I can't see how anyone can defend Balotelli to be honest. He's a complete and utter fool. It's not the most serious incident in the world but how any club can employ him is beyond me, he is certain to get into trouble again.

He deserves to be humiliated, he's a fool. He has proven time and time again he's not a professional and has no class or dignity or respect.

Humiliating you're multiple million pound asset is a bit daft though. Mancini knew exactly what he was getting when he signed him, so I have no sympathy. Why open yourself up for a public row with one of your players; one who will be very important should Tevez sulk off. Get him in the dressing room and give him a good dressing down in there in front of the rest of the squad. Don't do it in front of millions of viewers on tv.

I like Mancini but think he needs to manage his more fiery players better. Constant public displays of disrespect aren't a good way to project the new City culture.

Saw the highlights this morning and the final was much like the tournament as a whole, disappointing. I didn't see every game but from what I did see Uruguay were worthy winners. I thought Ganso was very impressive in the group stages but the majority of his teammates just weren't interested. Vizcarrondo (Venezuela) and Zuniga (Colombia) were excellent but didn't get the praise they deserved for me. It was also great to see a favourite of mine, Juan Arango have a good Copa America.

Balotelli showed in the FA Cup semi final and final that he can be disciplined if he puts his mind to it. Mancini's reaction yesterday was probably frustration at his reversion to type. The incident itself was insignificant, certainly when compared to say Arsenal's trick penalty against City a few years back. But it was the way that it undermined any progress that Balotelli has made that disappointed.

The interesting thing for me was the reaction of the other City players who were absolutely furious with Balotelli. It seems to me to be right for the manager to be seen to support that attitude.

Quote ="Saddened!"He deserves to be humiliated, he's a fool. He has proven time and time again he's not a professional and has no class or dignity or respect.'" www.caughtoffside.com/2011/04/20 ... asino-win/ www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/8 ... icking-off

Quote ="Saddened!"He deserves to be humiliated, he's a fool. He has proven time and time again he's not a professional and has no class or dignity or respect.'" www.caughtoffside.com/2011/04/20 ... asino-win/ www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/8 ... icking-off

It's called instilling professionalism.

I understand it was stupid, I can see why the players would've asking what the fook he was doing but I can't get why it was disrespectful to LA Galaxy or why Mancini dragged him off. Have a word at half time and even substitute him them but to drag him off straight away is just asking for a Ballotelli kick off.

It isn't, though. Balotelli is what he is, he has the 'Me vs. Them' mentality, he's obscenely moody and the last thing Mancini should be doing is publicly humiliating him. If Balotelli was a bit more grown up or level-headed, then yes, haul him off and I'm sure he'll understand. But he isn't, he's massively immature and it should have been dealt with after the game.

Mancini knows exactly what Mario's character is, the last thing you should be doing is humiliating him.

I found it amusing. Not sure why people would get worked up about it. If anything I was a bit embarrassed for him. I have seen better tricks at under 8s level.

You've just said that Mancini knows exactly what his character is so doesn't that suggest that he also knows the best way to man manage him? Or are you suggesting that over the past several years when he's been working with him he's decided to suddenly ignore those experiences?
I would imagine that Mancini has a better insight into the motivation of individuals amongst his team than either you or I.

You cannot apply a generic psychological approach (i.e. the softly, softly touch) as a truth when individuals are very much that and different individuals can require different approaches. I'm sure City have enough sports psychologists involved to assist Mancini, however even then it still boils down to the choice of the player in how they wish to apply themselves. With that knowledge there comes a time when the manager will say "No" and stops pandering to unprofessional whims. It's no different to your work or somebody else's because that's why disciplinary policies and procedures exist. It might sound crazy to talk about that in reference to multi-millionaires and the cotton wool age of management but there always comes a time when the manager decides he has to draw the line and it's something that the great managers have no problem in doing.

The problem was Mancini didn't deal with it in a way you'd expect; Mancini lost it. And that is the massive problem with the situation. With immature players, you simply can't publicly humiliate them like that, it simply isn't the right approach and you see it in every day life in different situations. It's like being at school, if you have a kid with a huge temper and he loses it regularly, the last thing you do is embarrass him in front of the entire school. You wait after the lesson, you have a word and you deal with it that way. The problem is, like teachers occasionally, Mancini lost his cool and didn't approach the situation necessarily. The decision to bring him off was made in the heat of the moment, he hadn't even cooled down when he came off afterwards and he allowed himself to look a first class bell by arguing with him on the touchline.

If you want a great example of how 'losing it' with a player can work, look at Fergie with CR7. I remember a game when Ronaldo missed a good chance (I think it was a good chance, either way, he done something wrong) and Fergie flipped at him on the touchline. Fergie done that because he knew Cristiano would react with determination as he'd matured. Would he have done that when Ronaldo was an 18 year old? Of course he wouldn't, but Fergie 'losing it' with him was definitely a calculated move to motivate a top player. Mancini just shamed Balotelli, and, if you read anything about the career of Mario Balotelli, you'll know that shaming him and provoking a reaction isn't the right way to go about things with him. In the future, possibly, but now during a meaningless game? Deary me.

That's entirely your perspective though. How do you know that Balotteli feels the same i.e. that he shamed? What makes you so sure that he hasn't perceived it as "I shouldn't have done that"? They must have had enough conversations between them for Balotteli to understand why he was yanked off. You are placing your own personal experiences onto their relationship and are assuming it is a good fit. I understand the management skill of nuturing (particularly in relation to people have, in the past, been bulled, harassed etc), however I also know that it is but one of the many facets of motivation and individual development. I think people are blowing this out of proportion by suggesting that a guy getting yanked off for being a clown is somehow a public humiliation. I'm sure Balotteli has had far worse experiences than being subbed and shouted at which is what leads me to believe he wouldn't perceive it to be a public humilation.

Among all this Ballotelli talk, well done Luis Suarez on a fantastic Copa America and winning player of the tournament. Hopefully he can carry his form on for us this season. A great capture.

I agree mate. be the last trophy he wins for a very long time.

Easily the best forward in England now.

Great effort Rob. I nearly bit...nearly.

So WTF was the confrontation with Mancini on the touchline about??? FFS.



Mancini's a great manager?

It's out of him or Tevez.

I'm sure Luis knows that aswell, hence him joining us.

Table football – the Anfield edition ©

Didn't think you'd read the Guardian, had you down as a Daily Sport man myself. Just filling the void?

Thought the Sport had gone pop. Anyway, I never lowered myself to read that rag. The Sunday Sport however was a beacon of journalistic excellence.

Mancini knows what he is but its also time for Mario to start changing what he is. Fair enough, cut him some slack when he's a moody teenager settling in a strange country. But when does the manager have the right to expect more from him, when he's 23? 25? 30?

The other thing that Mancini needs to do is keep the rest of the players on board. They were livid with Mario on Sunday. I thought it was great that the players generally had such an attitude towards a pre season friendly. The last thing I want to see is the manager undermining that attitude by indulging certain players.

Santi Cazorla off to Malaga for €20 million. Great buy and Malaga the team to look out for next season.

Cracking capture. A move for Tevez shouldn't be ruled out.