Re: Super || Mario Balotelli

by Curtinho Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:05 pm

sportsczy wrote:It's pretty simple. Balo needs to do 5 basic things:
- Hold up the ball
- Link up play
- Create a point of focus
- Make runs that put him in scoring position
- Score goals at a relatively efficient rate (about 17% is considered the min)

Yes, and he's doing all of these relatively well with the exception of scoring goals at an efficient rate.

He's scored 1 goal on 45 shots.... in 9 appearances. He's getting 4 shots per game, which is quite good. But the effectiveness is pathetic.

Yes, he's had a hard time scoring. Whether it's nerves or just bad luck at the moment is hard to say, but he's putting himself into position to score quite frequently relative to the rest of the team and it will start going in for him sooner than later. For not this is my only gripe with him.

His passing rate is 76,7%.... that's mediocre. CL is saving him there because his EPL passing efficiency is 71,6%. The average for a striker (or any player on a decent team) is 80%.

Mandzukic - 65.9%
Neymar - 76.9%
Lewandowski - 71.5%
Suarez (last year with Liverpool) - 74.8%
Costa - 78.1%
Pelle - 67.8%

I could go on but I think you get the point. Your griping about his passing percentage is a fallacious at best.

His key pass rate is ok-ish at 1,1... but again, CL is much better than EPL where his EPL rate is 0,9.

0 assists so far.

This says more about the availability of the other attackers for him, and their ability to finish. I've counted many times where Balotelli puts himself in a position to lay a teammate into the box and nobody is there, or to cross into the box and nobody is there. It's also why we need two strikers anyone could see the difference against Hull once Lambert was introduced.

Point is that it's not just his scoring that's bad... it's everything. He's produced literally nothing so far.

Stop stat watching and watch the actual games and you'll see that he's not 'produced literally nothing'. It's a team game and he is putting in a lot of work, but he's been unlucky/nervy to this point, and Liverpool as a whole has been quite disjointed.

by sportsczy Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:27 pm

Neymar is at 80% all comps
Costa is at 81,9% all comps

Mandzukic is a donkey poacher... no idea why you included him here. But at least he scores.

Lewa is having a poor year by his standards although he is scoring a bit so the wolves aren't out yet.

Suarez is a scorer too... so you can look past his efficiency issues. Assists a lot too.

Point is... Balo is not a good passer. How is he going to play SS while being a below average passer? If you're going to slot him as a 9, then he has to score at an efficient rate and create chances for himself (passing becomes secondary). 4 shots is plenty. If he's going to be a SS, then he needs to be very clean with the ball since he has creative duties.

Stats are a bitch... but stats are literally 2/3 to 75% of the game for strikers. Their responsibility is to produce an end result.

by Fahim89 Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:34 am

by Helmer Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:53 am

Der Fahim is back Cool

by Art Morte Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:17 am

BBC wrote:The Football Association is to investigate a social media post by Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references.

Balotelli, 24, deleted the post from his Instagram page of Nintendo computer game character Super Mario.

The Italian later tweeted to deny the text of the post was offensive.

The FA confirmed it was looking into the post, while Liverpool said they will speak to Balotelli.

A club spokesman told BBC Sport: "We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player.

"We will be speaking to the player about the issue."

Responding to criticism on Twitter, Balotelli tweeted: "My Mom is Jewish so all of you shut up please."

He also described reposting the image as "my unlucky moment".

However, former FA executive and current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council Simon Johnson said Balotelli should face action.

"We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found," Johnson told the Daily Telegraph.

"We call upon the FA to investigate this offensive social media post and to take action if appropriate if we are to succeed in kicking racism out of football."

Under the FA's social media guidelines, the minimum ban for race-related breaches of rules is five games.

I don't even...

by McAgger Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:20 am

What did he say?

by Red Alert Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:20 am

If anything really happens out of this rofl

by McAgger Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:51 am

It's so funny how little we give a shit about him being out. Not that you can blame us, he's just so unlikable on a football pitch.

But anyways, what sort of frickin injury did he get? Why the hell is he missing so long? It's like Rodgers has decided to just give him a break and come back when Sturridge is back.

by Art Morte Fri Dec 12, 2014 10:25 am

Wasn't it a hamstring injury? I'm not even sure, but he's back in training and will probably feature against United.

He isn't what we need for the lone striker role, so I guess that's why we aren't that bothered about him being out.

by Curtinho Fri Dec 12, 2014 10:33 am

I still think that Balo will come out of it and start scoring. No better time than this Sunday.

by iftikhar Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:42 am

Again, his touches, link-up and foot-work was good. I think he will good in tandem with Sturridge. Thumbs up

by Art Morte Sat Jan 10, 2015 9:06 am

He's made for that CAM role, especially now when we're playing with two. Gerrard played the first 45 minutes today, but his CAM playing at best is sideways first-time passes and the occasional good positioning. The difference between him and Coutinho today was like night and day. I much prefer Lallana, Sterling or Balotelli playing CAM for us, unless it's a substitute appearance.

by iftikhar Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:33 am

Echo

“Mario is at risk of following the same path as Adriano. I hope that he wakes up one morning and realises that he is wasting everything.”

I hate this part.

by Helmer Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:09 am

Rodgers:

I am judging it every day in training - Mario is exactly the same as every other player, there is no special treatment for anyone," said the Reds boss.

Balotelli must improve in training, says Brendan Rodgers

"Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert are working tirelessly in training and when they go on they have contributed and young Jordan Rossiter, on the bench today, has been brilliant in training and I have to judge it on that.

"If you want to contribute you have to be at it every single day in training in order to be in the squad on matchday.

"We had an hour or so yesterday chatting and he understands where he is at. He knows exactly what is required to be in this squad before he can be in the team.

Brendan Rodgers saw his side draw 0-0 with Championship Bolton

"It is difficult for him but he knows the level of what this team is at - you see the aggression in our pressing and if you can't do that you are not going to be a part of what this team is trying to achieve."

It seems like he is going to have a difficult time here, at least in this season.

by Art Morte Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:21 am

You cannot slack off in training, no matter who you are, so Rodgers is right to leave Mario out if that's the case. However, I still hope he'd give him a start soon, I think Balotelli is the kind of guy who would respond better to that kind of motivation instead of taking a very hard line against him.

by iftikhar Sun Jan 25, 2015 9:06 am

Only few days ago I read an article (probably in Echo) where Rodgers praised him for training hard. hmm

by Unique Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:17 pm

bolo makes berbatov look like a work horse. he is a waste of talent. and I knew at the time he would be a dud signing for us. we play a fast tempo pressing game. Mario does not.

by iftikhar Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:36 am

I still believe this guy will contribute something worthwhile to our season.

by Unique Wed Feb 04, 2015 4:04 pm

is it the end for Mario. now deadly is back and sterling playing well up front. cant see him getting a game. and I have to wonder if Rodgers was the one that signed him in the first place.

by iftikhar Thu Feb 05, 2015 12:18 am

MR BOND wrote:is it the end for Mario. now deadly is back and sterling playing well up front. cant see him getting a game. and I have to wonder if Rodgers was the one that signed him in the first place.

I suppose so.

But he was never meant to be an alternative for Sturridge in the first place. He will get some minutes whenever we may try two up front.

by Art Morte Thu Feb 05, 2015 12:32 am

MR BOND wrote:is it the end for Mario. now deadly is back and sterling playing well up front. cant see him getting a game. and I have to wonder if Rodgers was the one that signed him in the first place.

Mario is a better AM or second striker than pure striker. He would certainly do a better job in that AM position than Gerrard and with Lallana's indifferent form, could start him over Adam, too. It's a pity Rodgers isn't seeing / trying this.

by Kick Thu Feb 05, 2015 12:45 am

How can you say he is something if he has not played there?

It was like Chelsea fans saying David Luiz was a better DM despite the fact he barely played there.

Mario may have better traits for a SS/AM, doesn't mean he is a better one.

by Art Morte Thu Feb 05, 2015 12:58 am

I just really believe he is hmm

by iftikhar Thu Feb 05, 2015 1:20 am

Mario may have better traits for a SS/AM, doesn't mean he is a better one.

It's worth trying him in a position for which his traits are better suited. I guess that's what the point is.

by Fahim89 Thu Feb 05, 2015 1:36 am

This guy like Lovren has not warranted the opportunity to feature in the team, its as simple as that. So if you are not going to pity Lovren don't do it for Balo. For me clearly he doesn't deserve it. He will only play if he can prove himself better and in whatever position the manager suits fit for him. But for now he has been nothing less than rubbish (same as Lovren).

by Red Alert Thu Feb 05, 2015 3:56 am

Kick wrote:How can you say he is something if he has not played there?

It was like Chelsea fans saying David Luiz was a better DM despite the fact he barely played there.

Mario may have better traits for a SS/AM, doesn't mean he is a better one.

He's a better SS than a natural CF...

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