Mario Balotelli

[Arnau]

I may be baised to my knowledge of Chelsea only, but has Mourinho developed any younger players who actually continue to improve after he leaves, following the initial improvement in fitness/ball control?

Just from the top of my head, it seems like he provides a team with initial maximazation of skill, but few years after the team becomes old and in need of major revamp. Can't think of any long-term development strategies that Mourinho has instilled.

Real Madrid team is very young (Di Maria, Özil, Benzema, Khedira, Marcelo, Coentrao, Varane...)

 

[ShiftyPowers]

It's not really fair just in the sense that Mou seems to leave teams in poor financial shape for whatever reason. The war chests just slam shut when he goes elsewhere. And his teams have been older professionals, not youth players with very few exceptions.

But Balotelli is one. And as Arnau notes, there are a lot of younger players on Madrid.

 

[kp41]

this thread is going to be classic.

 

[Sir Calumn]

I hope this thread is still active in 10 years.....

 

[Help?]

It's not really fair just in the sense that Mou seems to leave teams in poor financial shape for whatever reason. The war chests just slam shut when he goes elsewhere. And his teams have been older professionals, not youth players with very few exceptions.

But Balotelli is one. And as Arnau notes, there are a lot of younger players on Madrid.

Balotelli is Mancini's player though, Mourinho didn't like him. And its weird how teams cut on spending after him. Id think that after winning a few trophies teams would have more money to spend

 

[Xifio]

RE: Mourinho

not too sure what you guys are talking about ... it was only at Inter that spending didn't happen without a legitimate excuse ...

after he left Porto, they got raided (just like Monaco did), coz that's what happens to the non-elites ... and they buy low, sell high ...

with Chelsea, Mou's core is the one that won the Champions League this year, 5 years after he left ... however, Roman did invest consistently, and has infamously spent big on one "The Kid" ... it is only now that the core's cycle has truly finished, and they're back making big signings once more ...

at Inter, Moratti wanted instant success ... so Mou, in his second season, was able to make 6 changes to his starting XI, thereby introducing 6 experienced players ... the perfect storm saw him achieve the treble that very year ... again, with players approaching (or past) 30, that core's cycle was doubtless finished ... but a combination of inept managers, and Moratti stubbornly unwilling to accept reality, is why they're out of the Champions League ...

at Madrid, he's seized control, and apart from Ricardo Carvalho, all the purchases have been young players, and the team is built to challenge for the next 5-7 years ...

 

[Rocky]

 

[ShiftyPowers]

When the postman delivers the mail he doesn't celebrate. He said that like the day before the match! Balotelli is the funniest man in sports.

 

[Arnau]

 

[Xifio]

he did his country proud at the Euros ... it didn't start well, but he showed character to come back from that, deliver emphatically, and take his team into the final ... bravo, Mario ...

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I love that. I hate players who just roll over and accept losing. My last game in high school (obviously a WAAAAAAAAAAAY lower class) we lost in the match to get us to state because our retard coach played a football player in goal because our (healthy) keeper broke his finger 2 months before. I let him have it. He deserved it after we all worked our asses off and cut our season short because of his retardation. Don't lay down. Good on ya Mario.

 

[kp41]

I love that. I hate players who just roll over and accept losing. Don't lay down. Good on ya Mario.

well said.

great Maradona

 

[Sir Calumn]

I love that. I hate players who just roll over and accept losing. My last game in high school (obviously a WAAAAAAAAAAAY lower class) we lost in the match to get us to state because our retard coach played a football player in goal because our (healthy) keeper broke his finger 2 months before. I let him have it. He deserved it after we all worked our asses off and cut our season short because of his retardation. Don't lay down. Good on ya Mario.

Did you ever get picked again?

 

[ARIAGA II]

It was his last game.

 

[Sir Calumn]

It was his last game.

The question is still relevant! He doesnt specify whether it was his last game because he quit the team or his last game before he got kicked out or repeatedly snubbed!

 

[ShiftyPowers]

It was my last game because I graduated. I was the only senior who started, but he still couldn't win state the next year. Asshole.

 

[Arnau]

San Fermín!

 

[Keegan]

I have a lot of time for Super Mario Balotelli. Great lad.

 

[Sir Calumn]

My other favourite Italian, Paolo Di Canio, hates him. Now I dont know what to think.

 

[Filipower]

Yeah I wonder why.