Other Games 2014-15

[Clampy]

For all his faults, Suarez didn't stop running for Liverpool. Ballotelli, as good as he is on his day, can't even be bothered to celebrate a goal.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ballotelli reminds me of Dalian. All the talent in the world but the attitude just isn't right.

[aj2k77]

Ballotelli reminds me of Dalian. All the talent in the world but the attitude just isn't right.

Don't think he's as good as Dalian myself.

[pauliewalnuts]

For all his faults, Suarez didn't stop running for Liverpool. Ballotelli, as good as he is on his day, can't even be bothered to celebrate a goal.

Suarez is a much better player, mind. Balotelli isn't anywhere near as good as he was.

I don't really understand what Rodgers was thinking in terms of strikers - Balotelli (one of the most infuratingly random players in the league) and Rickie Lambert.

I like Lambert, it is good to see him getting a chance at his boyhood club, but he's 32 years old now.

[PeterWithesShin]

For all his faults, Suarez didn't stop running for Liverpool. Ballotelli, as good as he is on his day, can't even be bothered to celebrate a goal.

Suarez is a much better player, mind. Balotelli isn't anywhere near as good as he was.

I don't really understand what Rodgers was thinking in terms of strikers - Balotelli (one of the most infuratingly random players in the league) and Rickie Lambert.

I like Lambert, it is good to see him getting a chance at his boyhood club, but he's 32 years old now.

Lambert is probably just a short term fix, a bit like when we signed Regis. In theory Balotelli, Sturridge and Lambert is a decent 3 strikers. But they need Sturridge fit and Balotelli looking like he gives a shite. I'd be tempted to start Lambert instead of Balotelli.

[supertom]

For all his faults, Suarez didn't stop running for Liverpool. Ballotelli, as good as he is on his day, can't even be bothered to celebrate a goal.

Suarez is a much better player, mind. Balotelli isn't anywhere near as good as he was.

I don't really understand what Rodgers was thinking in terms of strikers - Balotelli (one of the most infuratingly random players in the league) and Rickie Lambert.

I like Lambert, it is good to see him getting a chance at his boyhood club, but he's 32 years old now.

Lambert is probably just a short term fix, a bit like when we signed Regis. In theory Balotelli, Sturridge and Lambert is a decent 3 strikers. But they need Sturridge fit and Balotelli looking like he gives a shite. I'd be tempted to start Lambert instead of Balotelli.

If Lambert can't get a few starts right now he must be wondering just what they hell has to do to get a game. Even at 32 he's going to do twice as much running as Crazy Mario. His Premiership record is very good, so you'd back him to find the net, certainly more than you'd back Mario at the moment.

That said, I hope Rodgers carries on with Balotelli because it's amusing. You can almost hear this high pitched ringing floating through the sky, a collective whine of discontent emanating from Liverpool. Dogs in a 500 mile radius of Liverpool becoming confused and distracted.

[OCD]

Liverpool really are Europa League at best. One star player gone and they are no better than mid table. 100m spunked on massively average talent, and a bloke up front who simply doesn't give a fuck

Balotelli was shocking tonight.

He's been shocking every time I've seen him this year. The Liverpool players were having a dig at him a couple of times against QPR when he greedily rocketed the ball into row ZZ when someone was available for a simple pass. He's like that annoying kid at the park who thinks he's God's gift and pulls off a Tonev every time they get the ball.

That swapping shirts at half time shit, too, is absolutely unforgiveable.

It is but if he had been playing well and freely scoring, people wouldn't have given it a second thought. It certainly wouldn't be the subject of the national news.

[Toronto Villa]

With Balotelli you knew what you were getting and what you could get. They are just getting what they thought they could get on the negative side of the ledger. They would have weighed that risk in acquiring him. It's biting them in the arse because you know that sort of stuff doesn't sit well with other players. The Liverpool players might have thought Suarez was a ******, but none of them would ever question his play on the pitch and his 110% effort all the time. Balotelli isn't fit to wipe Suarez's boots let alone nibble on his arm.

[Chris Jameson]

Saw Rodgers on the BBC News this morning castigating Balotelli for swapping shirts at half time, good to know there are some things the club find unacceptable. Personally I find racially abusing an opponent or biting them more abhorrent but it's a start.

[john e]

I can honestly say I've never seen what any of the fuss is about Balotelli as a footballer.

I'd still swap him for N'zogbia

[olaftab]

Saw Rodgers on the BBC News this morning castigating Balotelli for swapping shirts at half time, good to know there are some things the club find unacceptable. Personally I find racially abusing an opponent or biting them more abhorrent but it's a start.

Yes quite!
Anyway on shirt swap why is everyone assuming that it was Balotelli initiated? He is a bigger star them Pepe so he was prob asked and he obliged.

[itbrvilla]

It's been kicking in in Lille with between Lille hooligans and Evertonians and now police. They've tear gased  them in the main square apparently.

[Ads]

Rubber bullets fired by French police!

[PeterWithe]

Everton fans respond with a Wall Street Shuffle.

[PeterWithesShin]

There may well be some payback going on for this.

Everton fans were attacked with metal chairs and battered by up to 100 hooligans who swarmed on the pub where they were gathered in Lille last night.

The supporters, in the French city for their club’s Europa League tie tonight, were then sprayed with CS gas by police who ignored their pleas for help.

Eyewitnesses said the Blues fans were enjoying a peaceful afternoon and evening at the Australian bar when the terrifying unprovoked attack happened.

Today Merseyside police said they were aware of the incident and said its officers are in Lille to "support the policing operation of tonight’s game".

A doorman who works at the bar said some of the hooded thugs even filmed what happened on their mobile phones.

The ECHO understands from our EFC reporter Greg O’Keeffe who is in Lille, that many Everton fans were injured.

He said: “Everton fans were enjoying themselves and it had been peaceful with kids playing football all afternoon.

"The doorman of the Australian bar told me that around 10.30pm up to 100 hooded Lille hooligans swarmed from side street and attacked EFC fans smoking outside and it was totally unprovoked.

“Lille thugs used metal chairs to batter fans outside and tried to smash their way into the pub to attack those inside. Local police were on scene within minutes and indiscriminately used gas on EFC fans asking for help."

The doorman, a former soldier, said he and his colleagues had enjoyed friendly banter with the Everton supporters throughout the afternoon, and there was a wide age range of fans gathered including dads with their children playing football on a grassy area across the road.

He said: "The atmosphere was nice all day. The Everton fans were singing, showing us their flags and having fun. All very respectful.

"In the evening they watched the Liverpool game and towards the end of that match it happened. It was bad.

"The Lille hooligans just appeared from the Place Louise de Bettignies across the road, from a side street, and just ran at the pub.

"There were some Everton fans outside smoking and they got caught cold.

"The hooligans picked up chairs we had stacked up outside and attacked them while others used them to smash windows and try to get inside.

"We had to try and stop the Everton supporters inside from getting out to help because it would have got far worse. I went out to try and drag them in.