Maybe, but I'd argue that only 3 of those are proven.
Another plus point for Balotelli is that he'd be able to play in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 system.
Mario Balotelli
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Maybe, but I'd argue that only 3 of those are proven.
Another plus point for Balotelli is that he'd be able to play in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 system.
Rooney, Ballotelli, Berbatov, Hernandez. I think that's the four that would feature this year if we did get him.
Welbeck hasn't progressed this year, Diouf is the one bla bla bla and Macheda I have no idea about. He looks fantastic one minute and average the next. He's not good enough to be part of our main strike team just yet I don't think. Maybe when Berbatov makes way in a few years and he's 22/23 there'll be a spot for him.
It''ll all come down to the system SAF decides to use but I'd still put Michael Owen some way ahead of Hernandez for the time being. I'd be very doubtful that Hernandez can come straight out of the Mexican league and be ready to make a bigger impact in the PL over the course of this season than Owen who'll be desperate to do well and earn another contract.
Owen is on a one year contract so unless he doesnt score alot of goal he will end up leaving. Welbeck and Diouf may end up being loaned and Balotelli can play on both flanks. If we sign him then I believe that we would play 4-3-3 with the two wingers playing more upfront to fully back the lone striker. Considering that we would have three forwards who can slot on the flanks that makes sense.
We need to play Owen more often this season, both for his sake and Rooney's. I think we'd be comfortable in quite a few home games particularly with him and Berba up to. He's not the sort of player who can show his best after a month kicking his heels on the bench, and if he's sharp he can still be an asset to us, though his best days are obviously behind him.
If Hernandez or Balotelli (if we sign him) end up doing well then we can forget about Owen. SAF will give space to these kids and not to a 29 yr old with 1 yr left on his contract
I'd still expect 4-4-2 in the midtable and below games with:
Berbatov - Rooney
Balotelli - Rooney
Balotelli - Rooney
Being our first two options.
It's the big games he'd be great for.
Rooney
Nani -------------- Valencia
or
Rooney
Balotelli ------------- Valencia
or
Rooney
Balotelli ------------- Nani.
Nani -------------- Valencia
or
Rooney
Balotelli ------------- Valencia
or
Rooney
Balotelli ------------- Nani.
Thats a frightning amount of pace and power in a front 3.
On the italian media they said that United had offered 35m euros and that Roila had already met SAF. Real may be interested though
Hernandez is a kid who's never played at any sort of top level other than a few games in the WC (where he looked decent, but nothing like as good as people on here seem to think, irrespective of a couple of goals). He'll need time to adapt. Players who hit the ground running with this sort of jump are the exception not the rule.
But yeah, it goes without saying that if we sign a big striker then Owen's position will be under threat.
Im not saying that it would be easy for Hernandez to settle down altough Ole did just that. What Im saying is that if Hernandez starts scoring goals then SAF will play him and not Owen.
I can't see how that is true. It would be a massive gamble at that price. Now, City on the other hand..
Most transfers are a gamble though. At least with this one you'd be getting a 19 year old who you can mould and develop and will have some resale value should it go tits up.
One of the first few posts. rofl.
I agree. I like the look of those options.
Would be nice to see us sign someone with Balotelli's potential. At least we'd be on the edge of our seats once getting a freekick within range again!!
Although I think the competition and the transfer fee for this kid will take this trasfer out of our reach.
Do we actually have any chance of signing this kid or is this just FM wet dream?
I've edited my post, ITV confirmed it. If you're going to dodge everything with "oh but you can't prove it", then I think that in itself says a lot.
He's a fast and technically gifted striker who can also play on both flanks. Despite his young age he had already played over 80 Serie A games scoring nearly 30 goals. If it wasnt for his attitude I wouldnt consider him as a gamble
BTW Inter had already said that that he will not bring a high profile player unless they sell another high profile player. Real had already turned their back towards Maicon (too expensive) and Rafa wants the Argentinian lover boy (Mascherano) at San Siro...
Real Madrid To Scupper Manchester United's Deal For Inter Striker Mario Balotelli - Report
Mourinho considers snatching Balotelli from Inter and United...
By Salvatore Landolina
Jul 13, 2010 10:24:00 AM
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is on a collision course with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson as he plots to snatch Inter striker Mario Balotelli from under his nose.
Sky Sport Italia report Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola met Ferguson in Amsterdam - home to his player agency office - to stage progressive talks for the hitman.
United are prepared to table €35 million, and offer the striker €5m per annum in wages - substantially more than what he takes at Inter.
However, despite a strong interest from Manchester City, it's Mourinho who is scratching the surface for his former pupil.
Goal.com Italia claims the coach could entice Balotelli to Madrid, with the player likely to grasp the idea of playing with Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo with enthusiasm.
Balotelli though has had a long history of volatile behaviour under Mourinho.
The two men had a number of problems whilst at Inter, with Mourinho excluding his man from six matches last term - leading to doubts the Italian will embrace a reunion.
On Monday coach Rafael Benitez said Balotelli is "an important player" when asked about his future.
Real Madrid To Scupper Manchester United's Deal For Inter Striker Mario Balotelli - Report - Goal.com
I can't see him joining Real with Mourinho being their current coach. And United spending that much cash on a troubled talented kid when there isn't much transfer budget is also unlikely.
I thought Maureen wasn't to keen on Balotelli?
Yeah it is a rubbish story. Only Moratti is or was desperate to keep him at Inter.
That what I thought too. Dont shoot the messenger, Im limiting myself in bringing all the news coming from Italia.
I didn't dodge the question at all. Read my post and I gave a perfectly legitimate reason why he may have decided to sit out a pre match warm up.
I'm not doubting the talent. From what I've seen (10-15 games at a guess) of him he could really become a special player but baring in mind the finances do you think paying 35 million euros for such a controversial player is something United could afford to gamble on these days? I just can't see it happening, although it would be a very exciting signing.
Mario Balotelli - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Balotelli has many fan clubs throughout the world, the biggest being ran by Andrew Shevlin from Cheadle, England near Manchester. Mr Shevlin claims to be Balotelli's greatest fan. It is believed that Mr Shevlin struggles with drug addiction to Plantfeed or MCat, He can be often round outside 42nd Street Nightclub in Manchester with his famous swinging jaw waiting for friends because he is not allowed entry."
What the feck.
"Balotelli has many fan clubs throughout the world, the biggest being ran by Andrew Shevlin from Cheadle, England near Manchester. Mr Shevlin claims to be Balotelli's greatest fan. It is believed that Mr Shevlin struggles with drug addiction to Plantfeed or MCat, He can be often round outside 42nd Street Nightclub in Manchester with his famous swinging jaw waiting for friends because he is not allowed entry."
What the feck.
will be really cool if it happens.
In normal home games:
---------------rooney-------------------
-nani---------mario-----------valencia-
-------fletch---------scholes------------
in tougher games:
---------------rooney----------------
--mario--------park------------nani-
---------fletch-------carrick---------
Looks really good to me :-)
In normal home games:
---------------rooney-------------------
-nani---------mario-----------valencia-
-------fletch---------scholes------------
in tougher games:
---------------rooney----------------
--mario--------park------------nani-
---------fletch-------carrick---------
Looks really good to me :-)
There's nothing in the Spanish press suggesting Madrid are chasing him.
There is a story that suggests Madrid may be being used to up the price indirectly - they're trying to buy Maicon and Moratti has allegedly made some comment that he wouldn't mind selling either Maicon or Balotelli, to get some cash in.
That's not a decision a player gets to take.
i think theres quite a bit of truth in this, but it could all just fizzle out.
owell, getting my shirt already
owell, getting my shirt already
The Mascherano to Inter stories refuses to die and Real seems to have given up on Maicon. So Balotelli is probably the most likely Inter player to be sold atm so Rafa can bring in one or two players from Liverpool.
Why are we all so eager to sign him up when we know Jose will be our next manager and he won't play Balotelli?
didn't he play him in the last few league matches of the season?
Who said he took it?
ITV confirmed what exactly? That he wasn't doing his prematch warm up? That he refused to? Who confirmed it to them?
It's just media rumours, it's funny how there are no stories on this anywhere.
It makes perfect sense for a player to miss the pre match warm up if its going to be well over an hour before he actually plays anyway. Work out all his lactic acid to sit there for an hour building even more lactic acid before he plays? Yeah thats a great idea.
That's not true. SAF won't forget Owen in a hurry - you don't discard proven PL scorers like that. Owen did well in his first season and can build on that. Hernandez will get chances but has a long way to go before he can be trusted with leading United's attack ahead of Michael Owen.
Is this rumor gathering steam? I know he can play on the wing but is that what we really need? Could he also play alone up top? Because that's the type of striker would be looking for.
One thing is for sure - this kid needs to get the hell out of Milan. The fans there are not with him, and the racism issue in Italy is way too much for a 19 year old.
He has all the talent he would need to do well anywhere. But would a change of scenery ease his temperament? Fergie always says that he looks at the mental side of players first, so SAF will know exactly what he's getting himself into if we really are interested
One thing is for sure - this kid needs to get the hell out of Milan. The fans there are not with him, and the racism issue in Italy is way too much for a 19 year old.
He has all the talent he would need to do well anywhere. But would a change of scenery ease his temperament? Fergie always says that he looks at the mental side of players first, so SAF will know exactly what he's getting himself into if we really are interested
I don't think I've ever see him play as a lone striker but I'm sure he could with time. He's got everything needed to be successful in that role.
His build and physique is very much like that of Ronaldo.
His build and physique is very much like that of Ronaldo.
Thanks, also, are the quotes that are in some of the articles popping up in ESPN articles new or old?
Inter's Mario Balotelli happy to be linked to Manchester giants - Transfers - ESPN Soccernet
Inter's Mario Balotelli happy to be linked to Manchester giants - Transfers - ESPN Soccernet
That is very impressive.. I actually think he would be a great addition cause he can play from wide positions and centrally.. He also a set piece specialist..