A month ago, the 2012-2013 Barclays Premier League season may have held its defining fixture as Manchester United, buoyed by another Robin van Persie game-winning goal, overcame Manchester City 3 to 2. But while the British Press certainly made mention of United's heroic resilliance after conceding their two goal lead, of Wayne Rooney's brilliance and of Michael Carrick's midfield presense, England's journalists chose to focus more heavily on the ineptitude of one Mario Balotelli. Granted the rare start by gaffer Roberto Mancini, City never seemed to click in the attacking third while Balotelli was on the field. His replacement after 55 minutes, Carlos Tevez, made an immediate impact and was louded as having turned the game in City's favor (though of course they still failed to take anything from the match). The maverick ghanaian-born forward was called lazy, disruptive, off the pace, and was further lambasted for walking straight down the tunnel after being taken off the pitch, rather than sit with his teammates in the stands. Balotelli was singled out for being essentially the sole reason for City's lackluster first half from which they failed to recover. Mancini was criticized for his inclusion of the Italian in his starting XI, and many saw Mario's substitution as the beginning of the end of his time in Manchester...
