After six months of trying, Mario Balotelli finally has a Premier League goal for Liverpool, and with the Reds now on the verge of breaking into the Premier League's top four, Balotelli's timely strike could turn out to be one of the most important of the season.
The goal is a massive boost for Balotelli, but he didn't really celebrate after scoring, despite being mobbed by his ecstatic Liverpool team-mates. It appears there is method to the Italian's madness, though, and after the game, he posted the following image and message:
"Great game guys! This smile is ONLY for those that always believe and support me. Thank you and Forza Liverpool. But now head down and keep working hard".
For me, that's absolutely fair enough. Balotelli has his own way of dealing with things, and after the constant slating he's received ever since arriving at Anfield, he clearly didn't want to give the media the satisfaction of seeing him celebrate.
I've posted several times about the ridiculous media obsession with Balotelli; since signing for Liverpool, he's made a couple of minor mistakes, but nothing that warrants the constant attempts to undermine him, and if he wants to stick two-fingers up at the media in this manner, then good for him.
I'm admittedly indifferent to whether Balotelli stays or leaves at the end of the season, but hopefully this goal will give him the confidence to start scoring on a regular basis.
If he gets the chance, that is. Despite the goal, I fully expect Balotelli to be back on the bench for Liverpool's next game...
Author: Jaimie K
The goal is a massive boost for Balotelli, but he didn't really celebrate after scoring, despite being mobbed by his ecstatic Liverpool team-mates. It appears there is method to the Italian's madness, though, and after the game, he posted the following image and message:
"Great game guys! This smile is ONLY for those that always believe and support me. Thank you and Forza Liverpool. But now head down and keep working hard".
For me, that's absolutely fair enough. Balotelli has his own way of dealing with things, and after the constant slating he's received ever since arriving at Anfield, he clearly didn't want to give the media the satisfaction of seeing him celebrate.
I've posted several times about the ridiculous media obsession with Balotelli; since signing for Liverpool, he's made a couple of minor mistakes, but nothing that warrants the constant attempts to undermine him, and if he wants to stick two-fingers up at the media in this manner, then good for him.
I'm admittedly indifferent to whether Balotelli stays or leaves at the end of the season, but hopefully this goal will give him the confidence to start scoring on a regular basis.
If he gets the chance, that is. Despite the goal, I fully expect Balotelli to be back on the bench for Liverpool's next game...
Author: Jaimie K
see, be patient on him, start him up front on regular basis instead playing RS there ...........
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that Balotelli has been the fall guy of Liverpool's bad form in early-season. Liverpool were clearly playing very badly at the start and Balotelli hastaken the blame for these performances. In the early part of the season Liverpool were off form and they did not create any opportunities for him. I also felt that when he came on he usually played wellI. It is the other players around him that were not playing well and partly rodgers was to blame For the radical changes was making from game to game. I genuinely believe that he will score goals for Liverpool if given the opportunity. If he actually started games in the past month I am very sure he would've scored lots of goals.
ReplyDeleteWith Sterling, Coutinho, Lallana, Markovic and now Ibe behind the strikers, we are bound to have many chances for our strikers to put the ball in the net. Also with injuries here and there, I hope BR will find a place for Balotelli to team up with Sturridge.
ReplyDeleteWhile Sterling is out, I'd like to see more. Gerrard out (maybe) too, so hopefully Lovren gets time. I sincerely don't want to see Allen on the starting sheet anytime soon...
ReplyDeleteDid u see Pascoe interview? Said he couldn't get his boots on due to injuries and he'd been ill. Shame it took us til December to find our way - next PL game is massive- how good are Emre Can and Jordan Ibe
ReplyDeleteWhere is the get stuffed part?
ReplyDeleteI have been a critic of his since before he signed but I thank him for that important goal. To be fair to him about his lack of celebration he has said quite a while ago that he doesn't celebrate goals. To paraphrase "a postman doesn't celebrate when he delivers the post, so I don't celebrate when I score a goal". Which I vet but god if my postie delivered so infrequently I would be also critical of him.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, he celebrated like 10 percent of his goals in career, so...
ReplyDeleteYea cos that worked so well earlier this season... And patience isn't really in too fans vocabularies, certainly not on this site
ReplyDeleteHe will go back to the bench no doubt- prob cos Sterling didn't play and DS was knackered he got a chance at all- why didn't BR do post match by the way?
ReplyDeleteHe had to get a flight but I have bo idea where to. Someone said perhaps south coasters watch Soto. Someone else said Italy.
ReplyDelete2013-Ribery, Robben, Mandzukic.
ReplyDelete2016-Ibe, Sterling and Sturridge.
loads of MISSED opportunities.
ReplyDeleteHave u seen Van Gall getting pissed at Big Sam? Ve arr not longg ball team here is proof
ReplyDeleteNo matw he was blamed for his own part on our bad form. Making silly decisions, selfish attempts on goal, nor making the runs a striker should be making. Even last night. He scored then dis an unnecessary rabona to keep the ball in, then it cam make to him and for no reason other than stupidity he put a midfielder or defender under pressure with his pass that he shouldn't have even made. When we were playing badly these things stuck out worse as we needed some intelligence and got the opposite from Mario.
ReplyDeleteNot yet but will.
ReplyDeleteShamsy?
ReplyDeleteNope. Visionary.
ReplyDeleteif i BR i wont play him next game ! Let him sub again, bcoz dun shatter his tiny confident
ReplyDeletesrdft oipklm uz l dzfjgh jp
ReplyDeleteThis smile is ONLY for those that always believe and support me- there were no such on the pitch? And on the stands, under 'genio' banner?
ReplyDeletehe clearly didn't want to give the media the satisfaction of seeing him celebrate. -Last time I did something like that my mother said 'Grow up!' And I was 12.
How did Lovren do?
ReplyDeleteI guess the smile is not for everyone judging by the negativity on this site. I bet you everyone here was screaming like girls when he scored. Get off his back & support him. If he stays or goes, it's irrelevant he's a lfc player at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSure he's scored a goal and sure it was an important one. Let's not pretend though that he's all that all of a sudden. Let's see how he fares between now and the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteAnd because you think a player is not good enough for the club you can't be happy when he scores for the club? What a strange train of thought. And I think you'll find most of the criticism about Balotelli is actually aimed at the people who brought him in and not the player himself.
ReplyDeleteRobo Lazer said he was good. I was too edgy to notice. Though that is a good thing, not to notice him...
ReplyDeleteWell I'm very pleased that Balo scored the winning goal. Onwards and upwards!
ReplyDeleteRubbish! Complete balderdash! Most of the criticism has been person attacks on Balotelli, things that have had nothing to do with his present time at lfc. From fireworks issue to parking fines to not smiling enough.
ReplyDeleteLike some have mentioned his been the scapegoat for Lfc's poor form. When there have been several who haven't shown up this season. That's the very reason he adopted a siege mentality because the attacks were over exaggerated & personal. Mainly the media & sadly lfc fans.
Play him top, and put Sturridge up with him.... A 3-5-2 with coutinho just behind them.... no place for sterling though... I know this is unconventional but Sterling should be sold IMO. keeps asking for more on the contract, only 20.... we could get a great price for him and with Ibe and Markovic ready to assume his roles in the team. I don't think we'll need him.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not sold, but he shouldn't be above the occasional substitute role.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely, Funkdoc.
ReplyDeleteRead JayJay's reply to Jan below.
ReplyDeleteI think if he's training well and getting the message from the manager about what he needs to do then he can definitely play a few games up front with Sturridge. Obviously that's what the was brought in to do. The two of them should work well together although chemistry will take a while to develop. I'd be happy to see Mario stay at the club if he keeps learning and putting in the right kind of effort. His run to beat the defenders to the ball was exactly what's needed. I think we're all praying that this is the start of some actual on-field success for him.
ReplyDeleteIn the title of the article. Didn't you read it?
ReplyDeleteHe was in the box 5 times since he came her and scored two goals. He just needs to understand that he needs to do what he is told to and goals will come. And stop playing his own sport- the problem is he is almost skillful enough to score every game doing that...
ReplyDeleteThat is JK telling us?
ReplyDeleteThat was my problem too. I watched the game but I didn't see him come on so before I realised he was even on the pitch the game was nearly over. And I didn't here him mentioned very often but we did seem in control at the back.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, it's been a while- I think Arsenal game since Skrtel looked a liability..
ReplyDeleteI'm not mate. Just wanted to post the postman quote. I am fine with criticising his performances but perhaps he shouldn't be criticised for not celebrating.
ReplyDeleteThose issues are relevant. Just like the comments made about his attitude by his team mates in the Italy squad. It goes towards his character and so does this reaction. Yes you can be upset if you feel treated unfairly but when you score a winner, you can also be happy for your team and the supporters in the stands who have supported you though all that. But no, it all had to be about him again. That's how important he thinks he is. He could have been the bigger man last night but he wasn't. And that's why he should never have been signed in the first place.
ReplyDeleteBalotelli deserves everything he gets saying things like that to the press. They are only doing their job
ReplyDeleteYou should not believe everything you read But if you do I can tell you for a fact that he has accepted a pay cut to stay at Liverpool and is still giving half his salary to a dog charity. Bless him
ReplyDelete"It was a massive win," Lallana told Liverpoolfc.com. "I think you could tell by the reaction at the final whistle how big a result and three points it was.
ReplyDeleteNow compare that to not celebrating after the winner and walking straight out after the match...
"It was a massive win," Lallana told Liverpoolfc. "I think you could tell by the reaction at the final whistle how big a result and three points it was.
ReplyDeleteNow compare that to not celebrating after the winner and walking straight out after the match...
And the last sentence is why we should be doing our best to harness that talent for the good of Liverpool and the player.
ReplyDeleteYes, but how do you do that with a player that doesn't give a fcuk about anyone or anything? When he played for Inter against Milan he wore Milan jersey under his. That is massive disrespect to his own fans but he loves Milan so let's say that is all right. But than he comes to Milan, his boyhood cklub and after 6 weeks becomes their biggest problem?
ReplyDeleteWhat he has to become Ballon d'or? 95 % of skill it takes.
What is he willing to sacrifice to achive that? Squat.
Not that he's an angel, but sometimes I think we could cut him some slack, as Andrea Pirlo suggests, if Jaimie approves the links: http://babb.telegraph.co.uk/2014/09/andrea-pirlo-on-mario-balotelli-and-racism/ and http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/andrea-pirlo-says-liverpool-fc-7654395
ReplyDeleteAlso I'm not sure about him being Milan's biggest problem; I watched them quite a bit and they were average across the park, but Balotelli still scored quite regularly.
Thought you said the main criticism was about the people who bought him. Please name some destructive behaviours as a LFC PLAYER.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I said. Hence the final sentence of my post.
ReplyDeleteWatched the second half again in my lunch break just now.
ReplyDeleteHe slotted in very nicely. Played noticeably closer to Skrtel than Can did, and he didn't press up in the same way that Can does, which arguably invited pressure on one occasion. Maybe. But the game situation suited a more conservative approach. He won the few 1-1s he had to contest, and was well positioned on a couple of occasions to shield space. A sound defensive performance.
He spread the play at the beginning of the move which led to Balotelli's goal, but he did use possession poorly on two occasions.
He wants to be quiet and efficient, but the way we play we could use a player in that position who is prepared to bring some noise. Lovren would probably be better suited to the central role in a back 3. I noticed that he appeared somewhat leaner than he did at the start of the season, and perhaps a little quicker over the ground too.
I agree he shouldn't be criticised for it. If that's the reason it is refreshing to see a football player with such a down to earth view on life
ReplyDeleteI dont think Balo was the fall guy, plenty of other players were being lashed for under performing, incuding the Raheem (for missing chances), Gerrard, Mignolet, Lovren, Johnson...I could go on. Now that the team are improving and look like they believe in themselves hopefully it will rub off on Mario.
ReplyDeleteNo, Balotelli was terrible, absolutely terrible. He missed a good 10 or 12 clear opportunities -- I'm talking about 1-1s with the keeper, headers in the 6-yard box, shots with time from 10 or 12 yards. He repeatedly failed to make simple runs in behind which any striker should make, at any level, which would have resulted in chances. His touch was poor, stiff and hard, and he seemed badly conditioned. His link play was abysmal, like he just wasn't listening to his coaches, and his contribution in tactical play was what you'd expect of a 12 year old.
ReplyDeleteBasically he was at the start of the season one of the worst main strikers I've ever seen starting consecutive games for Liverpool. Maybe he's got the talent and the character to turn it around. But to be honest, I doubt it, and childish performances like that last night, refusing to celebrate with the supporters or his teammates, doesn't help persuade me otherwise. I'll hope for the best for as long as he's a Liverpool player, and I'm sure he's a nice man, but he really needs to get over himself. He's not at the A.C. Burlusconi Home for Retired Footballers or Oil Despot FC now, he's at Liverpool. We expect better.
The main critiques have been personal, how he decides to celebrate is his business. He's made it clear that he thanks the fans & needs to work hard in training. What more do you want? Once again if he's attitude has been destructive this season. Let us know!
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to it man, Glad Finally someone asked this question!
ReplyDeleteYes Balo scoring was a highlight, but in all his antics (and thats all they are, antics) he does something that very few people acknowledge. He pulls focus from the other signings, Lovren being one who should be facing the brunt of it (which can be a good thing; the pulling focus thing).
Im not saying we should ground him into putty by his situation does need discussion. To put things into perspective, take "Mr Gainly" Sacko. He was marginalized and at times heavily criticized(still is at time), but apart from a few defensive mistakes, he has been part of a reasonably solid back three. The problem was that he needed time. The back 4 (or 3 as is the case here) need time to gel together(which is also why rotation in the back 4 is ill advised); so he is going to come good (atleast I hope he does).
Balo, by pulling pressure and focus from the media, relieves our other players to be absent from the media and actually focus on getting back in form and in the team. There is a positive in all as is the saying and The Balo situation is no different.
Still back him to come good, regardless of what ANYONE says. If we can back Man-Biter Suarez, Balo should be backed as well.
He is a RED now, remember how we treat them!
YNWA
Happy we won and happy Balo scored. That said, 1 goal doesn't make him Messi. He didn't celebrate and that a bit of a negative only because it shows he is selfish; an important team win is always worth celebrating no matter what. More importantly, he still needs to move more and no go through the motions shadowing people. I don't think that his natural game and that why he still won't be a fit for LFC unless he is the replacement for Lambert. I thought Can and IBE were active, positive, dangerous and involved. I'd rather talk and celebrate about them.
ReplyDeleteHe is still a mutt and only cares about himself. There are many great athletes, in many sports over the years that great natural strength, skills and tons of upside and ended up as zeros because they didn't give a crap about the gem or anyone else. He is just another one of those kind of guys.
ReplyDelete