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No one could doubt what Liverpool manager Brendon Rodgers would have done if Morpheus offered him the blue or red pill in the “Matrix.”
Liverpool is about to go back down the rabbit hole after England’s sleeping giant agreed a 16 million fee for Italian maverick Mario Balotelli. Well, it was either that or take the blue pill, Ricky Lambert, and spend the season trying to stave off Tottenham and Manchester United for fourth place rather than challenging for trophies.
Italy forward Mario Balotelli (left) passes Uruguay forward Luis Suarez during a 2014 World Cup match in Brazil.
(Copyright Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP 2014)
Three years ago, Liverpool spent 22.8 million another mad genius, Luis Suarez, who was serving a ban for nibbling on a Dutch league player at the time.
Suarez never lost his taste for defenders. But he scored 69 goals in 110 appearances, led Liverpool back into the Champions League, was the joint top scorer in Europe and got his club a whopping 52.2 million profit when the “Reds” sold the Uruguayan striker on to Barcelona.
If that is madness, then can Mr Live Wire have some?
There was nothing clever about text messages exchanged between former Cardiff City director of football, Iain Moody, and manager Malky Mackay.
One club official was called: “a snake, a gay snake. Not to be trusted.”
Presumably, the gay snakes are damaging the hard-earned reputation of everyone’s lovable reptile.
Moody and Mackay growled at the impending signing of South Korea international midfielder Kim Bo-kyung.
“Fkn chinkys,” stated one message.
“Fk it,” came the reply. “There’s enough dogs in Cardiff for us all to go around.”
Safe to say that this pair do not deserve man’s best friend.
(Courtesy Cardiff City)
A potential list of transfer targets, which might have included Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones, brought some colour commentary: “Not many white faces amongst that lot but worth considering.”
Moody and Mackay claimed their texts were “friendly banter.” Which, as a euphemism, might be like policemen offering civil rights protesters the chance to pet their oddly ill-tempered dogs during the 1960s.
Of course, as in most things football, England plays second fiddle to Italy.
And so, while Moody and Mackay traded racist quips in supposed privacy, Carlo Tavecchio vowed to crack down on banana eaters in a campaign speech as he bid to beat ex-Italy World Cup player and AC Milan star Demetrio Albertini to the post of Italy FA president.
“In England, they identify the players coming in and if they are professional, they are allowed to play,” Tavecchio said at the summer assembly of Italy’s amateur leagues. “Here instead we get Opti Pobà (not real name), who previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first-team player with Lazio. That’s how it is here.”
The end result? Italian clubs decided 71-year-old Tavecchio was the man for them as he won with 63.63 percent of the vote, despite the fact that UEFA is investigating his racist comments.
Selfies with bananas were what people did before ice baths.
Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Joevin Jones probably should not pin his hopes on another Serie A trial anytime soon.
Closer to home, United States’ German-based star midfielder Jermaine Jones has agreed personal terms with Chicago Fire in what might be another coup for the MLS. Only MLS rules state that Jones must enter a draft and there is no guarantee he will not be snapped up by a club other than Chicago.
Oddly, Jones does not like the fact that he cannot pick where his next office is. Picture yourself acing an interview at KFC in Arima but getting stationed in Charlotteville. Only, in this scenario, you’re tied to a five-year contract that does not allow you to work anywhere else.
Forget Jermaine Jones; what the MLS needs is former WIPA boss Dinanath Ramnarine and some player-power!
Editor’s Note: Mr Live Wire has a transfer offer for Moody and Mackay. My Adidas; your back pockets. Worth considering?
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I’m sceptical about the Eto’o one when they already got Lambert & goal-scoring wingers/mid-fielders like Sterling, Markovic, Lallana. Given Pool’s weak back-up central defence, if anything they need reinforcement to support Lovern/Skrtel/Sakho…
Hmmm, I clean forget Sterling yes. But I guess Rodgers will use multiple combinations just as last season. You’ll never know what he coming with.
Liverpool doing well so far in the transfer market, but needs to solidify its defense, having Toure as a backup defender, well I hope the starters hold out for the season
Actually goal.com usually get the jump on the other sites, because I usually get the news there first then about the day or two after on the other sites. I got Dunga’s signing on the Thursday and the rest of the sites only got it the following monday. The same for a lot of other signings.
Real Madrid don’t buy Englishmen like that ha..
Not sure if goal.com is the most trustworthy football site in general to be fair, I haven’t seen nothing on bbc, espnfc or skypsorts uk saying Eto’o got any movement to Liverpool
They already have rumors saying that they have an offer ready for him
Sterling doesn’t have the celebrity status to interest Madrid. Madrid doesn’t just sign great footballers. It signs stars.
You need squad rotation so E’to is a great addition. Rogers is a genius. Liverpool is slowly coming back into the conversation with Man City and Chelsea for the title talk. If like Rumored Arsenal and Man U make some more signings then this makes for another competitive EPL. It’s great to see Liverpool back in Champions League. Also they better enjoy Raheem Sterling because Real Madrid is going to come after this kid next summer!
Nah.. E’to coming off the bench.
What you doing with Sterling
Well look ting ! Balo in d middle, Sturridge on d right, Etoo on d left ?
Surely a gamble with Balotelli, not for footballing reasons but temperamental. He’s no Suarez, but Liverpool could use his abilities as a target man. If Sturridge and Balotelli forgets selfishness and clicks, they can form a great attacking combo.
I dont know of many EPL defenders who would go to bed and sleep comfortably at the thought of facing Liverpool WITH Balotelli the next day.
Hi guys all this transfer deals in England picture this Torres alongside B.S.S.at Liverpool. Then i would have to buy some new red shirts. Ha Ha
I understand your reservations Kern. Balotelli is gamble. Eric Cantona was not much until he met Alex Ferguson. Let’s see…
We will see how it goes, but the ease with which coaches are willing to offload Mario does not auger well for him. I am not so sure about Maro being a better foil than Suarez, but time will tell. For Mario’s sake and career I hope this works out for him, but I am not holding my breath.
Balotelli’s game dipped when he returned to Italy. He will need time to readjust.
Balotelli’s hold up play can improve. But technically he is a better foil for Sturridge than Suarez. He is an unselfish player and he will commit defenders which gives Sturridge a chance to capitalise if he is smart.
They do have ego problems. But Rodgers has done a fantastic job of handling such issues before. This will be his biggest test but I like that he backs himself to handle it.
If you don’t have Messi, Ronaldo, Aguero or Falcao in your team, then Balotelli is worth signing if you want to compete with those teams.
It can go wrong. But suppose it goes right?
But both. Balo and Sturridge prefer to play up front or through the centre. Suarez is a more versatile player and would have played off Sturridge. We will see how the coach uses them, but I foresee problems with the two.
Hmm, I recall last season Rogers playing both Suarez & Strurridge in a 4-4-2 diamond or 3-4-1-2 systems. I’m no coach, but ignorin personality issues I don’t see why Balot & DS can’t play together in those formations..
That signing is a disaster waiting to happen.
Sturridge also has a big ego and attitude issues. Ballotelli will just ressurect that hornets nest. I am sure they will clash.
I am not so sure. Sturridge has always had issues playing wide. Suarez was the perfect foil for him as Suarez will play anywhere the coach puts him. Ballotelli and Sturridge will be fighting for the same #9 position. My bet is that Rodgers will favour Ballotelli and that puts Sturridge back out wide. I could see the problems already.
Lol. Balotelli never bit anyone. I think it can be a good move for player and club.
I must admit, Balotelli is well suited as a replacement biter ! Haha !