Ordsall Quays Red wrote:
Were you watching a different game to me? You played OK but were never the better side IMO and I think you lacked any real width to truly trouble a pretty ordinary Arsenal defence.
And I personally didnt see anything from Balotelli at all in his 15-20 minutes. Not that that's a criticism due to him hardly playing any football for the best part of 6 months. Tevez put in a manful shift though despite his injury.
Good win for Nited too and 2 classic strikers goals from Ole Gunnar Hernandez. How Gary Neville managed to avoid getting sent off is another matter. Woeful refereeing considering the other yellow cards he was doling out for both sides.
When you're down to 10 men, width is the first thing that goes.
Putting Balotelli on rather than Johnson was a touch strange. Playing 4-3-2 against an Arsenal side playing 4-5-1 guarantees them possesion. Either Mancini was just hoping that Balotelli would have a dream debut or he'd decided that at 0-2 the game was lost and he might as well give him a run out.
I dont think we'll see much from Balotelli for a few months. Its difficult enough for a foreign striker to adapt to the premiership at that start of the season after a good pre season. Even more so after a long injury lay off. Mancini has taken two months to ease Silva into the premiership, cant see him rushing Balotelli.
Bloody hell. 
To the paramedics, got out there immediately and got him through the fight. I see they doubt he will play again, but that pales into insignificance. Hope he makes a full recovery and goes on to lead a long and happy life.
