Winter Transfer Speculation and Shit.

[GP]

is "willian is a better player then Mata" using the same logic as "Cabaye is a level above any of our midfielders" or is this a completely new type of stupidity?

It's the same level of WUMing, really.

Remember, this is the guy who thinks Kolo Toure is the best defender in world football.

[BOBN]

Citing Mancini's relationship with Balotelli doesn't help at all. He could be a shit father as well as manager for all we know. He fell out with all of his players and there were rumours of a revolt against him. Dzeko, Hart, Nasri, Tevez, Bellamy....it's a long list and you'd never hear about Wenger having such volatile relationships with his players. Never happens. Mancini is a bad example.

Mancini is a known egomanic and petulant character.

[Power n Glory]

Mancini is a known egomanic and petulant character.

Totally. He clashed with too many players and the environment he created at that club was problematic. It's easy managing players with big egos but he really couldn't handle it.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Mancini lost it at City towards the end but it doesn't change the fact that based on his and Balotelli's own words, their relationship was akin to father and son, yet Mancini still couldn't get a tune out of him consistently. Tevez's behaviour was ridiculous at City so I sympathise with Mancini on him.

The problem with Mario over here is that he is a troubled kid well out of his surroundings and easily provoked on and off the field. I suspect the trouble that follows him will be prevalent wherever he is in his career and particularly outside of Italy and Italy is the only place he seems to be able to make any sense of.....or rather puts up with because after all, it is his home.


I happen to recall Wenger being very complimentary about Balotelli throughout his career and on more than one occasion. However, even if the relationship between him and Wenger is ostensibly pacified in comparison to that he shared with others, I don't see why the other stuff he gets caught up in will cease. The disciplinary issues, the fact he is a loose cannon easily wound up by the opposition, the stuff in the media....It just seems to be one thing after another.

Mancini had the luxury of not having to rely on Mario. In fact he could have sought to sell him much sooner than he did and it is a wonder he didn't considering. Again, I believe it was his personal relationship and sense of responsibility for him that perhaps stopped him from doing so imo. He had rich pickings and had better forwards at his disposal anyway, so Mancini was never going to yield or pander to Balotelli's ego 100%. The Italian style of coaching is generally a little more authoritative. Respect is expected as a matter of course.

If Balotelli were to lose his way, Wenger would simply 'rest' him or he would pick up a suspicious injury before shortly selling him, but that isn't what we really want....a talented player for a brief time, like a flash in the pan who we just quickly sell on because he is unmanageable.

Unlike Mancini's City, Wenger wouldn't have the luxury of not having to rely on Balotelli either, so him going off on one would potentially be catastrophic.

Excellent post.

Not many would disagree and fail to see the importance of the Balotelli/Mancini relationship.

[Power n Glory]

Is that even neccessary? Very petulant.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

You need to stop taking drugs. Very paranoid.

[Power n Glory]

Blink's a good poster and I hear his concerns but a father/son relationship doesn't equal a good partnership. Calling anyone a 'thicko' who disagrees is childish. There is no need for it. You can add your thoughts without insults.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Citing Mancini's relationship with Balotelli doesn't help at all. He could be a shit father as well as manager for all we know. He fell out with all of his players and there were rumours of a revolt against him. Dzeko, Hart, Nasri, Tevez, Bellamy....it's a long list and you'd never hear about Wenger having such volatile relationships with his players. Never happens. Mancini is a bad example.

Even if that is true, there is no real precedent for any pacifists being able to tame Balotelli, or any type of manager really. Good or bad fatherly-son relationship, that they had a relationship of that nature at all tells you there was somewhat of a deeper bond there. Yet in spite of that you got to a point where you always felt Mancini was fighting a losing battle.

Furthermore, in the Mario vs Mancini (feels like I'm talking about some infamous mafia court case) debate, both have been at fault, though in my view more so Balotelli, given the fact that one is the others boss and the frequency in which Mario stepped out of line. There were some huge ego's at City to control who were artificially and quickly assembled unlike our Invincibles... but I agree that Mancini had started to lose the plot and make his position untenable.

He wouldn't be my first choice but if Wenger ever tamed him, I would be bloody impressed. I would be happy to be wrong as I rate him, not that it's likely to happen.

I know many think it is pointless to debate any player who we aren't literally moments away from signing but transfer talk time really would be a ghost town if we only discussed players likely to sign or even occurrences likely to happen.

[Globalgunner]

Balotelli, it's a no brainer for me as he is basically, the most talented and more importantly, the only quality striker available in the known football world. Don't forget that we are in desperate need of his quality as I can see our bid for honours stalling if we refuse to improve the squad. Also and this is important. Balotelli himself is fast running out of options. Outside ourselves and the 2 Spanish giants, there are really no A grade clubs left that the can go to. In England he would feel at home and free of the racist B.S in Italy.
It's a big risk I know especially as he would easily be our highest earner, I believe he was on 180k at City, so there's that, but if available, even on loan, I think we should.

[footloose, the wanderer]

Loan would be good if possible with a view to permanent deal.