[Danny]

He wasn't even close to disgraceful

True - more pitiful than anything else.

[Rossoneri7]

Danny being such a smug self congratulating **** about Balotelli makes me want him to turn things around and light the world on fire even if he is with Liverpool. It's hilarious that people are writing off a 24 year old with such talent. It's obvious that he is in a rough patch but Milan, Italy, and Liverpool have all had a myriad of other problems. His personality just makes him an easy scapegoat.

I can agree that he is still young, has loads of untapped potential and him becoming an easy scapegoat.

Yet I can not help but think of Cassano when thinking Balotelli, Adriano (Parma/inter) also comes to mind. The mammoth of potential at their feet, but the mind is just not helping to realize the potential.

This cocky attitude of being recognized at such a young age, while not helping himself at the process with keeping the feet on the ground is not a one-off IMHO. Balotelli fits the bill perfectly, at least all through his spells at inter, City, Milan and more recently Pool.

Will he ever realize that potential and have his head and heart on the pitch, earning his money with sweat and training hard ... That I have yet to see. But I would not dwell too far into all this, noting that he is approaching maturity as a striker and could very well make a change. As some strikers actually age like wine.

[kurtsimonw]

I think there's differences between Balo and Cassano. Balo wants to be successful, but it's what's in his head that is stopping him reaching his potential. Cassano never cared for reaching his potential. from his book; "He ends his book by comparing his talent to a Ferrari. To get the best out of such a car, you need to be on the open road, pushing the engine to its limit, roaring along at 150mph. “I’d be driving my Ferrari through the centre of town in third gear, window down, arm out, smiling happily,” he writes."

[X-Offender]

He wasn't even close to disgraceful and he wasn't any worse than most of them rest of the team. He got zero service except for the one cross from Candreva against England which he put home easily. Immobile wasn't any better than Balo because the service was nonexistent. The midfield was the real travesty for Italy. The much vaunted Juve contingent were terrible and largely escaped criticism because Mario makes a wonderful scapegoat.

Yes, I rate him, but that does not mean I'm blind to his faults, or that at the end of the day he wasn't good for Milan

I was defending him as a Liverpool player and how he is used as a scapegoat there and for Italy in the summer, I wasn't defending him as a Milan player or that we shouldn't have sold him, because as I said, at the end of the day I think we're better off without him.

The Honda thing is completely unrelated, he's still killing it on the right and he's a model professional that you would be proud to see others (especially the young players) emulating him, the same cannot be said for Balo.

As for the World Cup, can't believe you're saying this tbh. Balo was one of the few who actually did something noteworthy in the WC for Italy, he actually won them 3 points with his goal. I'm not saying he was good, far from it, thought he was bad actually, but there were others who were actually terrible.

Starting with Pirlo, Chiellini, Bonucci, De Rossi, Candreva, etc

Verratti, Darmian, Marchisio and Balo were the only ones who did anything half decent in that tournament

Then I'll just disagree with you. The only things he did in the WC were scoring that header against England and wasting two perfect opportunities against Costa Rica. Otherwise, he was completely invisible in all three games. And he deserves to be a scapegoat because he's a cocky little sh*t and that's what cocky little shits deserve.

[kurtsimonw]

Hitting the bar against England was pretty great too. It was a great piece of skill. But yeah, Italy were disappointing on the whole too. Conceded every goal, created very little. I think some of the criticism was a bit overkill when nobody else really took much blame.

[Rossoneri7]

I think there's differences between Balo and Cassano. Balo wants to be successful, but it's what's in his head that is stopping him reaching his potential. Cassano never cared for reaching his potential. from his book; "He ends his book by comparing his talent to a Ferrari. To get the best out of such a car, you need to be on the open road, pushing the engine to its limit, roaring along at 150mph. “I’d be driving my Ferrari through the centre of town in third gear, window down, arm out, smiling happily,” he writes."

I recall the fit Cassano threw when wanting out of Roma for Madrid. He was a prick to almost every club he played for. Balotelli is just at the beginning of his career, at just 24. He could very well write a book along those same lines; if he doesn't help himself that is.

[milanbuf88]

True - more pitiful than anything else.

Did Mario rudely bump into you on the subway? Did you catch him kissing your sister? The animosity you have for him is beyond ridiculous. He's a striker and he was very clearly told not to drop deep during the World Cup. He can't score if no one gives a decent pass. It was Italy's midfield that was pitiful. Slow, lazy, and no forward initiative during that tournament. I lost count of the number of times it looked like Verratti was the only midfielder that cared.

[han2503]

Hitting the bar against England was pretty great too. It was a great piece of skill. But yeah, Italy were disappointing on the whole too. Conceded every goal, created very little. I think some of the criticism was a bit overkill when nobody else really took much blame.

Agreed

[X-Offender]

(IMG:http://i61.tinypic.com/2mzmpah.jpg)

[Danny]

Did Mario rudely bump into you on the subway? Did you catch him kissing your sister? The animosity you have for him is beyond ridiculous. He's a striker and he was very clearly told not to drop deep during the World Cup. He can't score if no one gives a decent pass. It was Italy's midfield that was pitiful. Slow, lazy, and no forward initiative during that tournament. I lost count of the number of times it looked like Verratti was the only midfielder that cared.

Mario acted like he didn't care about my Club. He didn't perform and believed himself better than everyone else. He disrespected the jersey. That's enough for me.

I don't give a f*ck about Italy tbh.

[Ry4n]

Mario acted like he didn't care about my Club. He didn't perform and believed himself better than everyone else. He disrespected the jersey. That's enough for me.

I don't give a f*ck about Italy tbh.

Your nemesis returns Danny my boy!

[Fillipo Simone]

It's a complete and utter disaster, us singing him. I'd rather have we've singed Rivaldo back from retirement.

[Ry4n]

It's a complete and utter disaster, us singing him. I'd rather have we've singed Rivaldo back from retirement.

Yep its sad i have no idea what Galliani is thinking..

[X-Offender]

If anybody (like R7, for example) needs more proof that Galliani has gone senile, this is it. Disgusting.

[Danny]

Apparently there's going to be a clause that if Balo doesn't behave, his contract is terminated.

Don't care. Don't want him.