Topic: Mario Balotelli

[redgriffin73]

I'm a little cautious about the whole "they're all against us" argument; whilst I am sure it feels very pointed towards Liverpool a lot of the time, I am equally sure other clubs' fans feel the same too.  That said...

I happened to have the radio on whilst cooking earlier and Jason Roberts was on Five Live saying that he thought it was bad to judge Balotelli as guilty because you couldn't be sure what he did was intentional.  He also said it was tough for Balotelli because his reputation goes before him.  At this point, I nearly choked.

You honestly couldn't make it up.

[timiano]

FFS Balotelli deliberately back heeled Parker when he knew he was on the ground, I fail to see how anyone can claim otherwise? It had nothing to do with being off balance.

To be honest, when I've stepped on the dog's/cat's foot, I've done some fairly funky things with my legs in order to not put the weight fully down on it. Which usually ends up with me falling on my arse.

I'm with Lee Dixon on this, and I think Balotelli's reputation is preceding him. It does "look" dodgy though, but to see through it with some doubt would require reason, which the FA are completely abscent of.

[Hazell]

Just need Olivier Bernard to come out and the transformation will be complete.

[exiledintheusa]

It's not a case of playing at any level, its just basic common sense and being open minded.

Aye, watching it in real time yesterday it did not strike me as intentional but then when you see it sped up in a two second gig or over-analyzed on Sky from 123 differing angles it can change your perception.  Much like the Cabaye challenge on Jay over chrimbo,  thought it was a hard and fair challenge in real time but once the slo-mo replays came on it looks horrific.

[mcfc1]

Webb didn't see it...

[LukeD]

Clarke Carlisle has been straight onto his defence aswell.

Really?  Do you think they all remember their reactions to some findings based on the fact that one man is probably more reliable than another regardless of real factual evidence?  I suppose they've slept since then so may be not eh?  Sorry, I don't want to take this down this road, just thought people would be interested in the varied reactions.

To be honest, at the time and after the game I thought it was accidental but I've since seen the gif on here and every time it seems to get worse for me.

Has Jason Roberts retired?

According to the man himself he's not being played by Blackburn because it'll trigger some contractual stuff that Venkys aren't keen to see happen, similar to Salgado.  On the plus side it means he can continue his illustrious broadcasting career.  Yay!

[Fordy]

If we appeal and lose, he'll miss...

Everton (A)
Fulham (H)
Villa (A)
Blackburn (H)
Bolton (H)

I think we will appeal it so he can play Wednesday.

Appeal it and you might as well give the title to Utd.

[Camarero25]

Really?  Do you think they all remember their reactions to some findings based on the fact that one man is probably more reliable than another regardless of real factual evidence?  I suppose they've slept since then so may be not eh?  Sorry, I don't want to take this down this road, just thought people would be interested in the varied reactions.

To be honest, at the time and after the game I thought it was accidental but I've since seen the gif on here and every time it seems to get worse for me.

It's just an utter, utter disgrace. The hypocrisy is so fucking staggering I struggle to put it into words.

EDIT: Especially all this "you couldn't prove it in a court of law" stuff they're suddenly coming out with.

[Smudgester]

Lescott also in my opinion deliberately elbowed/forearm smashed the Spurs centre half. That's less of a clear cut one for me but still should have resulted in a charge.

Please tell me you're joking. It's far clearer that Lescott's elbow was deliberate compared to Balotelli.

However, Lescott is English - Balotelli isn't.

[exiledintheusa]

Please tell me you're joking. It's far clearer that Lescott's elbow was deliberate compared to Balotelli.

However, Lescott is clingon - Balotelli isn't.

[Nick110581]

Both him and Lescott should of got banned.

United will win the title as City will fold.

[INABITSKI]

Really?  Do you think they all remember their reactions to some findings based on the fact that one man is probably more reliable than another regardless of real factual evidence?  I suppose they've slept since then so may be not eh?  Sorry, I don't want to take this down this road, just thought people would be interested in the varied reactions.

To be honest, at the time and after the game I thought it was accidental but I've since seen the gif on here and every time it seems to get worse for me. 

I'm just of the opinion that the FA pick and choose what they wish to punish, who they wish to punish and whatever suits their mood. What seems at times to be straight forward innocent behaviour, then ends up dragged through the media and then let them and the public deem the verdict. Reputations in tatters, then every little incident viewed at a million times and blown out of proportion.

You then have a similar incident which previously you think nothing of, but expect equal punishment to be given expecting them to stick to their rules that they follow, what happens? The FA let that one go and baffle everyone.

At times people see what they wish to without giving anything else a second thought. If Bellamy got 4 games for that people would be finding any means possible to support him and say innocent.

[Nick110581]

Agree on the FA handling it badly.

Alan Hutton commits a dreadful tackle - nothing.

Rooney forearmed that Wigan player - nothing.

The Johnson tackle on Kompany - nothing.

Loads of others,

It is all media driven.

[Zeb]

Has Jason Roberts retired?

No. One of the players at Blackburn the manager can't/won't pick because it'll trigger an automatic extension to their contracts.

[Anywhichwayucan]

No. One of the players at Blackburn the manager can't/won't pick because it'll trigger an automatic extension to their contracts.

Ah!

I was wondering why he was doing so much public speaking lately.

[El_Pistolero]

Can't beleive the Beeb use him mind, who gives a fuck what Jason Roberts has to say? Crazy shit.

[LukeD]

I'm just of the opinion that the FA pick and choose what they wish to punish, who they wish to punish and whatever suits their mood. What seems at times to be straight forward innocent behaviour, then ends up dragged through the media and then let them and the public deem the verdict. Reputations in tatters, then every little incident viewed at a million times and blown out of proportion.

I think it's a little bit chicken and egg to be honest - I wonder if half of these things would be issues if the media didn't whip them up?  To me it looks like a lot of the time the FA see people going mental about stuff and then react.  That's probably rubbish if you think it through logically but there does seem to be some sort of correlation - I've mentioned it in other posts on other topics but I really do think 24 hour news has A LOT to answer for.

Here's another conspiracy to chuck out there...   who's Parker's manager and what do the FA seemingly want from him soon (insert HRMC jokes here!)?

[GBF]

what a surprise! the foreigner getting charged whereas the english lions dont! 

[INABITSKI]

I think it's a little bit chicken and egg to be honest - I wonder if half of these things would be issues if the media didn't whip them up?  To me it looks like a lot of the time the FA see people going mental about stuff and then react.  That's probably rubbish of you think it through logically but there does seem to be some sort of correlation - I've mentioned it in other posts on other topics but I really do think 24 hour news has A LOT to answer for.

Here's another conspiracy to chuck out there...   who's Parker's manager and what do the FA seemingly want from him soon (insert HRMC jokes here!)?

We are all guilty of it at one time or another, but off the back of the Suarez shit, you would think we would all be a little more understanding and open minded than just wading in with our thoughts.

I called it right away what I thought when he went over, much to the amusement of a few others on here. The media always want controversy, everyone seems happy to add to it. 

Anyway fuck it, if he is out on Weds he is out. But we will get shafted sometime soon again, we always do.

[DrTobiasFunke]

To me it seems more of the case that a Balotelli/Parker story will sell more papers than a Lescott/Kaboul story. The unhinged Italian kicks the brave Englishmen as opposed to two players with no real back-story. I'm not saying the media aren't xenophobic by the way, just that they care about their profits even more than their prejudices.

[Nick110581]

It is laughable that Lescott is not getting banned.

The Terry impending ban will be interesting.

[Hazell]

I think it's a little bit chicken and egg to be honest - I wonder if half of these things would be issues if the media didn't whip them up?  To me it looks like a lot of the time the FA see people going mental about stuff and then react.  That's probably rubbish if you think it through logically but there does seem to be some sort of correlation - I've mentioned it in other posts on other topics but I really do think 24 hour news has A LOT to answer for.

That's a good point. Another example is the Rodwell red card on Suarez which they overturned.

[Roger Federer]

Using 'insulting words' - 8 match ban.

I don't want to defend the FA here, but it wasn't just insulting words, was is? Suarez was banned for repeatedly making racist remarks, and 8 matches is fair enough then, in my opinion. The problem was how the FA came to their conclusion, it was an unbelievably biased commission that seemed to have made their mind up before hearing both sides, but as they believed Evra's version for whatever reason, I don't think the actual punishment was wrong in any way. I hope racist remarks are punished severely. Terry should get even more (but I doubt he will).

[bigbear]

I'm just of the opinion that the FA pick and choose what they wish to punish, who they wish to punish and whatever suits their mood. What seems at times to be straight forward innocent behaviour, then ends up dragged through the media and then let them and the public deem the verdict. Reputations in tatters, then every little incident viewed at a million times and blown out of proportion.

You then have a similar incident which previously you think nothing of, but expect equal punishment to be given expecting them to stick to their rules that they follow, what happens? The FA let that one go and baffle everyone.

At times people see what they wish to without giving anything else a second thought. If Bellamy got 4 games for that people would be finding any means possible to support him and say innocent.

Totally agree.

I think Balotelli has been picked on. There's no evidence to say he did that on purpose, only one person really knows but because he is an "unhinged foreigner" like the Cannibal he is fair game.

Lescott's was DEFINITELY intentional, Balotelli's was probably intentional.

[bigbear]

It is laughable that Lescott is not getting banned.

The Terry impending ban will be interesting.

Terry will get off with it.

[gazzathered]

It is laughable that Lescott is not getting banned.

The Terry impending ban will be interesting.

Lescott should have got charged, bet Mancini wasn't going around waving imaginary cards when that happened.

[Ski]

The sheer hipocrasy! I shouldn't be surprised but I still am. Which rock did Clarke Carlisle crawl out from under again? Nice of him to give Mario the benefit of the doubt when all the evidence was there to see yet so quick to condemn Suarez with virtually no evidence whatsoever!

And for Howard Red to come out and say that had he seen it he would have given a red card but had he seen Lescotts forearm smash he deemed it not worthy of a red card. I might be wrong but can't ballotelli claim that although he knew Parker was behind him he didn't know exactly where. Whereas the ball had long gone and lescott knew Kahoul was there for sure when he pole axed him!

Also haven't heard one single person mention that Mario was off balance during the initial collision but if you watch as the 'stamp' occurs Modric has just pushed him from behind causing him to be even more off balance than he already was.

Hoe the fa can charge one but not the other? Has it got anything to do with the fact that JL plays for engerlund but ballotelli doesn't?

Finally had it been the other way around and Parker did that to ballotelli every Englishman and his dog would've been on SSN today insisting it was just an accident and good old scotty Parker hasn't got a dirty done in his body. In fact they'd probably have gone as far as suggest that ballotelli made a meal of it, no?

[Camarero25]

Totally agree.

I think Balotelli has been picked on. There's no evidence to say he did that on purpose, only one person really knows but because he is an "unhinged foreigner" like the Cannibal he is fair game.

Lescott's was DEFINITELY intentional, Balotelli's was probably intentional.

Lol, as if the FA need evidence.

[Smudgester]

And for Howard Red to come out and say that had he seen it he would have given a red card but had he seen Lescotts forearm smash he deemed it not worthy of a red card.

Has Webb actually done this ?

[What's the procedure Mr Mod?]

Off the current theme of the thread, but, my mate's just rang me to tell me that Balotelli has just paid his tab in Bem Brasil, Deansgate, along with every other table in the restaurant. The lad is, well, quite unique.

Top restaurant for the carnivores amung us by the way.

[LukeD]

That's a good point.

Make the most of it, I don't tend to make a habit of it!

Another example is the Rodwell red card on Suarez which they overturned.

I understand what you're saying but to be honest no one really thought that was a red surely?  The interesting comparison with Rodwell's is Kompany's which was an equally stupid red that wasn't rescinded despite the outpourings from all over.  In fact, that's one case recently where the FA haven't bowed to media pressure so maybe I've just disproved my point?  Balls.

[Hazell]

Make the most of it, I don't tend to make a habit of it!I understand what you're saying but to be honest no one really thought that was a red surely?  The interesting comparison with Rodwell's is Kompany's which was an equally stupid red that wasn't rescinded despite the outpourings from all over.  In fact, that's one case recently where the FA haven't bowed to media pressure so maybe I've just disproved my point?  Balls.

See, according to The FA's own 'The Laws of the Game', I do think Rodwell's was a red but there was a huge outcry and they decided to overturn it. Kompany's tackle again, there was a a lot of people talking about it in the aftermath but that wasn't rescinded (you're right about the FA not responding to public pressure on that one but that's a rare occurrence). Also not much of an outcry when Hibbert could have broke Adam's leg and no subsequent action taken but hey ho.

[LukeD]

See, according to The FA's own 'The Laws of the Game', I do think Rodwell's was a red but there was a huge outcry and they decided to overturn it. Kompany's tackle again, there was a a lot of people talking about it in the aftermath but that wasn't rescinded (you're right about the FA not responding to public pressure on that one but that's a rare occurrence). Also not much of an outcry when Hibbert could have broke Adam's leg and no subsequent action taken but hey ho.

I guess that's the crux right there and it's something every single one of us has spoken about at some point; consistency and the lack of it in most cases.

[buzzing]

Lot of hate for Mario and his acts of giving money away in one way or the other. everyone says footy players are stuck in their own world with their ££££. the minute one does something of their own accord they get labelled as "doing it for the attention"

[Filler.]

what a surprise! the foreigner getting charged whereas the english lions dont! 

Oh come off it.


I did manage to allow a giggle listening to Roberts LukeD. Ha. Glad someone else heard that!

I'm still amazed at how there was even a debate about it! Jesus wept.

Not a good challenge obviously from Lescott, a deep orange/red. But stamping down on someone's head while he is on the floor? Even Balottelli realised.

[Filler.]

Off the current theme of the thread, but, my mate's just rang me to tell me that Balotelli has just paid his tab in Bem Brasil, Deansgate, along with every other table in the restaurant. The lad is, well, quite unique.

Top restaurant for the carnivores amung us by the way.

Ha.. nice. I hope that's true.

[Tony18:5]

Please tell me you're joking. It's far clearer that Lescott's elbow was deliberate compared to Balotelli.

However, Lescott is English - Balotelli isn't.

I'm not and it really isn't.

Balotelli knew exactly what he was doing. Its got nothing to do with reputation or stupid conspiracy theories, Balottelli's was the act of an utter shithouse full stop.

Lescott's was also intentional in my view but was more stealthy in its execution, hence why he's got away with it.

[CarlitoB]

It's actually quite funny watching a bunch of Liverpool fans defending a player that doesn't play for us, using the rationale that the FA are massively biased by the media when it comes to handing out punishments.

They're quite correct, so why do I find it amusing?  Well, the reason why most of you lot like Balotelli stems directly from the media generated bullshit that surrounds the attention seeking cockend.

[GBF]

Oh come off it.


I did manage to allow a giggle listening to Roberts LukeD. Ha. Glad someone else heard that!

I'm still amazed at how there was even a debate about it! Jesus wept.

Not a good challenge obviously from Lescott, a deep orange/red. But stamping down on someone's head while he is on the floor? Even Balottelli realised.

[gazzathered]

Still can't believe he got away with that.