Who Is Mario Balotelli?

Well he's the name on everyones lips at the moment, he's a classic example of a "Marmite Player" you either love him or hate him, well at the moment for Balotelli there's a lot more hate than love at the moment. What has happened to the player who shone at the San Siro? I mean this kid was capable of some serious moments of genius, he looked like the future of Italian football...



In total he made 59 league appearances for Inter, scoring 20 goals and providing 10 for his team mates, for someone who made his debut at 18 this is a very impressive record. He reminds me of Andrei Shevchenko in his younger days at Dynamo Kyiv and more famously at AC Milan. Just like "Sheva" Balotelli has become a figure of ire due to his strange behaviour on and off the pitch, and even stranger dress sense...

Yes, before you ask that is a hat...

What Balotelli hasn't had is the chance to prove himself in the Premier League. So far he has had an inconsistent run in the first team due to injuries and suspension after his red card against West Brom. With any other foreign import in the Premier League they are given time to settle but Balotelli due to the medias dislike of him doesn't have this.

At the moment he hasn't shown his best side yet but neither have many Italian players from Serie A who've moved to England. These include Rolando Bianci, Alberto Aquilani, Massimo Taibi and Andrea Dossena but I think Balloteli is far more talented than these names. The thing with him is that he has the pace and power which is common in many African strikers e.g. Obafemi Martins, Aruna Dindane and Asamoah Gyan. What Balotelli also has is the technique, technique that he has learnt in the Italian youth system. Left foot, right foot, 6 yard box and outside the area it all seems the same for "Super Mario".



Yes he's moody and unpredictable and I don't want to sound psychologically analytical here but wouldn't you be? He has been racially abused since he started playing for the Inter first team and probably before. He clearly declares himself as Italian and has turned down the opportunity to play for Ghana the country of his biological parents birth and accepted an Italian name. But still a large group of Italian fans refuse to accept him, he has been through a match against Juventus, at the age of 18, with the crowd chanting about him dying and made his full debut for Italy with Italian fans abusing him. How many 19 year olds do you know would be able to cope with that?

He doesn't help himself with the comments he's made about fellow professional Jack Wilshire, he was quoted as saying “What's his name? Wil...? No, I just don't know him, but the next time I play against Arsenal I'll try to be careful. Maybe I could show him the Golden Boy trophy and remind him that I won.” I think if anything this arrogant streak could lead to his demise.

Mario Balotelli, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly...



After winning the Golden Boy Award he also went to comment on previous winners of the trophy saying, "There's only one that is a little stronger than me: Messi. All the others are behind me," The past winners of the award include Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney. But how true is this? Lets have a look at Balotelli compared to the best players in the world...

Didier Drogba at 20
Le Mans - 32 games, 7 goals
Didier Drogba first season in the prem
41 games, 16 goals

Carlos Tevez at 20
Corinthians - 38 games, 25 goals
Carlos Tevez first season in the prem
29 games, 7 goals

Edin Dzeko at 20
Teplice - 30 games, 13 goals
Edin Dzeko first season in the Germany
33 games, 9 goals

Wayne Rooney at 20
United - 48 games, 19 goals

Lionel Messi at 20
Barca - 40 games, 16 goals

David Villa at 20
Sporting Gijon B - 35 games, 13 goals

Samuel Eto'o at 20
Mallorca - 40 games, 10 goals

Raul at 20
Real Madrid - 49 games, 15 goals

Mario Ballotelli so far at 20
City - 9 games, 5 goals

The stats do show that Balotelli does match up to some of the big names in football when he was their ages and to be honest I don't think Wilshire is even near his level in football if its based on talent and achievement. Remember Balotelli was part of a team which won the Champions League, Serie A and the Coppa Italia scoring some important goals on the way. Now after all the talking, the statistics and the criticism, lets see if you can get your mind right Mario and be super again...

Who Is The 2010 Team Of The Year?

Its getting towards the end of the year and its time to make the tough decisions. On this occasion its going to be the team of the year... Who's your choice?

Spain

In 2010 Spain became World Champions playing their brand of Tiki Taka football which no-one seems to figure our whether it is entertaining or extremely monotonous. One thing we do know about this side is that with their classy tidy passing they have a grit which allowed them to see of Hollands rather violent challenge in the final...

Barcelona

Well they have won only won La Liga this year but they have made a scintillating start to the 2010-2011 season. This season they have managed to hammer rivals Real Madrid 5-0 in an explosive performance at the Nou Camp. So far this season they've scored 51 goals in 16 games conceding only 9 goals. They are the favorites win La Liga and also the Champions League, with many touting this side as the best ever the world is at the feet of manager Pep Guardiola and his boys...

 
Inter Milan

Well Inter were the most successful club side in 2010 winning the treble (Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia). This team had it tactically spot on under Jose Mourinho who managed to get the underperforming Italian giants out of their European slumber. They won the Champions League the hard way beating both Chelsea and Barcelona in the knock out rounds no easy feat I'm sure you'll agree.

The side was dubbed defensive but I feel with Sneijder, Eto'o and Milito they were one of the most effective counter attacking sides I've seen in a very long time.

Germany

Everyone's second favorite team in the World Cup, they played with a flair and attacking freedom which many deemed not very German. The side was young with the likes for Muller, Ozil and Khedira all impressing. The highlights of this team was its demolition jobs on England (4-1) and Argentina (4-0) both sides who were tipped to challenge for the trophy. Hopefully we will see more of them in Euro 2012.

 Chelsea

The won the Premier League and FA Cup in the same season for the first time. They had the best striker in the league Didier Drogba who managed to get 29 Premier League goals. They also scored a record 103 goal on their way to winning the league with an amazing goal difference of +71 the closest to them was Manchester United with a difference of +58, need I say more?

Decision Time...

Who was the best team of 2010?

• Spain
• Germany
• Barcelona
• Inter
• Chelsea

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When The Beautiful Game Gets Ugly... Footballs Best Fights

Well most managers like their teams to have spirit and a bit of fight in them. But I think its time to reflect on the times when teams and players have taken this concept a bit too far.

Inter Vs Valencia (Rumble in the Mestalla)

We all know that Spaniards and Italians don't see eye to eye. But this was a practically an international incident. It started at the the end of a 0-0 draw in a quarter final of the Champions League when Inter defender Nicolas Burdisso hit the prince of darkness Carlos Marchena. In retaliation to this substitute David Navarro broke Burdisso's nose but was attacked by Ivan Cordoba, Julio Cruz and Maicon. It ended up with stadium security and the Spanish Civil Guard getting things under control... 



Ljungberg Vs Mellberg (If Sweden Did Handbags...)

Well during a World Cup training session two swedes decided to have at it over a girly slide tackle. Now we all know where Audley Harrison learn to fight. I still cant figure out what started the scrap...




Edmundo "The Animal" Gets Put Down

Former Brazil international Edmundo had a reputation of being one of footballs' loose cannons. On this occasion the player he was up against decided to take some pre-emptive action against the wild man.



Maradona's Revenge...

Diego Maradona, the best player of the modern era... But like with most geniuses he had a darker side. Almost like a script from a Bruce Lee film this epic tale was about injustice and vengeance. It was Barcelona Vs Athletic Bilbao with El Diego in his pomp he came into the crosshairs of Andoni "The Butcher of Bilbao" Goikoetxea. The butcher broke his ankle in a hideous tackle...Roughly a year later Maradona came back from the broken ankle to exact violent revenge on his foe...



Would You Attack The Colombian Police?

Colombia, one of the most violent countries in the world, known for its violent drug lords and sometimes equally violent police force... This brawl was triggered during a Copa Libetadores (South American Champions League) match between Argentine side River Plate and Colombian outfit America De Cali. It started off as an innocuous push from a player warming up on the side lines and ended up with a player attacking riot police.



How Zidane Lost His Head And Materazzi Found it...

Its the World Cup Final with Italy facing France. In the previous rounds Zinedine Zidane widely recognised as the worlds top player carried France through, this was his last game ever for France and establish himself as undisputedly the best French footballer of all time. But on this night he became the best French anti-hero of all time head butting Italian defender and angel Marco Materazzi. I would also like people to know due to the way Materazzi fell many feel there may have been a second gunman...



Well I think that's enough violence for a life time. Remember guys football is the beautiful game but it can be as equally ugly...

Ronaldo The Greatest Striker Of The Modern Era?

 

 I was recently reading an article about a much maligned and ridiculed Brazilian called Ronaldo. Jokes about his weight and idiotic behaviour were the order of the day. Currently playing for Corinthians in the Brazilian top flight he has been forgotten by European Football. Now this is a lesson for the kids who've grown up with large doses of Cristiano Ronaldo about the "real Ronaldo".

He started his career at Cruziero after the legendary Jairzinho spotted him for the club. He was snapped up by the club only to be sold on to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven who already had previously had a certain Romario on their books. In his time playing in Holland he scored 42 goals in 46 games, just short of an amazing goal a game record. With this kind of form it wasn't long before he was gaining the attention of major clubs from around Europe.

In 1996 Barcelona came calling and Ronaldo gladly accepted the opportunity to strut his stuff in La Liga. He played for one season in Spain scored 34 goals in 37 games on his way to a Uefa Cup Winners Cup medal and winning the prestigious World Player of the Year Award. This was an amazing feat for an 20 year old but his time at Barcelona was only short and a move for Italian club Inter Milan was his next course of action.

When Ronaldo moved to Serie A it was widely acknowledged as the best and toughest league in the world. He only won a solitary Uefa Cup whilst playing for Inter but what I find impressive was the number of personal accolades he received during his time at the club. He became World Player of the Year for a second time, won the Ballon D'or widely recognised as the premier trophy for an individual player, what was stunning about these feats was that they were achieved in the same year...

Following his success with Inter he moved to join the Galacticos of Real Madrid, this is where I feel his fortunes changed for the worse. He won during his time at Madrid, the Pichichi (the La Liga top scorer award) and the La Liga but had no European success. In my mind his hattrick against Manchester United in the Champions League at Old Trafford really sticks out.  During this time at Madrid due to the party culture and lack of discipline at the club he became overweight and injury prone.

Now I've explained his club successes I have move on to his international career.He made his debut in 1994 against rivals Argentina. He was then included in the 1994 World Cup winning squad although he didn't play this was an achievement in itself at 17 years old. He then went on to play in the 1998 World Cup in France in which he scored 4 and provided 3 assists to help Brazil reach the final. On the eve of the final he suffered a fit but still decided to play and ended up on the losing side.

Ronaldo went one better and won the World Cup in 2002 in Korea and Japan finishing top scorer after scoring twice in the final against Germany. This was his peak for his country, he did play in the 2006 in Germany this was important as in this tournament he became top scorer in World Cup history scoring 15 goals beating Gerd Mullers record of 14 goals.

Now I understand that he has declined since those heady days at the top of international and club football but which player hasn't Pele played in the MLS of his day by the end of his career, Cryuff never won a World Cup and Zidane got sent off in the World Cup Final, I feel we should lay off Ronaldo and appreciate how good he actually was, like we do for the three mentioned, instead of making him the butt of our jokes.

 

My Ballon D'or Winner - Wesley Sneijder

Lionel Messi? Christiano Ronaldo? Wayne Rooney? Kaka? All top quality players and even better shirt sellers. But who's going to win this years prestigious Ballon Do'r? Well the latter two wont because they haven't been nominated  for the award and the former two? Well they're probably the favorites to win it. My opinion? I think it should belong to Wesley Benjamin Sneijder.

From his days at Ajax up until now at Inter he has always been recognized as an exceptionally talented playmaker. Put aside his spat with international team mate Robin Van Persie he has always been an excellent team player. But he until last season hadn't displayed his talent on the big stage.

Last season Jose Mourinho's Inter signed Sneijder as a last minute deal for which now looks like a bargain of 8 million pounds. His first major game was against rivals AC Milan in which he helped take them apart in a 4-0 demolition. This was definitely a sign of things to come...

In short Sneijder played 18 games in the World Cup and Champions League combined, the two toughest tournaments in the world, I'm sure you'll agree. Sneijder got to the final of one and won the other, scoring an amazing 8 goals from midfield and providing 7 assists.

Sneijder also won Serie A, playing 24 games scoring 4 and providing 6 assists and the Coppa Italia playing 4 games and scoring 1 goal.

In view of these facts it is clear Sneijder played a major part in helping his club win every competition they took part in and helped his country get to the final of the World Cup. And before you question the World Cup ending, neither Van Basten or Cryuff, both undoubtedly in the top 10 list of any pundits greatest players to kick a ball, could help Holland win international footballs premier trophy.

Any doubts?

Gareth Bale... Is he really that good?

This weeks player of the week is Gareth Bale. All the big clubs are being linked with him after his second half hatrick against Inter Milan. The newspapers are also heralding his performance as bordering on miraculous, was it really that good? Or were Inter that bad in the second half? I
hope that I can answer that question for you.

On the left is the formation that Inter started off with. On Bales side of the pitch there is Douglas Maicon, Javier Zanetti and Jonathon Biabiany (starting formation on the top left). With Biabiany pinning back the distinctly average Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Maicon and Zanetti controlled their right and Tottenham's left side. Now based on this starting line up Bales performance would be a world beating one.

Bales first goal was two minutes after Dejan Stankovic taken off and the young Davide Santon was brought on. It was clear to see that the Inter players were confused as they kept looking at the bench for instructions. During this period, Coutinho ended up in holding midfield, Chivu at left wing and Santon at left back.

Now on the bottom left shows when the game really changed in Bales favor. Benitez took off the effective Biabiany and brought on the defensive Ivan Cordoba. Cordoba is a 34 year old centre back and that was shown when Bale ran at him. Cordoba was supported by the 37 year old Javier Zanetti, no matter how talented Zanetti is, he hasn't got the legs to chase the pacey Bale in the last ten minutes of a game. Without the energetic Stankovic next to him i feel that Zanetti was caught out due to his lack of pace (this can be seen in all three of Bales goals).

I don't feel that Maicon pinned back Assou-Ekotto as well as Biabiany and Cordoba didn't have the positional sense of a full back of Maicon's ability (we can see that clearly in Bales second and third goal). In view of this I feel that Inter gave the game to Bale, they were sloppy in the second half and didn't give Eto'o the support he needed to replicate his first half performance.

Following this, I think that Bale is a good player but I feel that he still has a lot of work to do before he becomes one of Europe's elite. The fact that his goals were all after Inter had "done the job" I feel devalues them and feel he still has much more to do at the highest level to convince me.