11 Feb 2015

'That's Really Bad': Man Utd legend blasts €20m LFC-star for failing to smile after scoring

Last night, Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli finally broke his Premier League goalscoring duck, and despite the obvious positives of that, one bitter pundit (predictably) decided to focus on the negatives.

Speaking to NBCSC after Liverpool's excellent 3-2 victory over Spurs, Phil Nevill - an unholy mix of Manc and Bluenose - couldn't wait to stick the knife in. He scathed:*

"He [Balotelli] scored a winning goal, and didn't smile, and that's really bad...and says he doesn't want to take part in the team spirit".

Steven Gerrard often looks stone-faced after scoring goals, but I don't see anyone complaining about that. After witnessing €20m-Balotelli head straight for the tunnel at the final whistle, Wimbledon legend Robbie Earle added:

"He [Balotelli] has to get more satisfaction out of what Liverpool are doing because there will be someone in the dressing room who doesn't like what he's done".

This is a more salient point, and it's something for which Balotelli (IMO) deserves to be criticised. At the end of the game, the Italian immediately disappeared down the tunnel whilst the rest of the team were on the pitch celebrating and/or thanking the fans

Failing to celebrate a goal is fair enough, but irrespective of Balotelli's antipathy towards the media, he should make an effort to join in team celebrations; he should also take the time to acknowledge the Liverpool fans who've cheered him on all night.

And Earle is probably right - there will almost certainly be someone in the Liverpool dressing room who'll take exception to Balotelli's behaviour, and that is not good for team spirit/integrations.

When all is said and done, though, it's a storm in a teacup, and hopefully Balotelli will kick on from this and start scoring regularly for Liverpool.

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* Neville's comment watched live after the game.

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43 comments:

  1. Man, this is rubbish. I am not Balotelli's biggest fan and I have still not accepted him regardless of the goal but give the guy a break and get off his back. The guy has not been playing fell and over-fixating on the most minute of issues is astonishing. It is a well known fact that Mario rarely celebrates when scoring so why bring it up. Neville should hang his head in shame.

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  2. I wish people would just admit they don't like the player instead of grasping at straws to criticize him.


    There's an element of dishonesty present

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  3. Balo give one big smile on twitter after the match and dedicated his goal for liverpool fans who support him through a bad time he has, that's just his style, no big deal as long as he can do it all day long, scoring a winning goal.........YNWA

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  4. Because no one has ever not celebrated a goal before.
    Phil Neville must try harder!

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  5. Honestly misread the poll question and thought it said: "Should Balotelli smile in Liverpool's next game?"

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  6. It's because its Mario. If it was Markovic, no one would be saying a thing.

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  7. Stuff it, Nevill.

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  8. If Balotelli starts Saturday, wouldn't that cause an issue with Borini?


    After all, the last time Borini scored, he didn't start the next game.

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  9. Ballo is box office and won't be left alone whether he plays or not - dammed if he does dammed if he don't . My main concern is that he will always be a distraction - something which we can ill afford at the moment.
    All focus must be on getting that CL place and/ or some silverware .......
    OK it was an important winning goal yesterday but let's not too carried away ! It was tap in and that is what he has failed to do in the past .
    IMO not enough credit has been given to Lallana's excellent weighted pass which made it so easy for him . Any half decent striker would be expected to put that in . Just hope now that Ballo now finally realises what is expected of him ....

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  10. He's a moany, attention seeking idiot! Your club is better off without him, doesn't suit the style of play at all. He's not a great player has the talent but doesn't have the head! And Phil Neville won't be only person in football thinking that that's for sure. Mario Ballotelli is an absolute as*hole, 1 goal costing 16m I wouldn't be smiling either, I'd be embarassed

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  11. Not really bothered- Borini doesn't contribute much, and needs to accept it's time to go in the summer

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  12. We have seen passes like hat going begging many a time. It was Balo's movement behind the defender that turned it into a tap in. Balo has been too focussed on scoring 25 yard screamer wonder goals and forgotten the basics. Look at Fowler- he didn't ever give up on a chance to take a tap in in order to score long range efforts, but could do those too

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  13. He can do whatt ever he liked when he scores important goals like that and ive critisised him all season.

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  14. I'd usually be in favour of starting Mario with him having scored, but away against Southampton, without Lucas to secure the base of the diamond, I think we're best sticking with the 3-6-1. Security, with good counter-attacking options.

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  15. Let's hope we don't have to wait for another 48 shots from him before he scores again ....

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  16. Ballo was on the field for 17 mins and scored and everyone is talking about HIM .... What about all the work and sound team performance before his appearance ?
    Consistency is what it's all about and as they say one swallow doesn't make a summer

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  17. However, the way we play It's more of a 3-4-3, with 2 Sterling and Cou basically deeper forwards. Even when we played Marko there, he was much more of an attacker than a midfielder. It wouldn't be a stretch to flip the 3 person triangle so there's only 1 "AM" and 2 "FWD."

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  18. I remember when I was 15 and a swallow made my summer...

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  19. Ha and you've swallowed ever since ??

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  20. To be honest I agree partly with what Neville said... I don't particularly care about the not celebrating thing, that's just Balotelli all over. What really hacked me off was the way he just disappeared straight down the tunnel at the end of the game. All the other players were celebrating a big win and there was Balotelli walking off on his own. He was then left the stadium pretty pronto. Just shrieks bad attitude, no team spirit and I'm sorry I just don't want to watch players like this in a LFC jersey. The sooner we get rid of him the better.

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  21. http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/2/9710216/premier-league-liverpools-mario-balotelli-explains-his-non-celebration-against-tottenham

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  22. Most definitely. That's why I'm an alcoholic.

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  23. Does anyone else wonder where the heck we were when Villa's new signing Carles Gil was going for next to nothing. At 22 and £3.25million this kid looks special

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  24. I'm afraid that is and always will be the nature of the bloke ... no doubt he just couldn't wait to get on to Instagram

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  25. Mario has worked harder for us than at any other club and I'm sure the stats will show this. The problem is he hasnt hit the ground running or been supported by the bulk of supporters who were screaming their heads off with glee when he grabbed the recent winner. He is his own man and doesn't toe the party line..... I like that. He is clearly hurt that he is clearly trying only to be discarded as having a bad attitude. BR's arrogant goal celebrations make me cringe, maybe we should be commenting on them.

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  26. But like Balo he has taken a lot of flack recently as well

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  27. BR is known for playing up to the fans with everything he does. That one arm salute he does just smacks of " I knew it all along!" "Believe in ME" . In them moments BR is acknowledging himself and his tactics/ selection first and team second. His body language is always a giveaway. But let him have his moment it is what makes him who he is. The same goes for Balo and greats like Henry who rarely celebrated. let them be.

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  28. Exactly. He's taking to social media as if he's proved everybody wrong because he scored one tap in. Add another ten and maybe a couple of assists between now and the rest of the season and maybe then you'll start proving people wrong

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  29. How about somebody highlight his instagram. He is always dancing and taking photos with teammates. When the team plays without him he always posts things about watching and cheering his boys on. He fits in with this group. He is finding it to be more family like and is learning hardwork is a nesscary to even make the bench. He busted his ass off the ball, granted he still is tactically very poor at pressing but he'll get better. He has never done it before so he is learning. This guy is growing right in front of us. I understand fans being upset he walked straight down the tunnel, but good for him cause most of the fans doubted and were slating him. As he produces more and fans start praising him he will endear himself to the fans.

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  30. well said. a well balanced and mature post

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  31. As you will see from past posts I'm not a particularly Rodgers fan and think he has in the past 'talked the talk ' and comes across as arrogant . However credit where credit is due he now seems to be coming up with the goods .. it's coming together and we are in a good place . He has to be given credit for the substitutions yesterday and his management of the younger players - in particular Sterling and even now it seems Balotelli . I would suggest there was a lot of relief in that salute and in front of the owners !

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  32. :) yeaahh you are right and I do credit BR for swallowing his pride and switching formations\ personnel etc. He does improve players but does also scapegoat quite a few of them too.

    yesterday my celebrations scared my daughter into next week so I understand BR's celebrations. But, over the last few weeks his goal celebrations have left me looking away every time there is a closeup because he preaches one thing i.e. humility but then displays the most blatant display of arrogance. BR is a quality manager when he isn't being stubborn and dogmatic and long may it continue.

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  33. Jock, you should really get a picture for your Disqus thing. After a quick googling, I discovered pictures of Jock of the Bushveld, a fictional South African dog, who would I believe represent well your considerable virtues. See what you think.

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  34. I just hope we can get 14m for Fabio

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  35. How did you vote?

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  36. Steady there's only room for one mascot

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  37. Must admit I thought it was an unexpected confession too ;-)

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  38. It's the dogmatic bit that worries me too

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  39. Haha just had a look at it there. Hmmm perhaps I'll look into it...

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  40. Terry McDermotts perm7:33 pm, February 11, 2015

    Nevill also said a defeat was unfair on spurs. They only got their second goal after being handed a free kick that wasn't even a foul and then the officials missed the offside.
    You got to laugh sometimes.

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  41. We have Palace and Besiktas before Southhampton, so he or Borini should start in one of them to allow Sturridge the rest.

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  42. Its confirmed that Rodgers is in Europe scouting. Bruges are playing the Belgian cup semi final and Ryan is in goal. Just sayin...

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  43. Turns out I don't even know how to add a photo being the scottish cave-dwelling technophobe that I am

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