Danno Posted 21 August 2014 Posted 21 August 2014 If this is the Suarez replacement Liverpool are going to disappoint big time this season, possibly one of if not the laziest strikers around, complete opposite to Suarez. 7 goals was it from open play last season?
Grandad. Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 Let this sink in people, there is no Luis Suarez replacement, we can never replace him, he is that good, only Ronaldo or Messi could replace Suarez for us. We're moving on, we're signing players, good players, a deal has been put on the table for Eto'o as well which he is considering. That means we could potentially end this transfer window with Sturridge, Balotelli, Eto'o and Lambert at our disposal, maybe even Borini if he can't be moved on.
The Blur Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 Is it just me or is Balotelli a desperate buy by Rodgers after all of his other targets turned him down?
Jordan Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 Is it just me or is Balotelli a desperate buy by Rodgers after all of his other targets turned him down?It could be. As much as I think Balotelli can be a superb striker in the Premier League, I'm not so sure he is a good fit for Liverpool and their style of play. I could see him scoring for fun at Chelsea or even at Arsenal, but I always get the feeling Rodgers relies more on "complete forwards." He's a damn good player in his customary role, but I don't think he's the kind of forward that will give a team 90 minutes of roaming and passing.
Nalis Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 As mentioned with Arsenal, there are a lack of available world class strikers out there. Most have either signed with new teams or the club they are at are not in a position to sell. For the money in this market he's a decent buy. If it doesn't work out, sell him on.
Kitchandro Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 This is utterly ridiculous. Is it? People believe he will be great because he gives off such an aura of confidence. His time with Man City showed that it's an illusion. His ability and consistency is not top end.
Dan Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 The Balotelli thing makes me wonder about players that seem to move around clubs an awful lot. If Milan saw Balotelli as their star striker, why would they let him go for such a relatively cheap sum? Is it because they are financially knackered? Someone more in the know than I am can answer that. Milan have always been keen to retain their top Italian pros.. Maldini, Inzhagi, Gattuso, et al.. why would they want to release Balotelli after what? One season? (Or two). Why did Man City offload him? It strikes me like most players that move around lots of clubs in a short space of time, Balotelli is no different. He don't seem fancied by successive managers. Or is there more to it? Because he really isn't that good. The good thing for Liverpool is that they're pretty much paying for this with the sale of Borini, but I don't think they're getting a huge improvement on even him. What good to them is an inconsistent player? 4th club in what, 5 years? If that? There's a reason the lad never lasts anywhere. I predict he'll be at Napoli by January 2016.
bovril Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 No doubt about his ability and anybody who says otherwise is either trolling or doesn't watch much football. I remember the FA Cup final 2011 or the Euro 2012 semi final when he took the game by the scruff of the neck and put in individual performances as good as anything I've seen. If he really turns up and plays he will be the difference between Liverpool fading away in 3rd or genuinely challenging City and Chelsea.
Jordan Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 Because he really isn't that good. The good thing for Liverpool is that they're pretty much paying for this with the sale of Borini, but I don't think they're getting a huge improvement on even him. What good to them is an inconsistent player? 4th club in what, 5 years? If that? There's a reason the lad never lasts anywhere. I predict he'll be at Napoli by January 2016. Going to Napoli tends to be an excellent move for forwards these days.
Fox92 Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 I'm not sure how people can doubt his ability. We saw glimpses of it at Manchester City, fairly unpredictable and inconsistent at times, but still managed 13 goals in 23 when City won the League. Decent return that. That day when City beat United 6-1 at Old Trafford, he performed very well, as he did in the European Championship's when Italy smashed Germany. I'm not going to say he's as good as Suarez, because he isn't, and any club would find it hard to replace such a magnificent player. But at £16million, in this age where we see a Championship striker move to Fulham for £11million, I think it's a decent signing for Liverpool.
purpleronnie Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 He'll be at liverpool for a season, get bored, say he's unhappy and move somewhere else...and so it goes....
Unabomber Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 I absolutely love Balotelli, he is my second favourite player after Suarez so on a personal level I am chuffed to bits that he is coming home.
Asha Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 Great news for the Premier League, and Liverpool. Since Suarez left they've been looking void of any kind of personality.
Guest Col city fan Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 No doubt about his ability and anybody who says otherwise is either trolling or doesn't watch much football. I remember the FA Cup final 2011 or the Euro 2012 semi final when he took the game by the scruff of the neck and put in individual performances as good as anything I've seen. If he really turns up and plays he will be the difference between Liverpool fading away in 3rd or genuinely challenging City and Chelsea. Why does a different opinion always have to be trolling? My opinion is that he ain't that good. The opinion of successive managers is he ain't that good. Being a top footballer isn't only about ability. Take Suarez. He's very very nearly pissed his ability up the wall. It's also about work rate, commitment, team playing and all those psychological attributes that make a truly top sportsman that bit better than the rest of them. Take Murray at tennis. He can't compare with Federer, Borg, Sampras and the like because he hasn't got that steely determination to continue winning. His ability isn't in question. On his day, he can compete with any of them. But his 'day' isn't consistent. Psychologically, he's lacking to keep doing it time after time after time. Same with Balotelli. On his day, he's unplayable. But that day has, thus far, been too infrequent. That's no good for a team playing with real title pretensions. And I believe that's why he's been let go by a succession of managers.
One Legged Beaver Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 Think Rogers might be the best thing for Balotelli's career, seems to get the best out of his players on a very consistent basis and could possibly turn Mario into one of the best strikers in the league.
Grewks Posted 22 August 2014 Posted 22 August 2014 Mourinho and Mancini both agreed that he had the ability to be one of the greatest in the game, and they are big words from coaches who he fell out with. My problem though - why sell suarez? Then replace him with someone who at the moment in time has less ability, and is likely to cause just as many problems?
Samilktray Posted 23 August 2014 Posted 23 August 2014 Balotelli doesn't cause anywhere near as many on field problems as Suarez. His sending offs are normally just petty and childish. Suarez was a freak.
bovril Posted 23 August 2014 Posted 23 August 2014 Balotelli is no worse than Rooney on the pitch, just gets less leeway from referees.
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