I personally like the idea of having a gun, it helps seperate deathball even more from the likes of fifa, hence also the reason of changing what the character looks like..along with the ball.
But like I said before, for me on my screen the ball looks like its being shot from the crotch, if you really pay attention to it, and not from the gun.
So if we were to have the ball literally attatched to the gun in hold mode, it might look odd when its shot.
I think its still something we should try, as 1:) it will help show visually that you are in control of the ball, and 2:) I think that it will look better with the gun interacting with the ball.
Well have to see how this works out, so keep checking in, and giving your comments...I'm out.
How about yellow flames materializing around the balll? Could possibly rise straight up if the ball was stopped, or trail after the ball if it was in motion.