24 Aug 2014

'This can't be true': Carra insists €20m deal is the summer's 'shock' transfer. Agree?

Historically, many ex-LFC players despise Mario Balotelli, with the likes of Lawro, Hansen, and Case slating the Italian as a 'disgrace', and a 'nutcase'. Reds legend Jamie Carragher is a notable exception, though, and believes that the deal could turn out to be one of the summer's best.

In his weekend column for the Daily Mail, Carra hailed Balotelli as player capable of 'outstanding' performances, and admitted he'd changed his mind about the signing. He noted:

"Mario Balotelli is...the shock move of the summer. My initial reaction was ‘This can’t be true’ [but] I have changed my stance because of the economics. £16m [€20m] for a 24-year-old who is Italy’s No 1 striker looks a great deal"

Carra also dismissed the unfounded, exaggerated hysteria over Balotelli's off-field antics:

"People talk about his behaviour off the pitch — that doesn’t worry me too much and, in truth, I think some of it is quite funny. It is what happens when he crosses that white line that is important".

I totally agree with Carra here, and I (along with thousands of other LFC fans, I'm sure) have recently made the same argument. Who cares what Balotelli does off the pitch? Much of what he does is just harmless eccentricity, which is blown out of proportion by the media.

I personally couldn't care less if he sets off fireworks in his house; confronts school bullies, or (allegedly gives away) huge wads of cash to homeless people. In fact, the latter two incidents (if true) are admirable, and should be lauded, not ridiculed.

Of course, any off-field activity that has an impact on Balotelli's performance for LFC (like smoking, for example) will need to be stamped out, but I'm sure Rodgers will be able to mould the striker's lifestyle choices.

Carra concluded:

"Liverpool have a fabulous spirit under Brendan Rodgers that has carried them far. Balotelli can’t be allowed to jeopardise that".

I genuinely believe that Balotelli will enhance, rather than 'jeopardise' LFC's team-spirit. He seems to be a bit of a joker, and I'm sure LFC's players will get on board with that.

Of course, there's always a chance that the deal could go horribly wrong (!), but hopefully that won't happen.

Author:


198 comments:

  1. Nevergonnacrackthecode2:58 pm, August 24, 2014

    I was i initially very happy with the deal


    but apparently he is one of the worst trainers ever and with all the teams so desperate to get rid of him it makes no sense


    i hope lfc pull out of the deal
    and lfc sign eto or bony

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  2. cant see balotelli changing his attitude and will never become the player he has the talent to become im sick hes signing

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  3. pull out of balotelli to sign eto'o ? the worst idea ever...

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  4. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:07 pm, August 24, 2014

    every lfc player should give 110%


    but we know balotelli does it

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  5. the fear factor left with Suarez it returned with Balotelli - a masterstroke.

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  6. Totaly agree jamie, my only concern is when things are not going well for him on the pitch he can throw a strop and just saunter around like a spoilt child and try very hard, I think that is going to be Brendans biggest problem to sort out.

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  7. Totally agree with you Jamie.


    I have also just read that RM have upped their price for Di Maria to 75mil now.


    With a week to go I guess we will see how desperate Utd are to sign him.

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  8. Go see a doctor.

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  9. Lawro said he be a great signing :) Wrong info!

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=698524370234599&set=vb.317278538359186&type=2&theater

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  10. oops.. i meant "not" try very hard

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  11. Nicolas Chamberlain3:13 pm, August 24, 2014

    He can't be the worst, because otherwise he wouldn't have been physically able to play a game. I think you are overreacting and believing all the 'bad stories' that are suddenly very relevant. His influence can only be positive or he will be fined and taken out of the group. These thing will not happen under the nose of Gerrard and Rodgers. I thought that his plucking of the girly El Sharawy was actually funny, and nothing to worry about; just banter.
    If Pirlo says Balotelli has matured, I believe him. Balotelli and his agent are fully aware of the good atmosphere and that this will be his last chance to play for an elite club. His probably wanted to go to LFC because of this. I think this whole circus around Balotelli is typical for these times. He will be a good signing and I will support him all the way.

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  12. is balotelli that needs the doctor and rodgers is going to have to nurse him all year

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  13. Eto'o is no angel either. A bit of a bad egg.

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  14. Spirit of the Shadows3:15 pm, August 24, 2014

    As long as he bangs in goals in a regular basis, no one cares if he even sets fire to his own house..
    Of course the english media will have a wide grin on its face.

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  15. The Sunday Times is reporting City are coming in for him if they can raise the cash. I'd love it if that happened. It would be hilarious and City will get top 4 anyway, whereas Di Maria could prove the catalyst for United to surpass us (or Arsenal).

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  16. Lads, you're all forgetting one thing: all players from Serie A/Italians are crap.


    It's definitely true because people always say it on the internet.

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  17. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:18 pm, August 24, 2014

    okay bony


    i cant believe man utd sign di maria and all that while we are searching for a mad man

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  18. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:19 pm, August 24, 2014

    spurs are scaring me


    we need to beat them again at white hart lane

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  19. If you guys can't support him now then you can't support him when he start scoring. Let the man with no sin cast the first stone!

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  20. i keep hearing that Balo is always quite liked by teammates but less so from managers.Despite being liked if he isn't putting the effort in then he needs to be dropped. We cannot have that creeping in to the side.

    I am happy that Cara likes the move and hop he is not just being optimistic. I tend to rate his point of view more than the other names mentioned in the article as he is much more aware of modern football, he eats and breaths it and doesn't just watch it inbetween golf games like the old guard of the pundit world. He also is tactically aware unlike Shearer or (f^&king) Robbie Savage. Having said that no one is always right.

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  21. Nicolas Chamberlain3:24 pm, August 24, 2014

    We don't need Di Maria, especially not for that kind of money. Utd even don't need him that badly, but they are making a habit of spending too much for players that are not vital for any hope of a resurrection.

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  22. Looking good but QPR were terrible.

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  23. I don't care about his off-field antics either. It's the lack of effort in training, the loss of emotional control on the pitch, the refusal to adapt to the team's ethic and the steadfast will to remain outside a team ethic and/or trying to force the team into his ethic that worry me. I'm pretty sure the disciplinarians on the team will be the first to have 'had enough' and will issue the first challenge. I worry that Balotelli will accept the challenge and his stubborn nature will make him resist rather than meld. The impressionable ones will fall either way depending on how well their attitudes align with either the disciplined ones or the 'not-so much' one. This will be BR's challenge and I'm sure is where all the other managers have found themselves eventually. It's why I didn't want him in the first place. But no use worrying about it unless and until it becomes a problem. maybe Pirlo is right. Time will tell and he gets my support...until he doesn't.

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  24. I do think they need time to get up to speed. Lamala today looking good. Borini was better for Sunderland. There are possibly more examples but I got bored of my own point.

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  25. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:28 pm, August 24, 2014

    i was really optimistic till utd sign di maria


    arsenal sign sanchez
    man utd di maria
    chelsea costa and fabregas


    city hold on to all their big players and give them new contracts


    while we lose our best player and dont sign anyone near that quality it is getting really frustrating , whose fault is this ?

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  26. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:29 pm, August 24, 2014

    i think it is what jaimie has been saying rodgers has no pull about him
    city could not sign great players under hughes but did so under mancini
    we need someone a dof with pull factor

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  27. Spirit of the Shadows3:30 pm, August 24, 2014

    Looks like real are gonna make a fortune out of Di maria. Who surely isn't worth the same as Suarez

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  28. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:31 pm, August 24, 2014

    nice buisness from them
    sign the next greatest player in the world j rodrigueze for nothing

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  29. So what Manure is getting Di Maria?! How does it help us? Use your energy to support LFC not worry about others!

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  30. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:32 pm, August 24, 2014

    please show me the link

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  31. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:33 pm, August 24, 2014

    you have to and raise your standards accordingly


    5 years ago our team would walk the league

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  32. Sturridge, Sterling , Coutinho ,Balotelli and Hendo- 57mil
    Di Maria- 65 mil
    Sanchez and Ozil- 77 mil
    I do not care a single bit what other teams do because we have the spirit and the passion. Stop worrying about others..

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  33. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:34 pm, August 24, 2014

    sorry but balotelli is making me ill now
    he is so bad to look at

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  34. So BR has to go? BR and Diego Simone have proved that a good coach is more important than having super stars with no result.

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  35. You can also go see a doctor if you ill and why are you looking at him in the first place?

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  36. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:39 pm, August 24, 2014

    watching youtube videos of our new signing

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  37. We are not in 5 years ago are we? And raising your standard is?

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  38. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:39 pm, August 24, 2014

    i hope you are right man

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  39. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:40 pm, August 24, 2014

    if all the teams around us sign bad players
    the signings we have could be ok
    but if they are all improving and signing marquee players we have to follow suit

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  40. arsenal signed Olzil last year. We signed no world class players....we nearly won the league

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  41. He has not officially sign yet anything can happen.

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  42. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:42 pm, August 24, 2014

    hope you are right!


    but last season everything fell in place for us
    this season it will probably not

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  43. You forgot Super Iago and Victor 'Diligent' Moses

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  44. As someone said in this thread... Don't jump on the bandwagon when Mario starts scoring.

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  45. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:43 pm, August 24, 2014

    i think eto for one year


    save that 16m and find the new star
    i think juan itrubee has a massive future
    and he will be like sanchez

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  46. So if they decide to bankrupt themselves we should also do the same?

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  47. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:44 pm, August 24, 2014

    i will obviously be happy


    when i first heard the news i was as happy as anyone
    but man u signing di maria and me doing research on balotelli has put me down a lot

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  48. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:45 pm, August 24, 2014

    i think sterling is better then di maria
    and coutinho is better then mata
    sturridge wills core more then van persie


    but i dont think balotelli is anywhere near as good as wayne rooney at club level

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  49. Eto'o is not an angel. Just because he does all the right things does not make him better than Mario. Why did Barca kicked him out when he was at his peak? Ask why his national team don't like him? Why Mourinho did not resign him and they suppose to be great friends.

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  50. We signed Terrific players.

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  51. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:48 pm, August 24, 2014

    what i want to know is what does balotelli do?




    is he a supreme finisher who uses fantastic movement to get goals like van persie or sturridge?


    is he a player who uses pace to get past players like sanchez and augero?


    is he a player who comes deep and creates chances like wayne rooney?


    is he a link up player like giroud /dzeko?






    what is his main quality ? , does anyone know ?

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  52. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:49 pm, August 24, 2014

    yes but he gives his all on the pitch and that is from what i have heard balotelli might not do

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  53. He can do all of the above and that is what makes him special.

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  54. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:51 pm, August 24, 2014

    just comparing us man for man with man utd


    i think that is the effect of signing such a player it terrifies opposition fans but more importantly opposition players
    that is what we needed

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  55. Your right, no one can call how the season will go. But I'm very happy with things now. We have made massive steps in the last two years and I never would have thought it would be that quick.

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  56. That is what they said about Sturidge too!

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  57. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:52 pm, August 24, 2014

    from youtube he looks like is only very good at shooting especially from free kicks

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  58. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:54 pm, August 24, 2014

    ofcource but i dont see what is his main quality?


    he is meant to be fast but rarely uses it , he does not dribble past players enough , while he has bad work rate unlike kuyt and borini


    if you watch him please tell me what is he supposed to do

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  59. The top 6 is very strong. But I'm not worried about Man U at all. Last year they signed fellaini for a few more mill they they had too, they gave Rooney 300 k a week, signed mata and played him out of place. di marria is good but even Man U would admit they are 6 players away from a decent team

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  60. Like Sid said, everything.

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  61. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:55 pm, August 24, 2014

    really?


    i heard he was arrogant but no one questioned his application to football or training




    thsi is what ticks me off hsi application has to eb liek dirk kuyt,henderson and suarez otherwise you dont deserve to play for lfc

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  62. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:56 pm, August 24, 2014

    so all at a minimum ?

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  63. We will be nothing without iagos corners

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  64. At maximum if it`s his day. And has the potential to own all days.

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  65. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:58 pm, August 24, 2014

    i am sorry it seems as if i am complaining


    i was really happy
    but from what i have read his attitude to traininga nd application to playing football is not great and that is why i am very worried


    i initially though he just done weird stuff off the field


    but jamie redknapp and adel taarabt have disclosed is concerning to say theleast

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  66. Nevergonnacrackthecode3:59 pm, August 24, 2014

    henderson was one of the best from set peices in the league from his sunderland days


    why does he not take it anymore

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  67. The people who think nobody is ever good enough for LFC unless the so call big clubs are looking at a player. Regardless of what they said, DS was never a LFC player now he is the main man.

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  68. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:01 pm, August 24, 2014

    yes but none of them are world class

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  69. Balotelli is one of the most clinical strikers out there and rarely misses any chances given to him. He makes great runs as seen from the Man Utd 6-1 game. He has pace as seen from the Italy-Germany game and has the ability to play great through balls. He is a great set piece taker as well.

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  70. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:02 pm, August 24, 2014

    but sturridge was young
    baotelli is reaching his peak now

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  71. Name me one 'world class' player we have signed in our PL history.

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  72. Ask The Captain

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  73. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:03 pm, August 24, 2014

    if he rarely misses a chance why is his goal record average


    is his movement really bad?

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  74. Balotelli has taken a pay cut so that is a good start and his agent has said there is no clause but has been given a proper run down of the ethics at LFC.


    His ability vs his price is a no brainer. Let's hope it does not end in tears.

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  75. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:03 pm, August 24, 2014

    torres and suarez

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  76. Spirit of the Shadows4:03 pm, August 24, 2014

    You have to accept that br is a better man manager than all the others that he has worked with and he'll bring the best out of him

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  77. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:04 pm, August 24, 2014

    it seems as if me and you have swapped opinions i remember yesterday you were against it and i was for it


    but that is football,


    the adel taarabt comments from the redknapp family has me worried

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  78. They were not 'world class'. They were good players who came to us and became world class. If you say those two were world class when they came to us then so is Balo.

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  79. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:05 pm, August 24, 2014

    i think in pre season he is doing it more

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  80. My last sentence suggest that I am still very wary of this signing.

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  81. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:06 pm, August 24, 2014

    torres and suarez were highly rated and tracked by many top teams
    suarez scored 49 goals the year before balotelli only 14


    while torres had a style and swagger about him that showe he would be world class

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  82. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:08 pm, August 24, 2014

    see i would rather have eto now


    he can still score goals and is a free agent


    and then we can sign one of itrubbe , volland etc next season players similar to rodgers initial target snachez

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  83. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:10 pm, August 24, 2014

    no reason why we should not be able to sign a 60m player especially after making 75m

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  84. Few people should calm down.

    Big names don't make a big team. Good manager and good TEAM players make a one.

    I don't care whom other teams sign. I'm happy what we are doing that's all that matters. We buy players who will become world class. I wouldn't even see us signing £60m superstars because that would be a finansival suicide in a long run. It's not the model Liverpool uses. We have our own model.

    Balotelli hasn't played a single game yet and some people are already decided he won't make it. Sturridge was the same thing. But look at him now. Balotelli has all the qualities to become one of the best strikers in the world. If he won't cut it then we try with someone else for example Origi. Balo cost only £16m so it's not a huge risk.

    So let's relax. Everything is looking great. Our team is in CL and we will get there next season too if we believe what we are doing and if we keep focusing only on that.

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  85. I hope you don't run a business.

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  86. There is just no way even Rodgers would take Eto'o over Balotelli. That I can rest assure you of.

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  87. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:15 pm, August 24, 2014

    like you said the best team wins it




    but from everything that has been said balotelli is disruptive to the team he agitates fellow players in training , he puts in no effort even worse then adaal taarabt


    and jaimie redknapp said that when this happens other younger players can follow suit for example coutinho said suarez work rate in training made him work harder it works the other way as well


    so is balotelli can improve the team or just ruin it , from rodgesr reservation you can see he is clearly worried about it as well

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  88. Spirit of the Shadows4:15 pm, August 24, 2014

    Don't forget klopp

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  89. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:16 pm, August 24, 2014

    mate can you answer this


    do you think balotelli will ahve a negative impact on the other players at lfc with his poor work rate?


    and if you think it will improve why would it when he suddenly knuckle down and work harder ?

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  90. Rodgers will be the one to answer all your questions.

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  91. Well Inzaghi said there were no problem with Balotelli's training. It's who you wanna believe in first place.


    And if Balotelli doesn't train well then there will be consequences.

    It's better to wait and see before jumping into conclusions. Who knows if he has turned a new leaf in his life and starts trains well? Or who knows if he will misbehave. We will see so let's wait okay?

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  92. Man City fared quite fine with him and won the title.

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  93. He can do all those things. Perhaps why he has not yet flourished is due to not finding a niche.

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  94. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:22 pm, August 24, 2014

    but with other players like markovic and lallana we know they will always give 100%
    we have assurance


    with balotelli nothing is known and i dont like this feeling of unexpectancy


    16m is too much to take a risk like this

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  95. It is quite simple. QPR will be relegated again this season.

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  96. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:23 pm, August 24, 2014

    yes but ac milan he seemed to create a negative atmosphere


    him de jong and robinho later taarabt


    it seem to infect the whole team and maybe that is why they finished 8th

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  97. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:25 pm, August 24, 2014

    oh no!
    man utd are already winning

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  98. So the whole team created an negative impact?

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  99. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:26 pm, August 24, 2014

    but he started it

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  100. Did he though? Says who?

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  101. Their team looks awful. Rooney, Mata, RvP and de Gea are world class but everyone else... mediocre. And one di Maria won't make the difference.

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  102. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:35 pm, August 24, 2014

    get in jack rodwell!

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  103. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:37 pm, August 24, 2014

    apparently they are signing benaita , blind and vidal?




    rojo and shaw are good players our fans were desperate for them or moreno

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  104. There is fierce competition in Liverpool squad. If you look bad in training you won't get to the starting 11. It's same to Balotelli and everyone else. Lallana and Markovic will give 100% because they want to play not sit in the bench. If Balotelli doesn't try... well then he's not playing either. It's simple and I don't see a problem like you do.

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  105. That's something press has been telling us all summer. ManU get Vidal, Cuadrado, di Maria, Cavani etc. Wouldn't bet on that. Maybe a one more defender or something but no Vidal, Benatia and Blind + di Maria.

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  106. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:41 pm, August 24, 2014

    i hope rodgers has the bottle to bench balotelli


    the problem is he gets even worse when on the bench
    if thats teh case i would do a keane and sell him in January

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  107. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:43 pm, August 24, 2014

    see i don't doubt their ability to do so , mata and di maria have proved they can attract good players


    signing di maria is a statement of intent and will only help them signing these players


    praying city hijack it

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  108. Don't worry. Rodgers will do that if he looks lazy. That's what Rodgers is famour for: rewarding player who look good at training.

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  109. True but Juventus don't want sell Vidal nor Roma Benatia. Real Wanted to get rid of di Maria which is huge mistake because he was one of their best players last season.

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  110. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:44 pm, August 24, 2014

    maybe a nani situation where we have to loan him and pay his wages


    but that is all hypothetical so mo point in discussing it

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  111. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:45 pm, August 24, 2014

    every player has a price apart from messi


    dont want to sell means nothing

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  112. Yeah. But what's taking so long then? Don't you think they would have bought them month ago so they could have played some preseason games? Juve has said there has no been any Vidal bid so I really doubt he will go to United. Benatia goes probably to Bayern Munich if he's leaving. Blind is very possible one but it's only one defender not solving their problems.

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  113. He has got a buyout clause. You could just buy a whole club for it.

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  114. The biggest thing he'll need to get his head around is that because of our high energy, pressing style, the training sessions will be far more punishing than he's used to and if reports are to be believed, he wasn't exactly excelling at them. I'm sure the club has made it abundantly clear what is expected of him.
    Hope he realises this is his last chance because a super-motivated Mario will be a very potent weapon indeed

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  115. Not so sure about his bad boy label, but to me he does come across as being arrogant, he will have to learn its not about him and celibate any goal he scores with whoever was the provider, instead of standing there admiring the goal looking like a black mussolini, if he can do that he will make it as a striker at Liverpool.

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  116. Nevergonnacrackthecode5:11 pm, August 24, 2014

    i think we should buy pirlo
    i think he is the only person balotelli listens to

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  117. Nevergonnacrackthecode5:12 pm, August 24, 2014

    its his work rate in training and on the pitch that is the main concern even before his discipline

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  118. Well Rodgers sorted Stirling out I reckon Rodgers has the balls to sort out Mario it could be just how long something Liverpool mightn't have.

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  119. Part of it could be Rodgers doesn't have the 'Pull' to attract these 'marquee' players. However he's a young manager and a reputation has to be built. Nobody starts with a big rep. It could also be as simple as it's not London ( like Sanchez). The only marquee players I was hoping for were Hummels, Vidal, Pogba James Rosriguez and Reus. All long shots in reality. We are still at a stage of finding rough diamonds and making them better- and I'm ok with that. Hopefully, we can build on last season and keep on improving. Torres Suarez Alonso Mascherano Hyypia Reina were all not superstars when they came to LFC. The thing that needs to change is that these players don't want to leave after 3 years or so. If this cycle can stop, it'd be good for us. It's not always about buying big. Ozil has been average and he cost £43M. Joe hart came from nowhere to become England's no1. John stones and Coleman at Everton. Eric dier for spurs is looking very shrewd business. If the scouting is excellent then the chances of finding great players is increased.

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  120. Nevergonnacrackthecode5:47 pm, August 24, 2014

    there is no way we can compare sterling to balotelli


    if that documentary had not come out we would have never known , but sterling still maintains he did not say "Steady"


    sterling main problems are relating to girls ,balotelli it is on the pitch
    he can blow up as many bathrooms as he wants as long as he gives 100%

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  121. The image of a celibate black Mussolini will be forever etched on my brain ,,,,,,,Cheers for that!

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  122. Black Mussolini? That's a bit of a contradiction

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  123. As long as it's not my bathroom thank you very much.

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  124. But you can guess what he means with it..

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  125. That's one hell of a contraception.

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  126. Just finished watching the utd v Sunderland game and utd are going need a lot more then di Maria lol

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  127. Nevergonnacrackthecode5:54 pm, August 24, 2014

    yes utd drawed

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  128. Nevergonnacrackthecode5:55 pm, August 24, 2014

    or mine!

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  129. £63.9 million for Di Maria. What a joke.

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  130. Where does he play in a 3-5-2? It would be quite funny seeing Di Maria warming the Man Utd bench when Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverly start.

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  131. Maybe Di Maria will play as a wing back :-o


    The have a defence and midfield worthy of relegation candidates.

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  132. One of the two. They don't have Robben but Di Maria would do a very good job. Means dropping one of the strikers though.

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  133. Highly doubt he would drop his love child RVP or the 300,000 a week captain Rooney.

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  134. This comparison is my favourite
    Sturridge,Sterling,Balo,Coutinho,Hendo,Lovren,Moreno-89 mil
    Shaw,Rojo,Di Maria,Herrera- 136 mil

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  135. I know mate. The comentator on the stream I was watching said that Van Gaal said he used the 352 due to the defence not being that good yet United's starting three were not as good. Now Vlaar was the Netherlands best defender. So ipso facto United's best defender is not as good as Villa's.

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  136. We have put a very balanced, competitive team together, that will grow year on year with each other. United are just panic buying.
    How many 30+million players have flopped at Chelsea? They've wasted a gargantuan amount of money over the last ten years. It's fine for them but we're not in a position to be wasting money like that so we have to be smarter.
    Anyway are you honestly telling me you would rather have done the transfer business utd have done this window than the business we've done?

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  137. UTD are cracking up. They are throwing more than just the kitchen sink at it. If they do not qualify for CL this season then they are staring down the barrel of a gun. Van Gaal clearly is blind when he thinks that defence is going to survive this season. Ha Ha.

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  138. I know but it is the only thing that makes sense. Unless they intend to change the formation he has played all through preseason. Which on the last two games would be the better idea. But then that means either playing Rooney wide or Mata wide with one of them being in a midfield three. That is not the best idea either. I can see it taking a while before they get going and by then theu will be out of the running of top four and if the games today are anything to go by, they will be behind Spurs too.

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  139. It is going to end in tears.

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  140. Not really. If we tried to follow suite we would be in massive trouble. The fees and wages would be unmanageable. When United fail to get CL this year they will have problems and likely sell players to PSG.

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  141. Right, now that we've got two great strikers who are both proven in the premier league BR must turn his attentions to the more pressing matter at hand, the lack of defensive capability. Yes the signing of Lovren and the two spanish full backs has strengthened our back line I stil have reservations about Skrtel. As a back he is perfect but really his perfomances from last season proved why we werent quite good enough to win the title. Agger is not being played so a switch for Alderweireld seems perfect, he's a great CB and can cover RB as well.

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  142. 5 years ago the league wasn't as competitive as it is now. They couldn't win it then and they wouldn't win it now. Anyway the team from five years ago may have been as strong as this one but the squad was nowhere near as strong as the one we've got now. I don't know why you pine for a team that was nowhere near as good to watch as this one and who lost out on the league by 4 points at their best. We missed by 2 points last season and have strengthened right across the board. Have a little faith and look forward not back

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  143. We might see a Lovren and Sakho CB pair. Sakho can play RCB too..

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  144. i was just going to post a similar thread logan till i read yours ...they seem to be following liverpools tried and tested recipe for disaster of swapping managers and overpaying for players they dont really need when other positions in the team are woeful.I think as a prem force utd are finished and lvg will be sacked before the season ends

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  145. if he sticks the ball in the net it wont matter,football has had great trainers who cant perform on a pitch what matters is game play

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  146. Could happen but Sakho has been scarily shabby at times. I'd rather move him up into a defensive midfield position and let a solid CB (Alderweireld) take his place. This could actually be a cheaper alternative to buying song as Sakho already has the strength and passing ability (not to mention his decent pace for a CB) to assume the DM role. This is safer as I believe he's not quite ready to be a CB in the heart of our lineup.

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  147. a 3 5 2 seldom has long term success in the prem due to the pace of the game .....for it to work you really need specific types of player in midfield and defense but not so much in attack.Looking at uts squad i just cant see how they will suit it

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  148. I don't see this scarily shabby businessmen tbh. I think he is much bettter than TA.

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  149. sako in midfield is a disaster in the making ...our system requires 3 mobile midfielders who can press and retain the ball sako cant do either

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  150. By ball retention what do you mean?

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  151. i think sakos game will look better playing with lovren and fullbacks with pace who can get back.when sako has looked out of position playing its because the fullbacks havnt got back and he has to cover

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  152. I am not sure I agree about Sakho being out of position all that much tbh.

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  153. to control the ball quickly and move it quickly ( not sure if ball retentions the right word )

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  154. and they have started off with 1 point from 6.

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  155. He does that. He mainly passes with one touch and has something like a 95% passing accuracy.

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  156. but you have more time in defense to do it ...there is no way sako can control and move a ball say like allen or llana

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  157. unless you re watch a game its not that obvious ...if the fullback doesn't get back quickly early in the game the gap between the two cb widens for the whole game and doesn't seem to recover leaving big holes in front of the defense it happened against Southampton

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  158. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:09 pm, August 24, 2014

    why cant iloris play if dier can

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  159. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:10 pm, August 24, 2014

    coutinho?

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  160. I agree he would not work in midfield but I am saying to say he cannot retain the ball is a myth. If you are passing first time does time on the ball matter? Tbh I think more time on the ball is worse for Sakho as an individual. I just think he gets an unfair label. He is as good on the ball as any of our CBs, is quicker than most of them and according to opta makes more passes in to the opposition half. His positioning is not worse than Skrtels and he tended to win the ball back higher up the pitch.

    Personally I don't understand the criticism of him especially on this site. There have been articles about Mignolet's deficiencies and errors leading to goals yet Sakho seems to take some blame for this as others errors lead to less clean sheets for him. It's just bogus and a touch of a pet hate at present. Thus the rant. Sorry.

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  161. IMO Alderweireld is a brilliant defender worth at least twice what Atlético are selling him for. He might not be world class but he's a bargain and is versatile. And when playing every game for Belgium, I think he was better throughout the tournament than Kompany. I just think he doesn't fit Madrid and that's why he's leaving on the cheap. Might as well snap him cos he's better than Dagger (IMO) and more reliable than Johnson.

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  162. id play sako against city i really want him to do well, but for him to flourish i think he needs to have a certain style of defender around him which he now has in two fast fullbacks and a cb who will take control.all i want sako to do is win his headers and tackles and move the ball on which im sure hes more than capable of doing

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  163. I watch the game mate. Many of last seasons a couple of times. I like to see it on telly even if I have been the game. Some games were so good I would watch them again anyway even if I had not been the game.

    What you are alluding to seems less to be a CB issue but a full back and midfield issue. One I have talked about on here myself. There is also the dropping back of the defence which exacerbates the situation. One that is (i my opinion) primarily the Skrtel's fault.

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  164. I agree about the FBs and Lovren but in my opinion Sakho does most of those things you mention anyway.

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  165. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:17 pm, August 24, 2014

    tomorrows team if i was brodgers:


    .................................................sturridge
    coutinho.........................................................................sterling
    .....................................henderson...............allen
    .......................................................gerrard
    moreno..........................lovren........................skrtel..........manquillo
    ..................................................mignolet


    bench: lambert,markovic,can, lucas,johnson,sakho,jones




    does anyone agree?


    cant decide if i want moreno straight in, or lucas on the bench if he is joining napoli rather then ibe or suso

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  166. Fresh from Spain. Played more under Pochitino than at Inter.

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  167. cb sit deep imo when the fullbacks dont get back and when the midfield doesnt press thats why i dont like Gerrard in the midfield anymore he doesnt press enough and it gets compounded with fullbacks who haven't the speed to get back

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  168. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:19 pm, August 24, 2014

    maybe ricky lambert can start vs city :


    ..............................................lambert..........sturridge
    ...........................................................sterling
    .........................................coutinho...........................hendo
    ...........................................................gerrard


    allen or lambert?

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  169. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:19 pm, August 24, 2014

    henry?

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  170. id play allen in midfield or we will be over run.especially if Gerrard just strolls about in his quarter back role( nice work if you can get it )

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  171. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:23 pm, August 24, 2014

    gerrard plays better in the night though

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  172. ps im not blaming sako for this as he has no option but to drift out of position to cover

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  173. i would like to have seen a midfield of can ( if fit ) hendo and allen and really press them in the middle

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  174. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:25 pm, August 24, 2014

    one manager i think henry should monitor if rodgers does badly say a back up plan


    is pochetino
    really impressed me at southampton
    and already doing brilliantly at spurs


    he will also know most of the players

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  175. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:26 pm, August 24, 2014

    i think small and nimble players is what we need against yaya toure and fernandinho no point going physical with them

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  176. Sitting back when fbs are high creates problems though as you say. What I saw from Sakho when he arrived is he wanted to play higher up the pitch and that is reflected in the areas he wins the ball stats. But gradually he drifted deep. Again I think this is due to Skrtel the senior CB.

    Gerard is there for his passing and set peice delivery mainly I think. Also his pressing improved in our purple pacth but was not close to the likes of Hendo or Allen or even Cout when he had his best games.

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  177. Took a while to settle.

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  178. Long season yet but not a great start for them

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  179. Always a committed player, but not a good enough player tbh.

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  180. i hope BR doesnt go for all out attack philosophy at etihad..they are just waiting for it..we have crazy pace and skills to get them on counter..BR plz maturity this time

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  181. Nicolas Chamberlain7:40 pm, August 24, 2014

    They finished 8th because their selection is in pretty bad shape. Ac Milan is a sinking ship.
    They have no patience anymore and things will be far worse without the player who saved them from several defeats. I think pre season also opened Balotelli's eyes, and he was probably sulking and mocking because he was fearing to be part of a generation that will go down in history as the worst Milan team ever. Either way, show some fate in the gaffer.

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  182. Lucas has been a good servant and is the epitome of perseverance to any players in the game, a humble guy who never moans but just doent suit the system we play anymore

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  183. the passing of hendo allen tino and others is vastly under rated by fans on this forum ....

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  184. I want to support Liverpool mate, but I'm literally exhausted from the 30 seconds I spent thinking about Di Maria going to United.

    If only I'd known how to be a super fan, like you.

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  185. My comment was in jest, sir.

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  186. I am not sure Couts is but the other two yes. I think Hendo will break that a bit this season but Allen doesn't seem as natural a long passer as the others. His passing is good and I actully rate him higher than a lot of people but I don't think he has the range of the others. Gerards range is well documented and is able to get us attacking quickly. The others may be able to do it but I doubt as proficiently.

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  187. I don't think Di maria will be the difference. Unless they intend to outscore the opposition. Worked for us like but we started the season looking more together.

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  188. No denying that. I just think people make too much of it since we bought some duds from there (Dossena, Aqua, Doni etc.)

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  189. I don't think he would be either, but them buying a player of his quality is never a good thing. Beyond petty rivalry, they're our big rivals for top 4, I think.

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  190. While we're at it, we'll get them to throw in Pogba, Vidal and Buffon. Buy Pirlo indeed...

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  191. I read this the other day but nothing has yet come of it. I am not sure anyone is interested in him at the minute.

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  192. If he wins us the league, he can let off whatever he likes in my bathroom

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  193. I am not so sure. Right now I am not sure how bad or good we are going to look this season but I have watched their two games and injuries aside I think there is going to be at least a season to turn things around. There is not a lot of room for error in this league and there are 5 more teams who will pick up more points in the long run I think. I can see Spurs settling quicker.

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