Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 - Mod Note in OP 28/8

rossc007

noodler wrote: »

So who has the Ballo stats?

Goals last season and how many were penalties?

I this particular case I think it might be best to ignore the stats, sit back and enjoy the ride

Knex*

Washington Irving wrote: »

Are you suggesting that isn't something to get excited over?!

Rodgers would be like a kid on Christmas morning.

ush

Knex. wrote: »

For the first time in fucking years, as well.

I'm delighted with how things have panned out this window, all things considered. (As long as he does sign, that is)

Oh yeah! We've come along way since trying to convince ourselves that Joe Cole and Stewart Downing were smart signings.

MR NINE

Balotelli has already had quite an impact on the thread, crazy amount of posts in the last 24 hours. The signing is terrifying and exciting in equal measure, but its guaranteed entertainment

Talib Fiasco

City fan here, delighted Mario is back in the league and happy it's ye who got him in fairness. Fierce bargain if 16 mil is true... Monday night will be classic if he plays!

garra

Perhaps Lambert could do a "minder" job on Mario, share a house etc. Otherwise hire a live-in body guard or similar, maybe lock him up at Melwood for the evenings.

In a very big way we are inviting trouble and a media-circus around us, I don't generally care about other team's fans opinions but we cannot accept "being the victim" if we are ridiculed for Mario's antics - of which there will be a few I'm sure.

We are surely the Dallas of soap operas compared to the Emmerdales and Eastenders of the other teams, this time we are scripting our own tragi-comedy on a par with "Much Ado About Nothing". If he is producing the goods and then starts going off the rails we've gotta be strong with him.

You cannot help but like the guy for his childish outlook on life and he will replace Suarez in the "box office" department for sure, it's never boring following LFC and the next drama is always just round the corner. Bring it :eek:

p38

We haven't had much luck with Italian's Hope that is about to change

daithijjj

Been breaking the news on Balotelli to some folks (anyone who'll listen), here's a compilation of reactions.

Talisman

Coutinho: I've found a family at Liverpool

"I found a family when I first arrived here. This club really is like a family and this helped me feel very comfortable when I first came to Liverpool.

"Playing alongside great players such as our captain, Steven Gerrard, and seeing how simple, humble and hard-working people they are also helped me learn and feel comfortable here."

Hopefully this will rub off on Balotelli.

brevity

Top Of The Kop ‏@TOTK96 15m

������ pic.twitter.com/WWVgH0eSP1

LOL

Iused2likebusts

Spurs 1 down in Europa League hopefully they lose will force them to put a strong team out next Thursday ahead of our game against them next Sunday.

djPSB

noodler wrote: »

So who has the Ballo stats?

Goals last season and how many were penalties?

Before tax or after tax?

murpho999

Happy to see Mario being signed but will he be hold off Falcao and Reus for a first team place?

Hazys

He'll bring some excitement and fireworks* to Anfield









No, he'll actually bring fireworks to Anfield

Underpaid Mike

God id give my left nut for Balotellis entrance to be like this

ciaranmac

Washington Irving wrote: »

Are you suggesting that isn't something to get excited over?!

For shame.

/googles it on phone when nobody's looking

Augmerson

I think the club is looking very very good for a CL place this season. We need maybe a backup keeper and after that it's the strongest squad we've had in years, very balanced, lots of options for positions.

Underpaid Mike

Gabrielle Marcotti giving his opinion on Mario now, he writes for the Times and ESPN.
Speaking on Newstalk at the minute

Marcotti: "To be brutally honest, this makes absolutely no sense to me to sell him at this price (16m). " #LFC #Balotelli

Marcotti: "If that's the number, it's an absolute steal for #LFC" #Balotelli #LFC

Marcotti: "The risk/reward situation is just tremendous for #LFC. It's a colosal screw up by Milan. Many Milan fans are angry about this"

Marcotti - "If #Balotelli just stays at this level, the fee is a success for #LFC. If he goes beyond, then you've hit the jackpot"

Marcotti: "He is 24 years old, and this factors in to #LFC's thinking. Another aspect, Balotelli in terms of endorsements, he's growing"

Marcotti - "If you're looking at global superstars at #LFC, once you get beyond #Gerrard, and #Sterling very soon, #Balotelli helps that"

Marcotti: "#LFC/#Rodgers know everything they need to know about him.Rodgers would feel he could handle #Balotelli better than anyone else"

rob316

Leonardo Ulloa = £8m
Robert Snodgrass = £8m
Ross McCormack = £11m
Shane Long = £12m
Fabio Borini = £14m
Mario Balotelli = £16m

Nice to get a real bargain.

martyos121

Massive, massive credit to Ian Ayre for this. He's taken a lot of stick for the Salah, Konopkyanka and Willian deals failing, but he's got an absolute steal in Balotelli for £16m.

Chardee MacDennis

rob316 wrote: »

Leonardo Ulloa = £8m
Robert Snodgrass = £8m
Ross McCormack = £11m
Shane Long = £12m
Fabio Borini = £14m
Mario Balotelli = £16m

Nice to get a real bargain.

there's something in the waters in Milan, first Inter give us Coutinho for a steal of £8m and then Milan give us Mario for £16m.

Ayre has them under some sort of spell.

Stargate

joe123 wrote: »

Bony at 20 million or Ballotelli at 16 million?

Ballotelli for me all day long there.

Not sure on what to think re the Balotelli deal . It could be brill or as some say it
could have a negative affect on the team . Hoping he turns out to be class . Agree with the above tho ... i'd much rather see Balotelli at the club than Bony for that money.

rob316

BastardPrince wrote: »

there's something in the waters in Milan, first Inter give us Coutinho for a steal of £8m and then Milan give us Mario for £16m.

Ayre has then under some sort of spell.

I was reading something from the mirror earlier Maddock said they wanted £40m at the start of the summer, then when we played them over in the US they wanted £24m, today we negotiated it down to £16m. Don't know how true that is but well done.

Smithwicks Man

Berlusconi's quotes after Italy got knocked out of the World Cup:

Berlusconi claims a €35m (£27.7m) deal to "a top English club", believed to be Arsenal, has stalled because the 23-year-old was lacklustre in Brazil.

"Other than Italy, I’m the one who lost at the World Cup," Gazzetta Dello Sport report Berlusconi said at a political meeting.

"I was selling Balotelli to an English team for several millions, but, after this World Cup, who will buy him now?"

"I was going to sell it to a top English club for €35 million, now the deal has stalled."



Possible that it could have been Liverpool he was on about, although I can't see how his world cup display would cause Milan to almost halve their original asking price.

Paully D

I have to say, £16m for Mario is a fantastic piece of business for Liverpool IMO. 28 in 86 as a kid for Inter, 30 in 80 for City, 30 in 54 for AC and 13 in 33 for Italy (as per Wiki). He's just turned 24 also.

I'd be very happy with this if I were a Liverpool fan.

martyos121

I have a feeling that there may be another reason that the fee is so low. Perhaps they're looking for someone in exchange, like Suso or Enrique, even on loan. Hasn't been reported yet so hopefully I'm wrong.

Yawns

I was one of those who didn't really want Mario at the club because of his antics, but I do have to say, that in this time with the amount of stupid money going for footballers, getting him for the likes of £16 million when we value the likes of Borini at £14 is just stupid silly money. To be very fair, Ayre has always gotten stick but this summer he deserves a new bike.

MarkY91

Paully D wrote: »

I have to say, £16m for Mario is a fantastic piece of business for Liverpool IMO. 28 in 86 as a kid for Inter, 30 in 80 for City, 30 in 54 for AC and 13 in 33 for Italy (as per Wiki). He's just turned 24 also.

I'd be very happy with this if I were a Liverpool fan.

while being subbed on and off regulary too. impressive stats indeed

BoardsMember

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Berlusconi's quotes after Italy got knocked out of the World Cup:

Berlusconi claims a €35m (£27.7m) deal to "a top English club", believed to be Arsenal, has stalled because the 23-year-old was lacklustre in Brazil.

"Other than Italy, I’m the one who lost at the World Cup," Gazzetta Dello Sport report Berlusconi said at a political meeting.

"I was selling Balotelli to an English team for several millions, but, after this World Cup, who will buy him now?"

"I was going to sell it to a top English club for €35 million, now the deal has stalled."
Possible that it could have been Liverpool he was on about, although I can't see how his world cup display would cause Milan to almost halve their original asking price.

And Berlusconi is a man whose word is his bond, has to be the truth

joe123

The price for Ballotelli really is a great piece of business. Lukaku went to everton for 28 million. Long went for 12. Mcormack for 11.

In such an inflated market we have done well here. The more I think about the whole deal the happier I am becoming.

Rodgers might just be the ideal man to get the best out of Balotelli too.

Smithwicks Man

BoardsMember wrote: »

And Berlusconi is a man whose word is his bond, has to be the truth

Makes no sense to come out with that if it wasn't true, although Berlusconi doesn't seem to know or care what he does be at most of the time.

MD1990

Mario Balotelli’s future seems set to be at Liverpool. Milan and Liverpool have already reached an agreement, now the one between the English club and the player is missing, but the parties are negotiating. Liverpool have already presented their first economic offer: €5.8M wages, £90,000 per week. Important figures, Balotelli is increasingly close to Liverpool.

http://gianlucadimarzio.com/en/calciomercato/heres-liverpools-offer-to-balotelli-the-details/

Looks like it should hopefully go through soon.

Iused2likebusts

Hopefully we get this one over the line it's a great price for a really good player pretty much how I felt about the Remy deal. I wonder if these two deals are in anyway related.

messinkiapina

I'm probably on my own here in thinking he's a good player but also quite over-rated. He'd be worth circa 20m if he has his head screwed on, had a decent attitude at all times, head didn't go down easily etc. As it is, I don't think he's worth the money. Most people think this guy could be a superstar if he got his head right, I just don't see that. Just my opinion.... cue the abuse...!

smileyj1987

Paully D wrote: »

I have t say, £16m for Mario is a fantastic piece of business for Liverpool IMO. 28 in 86 as a kid for Inter, 30 in 80 for City, 30 in 54 for AC and 13 in 33 for Italy (as per Wiki). He's just turned 24 also.

I'd be very happy with this if I were a Liverpool fan.

I would say you would be delighted to see him sign for Sunderland because they could have afforded him if they dug deep . Let's hope it can mean you get the man you are after in fabio Borini and everyone is happy .

Augmerson

messinkiapina wrote: »

I'm probably on my own here in thinking he's a good player but also quite over-rated. He'd be worth circa 20m if he has his head screwed on, had a decent attitude at all times, head didn't go down easily etc. As it is, I don't think he's worth the money. Most people think this guy could be a superstar if he got his head right, I just don't see that. Just my opinion.... cue the abuse...!

Ah no abuse man, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. His behaviour in the past can't be ignored. I do think though that if anyone can get the best from him, it'll be Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers also wasn't going to entertain nonsense from Suarez after he bit Ivanonvic in that Chelsea match and had him training on his own. It wasn't long before Suarez came round and apologised. I think if Balotelli goes off the rails Rodgers would snap him back and still get the best from him.

googled eyes

Ha. Indy is dropping hints about DiMaria coming to Liverpool.

I actually love Indy these days

murpho999

Even if Super Mario does come in, won't we still need another forward especially if Borini goes?

Vinz Mesrine

murpho999 wrote: »

Even if Super Mario does come in, won't we still need another forward especially if Borini goes?

No, I don't think so.

looder

joe123 wrote: »

The price for Ballotelli really is a great piece of business. Lukaku went to everton for 28 million. Long went for 12. Mcormack for 11.

In such an inflated market we have done well here. The more I think about the whole deal the happier I am becoming.

Rodgers might just be the ideal man to get the best out of Balotelli too.

Where does Rodgers get the reputation of being a super man-manager?

milltown

Genuinely excited about this. We were looking a bit light on mental with Luis' departure, so glad to see that sorted now. Both Sturridge and Sterling were supposed to be borderline unmanageable earlier in their careers, weren't they? Rodgers' management skills and Mario's increasing maturity could make this very, very good business.

I can't wait to see the reception he gets on his Anfield debut.

BoardsMember

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Makes no sense to come out with that if it wasn't true, although Berlusconi doesn't seem to know or care what he does be at most of the time.

Agreed. But I dont expect him to make sense. He's a buffoon.

NukaCola

murpho999 wrote: »

Even if Super Mario does come in, won't we still need another forward especially if Borini goes?

A one year contract for Eto'o or something like that would do the job. Especially with Origi coming in next year.

I'd like Borini to stay but they love him at Sunderland and Poyet is doing everything he can to get him. Its a perfect move for Borini, i hope he doesn't pass up the opportunity to go and play week in week out. The deal is good for everyone.

Augmerson

BoardsMember wrote: »

Agreed. But I dont expect him to make sense. He's a buffoon.

He's a cute hoor is what he is. He makes Bertie look like an amateur.

Soft Falling Rain

I love how some media are describing this move as desparate from the club. Taking everything into account such as time left in the window, the player's age, the player's albeit flawed genius and crucially the fee in question, I don't see anything desparate about it.

Underpaid Mike

looder wrote: »

Where does Rodgers get the reputation of being a super man-manager?

From the turn around seen in
Sturridge
Suarez
Sterling
Henderson

Also because Gerrard said he is the best man manager he has ever worked under
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26625628

5live

joe123 wrote: »

Bony at 20 million or Ballotelli at 16 million?

Ballotelli for me all day long there.

Damn you, Joe.

Stop talking sense, at least until i catch up.

5live

joe123 wrote: »

Bony at 20 million or Ballotelli at 16 million?

Ballotelli for me all day long there.

Damn you, Joe.

Stop talking sense, at least until i catch up.

Kirby

Underpaid Mike wrote: »

From the turn around seen in
Sturridge
Suarez
Sterling
Henderson

Also because Gerrard said he is the best man manager he has ever worked under
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26625628

Of course Gerrard is going to say that. He's the current manager. What else is he going to say? I'll remind you he said Alonso was the best player he played with, and then he said Torres was, and then he said Suarez was. That's how footballers are.

I like Rodgers. A lot. I think he is a good man manager and a good manager full stop. I was convinced he would be a success when some in here were calling him brent or "the Rodgers" and wanting Rafa back. But opinions on how good he is from players currently in the side are virtually worthless.