Mario, fantastico. That’s what the beloved Kop should be chanting week in, week out. As I visited Anfield for the third time last weekend, I was once again frustrated to see that the enigma was not even on the team sheet. That wasn’t the first time and so, it proved not to be the last.
The Merseyside Derby, the one game to etch your name into the history books and Mario yet again was nowhere to be seen. Putting all backstage politics aside, surely your £16m striker should at least be on the bench when what you’re quite clearly lacking is the final shot? The man was once gifted the Golden Boy award, the same elite prestigious prize awarded to the likes of Messi, Rooney and Aguero. Surely there’s potential somewhere right?
But when exactly does this potential come to the point of fruition is the question on the red half of Merseyside’s lips. The 24-year-old Italian sought a move to Anfield to revive a career, though it seems as if it will silently kill it. Let’s not blame Brendan, as stated beforehand there may be more than what meets the eye. Nevertheless, for the fan it is frustrating. Whilst the team struggles for goals at many points this season, for example Hull, Sunderland, Everton & Bolton. All of which resulted in 0-0 stalemates, surely the Italian would’ve profited playing in a leading role. Instead other options have been taken with the results being far from consistent.
Raheem has done exceedingly well for a makeshift striker, he’s developed and thrived. This has seen the Anfield hierarchy award him with a brand new lucrative contract which, he (or his representative) refuses to sign. However, it is evident that at times in the season the Englishmen has struggled with the final touch.
Lambert & Borini haven’t done any better either, with only a handful of goals between them. Something just has to give, Lambert came on in the dying minutes of an integral Derby, what may be Steven Gerrard’s last and whilst he had a chance to clinch the winner… did anyone really think it would happen?
We at Liverpool do not have a striking crisis. I said this at the start of the season and I will stick to this viewpoint now. When fully fit, we have an array of attacking options to choose from which is one of the reasons Brendan chose not too invest in the January window. Balotelli enjoyed a great start to his Liverpool career, he and Daniel Sturridge dismantled Tottenham in a victory which the likes of the 13/14 squad would envy. The two have shown that when together, they can be formidable. Albeit once, shouldn’t this dynamic duo be tried and tested again? Balotelli’s two Liverpool goals have come when there have been two strikers up top. He scored a winner against Ludogorets in the Champions League assisted by Borini & another in the Carling Cup against Swansea, again assisted by Borini.
Balotelli can not play as a lone frontman, he just doesn’t have it in him. And no, this does not make him lazy as in actual fact his tackling percentage in games exceeds his striking counterparts. What Brendan is reluctant to do is break up the formation which has seen Liverpool enjoy an amazing spell of form though with Lucas’s injury the boss may need to alternate options.
The agent said to Balotelli, you either sell for ‘X’ million or die here. Strong words though they pack a frightful punch and should act as a wake up call for the forward. Succeed at Liverpool, you will be placed on the highest of pedestals. Just ask the likes of Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres & Xabi Alonso. This is Balotelli’s time to shine, if given the opportunity. How can we judge a man for not scoring as much when he simply hasn’t had a run of games to consistently prove himself?
Sturridge is back and with it, our new signing Balotelli should be put into battle alongside him. With a heavy and vigorous fixture list to come, all recruits need to be assembled in order to ensure Liverpool are still in contention for the coveted top four, European silverware and English cup glory. The season and the air around Anfield Road is filled with unpredictability. Balotelli has always been the enigmatic enigma, now’s the time to turn into an Anfield legend. Otherwise, it’s bust for the once booming starlet.
