Mario Balotelli - Why I believe it's not always him

“Why Always Me” - I started to hate this slogan actually quite fast after Mario made this one a world domain. Of course it's truly great guts, displaying such a message on derby day away at Old Trafford – with the recent fireworks incident very fresh in everyone's memory. It made Mario a cult hero, and it wasn't for the first time he showed some brilliance for just being himself. The reason why I started to dislike that moment is the way it snowballed into the wrong direction. During that October month, David Silva was by far the best and most consistent, influential player of the blue team, but lost the Player of the Month award to Mario due of that single moment alone. Showing that such an award is no longer a fans based issue, it became one for the one-day shoppers.

I do have a soft spot for Mario. It's a love/hate thingy, but I definitely love him most of all. I can remember he was once stopped by police and caught him carrying £50.000 cash. When the officers asked him why he had that much money on him, his clear cut answer was: “because I'm rich”. I'm still giggling about that quote.

And don't forget that moment during the 2011/12 season, home against Tottenham where he converted an injury time penalty into the winning goal. He folded his arms and leaned on one foot, showing 'this is how we do it'. Arrogance? Not at all. Mario is simply a genuine entertainer, he likes to joke. Like that spontaneous moment he went to the Xaverian College and asked if he 'could please use the toilet'. Of course it was simply an excuse to give the youngsters the time of their lives by just showing up. Randomly selected, and compliments to the school teachers to let him walk around for a moment with all students following him in every single step.

And how about the moment he asked a youngster why he was at the trainings ground and not at school? The boy replied that he was being bullied and could not bring it up to have another day of abuse. Mario was angry. He took the boy and his mum to the school and demanded a meeting with the headmaster and to ask for an explanation, and solution – which happened as Mario orchestrated it in full. Stunning!

But, what is now causing Mario's behaviour at stages? We all know about those split seconds in which he made a weird foul, sometimes harshly punished by a sending off. Or lack of spirit on the (training) pitch. When was it that the press started to name him a 'bad boy'? Here's my observation.

This is a part I assume the most of you are aware of, but, this is for an important step up.

Mario was born in Italy by Ghanaian parent – the Barwuah family, but sadly at a very young age he suffered some life-threatening complications regarding his health and had to undergo multiple operations. After a short lived recovery process he was going downhill again, with his parents not able to financially support the conditions. They agreed with social services that Mario would be adopted by a foster family, the Balotellis. In the beginning he still went to visit his biological parents during the weekends, but soon that stopped. It was that awkward moment Mario became famous, and out of nowhere his biological parents turned up at his house and asked him to move back in with them. He refused to and sent them away, accusing them of 'glory hunting' now that he was suddenly starting to make some good money. Oh my, the press took notice! Mario was a 'disgrace' for treating his parents that badly. However, his parents now were the Balotellis and what he did was protecting them by not turning his back towards them after all the unlimited loving he had been receiving. Time had simply moved on and things changed, but it was then where his private life issues started to kick off.

Let me start with a very recent happening. Prior to the Euro2012 final between Italy and Spain, a long documentary was being aired with Mario's biological family. Some quotes here: “we don't want him with us because of his money, we want him here as he's our brother”, and: “when he pulled his shirt off [during the semi final game vs Germany] I ALSO pulled my shirt off! Yes, I did that to feel connected with him”, etc etc. The whole Barwuah clan had their say and all were keep on piling pressure onto Mario. What kind of choice did he had? He already declined to be re-united with the Ghanaians as his heart and life forever belongs to the Balotellis in Italy. His semi finals celebration – in which he pulled his shirt off and stood like The Hulk – was due of the fact he had received the wonderful news that his ex partner is expecting his first baby, and dedicated it all to his mother Silvia. A bigger statement he couldn't give, showing it to the world and underline to who only it was aimed at.

Also: why was Mario being highlighted after the Euro final? He was crying – of course, you have a dream and have been working hard for it. It was a great tournament but the final was a deception. But does it mean he is not allowed to cry? And there were more players on the pitch, however of course he being the only black Italian, how could I forget. Cameras pelting all over him.

In the mean time his biological mother refuses to stop her part of the pressure. She moved to Greater Manchester in 2011 and works as a cleaning lady in the region. Mario – who gave £1.5m of his own salary during 2012 to African child support organisations – tried to be polite and offered her some money to have at least a bit or a normal life. She declined, of course she was not interested in Mario's cash. She was 'just happy to live close to her son', simply playing a mind game if you ask me honestly. And in the mean time? Mario remains silence, fearing that the press could call him 'a disgrace' again for telling the world he doesn't want the Barwuahs around him, as he's not the 3 year old any more.

Why always him – I could be completely wrong with digging for the roots of this all. But I do know he looks like strugging and that every young person will feel 'chained up' if their parents and family do not grant them to a certain freedom – a space to become an individual. If you feel you can't go anywhere, and being chased around, being watched in every move, you result in moments of craziness without realising it. I hope Mario can become the person and the player he really is, even if that is somewhere else than in Manchester, as the rumours are echoing more loud that he's due to move to Milan on a permanent base. Sad.

( image credit to @cfmcfc )

This is why a break away league is the most logical

An article in the Daily Mail of Monday the 14^th showed a 'gentlemen agreement' regarding Arsenal, Man United, Tottenham Hotspurs and Liverpool to 'make the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules more strict' - and by that to eliminate the competition from both Chelsea and current champions Manchester City. And of course it also efficiently blocks any other new competitor, who shall be chained to the new set up restrictions.

All can remember that Robin Van Persie was sold by Arsenal to United 'for football reasons', and now we most likely understand the real reason behind it: giving their best player away to United to make sure that City or Chelsea will not win the league this term.

Does this mean that if their mission next month succeeds, City and Chelsea are history? Of course not. This is actually a blessing in disguise, a strong reason to break away from the Premier League and set up a league themselves!

I have been working on the following idea now for a couple of years. I first rubbished similar ideas from many years ago – as I could not see how promotion/relegation would work – but as I've now been following the NFL (American football) over a period of five seasons, I am seeing things in a complete different perspective. Here is why, this is the set up I've been working on.

There are two phases, not more than this in order to protect the new 'product'. There will be a start of 32 teams, spread over 8 groups of 4. All those four will meet the other three twice during a season, with twenty added games via a random or system-diagram set up. They face those teams only once, and can not meet them twice at home or away on a row – in order to protect a fair share of the home advantage.

Both the winners and the runners up from each and every group will qualify to the knock out stages, based on best 1^st vs worst runner up, onwards. Single games until you reach the big final.

The second phase would be adding 16 more teams, making it 12 groups of 4, and only the winners automatically qualify with the eight best runners up facing each other to battle for the 4 remaning spots.

Is this realistic? Yes. There is a HUGE market awaiting, and this can only be what you wish to achieve when you're setting up a new format. There is also a lot of unsettlement with the UEFA/FIFA about certain issues and as most football clubs are owned, they have turned into businesses.

I will list some of the major advantages of a new football league. And as well who could (maybe I may state should?) join in.

• First benefit: An own governmental body, and no FIFA is required as it's an own label product. There might raise some issues that the FIFA will block 'new league' players to play for their national teams, but I'm quite sure that such a block would be illegal.

• United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are excluded as they have their own agreements in the Premier League. All those teams are now eliminated.
• There are big games every single week.
• New technology could be introduced. Not only goal line technology but also a 'coach challenge', one per coach per half, in which an on field decision by a ref can be questioned. That the game stands still for a moment ain't bad, people will get used to it. The most important point is that fans can feel 'being understood'. Examples are: red card Kompany away at Arsenal, or the West Ham shout for a penalty away against United. A video booth replay for the referee would then make a final decission possible.

So, who would join this new set up league? I give you you listing.

• Barcelona would most likely join on the spot due of the connections with City. Making Real Madrid almost a certainty to follow their foot steps due of El Classico.
• AC and Inter Milan could use a revival of themselves by joining the more exclusive league. With Berlusconi his TV company as possibilty to use setting up an own branded channel. Could not should.

• Bayern Munchen can finally enjoy some more competition. The irony is that old Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola now joins them from next season onwards is good for the public relations. I assume that Borussia Dortmund will be the most likely 2^nd team to join in for the same reason, stiffer competition.

• Now a big surprise: both LA Galaxy and NY Red Bulls to join as well – making it a win-win for everyone. They can sell football on a bigger scale in the States, with European teams selling their brand as easy via their networks. This makes the new league an even more global brand. AND there will be ONE big game on American soil each and every single week.

I no doubt assume that Paris Saint Germain, Olympique Lyon, Anzhi, Zenit Petersburgh, Dinamo Kiev, Porto and Benfica also will be interested to join the new – but better – Champions League format.

Of course, to fill up the spaces, you can think of clubs like Celtic, and in phase two Rangers plus Everton (just picking one here). But countries like Turkey, Holland and Belgium also got some high standard clubs and would contribute into the global and wide viarity.

To secure the roots of any club: youth teams can easily play under a different (the current) licence and remain active in their national competitions.

Have I gone a bit too far with my idea? Or have I unfolded something that is inavoidable. I personally feel that the 'coup 4' done everyone a favour.

Why Wenger's job is the safest in football

A lot has been said about the outrageous ticket price that Manchester City fans had to cough up in order to see their heroes play away at Arsenal. £62 is a disgrace to see just 90 minutes of entertainment, especially when the game is live on TV and can be seen for 3 pints of lager at any nationwide pub. Maybe I'm just drinking too slow. A fact is that City are now a 'class A' club in every away game due of their sudden wealth, but unfortunately the fans itself aren't the ones who got rich as well. It is still a working class team, a big loyal 'family', who has to dig deep in order to see their beloved club live whenever possible.

City's origin is about Manchester, and never had to deal with glory hunters swamping in from other parts of the country or overseas, like the sudden flow coming over from Holland who discovered City's welfare. Those new plastic fans are most happy to pay for any price stated on a ticket, but the real fans – who were there when the team wasn't winning any honours – are in this way being pushed out of the market.

Money blind club owners simply want to maximize cash flows from every game and the hell with once a season visiting fans. Calls to introduce a cap on ticket prices for travelling fans has my full support. All tickets to be sold directly via the visiting club and no sales on the day itself could see prices drop to 'normal standards'. I can hear a romantic violin now playing in the background.

There has been a worrying escalation in ticket prices. It was only two seasons ago a ticket for a City fan at Arsenal was £33 compared to £62 – an increase of 87% in only a very short time. No doubt other fans are as well in the same boat, but because sent back unsold tickets only now it became a public debate.

Let me outline something important to you: Arsenal's owners want to make a profit, they're businessmen and refuse to live beyond their means, they want to squeeze out whoever they can. They charge a staggering £985 for their CHEAPEST season ticket, with £1955 for their most expensive. I understood that such a card gave you unlimited drinks in their corporate lounge, but after yet again another season without trophies.

Arsenal are a team without on-field ambition, they appear to be more interested in generating income off field. Of course every season is a new one, and the young squad – carefully scouted at low transfer fees – will fancy their chances. Surely this one will be their year? Unfortunately, Arsenal are now a selling club. Big money has been paid for the likes of Kolo Toure, Adebayor, Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy and Van Persie. Just to name some. Arsenal are making a profit this way, with qualification for the Champions League another vital component. Wenger plays his part by achieving that important 4^th place each year. His job is safe, even after the home defeat against Manchester City last Sunday. There are some people who doubt it, but how else could a manager of a football club remain in his position if you've not won any trophy for SEVEN seasons on the trot, with an eight successive season winking from the corner of doom. Wenger is playing it safe with his bosses when he proclaims 'finishing top 4 is a trophy in itself' because it means the money continues to flow. He defended the policy, saying people 'can decline buying a ticket to the theatre', referring to a home game.

It's another example of how he seeks to appease his paymaster. People simply need to realise that Arsenal are now a company, a business that is about making a profit, they are no longer a football club. Yes, they play football, but as long spectators come through the turnstiles paying extortionate prices, the revenue streams will continue and nothing shall ever change.

In the meantime, the odds for Wenger to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked stand at something like 500/1. Nice work if you can get it.

Naming Suarez a racist isn't the way

Last Sunday, non league side Mansfield Town gave Liverpool a good scare by battling all the way to just a single goal defeat. A great proud achievement, knowing there is a 4 ties gap between the two. The hard pill to swallow was Liverpool's second goal, which came from a very clear hands ball by Luis Suarez. The bandwagon of haters jumped on him instantly like flies who just saw a dog dropping some litter in the bushes. The ball skipped around a bit, and luckily via Suarez his hand he put himself on the scoring sheet. He actually didn't celebrate after that goal, keeping in mind the referee and/or linesman saw the incident and would rule his challenge out, maybe even with a booking. But the referee ruled that the challenge wasn't deliberate, the goal stood. Then Suarez did what he always does after scoring a goal: kiss the palm of his hand.

Now the haters were jumping upside down as if they'd saw snow falling down for the first time of the winter season. Suarez was 'a disgrace' for kissing the palm of his hand, seemingly suffering from a short-term memory. Also he was again 'a cheat', a valid point if you realise he came second in the diving table, just behind Man United winger Ashley Young. The roars were big, and the more hateful comments poured into Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, and the more people started to lose their heads. The 'he is a racist' jibes were now being echoed and that made me quite angry. I know myself that Suarez isn't a racist, and I know that all who are close to him - people from all kind of races/skin colours - have been jumping in to defend him.

Let me outline this.

During a game with Man United, Suarez was standing directly with Patrice Evra. Evra gave some mouthful towards Suarez, as it happens all the time during games: you want to win so you're trying to trouble your opposition in every possible way. At one moment Suarez had enough, and stated "just because you're coloured doesn't mean you may say all you want", however as he wasn't too familiar with the English word he used the South American word 'negro' (for coloured). Negro doesn't even come close to 'the N-word' but the media bias and the FA started to do a witch hunt to get Suarez banned. The FA ain't objective, it's being known for liking and supporting Man United with 'dubious' referee decision and so was it with this case: banning Suarez, it would amputate the team, and make Alex Ferguson a Happy Dandy.

Let me put one more example of double standards: Van Persie, almost killed by a ball against Swansea, jumped up and started a fight on the pitch. No card shown by the ref, and no punishment afterwards. But when Samir Nasri of Manchester City got a nasty challenge on him away at Norwich, and did less violence than Van Persie, he got a red card and received a three-match-ban. Only a blind person would not see this.

To come back to Suarez one more time, he didn't do himself a favour by feeding the hating mob. After the clash away at Mansfield, a young boy outside of the ground asks Suarez kindly for an autograph, but he ignores the boy in full. This is not making him a racist, but definitely it feeds the oppositions and the hungry press to let him remain being one of the disliked players in the Premier League.