TAXI/MAIDEN TITANIC VOYAGE FOR BALOTELLI

[usagullmichigan]

What a complete tosser. Looks like Baoltwati is going to be on his way to Crawley at this rate

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[Regiment]

he'll be a god down there with that mentality !!!

[happytorq]

was interesting that Mancini subbed him off immediately.

In all honesty, it's getting to the stage that I feel genuinely sorry for Balotelli. He's clearly not mentally equipped to deal with the pressure of playing for a big side. He has bags of ability, but until he can get his head straight he won't fulfill his promise.

And yes, before you jump in and say "bloody hell, I'd have a straight head for the money he's on" - i don't think that'd be fair. Here is a kid who has phenomenal talent, but who has been told for years that he isn't really Italian because he's black. That can't be any good for you, especially if you're as young as he is. I wonder what his family situation is, because I get the impression that he's been isolated for so long that he doesn't know how to get along with people.
It really is quite sad.

[stratfordgull]

I was in Italy when he signed for City and the press coverage over there was huge...but none of it particularly favourable for Balotelli. Was described as 'uncontrollable' and a 'chump' by the Italian media.

[cambgull]

Balotelli is an idiot, plain and simple. However, in this incident I feel he was quite unlucky.

Yes, he did something stupid but it's a pre-season friendly and does it really matter? If it were in a game worth something I'd be shipping him off for any money I could get for him. Throwing the bottle just seems to be frustration at himself really.

The problem with Balotelli is not Balotelli at all, he's blatantly a kid who's never had a belt round the backside when he did something wrong. Mancini is far too soft on him and I'd be very interested to see a player like him under Fergie, I think you'd see a very different player then!

[ferrarilover]

Hmmm, really not sure how to feel about this one. On the one hand, I understand where Mancini is coming from. If he allows that, it offers tacit approval to all the rest that this is acceptable behaviour on the pitch, which, clearly, it isn't.
Equally, I can understand his point of view, in that football is an entertainment industry and that sort of caper is deeply entertaining.
Regards the inevitable suggestions of 'disrespect' being shown, is it any more disrespectful than George Best beating a man, then beating him again, just because he can? Is it any more disrespectful than that Qatar league player who backheeled a penalty, or Gianfranco Zola flicking in from a corner when a normal volley was easier and less needless?
No, he's not bright, that much is clear, but, as my argument has always been, I don't ask my brain surgeon to be good at two-touch, so I don't expect footballers to excel academically.
He's young, and dumb, and in a career and from a country which thrives on flamboyance and style, yes, he screwed up (again) but if this was the worst thing which ever happened in the world, it would certainly be a better place than it is now.

Matt.

[happytorq]

another thing - the whistle had actually gone by that stage. offside, apparently.