Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/370348
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 27 AUGUST 2014 Sport 23 Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday WEATHER: Fine VISIBILITY: Good WIND: West to Southwest force 2 to 3 locally force 3 to 4 becoming West to Northwest in the evening. To Northeast of area: becoming locally force 4 to 5 in the afternoon SEA: Slight SWELL: Negligible SEA TEMP: 27 °C A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 White to play and mate in four moves A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Last week's solution Sudoku rules are extremely easy: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 9x9 box. PARTLY CLOUDY 33 º C / 22 º C UV INDEX: 8 Today's Weather Chess Sudoku Pursuits OPINION Across 1. Pertaining to architecture (13) 8. Surrey village (7) 10. Article of clothing (7) 12. Beat soundly (6) 13. Person practising deception under an assumed name (8) 15. Morning meal (9) 18. Obnoxiously forward (5) 21. Not hollow (5) 22. Luggage (9) 27. Asked (8) 29. Severe experience (6) 30. Causing erosion (7) 31. Reporter (7) 33. Irregularly operated court (8,5) Down 2. Determine (7) 3. Monetary unit of Vietnam (3) 4. Vagrants (6) 5. Wide-awake (5) 6. Spider web (6) 7. Robust (6) 9. Warning (3-3) 11. Seizures (4) 14. Sweatbox (5) 16. 17th letter of the Greek alphabet (3) 17. Farewell (5) 19. Tint (3) 20. Stool pigeon (6) 21. Monetary unit of Israel (6) 23. Untie (4) 24. Steamship (7) 25. Farewell (2,4) 26. Trifles (6) 28. Allotted quantity (5) 32. Solicit (3) AFTER jumping, smashing the se- cret box with his head, Super Mario managed to grab that magical green mushroom to give him one additional life in the Premier League, and let's all be honest: nothing makes the neu- trals happier than welcoming Mario Balotelli back where he belongs. He will have to adapt however to slightly new surroundings having swapped the Sky Blue of Man City to the famous Red Liverpool kit and he will have to also make some more changes to his behaviour as Mario is not known for keeping a low profile. At Manchester City he would love to be remembered for assisting that last minute Sergio Aguero goal against QPR however his comedic stunts have taken the limelight. In his new club however he needs to behave, otherwise this signing could soon go belly up for Liverpool. Mario Balotelli has the small respon- sibility of replacing the often talked about wonder of Luis Suarez and in the aspect of controversy they have swapped like for like. In my eyes, in the aspect of talent, Brendan Rodgers has also gone like for liked. I have often discussed on this page that all I felt Mario Balotelli needed at Manchester City was better man management. If Roberto Man- cini, his manager at the time, lacked one thing it certainly was that, and the Carlos Tevez saga adds to my ar- gument. With Brendan Rodgers, Mario now has a young manager who might ex- cite him. He might see Rodgers as a mentor due to his ambition and age however Rodgers will be kept on his toes, make no mistake about it. Mario might be older, but he certainly might not be wiser. Rodger's handling of Luis Suarez was far better than Kenny Dalglish and his stunts of support throughout his ban for racism. Balotelli knows that ultimately Rodgers had the bot- tle to get rid of the bad PR machine that was Suarez and I am sure he will not hesitate chopping and changing if Mario is not in check. The attraction to Liverpool however might not have been Rodgers himself, or his free flowing football philoso- phy. Balotelli belongs on Europe's big- gest stage and Anfield is preparing for its first season in the Champions League in seven seasons. A signing like Mario Balotelli brings heaps of excitement to the fans and in my eyes he fits the Anfield philosophy perfectly. He might have opted to look away as Man City raced to a 3-0 lead on Monday night against his new club, however if Ricke Lambert can squeeze a goal in, just think of the damage Ba- lotelli can do. The midfield is set up to supply bags of ammunition to the forwards, and together with Sturridge another new phenomenal partnership can be forged up front. You can tell he wants a fresh starts and he has said he does regret leaving England to begin with and this man has got that spark to guarantee goals for Liverpool. He is set to make his de- but against a good looking Spurs this Sunday and I won't put a debut goal beyond him, whether he comes off the bench or starts in his new role. Balotelli is Brendan Rodger's ninth and perhaps most surprising signing this summer and many have labelled it a gamble, I however believe who dares wins, and if Balotelli can inject more pace into that forward five then Liverpool are on to a real winner. There might be darts, however I can expect to see fresh fireworks on the pitch. People argue last ditch signings do not always work out, but it cer- tainly worked out when Sturridge was brought in from Chelsea despite having man management issues of his own. No one bats an eye lid now for the England forward's issues as Brendan Rodgers has sharpened him into one of the league's most prolific strikers. If a partner in crime is what he needs, Rodgers has now found an ideal one in Balotelli and I cannot wait to see the goal tally increase in spectacular fashion this season. It might be a last chance for Balotel- li to really make his mark on a team, and I believe the motivation lies there: now everyone gets a second chance in the Premier League and he will be ready to prove that even though it is always him, he can get it right. Mark Strijbosch Super Mario returns Rxf5 d5 Qg6 Re7 Nf6+ Kf8 Nd7+ Kg8 Rf8# Nh7+ Kg8 Rf8# Mario Balotelli