Despite Scoring Two Goals, Mario Balotelli's Biggest Impact Yesterday Was This Hissy Fit

A fractured Manchester City side patched together a 3-3 draw at home against Sunderland yesterday thanks in part to two Mario Balotelli goals. Yet City management find themselves most concerned with Balotelli's on-pitch behavior, especially in light of this tantrum he threw yesterday over not being allowed to take a free kick (one eventually squandered by Aleksandar Kolarov).

City manager Roberto Mancini dismissed Balotelli's two goals, saying " he didn't play well" and suggested he considered substituting for Balotelli just five minutes into the match. We're not in the practice of offering advice that anyone in charge would never read—plus, you know, we like when Mario Balotelli does things—but if you're this angry with a player who saved a point for your team during a title race, it seems somebody's priorities are severely misplaced. [ESPN2]