The problem was Mancini didn't deal with it in a way you'd expect; Mancini lost it. And that is the massive problem with the situation. With immature players, you simply can't publicly humiliate them like that, it simply isn't the right approach and you see it in every day life in different situations. It's like being at school, if you have a kid with a huge temper and he loses it regularly, the last thing you do is embarrass him in front of the entire school. You wait after the lesson, you have a word and you deal with it that way. The problem is, like teachers occasionally, Mancini lost his cool and didn't approach the situation necessarily. The decision to bring him off was made in the heat of the moment, he hadn't even cooled down when he came off afterwards and he allowed himself to look a first class bell by arguing with him on the touchline.

If you want a great example of how 'losing it' with a player can work, look at Fergie with CR7. I remember a game when Ronaldo missed a good chance (I think it was a good chance, either way, he done something wrong) and Fergie flipped at him on the touchline. Fergie done that because he knew Cristiano would react with determination as he'd matured. Would he have done that when Ronaldo was an 18 year old? Of course he wouldn't, but Fergie 'losing it' with him was definitely a calculated move to motivate a top player. Mancini just shamed Balotelli, and, if you read anything about the career of Mario Balotelli, you'll know that shaming him and provoking a reaction isn't the right way to go about things with him. In the future, possibly, but now during a meaningless game? Deary me.

That's entirely your perspective though. How do you know that Balotteli feels the same i.e. that he shamed? What makes you so sure that he hasn't perceived it as "I shouldn't have done that"? They must have had enough conversations between them for Balotteli to understand why he was yanked off. You are placing your own personal experiences onto their relationship and are assuming it is a good fit. I understand the management skill of nuturing (particularly in relation to people have, in the past, been bulled, harassed etc), however I also know that it is but one of the many facets of motivation and individual development. I think people are blowing this out of proportion by suggesting that a guy getting yanked off for being a clown is somehow a public humiliation. I'm sure Balotteli has had far worse experiences than being subbed and shouted at which is what leads me to believe he wouldn't perceive it to be a public humilation.

Among all this Ballotelli talk, well done Luis Suarez on a fantastic Copa America and winning player of the tournament. Hopefully he can carry his form on for us this season. A great capture.

I agree mate. be the last trophy he wins for a very long time.

Easily the best forward in England now.

Great effort Rob. I nearly bit...nearly.

So WTF was the confrontation with Mancini on the touchline about??? FFS.



Mancini's a great manager?

It's out of him or Tevez.

I'm sure Luis knows that aswell, hence him joining us.

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Didn't think you'd read the Guardian, had you down as a Daily Sport man myself. Just filling the void?

Thought the Sport had gone pop. Anyway, I never lowered myself to read that rag. The Sunday Sport however was a beacon of journalistic excellence.

Mancini knows what he is but its also time for Mario to start changing what he is. Fair enough, cut him some slack when he's a moody teenager settling in a strange country. But when does the manager have the right to expect more from him, when he's 23? 25? 30?

The other thing that Mancini needs to do is keep the rest of the players on board. They were livid with Mario on Sunday. I thought it was great that the players generally had such an attitude towards a pre season friendly. The last thing I want to see is the manager undermining that attitude by indulging certain players.

Santi Cazorla off to Malaga for €20 million. Great buy and Malaga the team to look out for next season.

Cracking capture. A move for Tevez shouldn't be ruled out.