider Balotelli if Suarez leaves?
Author: Jaimie K
no
ReplyDeleteBalotelli? Hahahahahahha no
ReplyDeletei mean who the wants Balotelli?
ReplyDeletePlease please please can Balotelli go to Arsenal
ReplyDeleteWaaaaaaaaay to much baggage and expense for someone whose only skill on the pitch is to take almost as good a penalty as gerrard.
ReplyDeleteThat said, it woukd be fun to see br turn him into the world class player ballotelli claims to be and shoving him up man city. But still- no.
That will be the biggest news. Me for one will want him at LFC. Super Mario is maturing and realized that he has not won a trophy that could be said his own. He is aging in football years and let's be honest the man has talent beyond words it's his attitude. This could be Sturidge part deux in the making. He goes to arsenal or LFC he will play his heart out because he has something to prove. People let's look a things beyond his off the field antics. LFC or Arsenal would be gambling however the payoff will be huge! And personally I think Suarez is staying and can you
ReplyDeleteImagine them two on the field???
Total individual, wouldn't fit in with Rodgers philosophy of team ethic, he would do more harm than good!
ReplyDeleteHaving Baolotelli in the prem is a good thing, just for all crazy things he does. But not for us, he is not a team player. Rather we go in for Lukaku/Morata and another striker that is young and dynamic.
ReplyDeletewho is actually 'reporting' that luis is leaving? any credible sources?
ReplyDeleteand no, i would rather give david n'gog another crack at the whip.
ReplyDeleteIf Real Madrid come in with an offer Liverpool cannot refuse for Suarez then i am fine with Balotelli i get the impression he has grown up.
ReplyDeleteWhat other striker in world football around that price or less could reach the top heights of the league this man could be anything.
Sturridge had a reputation before he came to play for us, it turned out to be nothing. If Rodgers was happy to bring him in then I wouldn't have much reason to disagree. It's up to the manager to judge the character of a player, not us. Still, it's hard to ignore the many comments made over the years. Was there nothing to them? Were they just media fabricated?
ReplyDeletelooking at the figures doing the rounds.. 25mil for pedro or 25mil for balotelli... hmmm... tough one ;)
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers should not waste his time with Balotelli(23) at all, B Rodgers should only accept this deal from R Madrid if L Suarez(27) is to be sold for: The deal should be Isco(21) and A Di Maria(26) and 50M in cash.
ReplyDeleteAnd then B Rodgers should spend the 30M on two class quality Strikers: L Remy(27) Of QPR for 8-14M and G Rossi(27) Of Fiorentina for 12-16M
And then B Rodgers should use the last 20M and add another 5-8M on top to bring in I Rakitic(26) Of Seville to the club.
No true Liverpool fan wants to see L Suarez(27) leave but if Real Madrid offer the deal above or 100M plus B Rodgers will be forced to listen to offer.
5 world Class quality players for the price of 1:
I Rakitic(26) CM Isco(21) AM LWF: A Di Maria(26)
L Remy(27) FD G Rossi(27) FD
Why do you feed into this crap Jamie.?
ReplyDeleteGod no
ReplyDeleteNope. None whatsoever
ReplyDeleteI am fan of your persistence.
ReplyDeleteChirag, I am realist.
ReplyDeleteWe done amazing last year, but look at the players we have been bringing to club and look at the class and quality players our rivals have been bringing in over last five seasons.
And this summer the expectation is high this season: Every top side in Europe will be:
B Rodgers needs to be smart with signings: Apart from Coutinho(21) and Sturridge(24) B Rodgers signings have been criminally poor to say the least.
Allen(24), Llori(20), Mignolet(25) and Sakho(24) are all average players but who set our club back nearly 50M
B Rodgers needs to bring in players of real class and quality, players that will make a difference of bench, place that do not look out of their depth, players who can match and compete with the first team.
Defensively: We need 5 good class players, better than what we have in reserve.
Attacking wise: we have good attack but in football , your game changers and most expensive players in world football are the ones who score or create goals.
If we are to lose L Suarez(27) this summer to Real Madrid, we need some world class quality players brought in to replace him.
To this day we have never replaced the class or quality of Alonso and Mascherano in centre midfield.
And that is why we were out of Champions league for over 5 years, you can't sell world class players and replace them with average or dud players and get same result.
If Real Madrid want L Suarez(27): B Rodgers should demand Isco(21) and Di Maria(26) in the deal with 50M cash.
Isco(21) and Di Maria(26) are both world class and game changers.
Where Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea have been linked with bringing in class quality players of proven stature:
C Fabregas,S Kheidra, T Kroos, S Schweinsteiger,and Xavi.
We are trying to push through deal for E Can(21) who will be another N Sahin(25), L Alberto(21) and
I Aspas(26) type signing waste of money on average player.
B Rodgers needs to bring proven class quality to club:
Isco(21) shined with Malaga in C League
A Di Maria(26) has been R Madrids best performer against the top sides this season, he does not score as much as he should but takes the game to defences.
I Rakitic(26) has been Seville's star player for last two seasons and just oozes class and quality.
L Remy(27) is a proven goalscorer at any level, if he gets good regular service he puts them away.
G Rossi(27) is a tidy neat skillful out and out finisher also, who can play out wide or through middle in three man attack.
Those are the players we should bring to club if L Suarez(27) is shipped out, class, quality players better than what we have on bench at moment
Bawlotelli's reputation is not nothing! He has been suspended and has been managerial and locker room poison for every team he has played for. If Seedorf loves him so much, why does he not care if he leaves?
ReplyDeleteNo...not now, not next season, not ever...EVER. Why does anybody think this would be good for us...just after having built a great team chemistry for one season? Bawlotelli would trash all that good work and it wouldn't take a month.
ReplyDeleteYou would be wrong. Check out his suspensions in 2013-4 alone...what...seven? He has headed the opposite direction of 'growing up.' Look where ACM finished this season and you won't have to go far to figure out the reason. ACM was concentrating more on Bawlotelli than on playing.
ReplyDeleteEnglish football is already crazy enough. It doesn't need Bawlotelli's brand of crazy. If the PL bores you MI, then you are easily bored.
ReplyDeleteAll those plaudits from managers are a smoke screen. They are playing up his abilities so other teams will be fooled into taking him off their hands. NO!
ReplyDeleteDo not blame Balotelli AC Milan is an ordinary outfit at the moment and the racism issues would not be helping who at that price or less would you have personally?
ReplyDeleteSaw that Spurs want Ancelotti, but if he is unavailable, then they will go after Pochettino. Translation...Pochettino to Spurs. This is good and bad. Spurs with Pochettino to make use of all that talent will be a much better team. It's good because Lallana and the rest will be looking to leave with Pochettino gone.
ReplyDeleteMate mate mate....Sturridge is not Balotelli.
ReplyDeleteOnly JK. He's convinced every transfer window now. I don't trust his convictions anymore though, not after was convinced we'd win the league even after the Chelsea loss!
ReplyDeleteAnybody...because of the distractions he provides. Trying to make Bawlotelli grow up is football alchemy...great idea, but impossible to do. Nobody has done it yet. Bawlotelli is predicated on Suarez leaving. So he lines up with Sturridge who has a slight inferiority complex already? Does this sound like a good plan? If Bawlotelli comes at the listed price, it is an acknowledgement that he is damaged goods and you get what you pay for. He is as suspension prone as Sturridge is injury prone. How can this be a good idea? If Suarez stays then this is nothing to worry about and we need a couple of good, consistent strikers who can be counted on in LC/FA Cup matches. I like Jordan Rhodes and I wold take Borini back to fill those roles.
ReplyDeleteWell do you really think Rhodes or Borini can lead an attack against top European competition because i dont.
ReplyDeleteNo...that would be the SAS job. I don't think Suarez is leaving. But if he is then Bawlotelli is not the answer. He would most likely be suspended when his services against the 'top European competition' would be necessary. Honestly I would put Sterling with Sturridge and spend on a couple more attacking MF like Rakitic, Isco, Di Maria, or Kono...maybe Mata if Barca don't pick him up.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of his shortcomings (off-field and on-field antics mostly), I think Balotelli would be an excellent signing.
ReplyDeleteLook at what Rodgers has done with Sturridge, who gained a bad reputation before he got here.
I think Balotelli would be along the same lines if he's playing.
My only reservation would be about the price. I would only pay below market value for him.
Get both! Pedro is not a full blown striker. And for those who say he is too much trouble don't forget we got Dr. Peters!
ReplyDeleteWell above i did say if Suarez leaves.
ReplyDeleteEasily bored, or watching wrong sport.
ReplyDeleteIf we are looking for a striker it is because BR thinks he needs another alongside Suarez, Sturridge and Borini.
ReplyDeleteDamaged goods. In no scenario I can think of is Bawlotelli a good singing.
ReplyDeleteHe would have to be institutionalized after trying to figure Bawlotelli out.
ReplyDeleteStop playing Football Manager for the love of god :)
ReplyDeleteIf we spend 25m on any player for him not to play, it's not a good signing.
ReplyDeleteThink it's time to see Dr. Peters mate.Wha????? N'gog.
ReplyDeleteBalotelli doesn't like managers who wont massage his ego. Mancini and Mourinho it looked to me, wanted players to self massage :D
ReplyDeleteBR as he has demonstrated since he walked through the door that he will massage the ego of every player he considers essential in soothing oils hahahahah.
so what im trying to say is if anyone can BR can. Clearly Seerdof has excellent man management skills that Mario responds to. It would be a gamble but BR could pull it off. Sturridge and Ballotelli together, IF they did click would scare the life out of every defence in the league. But that 'IF' I just mentioned lives in Narnia round the corner from middle earth. We would need a fellowship to find it but must first negotiate the dragon that gaurds it.
A huge loud NO!
ReplyDeleteThen why does Seedorf not say that under no circumstances is Bawlotelli going to leave?
ReplyDelete7 suspensions last year...not a good signing under any circumstances.
ReplyDeleteHonestly...I agree with you, but not by much...which translates to neither option is a good one and there are plenty of better options.
ReplyDeleteits like a father with a child. You try to bring them up the best you can, overlook their faults and worry about their future. BUT when they get married and leave the nest you look at you're wife and say 'phew, someone elses problem now.' yep, Mario falls pretty much in that category :)
ReplyDeleteSooo then BR doesn't need to be the 'new dad' and the rest of the team doesn't need to be the guys stuck with the worthless step-brother.
ReplyDelete.....kinda yeah
ReplyDeleteReally, a realist would understand that you just don't change out an entire team in one Summer. That's not building, that's demolition.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am saying that even if Suarez leaves, Bawlotelli is not a good signing under any circumstances.
ReplyDeleteGets him hits, which equals money from ads
ReplyDeleteEven he admits it's a ludicrous story within a few sentences, but that doesn't stop him sticking a screamer of a headline and repeating the nonsense in order to attract gullible idiots.
Proves categorically that he has absolutely zero editorial credibility whatsoever
I don't play football manager, but its blatantly obvious to see these players are not good enough for our club now or for future, so they should be shown the door:
ReplyDeleteGK: B Jones 32
CB: K Toure 33 CB: S Coates 23
RB: M Kelly 23 DM L Leiva 27
AM: L Alberto 21 RW: O Assaidi 25
FD: I Aspas 26 FD: F Borini(22)
P Reina(31) Is world class and better than S Mignolet 25, but due to his ridiculous weekly wages and his letter he sent fans before his loan spell at Napoli. B Rodgers will not have him back at club
In this world if your not doing your job and being paid well for it, you have a notice period then your shipped out/sacked. It should be no different for footballers, if they are not meeting targets or doing their job to a high standard they should be shipped out.
Ghost rider, if you work you would know and the way it is in UK now, if you under perform at any level in work your boss will gladly give you the boot to get someone else in.
More newspaper garbage!
ReplyDeleteSuarez is staying at Liverpool. Yes, he's enrolled his daughter in a local school, but that's what you do with 4/5 year olds. But the way he's been talking about his excitement of playing in the Champions League next year with Liverpool tells me that he's here and he has unfinished business in the league to settle.
As for Balotelli coming to Liverpool, would he fit in? Would he be any good for the team? Not sure with either but, if we're going to sign any attacking players this summer then it has to be Alexis Sanchez, end of story. A front three of him and the SAS with Sterling/Coutinho supporting will beat teams before they even take to the pitch. A solid central midfielder and a decent left back and we're ready to blow the league away next season and shake the Champions League to it's core.
Nutcase, haha. I believe he is too expensive in terms of transfer and wages for a third choice striker. As a player, his finishing and movement is one of the best in the world but his work rate and versatility not so much. Pass
ReplyDeleteOk.we'll move onto Ings & Rhodes!!!
ReplyDeleteThis rumor has to be the dumbest I have heard on this site in the last 2 years I have been part of..........
ReplyDeleteI think we should sign him, we no longer have a figure with authority on the pitch, say what you like but Gerrard doesn't command like he used to, he doesn't get around the pitch like he used to, hence his current role. We need a 'd**khead' type player on the pitch with shear grit and determination, like Suarez who cried his eyes out at the disappointment of losing the title, but in an instant turns into an assassin or cannibal to rival Iron Mike Tyson. We either need to sign Yaya Toure or find a paupers version of him
ReplyDeleteIf so many people make an effort to tell you someone is not bad news, they're usually bad news.
ReplyDeleteBut for now, Ballotelli will do the job and bring some much needed dynamism to our free style football. We shouldn't overlook bringing back Mascherano either, 3 defenders and 3 more midfielders, that's the strength required to compete with the best or we may aswel give up out position to someone's who has a larger squad than us.
ReplyDeleteHow about Conor Wickham though?
ReplyDeletevery good player but you can't trust his personality.
ReplyDeleteNo, just a patch of good form. I am sure he will never be a top 6 team striker but good enough to be in a mid table team.
ReplyDeleteWell your ideas dont cut the mustard at all they are worse Rhodes and Borini ;leading the attack i can see the fear in the eyes of Barcelona, City and Real Madrid now LOL.
ReplyDeleteWell at least read what i am writing before blubbering on if you think there is no chance of Suarez leaving you are living in denial.
ReplyDeleteSuarez is not the subject of the article. Bawlotelli does not make sense in any scenario.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm playing a kind of bizarre version of devil's advocate. I don't like Balotelli and I wouldn't really want him in the team. However Rodgers has proven himself as a good man manager. Maybe Balotelli's worst days are behind him? I really don't know, and I would doubt it. There are players out there who would be less of a risk. The story seems quite fanciful to me. But if he was due a shot at redemption and could put aside his main issues then Liverpool is the place to do it.
ReplyDeleteAh...a bit like Borini then :-)
ReplyDeleteYOLO
ReplyDeleteNOOOOOOOOOO
ReplyDeleteThe article states Liverpool will move for Balotelli if Suarez is lured away did you read it at all more to the point why are some of your comments here way off topic.
ReplyDeleteDon't want him, I'd love to c Marco reus and Bernard, Pedro ,carvalho, in a Liverpool top and Enrique back from in jury he's quick strong I think he's 1 of the best left backs
ReplyDeleteRodgers proved himself with a player who suffered from on-field issues, with an otherwise healthy attitude to his career. Balotelli is a whole different beast. He has off-field problems, on-field problems, and seems to just have a dodgy attitude to his whole career.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're talking about risks, Sturridge may have rated a 5/10. Balotelli therefore is around an 8/10. That AC Milan move was meant to be the one which finally settled him down, but it obviously hasn't.
Sad but very true.
ReplyDeleteI am not bored. English football is crazy but not Baloteli crazy. The man can't put on a training vest by himself or with assistance, with which I rest my case.
ReplyDeleteWithout his super crazy antics, he is actually a quality player, but only when he wants to be.
Rhodes and Borini lol
ReplyDeleteI can't contemplate Suarez leaving at this stage. If that were to happen Balotelli would be an option not convinced the right one though.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how you can put 'bring some much needed dynamism' and 'to our free style football' in the same sentence...aren't they the same thing? The defining attribute of free style football is its dynamism.
ReplyDeleteBawlotelli is way over-rated. In his career he must hold the world record for suspensions. He has helped win a Coppa Italia, the FA Cup and City to a league title...that they won this year without him. You would think that with all the hype around him, he would have more to show for it.
Bawlotelli is the proverbial loose cannon on deck. And since he refuses to be tied down, the best solution is to throw him over the side...as every team he has played for has eventually done. And it looks like ACM is fixing to do the same. We don't need him docking on Merseyside.
Clearly you did not read the posts.
ReplyDelete100M from Madrid to steal Suarez. No matter how you slice it I think LFC could not pass that up. Benzema would be good, but I think he's a target man and wouldn't fit into BR's style...just like he didn't seem to fit into RM's style. I would rather have a player who can move and shoot like Suarez. Don't know who that would be...maybe Cavani. But I would like to use that money to buy some really great MFs to augment ours...and another FB or two.
ReplyDelete