Danny Welbeck | 2011-14 Performances
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His diving has gotten awful. I'll happily admit I was hoping we'd miss the penalty because it was so awfully earned.
I like Welbeck but I'm not sure he's a striker. He seems happier just getting on the ball and dribbling. I say he becomes a winged forward in the mold of Ronaldo.
I like Welbeck but I'm not sure he's a striker. He seems happier just getting on the ball and dribbling. I say he becomes a winged forward in the mold of Ronaldo.
I read it. You said "could have", past tense. I.e. you don't think Balotelli can be special.
It's the Suarez problem, he's good, but highly inconsistent and fluffs a hell of a lot of chances.
He said "If Welbeck is going to be very very special, then what will Balotelli be?"
I said "someone who could have been very special but..."
I don't see what is wrong about the wording of my post?
With regards to the actual content, it was a bit in jest.
A huge difference between the 2 is that Balotelli was pretty much physically matured at 18, Danny is still growing at 21. I wouldn't swap Welbeck for Balotelli in a million years, especially as I'm unsure, to say the least, of the latter's professionalism. Welbeck will indeed be a very special player if he stays injury free, it's so painfully obvious I hardly find it worth debating anymore.
He's ball dallying a bit too much. I love his workrate but he needs to get control of the ball faster and improve his decision making. When we scored the 4th goal he should have released the ball far earlie as RvP was running into a promising position.
Anyway that's all things that will improve the older and more experienced he gets. Bags of potential.
Anyway that's all things that will improve the older and more experienced he gets. Bags of potential.
On a more serious note, he's a good player but isn't clinical at all. He just finds some way to silly dally and lose the openings far too often. Understandable given his age.
Well perhaps not "al all" ... he has scored some clever and well-taken goals but I admit. A very good player but I get a similar sense when I watch him.
Also, I've watched the foul several times and it's a clear penalty. To put it into perspective, imagine Gary Neville racing across the box, lunging-in knees-first at a winger, no brainer right? In this case it's a goalie who did pull his hands away, but still clearly (slowed down) clipped Welbeck's right leg with his hip, and his knee caught Welbeck's left foot & he couldn't help going over ... foul, not a dive. Penalty. Ref got it right.
Not sure what that had to do with Gazza
Oh come on, it was a dive plain as day. That's RAWKie delusion right there.
Painfully obvious is the player who's won 3 Serie As, 1 FA cup, a PL and a CL all while elligible for the U21s. Then add to that winning this Golden Boy award, scoring a brace in an international semi final along, averaging more than a goal a game in the PL with the majority being in big games.
This 'lack of professionalism' stems from the fact he's too good to let an inferiority complex keep him in line, and he has half the country goading him and the other half making up stories about when he has stepped out of line.
Unless you want a team full of academy products you'd be mental to not swap.
I am not saying it will be the same, but the direct age to age comparison is not always an indicator of how things will be when players reach maturity. For example at the end of 2005, most people would say that Rooney would be a more effective player than Ronaldo. We know how that has turned out.
Welbeck has showed the attitude to continously learn, and the determination to be a player here. There is a high probability of Balotelli being the better player, however Welbeck is more likely to be better in a team and a club.
Complete rubbish and exactly what he did for England the other day. Taken over Young's mantle.
Last season he probably cost himself more penalties by staying on his feet than any player in the Premier League. Being honest has not only gotten him fouled loads of times, but nothing to show for it. As frustrating as it was at times when we could've used the goal, it was at least honorable. Seems like he's giving in more often now.
'Could have been' is a past unreal conditional that suggests he had it in him in the past to be special but for whatever reason, he couldn't do it (think of Brando's 'I could have been a contender' line.)
I think you wanted to say, 'he could be special.' In other words, he has the potential now to be special. Otherwise, it sounds like you have written Balotelli off.
"What will Balotelli be?"
"(He will be) Someone who could have been very special..."
"(He will be) Someone who could have been very special..."
Meanwhile, numerous off field incidents, training grounds bust ups and on field disciplinary issues also. He's a very good player, but Welbeck's far more mature, and I think that goes a long way in determining how a player progresses. For example, look at Ronaldo. He is everything a professional footballer should be. Works ridiculously hard at his game, obviously does the right things to keep himself healthy and doesn't go mental off the pitch. Balotelli is a cracking talent and may become a top, top forward, but whether his attitude will allow him to do so has yet to be seen. Welbeck has done everything right so far, and is giving himself every chance to make it. It is not outlandish to suggest Welbeck over Balotelli, as he's certainly the "safer" option.
Come on. If we're doing that, David May has won more PL titles than Gerrard.
Balotelli has glimpses of sheer quality. Glimpses. At the top of their game, Balotelli is the best. But when is his best? One in 10? 15? Whereas Welbeck will give you the same thing every week; good link up play, a fantastic work rate (something your lad's lacking), an aerial threat and a goal threat. His finishing is still very raw and needs refining, as do a lot of other aspects of his game, but they're all easy enough to work on. Changing a petulant twat's entire personality is not.
I know which one I'd rather have (it's the one who loves the club he's at, the one who knew the club before joining, the one who doesn't run an equal risk of scoring twice and being sent off, and the one who appears to enjoy playing football).
he needs to improve his finishing very badly. he is a bit too wasteful. and when he gets into good position he must try to shoot. sometimes he will shoot when he should pass. that's the problem with welbeck now.
his link up play is excellent, his touches are quite good. just need to know how to finish and need to get rid of his gangliness.
his link up play is excellent, his touches are quite good. just need to know how to finish and need to get rid of his gangliness.
If he's averaging more than a goal a game in your world you're obviously gonna rate him higher than those of us living in the real one. That said, I'm not doubting Balotelli's talent, it's his mentality I'm unsure of. And since neither of us seem interested in a swap deal, let's just leave it at that shall we, and let the Welbeck thread go back to being the Welbeck thread?
It is a Welbeck thread. We're counter acting the wank claims that he is "very, very Special"
Ability wise Mario is the better player. If he can keep his head right, he will be a complete striker. Same can't be said about welbeck, although he obviously has his head at the right place. He needs to improve his finishing as well. Its not just about winning 3 Serie a title, mario has done much more than welbeck. Both have their negatives, hopefully welbeck will realise his potential.
Balotelli has won the individual awards/performances to match the club awards though, especially in England.
I've spoke about this before, but some things in football are easy and some things are hard. Link up play, being an aerial threat without actually scoring many headers, being a goal threat without actually scoring many goals, working hard are easy. What's difficult, and what will always be difficult, is actually putting the ball in the net.
I saw someone on Bluemoon point out Balotelli scored at all the CL grounds he's played at bar Arsenal last season. That's OT, Stamford Bridge, Napoli's and Villareal's.
Goals in games like that are difficult. Goals against Wigan at home are not. That's why Balotelli is obviously special, and what Welbeck needs to start doing to become 'very very special'.
You're the one who introduced the idea of a swap.
For Welbeck to be special he must out shine his peers, clearly he's no-where near outshining Balotelli and hence it's not 'obvious' he'll be 'very special' as you point out.
[Also you're right, I did mis-type that, I meant slightly less because he has 19 goals in 42 PL games]
Just as a general point, I find it very difficult to talk about players without drawing direct comparisons. Most PL footballers are fast, in the sense they're faster than your average joe, it's only in comparison to other PL footballers that it matters. And the same principle is true for everything we discuss, it's only in the context of the other players we get an idea of a player's quality.
Comparing Balotelli and Welbeck's scoring records is a bit unfair considering Balotelli is the penalty taker for Manchester City plus the fact that Welbeck is sometimes shunted on the left side of the attack.
Although not sure why ICIP brought out Balotelli in the first place in Welbeck place.
Although not sure why ICIP brought out Balotelli in the first place in Welbeck place.
Could you try reading the thread, I've said numerous times why iit's relevant to bring up other strikers of Welbeck's age. And Balotelli spent the entire first season on the left, along with a few spells there last season.
Also given some of the penalty taking of late from both our sides [RVP and Silva both missing], I don't think we can brush penalties off as a given. Also for the record, only one of his goals away at CL sides was a penalty, and that was against the easiest side.
Funnily Welbeck also scored at Etihad, Emirates. Assisted our only goal at Anfield, won a penalty at Stamford Bridge.
So that makes Welbeck according to your definition, 'very very special'
Lovely how you counted a goal at Villareal as something special, considering they were relegated this season.
Balotelli cost like £25m and is a bell-end. Welbeck cost nothing and is a hard working lad (who needs to cut out the diving mind), Balotelli might be more talented and he might have won more but I'd much rather have Welbeck. I would love a team of academy products actually. Players develop at different rates and hard work can surpass raw talent.
I'd say the things making Balotelli the superior player right now are his physical attributes - he's got pace and power, a bit of that Shearer / Drogba quality of putting himself about, along with an eye for goal.
Those are the things Danny needs to try and emulate. In terms of who has more "natural talent" - if your talking about technique, vision, etc, I don't see Balotelli having any real edge over Welbeck.
If he really was the new Messi that he and some City fans think he is, surely he'd be holding down a place in their team, for a start?
The thing is with Balotelli is those attributes have always been apparent. Since his early Inter days I felt he could become one of the most complete forwards on the planet. He's quick, strong, very technically gifted and good in the air. He hasn't progressed as I thought he would. Welbeck doesn't have the physical or technical skill but you can see his game developing. That's not to say Welbeck isn't very good technically either.
Me too, that should be every teams goal surely? Didn't do Barca any harm did it?
Like I said, Welbeck only works hard because he has an inferiority complex. I personally prefer' lazy' arrogant strikers who make it count when it matters.
I was counting goals against CL sides away from home. And he scored in 6 goals in the 6 starts he made, Welbeck hasn't been anywhere close to that.
I was counting goals against CL sides away from home. And he scored in 6 goals in the 6 starts he made, Welbeck hasn't been anywhere close to that.
He has scored 14 goals form open play in two years of the PL. He is hardly a world beater yet.
As a city fan, you're probably somewhat of an expert on having an inferiority complex, but this sounds like bullshit.
Does Rooney have an inferiority complex too, given how hard he works?
It's not a two way implication.
[Why do people try to argue logically with no apparent understanding of actual logic?]
Why's it only the case with Welbeck then?
Definitely this. I don't know why he's getting some sort of reputation as a goalscorer from you, when his goalscoring record is actually not very good.
If you have an inferiority complex, you will work hard to compensate for your perceived lack of quality. However it's not always the case that people work hard have an inferiority complex.
Also for the record, Rooney has worked less and less hard as he's become more established. That's nothing to do with Rooney. All players do it. All teams do for that matter, Barca don't press nearly as well anymore because they started to believe their own hype.
Welbeck is a talented young player but there is no doubt Balotelli is the better player right now.
Only problem with Balotelli is erratic behavior and how he will handle himself in future which is why Welbeck "could" have a better career.
Only problem with Balotelli is erratic behavior and how he will handle himself in future which is why Welbeck "could" have a better career.
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