Blame it on Balotelli? Or have mercy on Mario?

Super Mario

Balotelli was always a risk

After Liverpool announced that the Italian striker was making his way to the Merseyside, the fans around the world, the staff, the manager, the players – everyone, in short – were aware of the possible earthquake that was about to strike the red half of Liverpool city.

After the heart-aching loss of Luis Suarez, the Reds needed someone to add the flare and the “bite” that would be surely be missing after the departure of the Uruguayan. But given the time they were left with, options were few and far between.

Mino Riola, Balotelli’s agent, proclaimed that this would be his last chance, a possible lifeline, to save his diminishing career. It was a transfer that could, if handled properly, turn Mario from “an explosive talent” to a “world class player”.

As everyone konws, of course, there is a major difference between the two terms. Many players tipped to be ever-shining stars in the football’s galaxy turned out to be mere meteoroids; a bright sparkle which eventually faded in the enormous sky.

Balo certainly took his agent’s words seriously!

The beginning and the twist

Making his debut against Tottenham Hotspur, the Italian received praise and plaudits for his surprisingly hard-working attitude, something neither he nor fans are accustomed to. His linkup with Daniel Sturridge against a team he enjoys playing was much appreciated, and fans were pleased to imagine their good immediate future.

Then came a twist in the tale!

What once seemed a fun and prosperous future suddenly became a grave and painful present. A series of hefty injuries to crucial players recently and the battle for “British Sterling” created a background for football’s very own brat to create trouble, where he often finds himself in isolation.

Suddenly, black clouds started surrounding Anfield and Super Mario. Liverpool needed a leader to lead the attack, a new goal machine, someone to emulate the heroics which every Premier League lover was used to seeing whenever they saw the men in red. The Scousers wanted the 16 million man to be that leader, sadly a role he is never used to handle.

To be very fair, Balotelli’s game is never like that of a leader; he needs his own Henry to be a Bergkamp. He is one of those players who either positions himself to score a good tap in, or blasts the ball in the back of the net from long range. But it is useless to expect a timed run from behind the defender or a “Messi-esque” goal from him.

So what is wrong with Mario?

Speaking tactically, Balotelli likes drifting wide, aiming to pull the marker out of his position, and creating space for his team mates to exploit. Even when he drops deep centrally, he aims to (a) create the pocket of space for his fellow forward or a midfielder, and (b) keep the supply line creating chances.

This is particularly useful when your side features a clever striker like Sturridge on the pitch to milk such chances, or even midfielders like Henderson and Lallana timing their runs to perfection, like they did against QPR. But certainly, Balotelli needs a man cunning enough to make the most of the space provided.

But then why can’t he make those mazy runs?

Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that maybe he was never asked to do so, nor did he have the desire to. He had Zlatan, Milito, Aguero, Dzeko, Cassano and now “Danny” to perform that. So why should he? When he had the experience and habit of playing alongside another striker (though the majority of his time at Milan is an exception), he just needs to be a provider and sometimes the killer himself.

He needs a partner

At Milan, El Shaarawy and Robinho created space and chances for him to make the most of, but that doesn’t hide the fact that he needs a partner in crime to function.

He often paired with Rickie Lambert, who is somewhat similar to the Italian, and once with his compatriot Fabio Borini in a match against West Ham. Both the partnerships failed.

Lambert is certainly not the most mobile striker in the Premier League, and while Borini is fast and smart enough to occupy the space created, he is not the best of finishers. Sadly, being the man common in both the cases of failure, the crowd targeted Super Mario.

Certainly, you don’t pay 16 million for a striker to get himself away from scoring position and start supervising the midfield department!

A piece of a jigsaw puzzle in another jigsaw puzzle

Maybe one can justify his movements, his attitude and that “you know what he is like”, but his lack of goals is something no one can justify. He looks like a misfit in a team, like a lost piece stacked with a set of new puzzle. A team which focuses so much on the counter attacks, swift passing and clever movements doesn’t fancy Mario!

He shifts regularly to his usual hangout place: corner of the ground, alone and often playing offside. And when team breaks on the counter, they try to find their target man, who is sadly not in the right position to score. And when they have possession, he frequently shows his desperation to take aim and try to win the hearts of the Kop. It is nice to see that, but one must consider other important options as well. The failure to do so is costing him and Liverpool dearly.

Playing with a set of defenders who confuse the spine-tingling “You’ll never walk alone” with a lullaby, and injuries striking his providers add to the pressure of justifying his price tag; he is further burdening himself with unwanted pressure.

And this sight is certainly not pleasing Liverpool followers. Being witness to an over-achieving previous season, they had high hopes which are now being trashed big time. It’s not their fault though; after all, the Italian often becomes invisible in the game and sometimes refuses to get further involved.

Too soon to give up on him

But evacuating him or needlessly pointing at him is unfair as well. If he says “give him time to show his genius”, it’s worth a try. At least it is better than leaving Sturridge alone during winters, given that top players are unlikely to leave and Marco Reus is even more unwilling to arrive.

And it is not just Mario who needs Liverpool; Merseysiders also need him. If the Reds want to muster some magic or axe him and hope to be successful, then this season will be even more frustrating than the 2011-12 edition (at least then they had second best defence in the league!).

Balotelli has the experience of playing in the biggest of teams, with the best of players and working with the greatest of managers in the grandest of competitions, and winning them. Even if our poster boy (Luis Suarez) was present in the squad, Balotelli’s Champions League experience cannot be ignored. Moreover, under Kenny’s guidance and for some part of Rodgers’ Liverpool, it is an easy lesson to learn that a single goal scoring machine cannot do all on his own.

Suarez had Sturridge, and maybe Sturridge has Balotelli. It’s as simple as that.

He’s no Suarez, but even Suarez needed time

Balotelli needs time to be at his best. Luis Suarez took his time before firing on all fronts; he had an average spell of one and half year, when even he did his best to frustrate his home fans before showing his true class.

Though he was undoubtedly a workhorse and a dynamite on field, his finishing and often selfish game stole the rare chances his then-less creative teammates would manage to create. Shots often sailing wide, misplaced passes, dribbling his way out of the ground – these were sights which were common during that tenure. But look how he ended his time with Liverpool.

Balotelli's talent is immense, but like Suarez, he requires time and determination to perform. And if he doesn’t, there are 67 days for him to start packing and say goodbye to already irritated Liverpool fans....