da bet7： “Forget about Mario Balotelli. He is an absolute waste of time. He shouldn’t be anywhere near this team.”
da bet nacional： Ouch! Everyone’s favourite football pundit Mark Lawrenson didn’t hold back on his Mario Balotelli verdict yesterday as the Reds were forced to an FA Cup quarter-final replay by Blackburn. The Championship side were resolute in the way they defended at Anfield and held on to take the tie back to Ewood Park, even though they were penned in for large chunks of the 90 minutes. Balotelli did not start the game, which has been the norm this season on Merseyside, but even though he had just over 30 minutes to make an impact, it was another lifeless showing from the 24-year-old.
‘Lawro’s’ views reflect those of many Liverpool supporters, whose optimism at the start of the season as the Italian arrived has proven to be unfounded, but we think that Brendan Rodgers could do better than to listen to the former Liverpool defender. Here are FIVE reasons the Balotelli gamble may yet end with reward…
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Scored big goals
Okay, just four goals in the red shirt is far from ideal, but Balotelli’s efforts have all been big ones for Liverpool. The quartet of strikes have come late in games to secure victories against Ludogorets and Besiktas in the Champions League and Europa League respectively, Swansea in the League Cup and, perhaps the most important of all, Spurs in the Premier League. The last of the mentioned four may prove to be one of the club’s most vital efforts of the campaign should they finish ahead of Tottenham and leap back into the top four, with the money from qualification and TV rights for Europe’s top competition alone enough to pay the fee it took to lure him from AC Milan.
Still just 24
Even though he’s won the Premier League title with Manchester City and represented both Milan clubs in the biggest competitions around, Balotelli is still just 24. With his youth very much still there, it’s understandable that Mario will be struggling to find his footballing identity a little, and many footballers have shown In the past that the journey to the top is not always started with a stunning breakthrough.
Undoubted talent
Balotelli must have some talent. You don’t play for Italy at senior level, work under bosses such as Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho or bridge the gap between the two Milan sides unless you have something about you. Mario has, of course, done all the above, providing flashes of sheer magnificence along the way. Who remembers his goals against Manchester United? His assist for Sergio Aguero’s Premier League-winning moment? His long-range wonder-strike against Bologna?
Proven record
Wherever he has been, Balotelli has scored goals. He’s notched over double figures in a single league campaigns for Inter, Man City and Milan, while also finding the back of the net in European and cup tournaments. Over his career, Italy included, Balotelli averages a goal every two/three games, which is a return that many forwards would be proud of at his age.
Not a bad option from the bench
Although paying £16m for a bench player is far from ideal, Balotelli is pretty good option for Brendan Rodgers to have. Last season as the Northern Irishman guided his team to within a whisker of the Premier League title, he had limited options to call on outside his best XI, with Iago Aspas – now shipped out on loan to Sevilla – the only orthodox alternative to Luis Suarez of Daniel Sturridge. However you may feel about Balotelli, he’s a better player than Aspas!