What can we expect from Mario Balotelli next?

He seems to attract headlines like Sergio Ramos attracts yellow cards, but love him or loath him, Mario Balotelli has certainly brightened up the Premier League in the short time he has been with us. Already attracting a massive reputation both as a player and a cult hero, the striker Mourinho deemed ‘unmanageable’ kicked the season off in trademark style – well off the pitch at least – with a  trademark prank, yet compared to ones he has been allegedly involved in over the years, it was nothing.

The player has been involved in multiple kiss and tell stories, which range from him keeping girls busy until the early hours of the morning and emerging from his mansion looking ‘exhausted.’ Well allegedly at the very least, or as I am sure we all remember the stories of him putting on girls makeup and heels for another of his ladies. The forward not only scores on the pitch but far too much off it too, meaning that not only did his declaration of ‘ti amo Rafaella’ fail dramatically after many, many, many indiscretions emerged, but he is involved in a ‘who’s the daddy’ saga with the aforementioned glamour girl that would rival a ‘who shot Phil Mitchell’ if Mario’s denials over paternity are to be believed.

Girls are of course by no means the only thing the player is becoming famous for, and after running up yet another legendary bar bill on his summer jollies the player who claims he does not really drink is certainly becoming renowned for being quite the party boy. Balotelli being Balotelli doesn’t just have parties involving alcohol and girls, at casa Mario, all social gatherings go off with a bang – literally.

It would take someone with Wenger’s eyesight not to have seen the headlines that the impromptu display of fireworks inside his house caused – right before the derby day and biggest game of City’s season of course. Mario asked us all a very public question during the game of ‘Why Always Me?’ and if the pervious sections of this article have not answered that question the remainder will certainly do so.

Clearly a fan of the festive period, not only does Super Mario visit the Christmas market sporting rather ridiculous hats but in true Balotelli never doing anything by halves style, he also apparently dresses up as Santa Clause and drives around in a car worth more than most people’s houses cost and hands out wads of money and rents out floors of the Hilton for Manchester’s homeless. It must have been a Merry Christmas for those lucky few indeed.

As the player himself will attest to, he can easily afford to splash out on such extravagant gestures, because as he told police who questioned who questioned why he was carrying such a large amount of cash in his car ‘I can do it because I am rich.’ He also has trouble working tricky cash machines and forgets his account details when attempting to buy a new car. Whoever said footballers had low IQ’s had clearly not met Mario Balotelli.

To boost his IQ even further, Mario decided to increase his knowledge of the world and its cultures by taking a trip to a women’s prison and meeting the Italian Mafia – maybe he assumed they could come in handy for some gentle persuasion in case Howard Webb’s love for United gets too out of hand. A women’s prison is slightly harder to comprehend – perhaps Balotelli wanted to add candidates to his harem of ‘girlfriends’ .

Of course there are many more incidents involving our favourite striker, the new Inter Milan manager will not forget his introduction to the media after becoming manager – given Mario crashed the press conference, and there will surely be many more to come both on and off the field where the player can infuriate us with stupid tackles and petulant behaviour, or shock us with world class performances just before breaking our heart crying after a huge loss, reminding us that he is just 22 years of age and still learning.

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United keeping tabs on Real Betis ace

Manchester United are keeping tabs on Real Betis winger Alvaro Vadillo according to The Sun, who has been labelled as the ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’.

The left winger became the second youngest ever player to feature in a La Liga match when he made his debut for the Andalusian side back in August 2011, and has impressed initially with his speed and trickery on the ball.

Vadillo suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the tail-end of last year, but is now back available and playing for Betis.

It is believed that United have sent scouts to watch the teenager and may well face competition from AC Milan for the attacker’s signature.

Betis are keen to hold onto their prize asset, who is a graduate of their youth system.

Vadillo has been learning English over the last year and is thought to be keen to move to play in England at some point later in his career.

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By Gareth McKnight

Manchester United v Tottenham – Match Preview

Tottenham go in search of their first win at Old Trafford since 1989 on Saturday evening on the back of two consecutive Premier League victories.

This fixture has been famed for controversial decisions in recent seasons, with Tottenham rightly feeling they are due a bit of luck at the Theatre of Dreams.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have yet to hit their best form this season, but currently sit 2nd with 12 points out of a possible 15.

Last weekends result at Liverpool was a classic example of picking up a result despite playing poorly.

Antonio Valencia is United’s major injury concern after the Ecuador wide-man suffered an ankle injury at Liverpool last week and Ferguson rates him as “doubtful”.

The Scot also has a defensive headache to deal with after club captain Nemanja Vidic underwent knee surgery on Tuesday to rule him out for eight weeks.

Phil Jones (knee) and Chris Smalling (broken metatarsal) are still on the sidelines, meaning Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are United’s only fit central defenders.

Brad Friedel will return in goal for Tottenham’s trip to Old Trafford after Carlo Cudicini took over for the midweek Capital One Cup triumph over Carlisle. Hugo Lloris is likely to return to the bench.

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Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring), Scott Parker (Achilles), Jake Livermore (groin), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) are all missing for Andre Villas-Boas.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham

Why are they so poor in the Premier League this year?

The exhilarating start to this latest Premier League campaign has reinforced suspicions that we are watching the most entertaining spectacle in the world. A quick glance at results so far reveals that supporters are far more likely to witness an enthralling 2-2 draw than a dull 0-0. In fact, there have been as many 3-2 and 3-1 scorelines (5) as goalless draws in the opening seven rounds of fixtures, but does this highlight a vast improvement in the final third or the worrying demise of our once reliable defences?

Perhaps it’s best to begin by considering the growing influx of mesmeric attacking midfielders in English football. These individuals are overflowing with creative juices and boast the skeleton key needed to unlock even the toughest defence. The brilliant debut season of David Silva for Manchester City undoubtedly persuaded their rivals that they too needed this particular brand of pint-sized playmaker.

Arsene Wenger opted for fellow Spaniard Santi Cazorla, Sir Alex Ferguson swooped for Asian sensation Shinji Kagawa while Roman Abramovich found some change down the back of the sofa for Eden Hazard. Each new purchase has quickly adapted to the rigours of the Premier League, adding a new dimension to what was already an impressive attacking line-up.

These unique individuals are almost impossible to effectively shackle, as they are gifted the freedom to roam the pitch and seek out pockets of space. I was lucky enough to visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday and observe the brilliance of Oscar, Juan Mata and Hazard as Chelsea cruised past Norwich without ever leaving second gear. The formidable trio interchanged with one another so seemlessly that Norwich soon gave up trying to man mark them and subsequently paid the price. Unless managers can devise an effective way to deal with such players, without harming their own attacking prospects, then the likes of Eden Hazard will continue to flourish.

The vast numbers that make up squads nowadays are vital in dealing with the seemingly growing number of injuries. However, this means that few teams are able to select the same backline every week, especially if they don’t want their fringe players to become demoralised. But how can defenders develop the confidence and sense of trust with one another under this rotation policy? When we think of historic impenetrable rearguards, we think of Seaman-Dixon-Bould-Adams-Winterburn and not a merry collection of seven or eight players.

It has also become apparent that certain teams can no longer depend on the previously indispensible figures of their squad. Liverpool’s Pepe Reina for example has emerged this season as a shadow of his former self, damaging his commanding reputation with a string of unforced errors. Prior to Stoke’s visit to Anfield on Sunday, the Spaniard had saved just 45% of the shots he’s faced so far, which has been a contributing factor to Brendan Rodgers’ indifferent start to life on Merseyside.

The one saving grace at Liverpool is that the supporters appreciate and encourage the attractive style of football currently in development. Every fan wants their team to display a primal attacking mentality even though the risks are far greater, which heaps pressure on managers to deliver. Nigel Adkins has recently declared he will not change the tactics employed by his Southampton side despite the fact they continue to drop points. The Saints sit near the top of both the goals scored and goals conceded charts but how long can they justify such a vulnerable approach, is it fair to say their status in the league is already under threat if they continue in this manner?

Managers have a duty to adapt their strategies to compensate for the way that trends in football continue to evolve. However, some appear reckless with their persistent experimentation as epitomised by Roberto Mancini’s newfound affection for the 3-5-2 formation. I can understand his desire to incorporate the likes of Aleksandar Kolarov and new signing Maicon more effectively into this team but why risk upsetting one of the most dominant defences of last season?

It’s clear that modern full-backs essentially adopt the role of wing-backs anyway as they are urged to flock forward with each new attack. Many full-backs spend so much of their time in the opposing half that perhaps teams are more susceptible to counter-attacks than ever before. With every advantage in football there is a disadvantage, but it appears the more attack-minded teams are increasingly willing to place their defence in jeopardy.

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One of the reasons the Premier League is so enjoyable is because it’s always subject to change. Over the past summer we’ve had an incredible number of new arrivals and departures concerning both playing and managerial staff. Swansea and Norwich have both struggled (to various degrees) to replace the popular outgoing figures of Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert, who themselves are finding it difficult to make a positive impact at their new clubs. Resilient defences are the outcome of months of hard-work, a period few managers can depend upon.

As the pace and intensity of the modern game continues to increase, the simple task of defending becomes infinitely more challenging. Strikers nowadays are so prolific that they can punish every mistake and when the likes of Steven Fletcher can score with every shot they have on target, is it any wonder we’re seeing more goals in the Premier League?

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where Ronaldinho refuses to be upstaged by Tom Cleverley

Can Ipswich Improve With Their Current Squad?

Everyone is obviously disappointed with Saturdays 2-1 loss to Cardiff but some would argue that apart from a couple mistakes it was a good performance.

Ipswich were impressive at times and controlled the game and this has been the case in a few games this season. The tractor boys were decent at times against Brighton, Wolves, Barnsley and Cardiff but in those four games they only picked up two points.

From these performances it is clear that the team do have some quality so it makes you think; where is it all going wrong?

There are two obvious main problems. First of all, really basic mistakes at the back have cost the team so many points already this season. It is amazing how the defence can do everything right for 99.9% of the game but a two second lapse of concentration can cost the team so much.

Looking back at almost every Ipswich game this season you soon realise that on the whole the defence do look solid. However, you also realise that most of the goals the team concede are due to these really minor moments when one or two players switch off momentarily.

The good news is that this is something that can be fixed without having to rip apart the whole team. It is something Paul Jewell should be able to cut down on in training sessions but whether this will actually happen is another matter.

The second part of Ipswich’s poor form has been due to the team not being clinical enough in front of goal. It says it all that the only goal they managed to score against Cardiff was deflected into the back of the net off the hands of an on loan striker. The only reason he scored in the first place was because instead of going up for a header he cowered away and somehow the ball rolled in after hitting his hands.

It is fair to say that with a bit more concentration Ipswich wouldn’t have conceded the two goals that they did in that game but you do have to ask what was going on up front? When you dominate a large period of a game you would expect to score at least two goals during that dominant spell. Ipswich are failing to do this and it is costing them just as many points as their defence is.

Although his goal was pretty lucky, the addition of DJ Campbell should help the team become more clinical in front of goal. He looked like Ipswich’s most dangerous player against Cardiff so chances are, he will get a few goals during his loan spell.

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The main problem is that the team are lacking a lot of confidence and at times the tactics aren’t working. Jewell needs to take the team back to the basics and cut out the silly errors before trying to do much else. Once they are staying solid at the back they can work on what they need to do at the other end of the pitch.

Hopefully we won’t see the same mistakes again from Ipswich but chances are it will be a while before anyone can expect to see a significant improvement.

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Everton is my priority says striker

Everton FC striker Victor Anichebe has signalled his intent of continuing to impress with his club, rather than speculating if he will get called up to Nigeria’s African Nations Cup squad.

The 24-year-old has had a difficult time in recent seasons with injuries, but this Premier League term he has remained fit and deputised impressively for Nikica Jelavic, scoring three goals so far, and the Nigerian insists he can form an explosive partnership with the Croatian.

Anichebe was overlooked for the last Nigeria squad, but insists that he is not letting his omission dent his confidence.

“The thing with Nigeria is, I am a fan. I follow the games – I followed the game at the weekend and I was happy Victor Moses scored, I spoke to John Obi Mikel as well,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“They have done really well to qualify.

“I am more concentrating on here. This is the first time I have stayed fit for a while and I feel good in myself, so thinking of the national side hasn’t come in to my head.”

The African Cup of Nations will take place at the beginning of 2013 in South Africa, and Anichebe is unsure that he will be picked. One Everton player who will not be in the squad is Steven Pienaar, who retired from international football.

Anichebe has signalled that club football is a priority for him, “I want the fans in Nigeria to be happy and they now are we have qualified for the African Nations.

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“The coach there is building a good team. I’m not even thinking about being in the squad, I am thinking of being here [Everton].

“Everton have stuck by me and helped me get back fit so I am thinking about this no more,” he added.

Barcelona target Manchester United defender

Spanish giants Barcelona are preparing a January bid for Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic, according to reports from Calcio Mercato.

It’s believed that Barca boss Tito Vilanova sees the Premier League defender as the ideal solution to the club’s defensive woes, which may tempt him to make an offer during the winter months.

With Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique both struggling with injuries, the Catalans find themselves short of defensive cover, often relying on ex-Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano to fill in at the heart of the defence.

They may currently top La Liga, but Barca have the worst defensive record of the top four Spanish sides, with only two clean sheets to their name in domestic action so far this year.

This has prompted talk that Vidic could be on his way to the Camp Nou to bolster the club’s backline.

It’s unlikely that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to allow the Serbian to leave, as he sees the no nonsense centre-half as one of the key men in his squad.

The Scot is rather short on defensive options at the moment, with Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand his only fit, established centre-backs.

Michael Carrick has filled in during the absence of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, but his talents are of greater use in midfield.

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The 31-year-old is currently side-lined due to a knee injury, but is expected to be back in action later this month.

Pardew rues injury blows as Newcastle progress

Newcastle booked their place in the last 32 of the Europa League, but at a cost for Alan Pardew’s men.

The Magpies 1-1 draw against Portuguese side Maritimo saw Newcastle through to the knock-out stages of the competition; however they lost both Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse to injury that will rule them out for a few weeks at least.

Alan Pardew was delighted at securing qualification; however is ruing the injuries that has cost the Newcastle manager two key players in what is already a wafer thin squad already:

“We are just having blow after blow really.

“Hatem and Papiss both got injured so we are going to have to wait and see on Papiss. His thigh stiffened up at half-time and we didn’t take a chance. Hatem will probably miss Sunday.

“That affected us because we were short on the bench. We never really had enough attacking flair on the pitch to keep the ball and keep the pressure on. Therefore we were sitting really and unfortunately we conceded.

“We have got two very good players there who affect the game and when they come off the pitch, suddenly it gives the other team a lift.

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“But we needed to get a result and got that and got through.

“I look at this competition – with a sticky second half today but otherwise I think we have been excellent.” (Sky Sports)

Football Advent Calendar Day 9 – WIN a copy of the Secret Footballer

Christmas is getting ever closer as we reach Day 9 of our Football Advent Calendar. There was so much demand for a copy of the Secret Footballer on Day 1 that we thought we’d give you another chance to win a copy of the popular football book today!

Who is The Secret Footballer? Only a few people know the true identity of the man inside the game. But whoever he is – and whoever he plays for – he is always honest, always fearless and always opinionated.

Now, for the first time, he reveals everything you need to know about the hidden world of professional football – the extraordinary highs, the desperate lows, and what it’s really like to do the job most of us can only dream of.

You can buy the Secret Footballer here

Fancy winning a copy of the Secret Footballer?

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To be in with a chance of winning click below to FOLLOW FootballFanCast.com on Google +

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The winners will be announced tomorrow, when we will also be unveiling our prize for Day 10. Don’t forget to come back to FootballFanCast.com then!

Balotelli takes Manchester City to league tribunal

Mario Balotelli will take Manchester City to a league tribunal after he was fined two weeks wages for persistent poor discipline on the pitch, the Guardian reports.

City manager Roberto Mancini who has been known for showing great loyalty to Balotelli, who he also had in his time in charge at Inter Milan, seems like he may finally be losing his patience with the volatile Italian international.

The 22-year-old striker was fined two weeks wages, in the region of £350,000, after a series of disciplinary problems which lead him to missing around a fifth of City’s games in their title winning campaign last season.

Balotelli appealed his fine but it was rejected by the club and he is now ready to take the case to a Premier League tribunal on Wednesday. This is likely to add further strain to his relationship with Mancini who dropped him from the squad completely for the win at Newcastle on Saturday.

Signed from Inter Milan in 2010 for £24million and with a lot of expectation, Balotelli has endured a mixed time at the Etihad. Despite the problems, City’s chief is adamant that this isn’t the end of the road for the much maligned player.

He insisted: “Mario still has a big part to play this season” but added, “To get back into the team he needs to work in training and, when he plays, he needs to play well.”

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Mancini clearly hasn’t given up completely on Balotelli, but how many more disruptive incidents he is willing to put up with remains to be seen.

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