KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Mario took 50% paycut to join LFC

He’s undoubtably a risk, but at this stage a risk I feel we have to take. If he settles down and delivers on his talent we’re all winners if he fails then his career is very much on the line, and Rodgers will have him benched and on his way before he can do us any great damage. So all in all it’s just another gamble and I’m not all that worried about it. It’s better than doing nothing and going into the new season short on firepower.

True that Herc.

The question you have to ask yourself is, would you feel more confident going into a match against City with him in the team? Would you be more confident with him in the team against Utd, Spurs, Palace, nEverton, Newcastle ect.???

If the money up front was doubled I'd be a lot more cautious. 13 / 16 mil for a player like that is worth the gamble every time. He has to grow up sooner or later, at least curb his antics. I'm biased towards LFC but I think we have bought him at the right stage of his career, with the right manager to direct him.

I don't want him to turn into a choir boy, and I have absolutely no idea how this will pan out - but for the price and the talent on offer we have considerably a lot more to gain than we have to lose.

I'll even go as far as to say I think he'll actually be positive for the dressingroom. Sometimes you need someone to relax the place - you'll probably find Rodgers will have him take some of the youngsters under his wing which could well be a masterstroke - much like it's been reported with Sturride and Sterling.
Mario's always been the clown, give him the chance to "big brother" some of the younger lads and it could pay dividends. The bad boy come good??? Who knows..

Yeah very much my own thinking too, especially regarding the win-lose ratio, and as you say our timing could be spot on with this guy, he has to know its a last chance for him, and his age now is in our favour. I agree if Rodgers can’t sort him out no one can, and anyway most of his antics are silly youth related stuff and should be easy enough to correct at his current age.
It’s a no brainer at the price and a diminishing gamble well worth the taking. I’m going to look on the positive side of this signing, and I feel it could well turn out to be a master stroke for all concerned, and not least for Ballotelli himself.

That goal against Bologna though