Mario Balotelli shows his good and bad points in one cameo appearance

Yesterday afternoon Italian striker Mario Balotelli won and scored the penalty that earned Manchester City a vital victory.

However, the second half substitute was lucky to still be on the pitch after he appeared to have intentionally stood on Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker.

Angry

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was livid at the decision, he told Sky Sports: “It looked like a penalty, but the boy who scored the penalty shouldn’t have been on the pitch. He kicked Scott Parker in the head.

“He does that quite often. It’s not right. He’s caught him and then he’s back-heeled him again in the face and cut his head.

“You can’t get away with things like that on the football pitch, the referee should be seeing that.

“He’s kicked him in the head, it’s there for everybody to see. I’m sure you’ve got it on the TV. No-one can make excuses that he didn’t do it, because anyone can see he did do it.

Argument

I don’t think there is any argument with what the Spurs boss said in his interview. From replays of the incident the Italian striker made contact with the England international and it definitely didn’t look accidental.

The incident will now probably be reviewed by the FA and I’m sure he will probably receive a deserved ban. No player should get away with stamping on an opponents head.

Dangerous

Mario Balotelli is a colourful character and is the sort of personality that makes the Premier League so interesting. However he has a habit of producing just as many moments of madness as he does moments of magic.

The striker maybe young but at the moment you feel like he is a loose cannon every time he enters the pitch. As former-United defender Gary Neville said in his summary of yesterday’s game he could win or lose the title for City, he is that unpredictable.

Attitude

Last year I wrote an article questioning Balotelli’s ability to become a truly great player. It wasn’t because he didn’t have talent it was because of his terrible attitude and ego. A few months ago I thought the Italian had matured but recent months have shown nothing has changed.

He got himself sent-off at Liverpool after coming off the bench and he could have done the same against Tottenham, it’s just idiotic behaviour. He said a couple of years ago that he thought he could be the best player in the world, not if he continues the way he has done in recent times.

Talented

It’s a shame that Mario Balotelli’s talent could be wasted because of a massive ego and a poor attitude. He has the talent to become a really great player but his attitude will hinder him from becoming the player he wants to be.

Yesterday he proved he could stay cool under pressure when scoring City’s injury-time penalty. The 21 year-old has conjured up some magic moments this season and his talent could be vital to City this season, if used correctly.

Dilemma

At the start of the season Manchester city boss Roberto Mancini seemed to have worked out how to handle the mercurial young striker. However the past few months have proved that Balotelli is incredibly difficult to deal with.

Mancini’s dilemma is whether he can thrust Balotelli to do the right thing on the pitch. Balotelli could see the red mist in an important game and City could find their title challenge go off the rail. Then again Balotelli could produce a sublime performance in a game of similar stature.

It’s a hard one to weigh up and I’m sure this debate will rumble on right throughout Balotelli’s career because I just can’t see him changing. Yesterday we saw the good, the bad and the ugly of Mario Balotelli. Hopefully in the future we will just see the good. I highly doubt it though.

Can Mario Balotelli become a truly great player?