The Official Liverpool FC Thread [Vol 8]
Discussion
m3sye said:
Tallk is he does prefer Skrtel to Sakho - rumours are he is very uncomfortable with how quick he goes to ground...... Also Lovren has come out and said he is a LCB - and prefers staying there... I have a feeling Sakho wont get in unless Skrtel really starts under performing...
Markovic has suppose to have been immense in training, cant wait to see him .
As I saidMarkovic has suppose to have been immense in training, cant wait to see him .
gaz1234 said:
m3sye said:
Tallk is he does prefer Skrtel to Sakho - rumours are he is very uncomfortable with how quick he goes to ground...... Also Lovren has come out and said he is a LCB - and prefers staying there... I have a feeling Sakho wont get in unless Skrtel really starts under performing...
Markovic has suppose to have been immense in training, cant wait to see him .
As I saidMarkovic has suppose to have been immense in training, cant wait to see him .
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/22/ma...
50% pay cut to 80k a week ! Rest made up with bonuses
Now where are those Spura fans again ! Not like them to go quiet when proves wrong
50% pay cut to 80k a week ! Rest made up with bonuses
Now where are those Spura fans again ! Not like them to go quiet when proves wrong
The bit about Utd is comedy gold. Bit long I know but worth the entertainment.
Quote from: The Fletcher Memorial on Today at 01:39:45 PM
Friday 22nd August 2014
Paul Clarkson
If you knew me, you would know me – the rise and rise of Mario Balotelli
He walked in carrying a midget. I’ve been a journalist for 40 years and I have never envisaged a situation where I would ever open a piece with those words and I very much doubt I ever will again, unless, that is, I am lucky enough to have another interview with Mario Balotelli.
It was a beautiful spring day in Milan, we arranged to meet in the bar of the Principe Di Savoia where I was told Mario Balotelli would meet me for “10 minutes and no longer”, his agent told me over the phone, sounding almost apologetic. I made sure I was there early as I’d heard Mario is always early, whether it is for training, having lunch, making his breakfast, he has to be there first. So when I turned up at 9:30 am for our 11:00 am meeting I was relieved to find the bar Balotelliless. I took a seat near the window which overlooked the hotels main entrance and I waited eagerly. It was Mario himself who had his agent contact me; he wanted to speak to me – for 10 minutes and no longer – about what and why me in particular, I had no clue. I had no hesitation in say yes of course, I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to fly out to Milan to have a brief chat with one of football’s most polarising characters.
So there I sat, waiting. And waiting, and waiting. Three incredibly strong cappuccino’s, two unanswered phone calls to his agent and 3 ½ hours later, in walks Balotelli from what I had assumed was a staff entrance – carrying a very small man! Mario had the biggest grin on his face as he walked over to me “say hello to Sir Papa Pepe” he said as the little man, also grinning profusely, held out his hand as if he was royalty for me to kiss. I shook his hand, hesitantly, wondering if those cappuccino’s had done something to my brain – I had not had time to comprehend what I was faced with. Mario placed Sir Papa Pepe on his feet, and with a tip of his hat to me, off Sir Papa Pepe went, skipping down the hall and out the main lobby onto the sun bathed street outside – gone. Mario, still grinning like a Milanese cat, sat down and asked me to join him.
“You were early, I like that” he said before I could begin “but not as early as me”. Still trying to compute what had just happened, I was a little stuck for words at this point and wondering if I was an object of some bizarre practical joke. “erm, actually Mario – pleased to meet you by the way –yes, I was here at 9:30, but that’s ok, it’s a beautiful place...” he stared at me, always smiling, his eyes electric and mischievous. “I know you were, I seen you. I’ve been here since 8 o’clock this morning and you drink too many cappuccino, they are strong” and he let out a loud cackle and gave a thumbs up to his agent who had taken a seat at the next table. “I had to make you wait; I had to know if you are serious”. By now I was reeling a little, I didn’t know what to make of it all and in truth I was a little peeved, “what do you mean serious?” I asked calmly “what’s this about Mario?” He leaned forward and patted my knee “look, I like you Paulo, you are a good one, it’s all good”. He then proceeded to tell me about his new Lamborghini which he had painted especially for him at the Lamborghini custom shop – in “Camouflage Red”. I couldn’t get a word in; he went on enthusiastically “it is the only one in the world Paulo, Camouflage Red, it’s like camouflage that the army have on their trousers but it is not green, it is red. Red! Haha” I laughed too, but I didn’t know why. “I tell you something Paulo, I am a rich man but I am not what people say I am, I am not a stupid man who feeds fat goats. I play football, it is a job. I can be better than anyone who ever play[ed] this game but I will decide when I am. Like I decide I have camouflage red, I say when, I say how”. I was relieved he had mentioned football, I’d almost forgotten all about it. I jumped at the opportunity to ask him about things with Milan and how he was looking forward to the World Cup. “Milan is my club but I’ll be somewhere different next season. I might come back to England, I like it there, people can laugh in your country but not make racist laughs. Italian people is more racist here”. For the first time, the smile was gone and he became serious and I asked him if he had been approached by any club in England “people say I’m not even Italian and they say I should not play for the national team in Brazil. What can a man say to that?” he went on, ignoring my question “f
k them and the world cup, it is all bullst Paulo. But I will score against England and show Rooney how it is done” and he cackled again and clapped his hands as his eyes bristled once more. I tried again and asked if he had been approached by any club back in England “I can only tell you that I still have a home in England Paulo, a nice big house and I will go back there next season with my camouflage red lambo” and he winked. I asked him if that meant a team in the North West had approached him, could he be returning to City? “haha you smart Paulo. No, I approach, I do the talking. I play in all red, you will see. City can suck my balls and my arse, who are they?” surely not Manchester United I asked “fk off! Don’t swear like that Paulo, it is filthy language. Don’t say that again or I will not show you my lambo. You’re better than that, hey? No you will see the team in all red that is made for me, you smart, you know”. “Liverpool?” I said, failing to contain my surprise. I asked if he had spoken to them, to Brenden Rodgers. “Look Paulo, it is like I say, when I decide, it is done. I speak to people and people listen, that is how it is done. I will be wearing all red next season and I will drive my red lambo in the streets and people will wave and shout “look there is Mario in his camouflage red lambo, the only one in the world, he is god”
Unbeknownst to me during our conversation, Mario’s agent had being timing us. And now he whistled to catch Mario’s attention “oh st Paulo, 9 minutes, you have 1 minute left then I must go” he made it clear that he was serious by jabbing his finger at an enormous and extremely expensive looking watch on his wrist. My head was spinning, Mario Balotelli had just said to me, in not so many words, that he was going to be playing for Liverpool in the Premiership next season and I now had less than a minute to try and get some details from him. Or was he joking with me; was this all still a ridiculous set up and I was the joke? “so here’s what you do Paulo” he continued “you go away and remember all what I have said today and in three or four months time you will see it is all true, yes?” I nodded vacantly “haha Paulo no worry hey? You have to promise me something though” I agreed and asked what it was “you cannot write about this until I give you a call, I am thinking it will be after the first game of the season, you will see why” I had no idea what he meant but I agreed anyway and asked if we could meet again as I had much more I wanted to ask him. “you will get to know me Paulo, don’t worry. See, if you knew me, you would know me, that’s what I tell people. I am a star Paulo and that is just how it is, people think they know you because you are famous but that is not true, that is not how it works. You will see” and with that, he jumped to his feet and clapped his hands together “that’s it Paulo, ten minutes are up, time to go” I stood up to shake his hand and instead he gave me a bear hug and kissed me on both cheeks then pulled my head forward and kissed my forehead “Caio Paulo” his huge grin retuned, and he and his agent walked off towards the lobby. I was in a daze but I couldn’t resist one final question as they left “Mario! What’s the story with the midget, who was he?” “I don’t know Paulo, I found him outside and I picked him up and carried him in to meet you hahaha. Caio!” and with that he was gone.
Today, Mario Balotelli will sign for Liverpool Football Club and he will likely play his first game in the all red of Liverpool against Manchester City. When Mario talks, people listen.
Quote from: The Fletcher Memorial on Today at 01:39:45 PM
Friday 22nd August 2014
Paul Clarkson
If you knew me, you would know me – the rise and rise of Mario Balotelli
He walked in carrying a midget. I’ve been a journalist for 40 years and I have never envisaged a situation where I would ever open a piece with those words and I very much doubt I ever will again, unless, that is, I am lucky enough to have another interview with Mario Balotelli.
It was a beautiful spring day in Milan, we arranged to meet in the bar of the Principe Di Savoia where I was told Mario Balotelli would meet me for “10 minutes and no longer”, his agent told me over the phone, sounding almost apologetic. I made sure I was there early as I’d heard Mario is always early, whether it is for training, having lunch, making his breakfast, he has to be there first. So when I turned up at 9:30 am for our 11:00 am meeting I was relieved to find the bar Balotelliless. I took a seat near the window which overlooked the hotels main entrance and I waited eagerly. It was Mario himself who had his agent contact me; he wanted to speak to me – for 10 minutes and no longer – about what and why me in particular, I had no clue. I had no hesitation in say yes of course, I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to fly out to Milan to have a brief chat with one of football’s most polarising characters.
So there I sat, waiting. And waiting, and waiting. Three incredibly strong cappuccino’s, two unanswered phone calls to his agent and 3 ½ hours later, in walks Balotelli from what I had assumed was a staff entrance – carrying a very small man! Mario had the biggest grin on his face as he walked over to me “say hello to Sir Papa Pepe” he said as the little man, also grinning profusely, held out his hand as if he was royalty for me to kiss. I shook his hand, hesitantly, wondering if those cappuccino’s had done something to my brain – I had not had time to comprehend what I was faced with. Mario placed Sir Papa Pepe on his feet, and with a tip of his hat to me, off Sir Papa Pepe went, skipping down the hall and out the main lobby onto the sun bathed street outside – gone. Mario, still grinning like a Milanese cat, sat down and asked me to join him.
“You were early, I like that” he said before I could begin “but not as early as me”. Still trying to compute what had just happened, I was a little stuck for words at this point and wondering if I was an object of some bizarre practical joke. “erm, actually Mario – pleased to meet you by the way –yes, I was here at 9:30, but that’s ok, it’s a beautiful place...” he stared at me, always smiling, his eyes electric and mischievous. “I know you were, I seen you. I’ve been here since 8 o’clock this morning and you drink too many cappuccino, they are strong” and he let out a loud cackle and gave a thumbs up to his agent who had taken a seat at the next table. “I had to make you wait; I had to know if you are serious”. By now I was reeling a little, I didn’t know what to make of it all and in truth I was a little peeved, “what do you mean serious?” I asked calmly “what’s this about Mario?” He leaned forward and patted my knee “look, I like you Paulo, you are a good one, it’s all good”. He then proceeded to tell me about his new Lamborghini which he had painted especially for him at the Lamborghini custom shop – in “Camouflage Red”. I couldn’t get a word in; he went on enthusiastically “it is the only one in the world Paulo, Camouflage Red, it’s like camouflage that the army have on their trousers but it is not green, it is red. Red! Haha” I laughed too, but I didn’t know why. “I tell you something Paulo, I am a rich man but I am not what people say I am, I am not a stupid man who feeds fat goats. I play football, it is a job. I can be better than anyone who ever play[ed] this game but I will decide when I am. Like I decide I have camouflage red, I say when, I say how”. I was relieved he had mentioned football, I’d almost forgotten all about it. I jumped at the opportunity to ask him about things with Milan and how he was looking forward to the World Cup. “Milan is my club but I’ll be somewhere different next season. I might come back to England, I like it there, people can laugh in your country but not make racist laughs. Italian people is more racist here”. For the first time, the smile was gone and he became serious and I asked him if he had been approached by any club in England “people say I’m not even Italian and they say I should not play for the national team in Brazil. What can a man say to that?” he went on, ignoring my question “f
k them and the world cup, it is all bullst Paulo. But I will score against England and show Rooney how it is done” and he cackled again and clapped his hands as his eyes bristled once more. I tried again and asked if he had been approached by any club back in England “I can only tell you that I still have a home in England Paulo, a nice big house and I will go back there next season with my camouflage red lambo” and he winked. I asked him if that meant a team in the North West had approached him, could he be returning to City? “haha you smart Paulo. No, I approach, I do the talking. I play in all red, you will see. City can suck my balls and my arse, who are they?” surely not Manchester United I asked “fk off! Don’t swear like that Paulo, it is filthy language. Don’t say that again or I will not show you my lambo. You’re better than that, hey? No you will see the team in all red that is made for me, you smart, you know”. “Liverpool?” I said, failing to contain my surprise. I asked if he had spoken to them, to Brenden Rodgers. “Look Paulo, it is like I say, when I decide, it is done. I speak to people and people listen, that is how it is done. I will be wearing all red next season and I will drive my red lambo in the streets and people will wave and shout “look there is Mario in his camouflage red lambo, the only one in the world, he is god” Unbeknownst to me during our conversation, Mario’s agent had being timing us. And now he whistled to catch Mario’s attention “oh s
t Paulo, 9 minutes, you have 1 minute left then I must go” he made it clear that he was serious by jabbing his finger at an enormous and extremely expensive looking watch on his wrist. My head was spinning, Mario Balotelli had just said to me, in not so many words, that he was going to be playing for Liverpool in the Premiership next season and I now had less than a minute to try and get some details from him. Or was he joking with me; was this all still a ridiculous set up and I was the joke? “so here’s what you do Paulo” he continued “you go away and remember all what I have said today and in three or four months time you will see it is all true, yes?” I nodded vacantly “haha Paulo no worry hey? You have to promise me something though” I agreed and asked what it was “you cannot write about this until I give you a call, I am thinking it will be after the first game of the season, you will see why” I had no idea what he meant but I agreed anyway and asked if we could meet again as I had much more I wanted to ask him. “you will get to know me Paulo, don’t worry. See, if you knew me, you would know me, that’s what I tell people. I am a star Paulo and that is just how it is, people think they know you because you are famous but that is not true, that is not how it works. You will see” and with that, he jumped to his feet and clapped his hands together “that’s it Paulo, ten minutes are up, time to go” I stood up to shake his hand and instead he gave me a bear hug and kissed me on both cheeks then pulled my head forward and kissed my forehead “Caio Paulo” his huge grin retuned, and he and his agent walked off towards the lobby. I was in a daze but I couldn’t resist one final question as they left “Mario! What’s the story with the midget, who was he?” “I don’t know Paulo, I found him outside and I picked him up and carried him in to meet you hahaha. Caio!” and with that he was gone. Today, Mario Balotelli will sign for Liverpool Football Club and he will likely play his first game in the all red of Liverpool against Manchester City. When Mario talks, people listen.
City had a class chant for Balotelli! Similar to our Campeone
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i-tagn3lB3I
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i-tagn3lB3I
m3sye said:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/22/ma...
50% pay cut to 80k a week ! Rest made up with bonuses
Now where are those Spura fans again ! Not like them to go quiet when proves wrong
Andy Hunter is usually bob on. Looks like we've negotiated an awesome deal... for a change. 50% pay cut to 80k a week ! Rest made up with bonuses
Now where are those Spura fans again ! Not like them to go quiet when proves wrong
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