I think it's a bit different to be comparing his antics to Ibra and Ronaldo tbh

Balotelli has been sent off more than anyone else at his age than any other top flight striker while he has been involved in lighting fireworks in his house and having a training ground scrap with his manager.

I honestly don't think he can handle England and especially not the night life of London with the media we have.

It would be a disaster IMO.

He's a total clown, I'd hate to see him in a blue shirt.

I think it's a bit different to be comparing his antics to Ibra and Ronaldo tbh

Balotelli has been sent off more than anyone else at his age than any other top flight striker while he has been involved in lighting fireworks in his house and having a training ground scrap with his manager.

I honestly don't think he can handle England and especially not the night life of London with the media we have.

It would be a disaster IMO.

 

As I said earlier I'm not sure Mancini was an innocent party when it came to training ground clashes at City, this season I haven't heard any bad training ground stories at City whereas under Mancini it was a fairly common occurrence. 

 

The British media very quickly tagged Balotelli and were quick to report on everything and anything he did... I'm not in anyway excusing his behaviour but you only have to contrast the media outrage/coverage of the rumoured affair JT had with Bridge's ex compared to the confirmed affair Giggs had with his brother's misses that went on for 8 years. Sometimes the media just want their pantomime villain and will ruthless portray certain players in a particular light to suit their agenda.  

Ive said it before but I still believe the negatives he brings to a club outweigh the positives.

 

 

based on everything we know I agree... however If that scale can be tipped the other way ?

 

I don't believe jose would let this deal go through unless he was sure he could focus the crazy and make it work for us

I'd love it if we signed him, he's brilliant as a footballer, mad as a hatter and wears his heart on his sleeve.  With him up front this season the league would be over by now.

My heart says yes but my head says no

How much crazy has there been since he went to Milan? I don't recall a significant number of stories about him lately

The trouble making aspects of Balotelli don't worry me one bit, everything he does makes the news and there is a lot of papers that invent stories about him as well. He also is targeted by referee's - compare his treatment to Looney, every single season Looney escapes punishment for elbowing another player intentionally; stamps on people; seems unfit after the summer break; decides to berate England fans when he is incapable of performing on the international stage. Yet British media hasn't stop to portrait him as the great English hope - it's about time people realize that he is a good player but massively overrated and overprotected. 

 

What I don't like about Mario is his lack of pressing from the top, whenever I've watched Milan in a League game against mid table/relegation zone teams; he doesn't seem arsed much of the time and is just walking around when the opposition has the ball.  

I think this is already done.

 

In January we had that flash news story and then the very quick denial by all parties.

 

Normally when there is nothing in it, nobody bothers to comment, the papers our just finishing.

 

So, with all this evidence I'm led to believe the deal was struck in January with every one told to keep hush about it as it serves no purpose for the world media to know.

 

I never thought Balotelli was as good as people made out, I also didn't realise he's only 23. (lets be honest he doesn't look it)

 

His strike rate for Milan is 22 league games in 29 starts (31 appearances total) that's impressive. I don't know what the quality of the Italian League is like right now but I hear Milan are pretty shocking generally which makes that goals to games ratio even more impressive.

 

Also I look at what else is out there, erm not a lot. I have now seen enough of Costa to say I really don't think he's going to deliver for us

 

Falcou, I feel is Torres/Sheva mark 3. 28 busted knee cost a fortune, no thanks.

 

Who else?

 

He is not an unknown to Jose so Jose must feel he can navigate the crazy .

 

Basically I have done a bit of a 180 here. I'm now for this signing and believe he will get bucket loads of goals

 

The thing is, a lot of those goals have come from penalties. 

The thing is, a lot of those goals have come from penalties. 

 

How many roughly? 

Sounds like this one may have some legs then?

 

Given the best players out there are not going to come to us, (your Luwa's, Cavani's, Zlatan's etc) then this makes some sense since Jose has worked with him before and would clearly believe he can get the best of him if he were to sign him.

 

He has a lot of talent on the pitch, though his work ethic does seem down on what Jose demands of his players. We could leave ourselves in a safer position though if we make Lukaku our number 2 striker, give Etoó another year as our 3rd choice and move on Ba and Torres.

 

Jose has complete trust in what Etoó brings to the table, and we have seen Lukaku work hard for both West Brom and Everton.

 

If Mario comes and is great then Lukaku will still get games in rotation, and I would not be surprised if Mario becomes the new home striker with Lukaku the away striker. If Mario gets sent off and self destructs are we really in a worse position next season than we are in now? we'd just end up needing to look for a new striker again and would still be left with options up top.

 

It could work and if Jose wants it I back him 100%.

How many roughly? 

 

29 starts and 22 goals is the stats since he joined half way through last season.

 

*This* season in Serie A he has 10 goals from 18 appearances. Milan have had two penalties this season, one of which Balotelli missed (First time he has ever not scored from the spot). So its 9 "normal" goals from 18 appearances in the league for a team that is REALLY struggling in the Serie A this year (currently 10th). Still impressive if you ask me. 

 

I've said before I think with the right guidance (JM) he could be exactly what we need. For Man City at the age of 21 he had the highest goals per minute ratio in a season (2011/2012 - I think) in the premier league - even beating Aguero. 

Edited March 6, 201412 yr by Sharpy

Think he'd probably be worth the gamble.

 

Not sure if he'd entirely fit into our system, but he's young, fast, skilful and can score goals.

 

He may be a bollicks but if we had him and playing to his full potential, he'd be our bollicks.

29 starts and 22 goals is the stats since he joined half way through last season.

 

*This* season in Serie A he has 10 goals from 18 appearances. Milan have had two penalties this season, one of which Balotelli missed (First time he has ever not scored from the spot). So its 9 "normal" goals from 18 appearances in the league for a team that is REALLY struggling in the Serie A this year (currently 10th). Still impressive if you ask me. 

 

I've said before I think with the right guidance (JM) he could be exactly what we need. For Man City at the age of 21 he had the highest goals per minute ratio in a season (2011/2012 - I think) in the premier league - even beating Aguero. 

 

So saying "lots" of his goals have been penalties isn't true then.

 

To be scoring 1 goal every 2 games for any side, let alone one sitting mid table is always impressive. 

 

End of the day we need someone who can stick it in the onion bag... Balotelli can do that.

 

I'm still far from convinced that we will be going for him in the summer but as I said before I do rate him as a very talented striker. 

Edited March 6, 201412 yr by ForeverCarefree

So out of curiosity, how much is he going to cost if we were to try and sign him?

So out of curiosity, how much is he going to cost if we were to try and sign him?

 

The fee I've seen rumoured when he was linked to Arsenal a couple of weeks back was £40m.

 

Considering Cavani and Falcao are both older would probably cost closer to £60m then there is a chance that a fee in that region would be about right. 

 

Costa's release clause is rumoured to be £32m and I read Mandzukic would cost in the region of £25m upwards. 

 

So of all of the strikers we are endlessly being linked with he is somewhere in the middle which isn't too bad given his age (24 in August). 

So out of curiosity, how much is he going to cost if we were to try and sign him?

 

€30 million

Some one has been signed, that much we have been led to believe by the fact that Jose said "you will see why in the summer" or something to that affect.

 

this one adds up... could also be Costa. I really don't think its cavani or falcou

Balotelli in blue just seems right. Would f**king love it if we got him.

Mario > Costa

Also, if it's not us getting him, it'll be Spurs or Arsenal. I dont want that happening.

Some one has been signed, that much we have been led to believe by the fact that Jose said "you will see why in the summer" or something to that affect.

 

this one adds up... could also be Costa. I really don't think its cavani or falcou

 

We may have a verbal agreement with someone, but theres no way weve actually signed a striker and were keeping it quiet

Edited March 6, 201412 yr by Lane

our 3 strikers for next season will be Balotelli, Costa and Lukaku - watch out Premier League!

our 3 strikers for next season will be Balotelli, Costa and Lukaku - watch out Premier League!

 

If we bought those 2, Lukaku would go, since he'd never get a game.

Also, if it's not us getting him, it'll be Spurs or Arsenal. I dont want that happening.

We might be able to off load Torres to Milan as part of a deal, that league would suit him well. I do worry that rvp could see the same sort of exit option possible as well for Mario to end up at Man U...

Beast mode: Mario/Lukaku