"Balotelli - Are you on board?"

[xerxes]

I am on board.

[Iceman]

A good boarding, in full.

[Guest davelfc]

BY KENNY DALGLISH

The former Liverpool manager shares his views on the Italian, who he feels would be a great signing for Brendan Rodgers' side

Every time a football club signs a player, it constitutes a risk. It is just that the risks come in different guises.

The club gambles on whether the player will be able to reproduce the form he showed for his previous team. It gambles on whether he will stay fit and be able to perform to the best of his ability physically. And, yes, it gambles on whether the player’s behaviour, on and off the field, will cause a problem.

If, as expected, Liverpool sign Mario Balotelli over the next couple of days, the risk is nothing to do with his ability to play. What people might have reservations about is the scrapes he used to get involved in on and off the pitch when he was at Manchester City.

I have already seen people saying that Liverpool are just swapping one high-maintenance player, Luis Suarez, for another in Balotelli. Out of the frying pan and into the fire is the phrase a lot have been using to describe the move.

Well, players who are touched with genius, as both those players are, often have idiosyncrasies. It’s what makes them a genius in the first place. It’s in their make-up. They are different on the pitch because they are different off it.

I’m not saying that Balotelli would be a direct replacement for Suarez, by the way. But he would be a significant and talented addition to a Liverpool squad that will have to play at least 46 games this season and deal with the extra demands of the Champions League.

Balotelli has got everything you want in a striker. He can hold the ball up, he can dribble with it, he’s good in the air, he can bring others into the game, he scores goals, he’s cool under pressure in the penalty area.

Like I said, the Reds wouldn’t be taking any chances with his ability. Some of his performances for Italy at Euro 2012 made him look unplayable.

I remember criticising Balotelli once when he was sent off for City against Liverpool when I was manager. And he went through a spell when he seemed to be getting himself into trouble unnecessarily.

Well, for a start, that was more than two years ago. Balotelli was a kid when he was at City but he is 24 now. Footballers have to grow up fast.

It is also important that Balotelli will be going into a settled squad that is happy and positive after everything that happened last season. There are strong characters in that squad and I think that will help the player settle in and thrive. He would adapt to them. It’s not like he’s a bad lad, is it. He did a few silly things, sure, but if the worst you can mention is letting off a few fireworks, that’s okay.

Anyway, there are plenty of examples of an enfant terrible arriving at a club with a reputation and behaving perfectly.

I suppose the most recent example in Liverpool’s history was when I brought Craig Bellamy back to the club. He had a chequered past but he was a model professional in his second spell at Anfield and an example to everyone in how hard he worked.

The key in all of this is that Liverpool know what they are getting. They are not going into this deal with their eyes closed. The club is supporting Brendan Rodgers because Brendan wants the player and feels he can be a success.

Everyone knows the questions at the first press conference will be more about fireworks than his football ability. But the reality is that the arrival of a player of his ability and charisma should only be a positive thing for Liverpool and the fans.

[setreal]

We're gonna need a bigger boat.

[Iceman]

We're gonna need a bigger boat.

 

 

You have reached your quota of positive votes for the day

[Dr Nowt]

BY KENNY DALGLISH

 

The former Liverpool manager shares his views on the Italian, who he feels would be a great signing for Brendan Rodgers' side

 

Every time a football club signs a player, it constitutes a risk. It is just that the risks come in different guises.

 

The club gambles on whether the player will be able to reproduce the form he showed for his previous team. It gambles on whether he will stay fit and be able to perform to the best of his ability physically. And, yes, it gambles on whether the player’s behaviour, on and off the field, will cause a problem.

 

If, as expected, Liverpool sign Mario Balotelli over the next couple of days, the risk is nothing to do with his ability to play. What people might have reservations about is the scrapes he used to get involved in on and off the pitch when he was at Manchester City.

 

I have already seen people saying that Liverpool are just swapping one high-maintenance player, Luis Suarez, for another in Balotelli. Out of the frying pan and into the fire is the phrase a lot have been using to describe the move.

 

Well, players who are touched with genius, as both those players are, often have idiosyncrasies. It’s what makes them a genius in the first place. It’s in their make-up. They are different on the pitch because they are different off it.

 

I’m not saying that Balotelli would be a direct replacement for Suarez, by the way. But he would be a significant and talented addition to a Liverpool squad that will have to play at least 46 games this season and deal with the extra demands of the Champions League.

 

Balotelli has got everything you want in a striker. He can hold the ball up, he can dribble with it, he’s good in the air, he can bring others into the game, he scores goals, he’s cool under pressure in the penalty area.

 

Like I said, the Reds wouldn’t be taking any chances with his ability. Some of his performances for Italy at Euro 2012 made him look unplayable.

 

I remember criticising Balotelli once when he was sent off for City against Liverpool when I was manager. And he went through a spell when he seemed to be getting himself into trouble unnecessarily.

 

Well, for a start, that was more than two years ago. Balotelli was a kid when he was at City but he is 24 now. Footballers have to grow up fast.

 

It is also important that Balotelli will be going into a settled squad that is happy and positive after everything that happened last season. There are strong characters in that squad and I think that will help the player settle in and thrive. He would adapt to them. It’s not like he’s a bad lad, is it. He did a few silly things, sure, but if the worst you can mention is letting off a few fireworks, that’s okay.

 

Anyway, there are plenty of examples of an enfant terrible arriving at a club with a reputation and behaving perfectly.

 

I suppose the most recent example in Liverpool’s history was when I brought Craig Bellamy back to the club. He had a chequered past but he was a model professional in his second spell at Anfield and an example to everyone in how hard he worked.

 

The key in all of this is that Liverpool know what they are getting. They are not going into this deal with their eyes closed. The club is supporting Brendan Rodgers because Brendan wants the player and feels he can be a success.

 

Everyone knows the questions at the first press conference will be more about fireworks than his football ability. But the reality is that the arrival of a player of his ability and charisma should only be a positive thing for Liverpool and the fans.

 

Anyone in particular in mind there!

 

Not slating Kenny with that by the way, I love the man. 

[Iceman]

[JustTosh]

20 years ago the world’s finest talents in football was playing for the top 20 clubs in Europe. Now they’re all signed by the 4-5 richest clubs in Europe. They buy all the talents but they can only start with 11 players each game.  The list of very talented players ending up unhappy for various reasons is endless. Some are sitting on the bench, some not even on the bench, some being played out of position.

We’ve taken advantage of this fact when we got Sturridge, who was never given a proper chance with the money men. Balotelli? After his first promising years he moved to MCity where he was never a part of the core team, played out of position etc. Now we can give Mario a proper chance to show the world what he can do – as a striker!
 

Next year we look to Barca. One of Messi, Neymar or Suarez will end up unhappy at some point. If not, there’s probably a very talented young player there who’s not given a chance because of them.

 Balotelli doesn’t come with a safety guarantee, that’s why tth money clubs choose someone else, that’s why he’s available to us. Let’s just exploit that fact.

[Paul]

I just don't think that happens, mate.

Me neither. In fact, it's a regular source of praise for him from the various fellas who sit around me. He retains possession under pressure brilliantly.

[Red Phoenix]

I'm on board now after seeing this again, legend.

 

[VladimirIlyich]

This transfer is like waiting for a woman driver to indicate. It will eventually happen but it seems to take forever!

[stringvest]

Me neither. In fact, it's a regular source of praise for him from the various fellas who sit around me. He retains possession under pressure brilliantly.

 

He does.  And he always gets his head up to look for the pass - something I didn't think he did much before he joined us.  He's much more effective at shielding the ball and bringing others into play than, say, Torres was.  

[JermainePennant]

Me neither. In fact, it's a regular source of praise for him from the various fellas who sit around me. He retains possession under pressure brilliantly.

Agreed, his hold up and link up play is very good, he also has good strength which doesn't get talked about much.