October 2014 Football/Fútbol Discussion: The 'Super' Mario Balotelli Appreciation Thread

[Romo]

0/3 tackles won
0 headers won
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1 penalty conceded

Luke Shaw - £28million.

Bit harsh. He's 19. Still got a lot of learning and improvement, didn't watch the full match but heard on the radio that he was decent going forward. Typically, it seems he's injured again.

No different from you slagging Markovic off...

[AkydefGoldberg]

0/3 tackles won
0 headers won
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1 penalty conceded

Luke Shaw - £28million.

Bit harsh. He's 19. Still got a lot of learning and improvement, didn't watch the full match but heard on the radio that he was decent going forward. Typically, it seems he's injured again.

No different from you slagging Markovic off...

I didn't realise one prediction (that he'd be the worst signing of the season) constituted slagging him off..

And tbh, atm, he's showing my prediction to be correct. He's had more minutes than Shaw (who was injured up until a couple of weeks ago) and hasn't shown much, if anything.

But tbf to him, he's young, new league, adaptation blah blah and Rodgers would have probably preferred to ease him in with his first eleven but still, not really seen any bright shoots of talent so far in the brief times I've seen him.

[prophet]

0/3 tackles won
0 headers won
0 interceptions
1 penalty conceded

Luke Shaw - £28million.

Bit harsh. He's 19. Still got a lot of learning and improvement, didn't watch the full match but heard on the radio that he was decent going forward. Typically, it seems he's injured again.

No different from you slagging Markovic off...

I didn't realise one prediction (that he'd be the worst signing of the season) constituted slagging him off..

And tbh, atm, he's showing my prediction to be correct. He's had more minutes than Shaw (who was injured up until a couple of weeks ago) and hasn't shown much, if anything.

But tbf to him, he's young, new league, adaptation blah blah and Rodgers would have probably preferred to ease him in with his first eleven but still, not really seen any bright shoots of talent so far in the brief times I've seen him.

Well yeah, that one prediction and a re-reference during the Basel game (however justified) does constitute slagging him off Markovic hasn't played a lot of football and whilst he hasn't shown much nor has anyone in the team bar Sterling so I still think your early criticisms of him are just as harsh as you felt Romo was on Shaw :)

[PorkChop]

On another note, are any of you guys going to read Roy Keane's book? Sounds pretty controversial.

He's reignited his feud with SAF and Alf Inge Haaland, admitted he headbutted Schmeichel years ago and called John O'Shea a 'fucking clown'

[prophet]

On another note, are any of you guys going to read Roy Keane's book? Sounds pretty controversial.

He's reignited his feud with SAF and Alf Inge Haaland, admitted he headbutted Schmeichel years ago and called John O'Shea a 'fucking clown'

Probably, imagine it'll be a fascinating read.

In more other news, the mighty Bantams are on Sky this Sunday then again the following Saturday! #bigclub

In more, more other news, I added a Bradford player as a mate on PS4 and had him a game of FIFA earlier, beat him 2-0. DON'T SEE YOUR HERO LUKE SHAW DOING THAT DO YOU AKY?

[AkydefGoldberg]

In more, more other news, I added a Bradford player as a mate on PS4 and had him a game of FIFA earlier, beat him 2-0. DON'T SEE YOUR HERO LUKE SHAW DOING THAT DO YOU AKY?

At this moment in time, he's probably put his feet on the treatment table than got his hands on a PS4 controller. Even if he did, I'd tell him to do one and get De Gea to add me on PS4 so I can thank him for this world-class saves by putting a few more past him on FIFA.

0/3 tackles won
0 headers won
0 interceptions
1 penalty conceded

Luke Shaw - £28million.

Bit harsh. He's 19. Still got a lot of learning and improvement, didn't watch the full match but heard on the radio that he was decent going forward. Typically, it seems he's injured again.

No different from you slagging Markovic off...

I didn't realise one prediction (that he'd be the worst signing of the season) constituted slagging him off..

And tbh, atm, he's showing my prediction to be correct. He's had more minutes than Shaw (who was injured up until a couple of weeks ago) and hasn't shown much, if anything.

But tbf to him, he's young, new league, adaptation blah blah and Rodgers would have probably preferred to ease him in with his first eleven but still, not really seen any bright shoots of talent so far in the brief times I've seen him.

Well yeah, that one prediction and a re-reference during the Basel game (however justified) does constitute slagging him off Markovic hasn't played a lot of football and whilst he hasn't shown much nor has anyone in the team bar Sterling so I still think your early criticisms of him are just as harsh as you felt Romo was on Shaw :)

Like I said, put Markovic down as my worst signing of the season and might have made a reference to his Basel performance but I've gone easy on him. Hardly tore him a new one. Might come good in second half of season.

On another note, are any of you guys going to read Roy Keane's book? Sounds pretty controversial.

He's reignited his feud with SAF and Alf Inge Haaland, admitted he headbutted Schmeichel years ago and called John O'Shea a 'fucking clown'

I'm torn. I've read Keane's first book but feel this second one is more salacioius. Rio's book seems bland besides JT/Moyes/chips and Pietersen, as much as a dick he is, seems worth a read.

Keane's comments come from a POV and he has a right to reply but I wonder whether he'd have released this book had Fergie not released one last October and had Keane, after his sacking at Ipswich, retreated into the wilderness rather than go into punditry, which he criticised early on his careeer.

[Viazon]

It may be just me but whenever I hear about a celebrity bringing out an autobiography where they slag off a bunch of other people, I just think they are whiny little bitches.

I would of course never say that to Roy Keanes face.

[PorkChop]

It may be just me but whenever I hear about a celebrity bringing out an autobiography where they slag off a bunch of other people, I just think they are whiny little bitches.

I would of course never say that to Roy Keanes face.

I agree, I'm not a fan of the whole "read all about it, juicy gossip" stuff either though as it's football it's a bit different for me. Plus, I've heard numerous tales about shit going down at United back in the day and you know Roy Keane would have some great stories, far too good to miss out on.

I quite enjoy having fully functional legs, so I wouldn't call Keane a bitch either. I wouldn't even risk giving his book a bad review on Amazon.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Keane explaining why he didn't sign Savage for Sunderland is hilarious!

I might get it to have a read over, because I've read the first one and feel compelled to read Keane and Pietersen's book however much I detest the latter.

[PorkChop]

Keane explaining why he didn't sign Savage for Sunderland is hilarious!

I just read it, haha. Genuinely lol'd. For those who haven't read it:

"I rang Mark Hughes about Robbie Savage. Robbie wasn't in the Blackburn team and I asked Mark if we could try to do a deal, a permanent or loan deal," Keane reveals in his book Roy Keane: The Second Half.

"Robbie's legs were going a bit, but I thought he might come up to us at Sunderland, with his long hair, and give us a lift, the way Dwight Yorke had - a big personality in the dressing room.

"Sparky gave me permission to give him a call. So I got Robbie's mobile number and rang him.

"It went to his voicemail: 'Hi, it's Robbie - whazzup!' - like the Budweiser ad.

"I never called him back. I thought 'I can't be f****** signing that'."

[Camstud]

Think I'll be picking up Keane's book. I read SAF's about a month ago and quite enjoyed it, especially the sections on Keane so seeing what Roy has to say back should be interesting.

That quote about Savage absolutely killed me, I cam imagine Savage thinking it's great banter and Keane's face upon hearing it

[PorkChop]

“My first game [for Celtic] was Clyde, away, in the third round of the Scottish Cup. We were beaten 2-1. It was a nightmare. I wasn’t happy with my own game. I did OK, but OK wasn’t good enough. After the game – the disappointment. As I was taking my jersey off, I noticed the Nike tag was still on it. When I got on the bus John Hartson, a really good guy, was already sitting there and he was eating a packet of crisps – with a fizzy drink. I said to myself: ‘Welcome to Hell.’”

“It might seem strange but you find out about characters when you look to see who’s in charge of the music. A young lad might want to put on the latest sound; an older player might say: ‘I’m the senior player’ and put himself in charge. But I noticed none of the players [at Sunderland] were in charge of the music and this was a concern for me. A member of staff was in charge. I was looking at him thinking: ‘I hope someone nails him here.’ The last song before the players went on to the pitch was ‘Dancing Queen’ by Abba. What really worried me was that none of the players – not one – said: ‘Get that shit off.’ They were going out to play a match, men versus men, testosterone levels were high. You’ve got to hit people at pace. Fuckin’ ‘Dancing Queen.’ It worried me. I didn’t have as many leaders as I thought.”

[Romo]

Looks like Neil Lennon is a done deal to become the new Bolton Wanderers manager, I'd expect it to be official by Monday!

[AkydefGoldberg]

Looks like Neil Lennon is a done deal to become the new Bolton Wanderers manager, I'd expect it to be official by Monday!

Good one. Lennon will work well with Bolton. Can work on a smaller budget, should get on with Gartside. I think it's a good appointment.

In other news, some tragic news broke last night...

[SlightlyJames]

Seeing that picture there made me notice something.





Roy Keane looks quite a bit like Michael from GTA V.

[PorkChop]

Roy Keane without the beard is so much less intimidating.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Thoughts on this column @Romo?

Eye opening stuff. £168m in debt compared to Wigan's £20m.

[SlightlyJames]

Thoughts on this column @Romo?

Eye opening stuff. £168m in debt compared to Wigan's £20m.

(Which column?)

[Romo]

Thoughts on this column @Romo?

Eye opening stuff. £168m in debt compared to Wigan's £20m.

I've know about the debt for awhile, about £140 million is owed to the owner but there is a alot more going on behind the scenes then people know about, Gartside is one of the most corrupt men in football, Eddie Davies hasn't the balls to sack him, if we don't turn it around and we get relegated then that'll be it.. club will be gone no doubt about it

[Romo]

Thoughts on this column @Romo?

Eye opening stuff. £168m in debt compared to Wigan's £20m.

(Which column?)

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... rers-abyss