Mario Balotelli

[aws]

Next summer we'll be lucky to sell Borini, Balotelli, Aspas and Lambert combined for the money we should have stolen off Sunderland for Borini last summer.

[eeyore]

Best part of 40 million right there. They will all go on loan or we'll pay up there contract for minimal fees. Shocking

[Bjornebye]

Next summer we'll be lucky to sell Borini, Balotelli, Aspas and Lambert combined for the money we should have stolen off Sunderland for Borini last summer.

 

Wish we had him for wednesday 

[Jairzinho]

Wish we had him for wednesday 

 

He's busy banging them in for the 2nd best team in Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think he's scored one goal, and that wasn't in the league. Sevilla, obviously, won't end up in the second place that they occupy now.

[andyj]

I've seen a few mentions of his reaction to Caulker's OG as if he were pissed off about it given it denied him a tap-in. 

 

Am I the only one who thinks he gave a little fist pump at that moment? 

yeah saw that myself  dont think he was pissed off it was more of a yesss!!! lol  

[Ginny]

Bring forth ... Borini

[Dave D]

They are both comfortably below the standard required.

 

Of course. But so were most of the 2005 side. At least they responded to the call of the fans on the big nights.

 

I have a feeling this current crop may fail even with the Kop in full swing.

 

The opening 20mins,with a wall of noise, will be all important.

 

This game could make or break the careers of Balotelli/Lovren/Borini etc at our club

[Duff Man]

Baros was fucking boss the first half of that season. Remember that goal he scored against Monaco in the group stages? Did a little shimmy on the touchline then banged it in with his left foot. Class. The goals dried up after Christmas and he was a headless chicken at times but I always liked Meely.

 

MMEEEEEELLLANN, MMEEEEEELLLAN.

[WhiskeyJar]

MATCH REPORT

 

Peter Crouch finally ended his goal drought as Liverpool took their unbeaten record to eight matches, winning their sixth Premiership game on the trot.

 

Crouch had gone 24 hours without a goal when his 19th-minute on-target shot deflected off Leighton Baines and was helped into the net by Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt.

 

The England striker celebrated enthusiastically, not knowing that his effort would later go down as a Pollitt own goal.

 

But Crouch, with his confidence soaring, lobbed home just before the break to make it 2-0 and there were no doubts whatsoever this one was his.

 

Luis Garcia added a third as Liverpool claimed another morale-boosting victory, but Wigan deserve plenty of credit for never giving up and producing a brave, committed display on their first league visit to Anfield.

 

The clean sheet made it eight in succession for Liverpool, and for a while at least they are second in the Premiership.

 

Liverpool gave Harry Kewell only his second start of the season, while Wigan reverted to their best side, the one that lost to Spurs last weekend.

 

And a club who were Liverpool's little non-league neighbours just 27 years ago, were brimming with confidence in their first league meeting with the European champions.

 

Jimmy Bullard was constantly industrious in midfield but it was visiting goalkeeper Mike Pollitt who was first into action after Luis Garcia had crossed from the left and seen the ball met first time by Kewell, whose shot was parried to safety by the Wigan 'keeper on four minutes.

 

Crouch thought his goal famine was over after 19 minutes. His on-target shot from outside the area ballooned up off Baines and dropped over Pollitt's head. The keeper could not stop it dropping into the net despite get a hand to the ball.

 

The tall striker ran three quarters of the way around the pitch to celebrate, standing in almost relief in front of the Kop.

 

Crouch might have scored when Pollitt fumbled a shot in the six-yard box right in front of him.

 

But Wigan were not fazed by all the fuss and continued with their organised, competitive style. A corner from Bullard was headed onto the top of the crossbar by Arjan De Zeeuw and the effort and tireless running of Henri Camara and Jason Roberts gave Liverpool not a second of peace.

 

Pollitt made an outstanding save by turning wide a fierce Gerrard shot before De Zeeuw limped off to be replaced by Matt Jackson after 35 minutes, the Wigan captain looking to have damaged his ankle as he landed awkwardly after his effort had clipped the crossbar.

 

Then Crouch struck and this time there was no doubt. It came three minutes from the break when he lobbed home after taking control of a Steve Finnan pass.

 

Wigan had no intention of rolling over and were at Liverpool's throats from the first second after the break. First Roberts held off Jamie Carragher to force his way into the box, only for Hyypia's desperate tackle saving the day.

 

From the corner the ball fell to lifelong Liverpool fan Graham Kavanagh, who saw a 20 yarder graze the crossbar.

 

After 49 minutes Fernando Morientes saw a header clip the woodwork, as Liverpool began to pen Wigan in their own half. The ball swung from wing to wing and the crosses zeroed in towards Crouch. And at the base of all Liverpool's forward movement was Xabi Alonso's astute passing.

 

But the drive instilled into Wigan by their manager, one-time Liverpool reserve Jewell, meant that they still believed in themselves and Roberts gave Carragher as tough a game as he has had in a long time.

 

Then Jose Reina made an outstanding save to his left to keep out a fierce low drive from Bullard on the hour.

 

Riise came on for Kewell after 61 minutes, with Liverpool still coming under pressure. To underline this, striker David Connolly replaced midfielder Damien Francis four minutes later.

 

Hamann then replaced Alonso to try to give Liverpool greater defensive edge as Wigan continued to battle forward.

 

Wigan still defiantly came forward, but after 70 minutes Liverpool settled the issue when Luis Garcia netted from close range after Morientes had headed down a corner in the box.

 

Crouch departed to rapturous applause, Rafa Benitez replacing him with Cisse after 73 minutes, with Josip Skoko taking over from Kavanagh four minutes later for Wigan.

 

Henchoz was booked for Wigan, and then so was his former central defensive partner at Liverpool Hyypia.

 

Morientes could have made it four but Pollitt made two fine saves to stop the Spain striker.

[Rapey Hugh]

Can someone explain the Origi situation to me. Can he come back in January or not?

[ryan90]

Not. Lille need to agree. They won't.

[Funkasy]

[Rapey Hugh]

We'll then, we're a bit fucked

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Balo will score against Madrid.

 

Maybe.

[Gym Beglin]

As long as Rodgers prefers Balotelli over Borini then I'm highly concerned about his future as manager.

 

He's hot no fucking right to put a personal quarrel above the well being of the club.

 

Balotelli doesn't deserve a European night against Madrid, I've no interest in indulging the bloke.

[Bjornebye]

what personal quarrel? 

[sh#t waffle]

Funnneeeee, you're one of the weirdest people on the whole internet.

[sh#t waffle]

Though I agree with your final paragraph.

[ratcatcher]

Dont you just love it when people 'know' whats going on at the club!?

[Tony Moanero]

Borini fucked us over when he would not go for 14m in the summer.

No, we fucked ourselves over when we signed Borini and have him the contract that we did.

[Gym Beglin]

I find it hard to believe that some of you actually watched Borini last season at Sunderland. Goals, work rate, making runs, pulling defenders out if position.

 

Nah, we don't need that 'movement' lark.

[Paco]

berahino is about half his size and hes battering the whole united back 4 plus blind.

[Wicket]

I find it hard to believe that some of you actually watched Borini last season at Sunderland. Goals, work rate, making runs, pulling defenders out if position.

Nah, we don't need that 'movement' lark.

Borini is crap, if he wasn't our player nobody would have paid a blind bit of notice of what he did for Sunderland last year. He did ok, nothing more.

[Adebisi]

I find it hard to believe that some of you actually watched Borini last season at Sunderland. Goals, work rate, making runs, pulling defenders out if position.

 

Nah, we don't need that 'movement' lark.

When you put it like that, he does sound like a better option than Mario!

The problem is his goals from open play can be counted on thumbs. I think he could do a job if we played 4-3-3, but as a lone striker or partner to Balotelli? Never going to work. 

[Funkasy]

Ok is better then shit and thats why he should start instead of his italian strike partner.