http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=367854&CPID=22&clid=&lid=3&title=Ballack+on+way+to+Blues+-+Agent
Just in on the Sky Sports website.

What a stupid move for someone aged 29 - especially to a club that is overrun with a lot of midfield players fighting for a place.

Discuss.

Best team in the country at the moment and will probably pay him most. Someone like Ballack doesn't strike me as a footballer for footballing love..more the love of money, so it's a bit of a no brainer for someone like him.

I'm thinking it is the money as well, but I cant see how this is a good thing for chelsea unless they are going to unload some of their midfielders?

At the minute they have Maniche, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Cole, Duff, Geremi, Robben AND SWP

Frank Lampard, Essien, Makelele and Cole wont settle for 2nd choice to Ballack who demands a first team spot every game.

In attack as well - if chelsea want to play him there- which would baffle me if its true.. they have Drogba, Crespo, Carlton Cole, and Gudjohnsen

Drogba and Crespo wont settle for rotating and I'm sure Eidur wouldnt want to as well.

Unless he wants to sit on the bench then- very doubtul though.

I'm thinking it is the money as well, but I cant see how this is a good thing for chelsea unless they are going to unload some of their midfielders?

At the minute they have Maniche, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Cole, Duff, Geremi, Robben AND SWP

Frank Lampard, Essien, Makelele and Cole wont settle for 2nd choice to Ballack who demands a first team spot every game.

In attack as well - if chelsea want to play him there- which would baffle me if its true.. they have Drogba, Crespo, Carlton Cole, and Gudjohnsen

Drogba and Crespo wont settle for rotating and I'm sure Eidur wouldnt want to as well.

Unless he wants to sit on the bench then- very doubtul though.

Oh angelus, Drogba and Crespo rotate already, duh.

Gudjohnsen is a midfielder, duh.

Hmm, Ballack or Carlton Cole, duh

I also doubt if Maniche / Geremi will be at the bridge next year.

So if either Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Crespo, Drogba gets injured we look a bit thin on the ground, in midfield and attack.

I don't think that Duff's, Cole's, SWP's or Robben's place will be under threat from Ballack.

He hasn't signed for us yet, it would not suprise me if Ballacks agent was using us as a negotiating tool for contract talks with another club.

Oh angelus, Drogba and Crespo rotate already, duh.
Gudjohnsen is a midfielder, duh.
Hmm, Ballack or Carlton Cole, duh
I also doubt if Maniche / Geremi will be at the bridge next year.

So if either Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Crespo, Drogba gets injured we look a bit thin on the ground, in midfield and attack.

I don't think that Duff's, Cole's, SWP's or Robben's place will be under threat from Ballack.

He hasn't signed for us yet, it would not suprise me if Ballacks agent was using us as a negotiating tool for contract talks with another club.

Drogba and Crespo- both of them wont give way to Ballack because both of them want first team football doh!

Gudjohnsen- yep Mourinho does play him deep midfield- but he is better up front doh!

Ballack/Cole - nuff said .. I think I'd take Ballack :)

It will be very interesting indeed to see what happens!

Going slightly off the track, I heard a rumour that Terry was going to Everton at the end of the season. Maybe Mourihnio is going to do a bit of spring cleaning.

Gudjohnson has been playing better in the deep role than he did in his natural position as a striker.

Crespo is likely to be off and Drogba can be a bit of a donkey, so the rotation argument is hollow.

Chelsea are likely to shed some midfielders, probably Maniche and Geremi, so Ballack would fit nicely into the equation.

It's interesting that while Chelsea seem to be getting better and better, some of their rivals, particularly Arsenal and Man Utd, are getting worse and worse. There haven't been many noises about potential midfield replacements for Keane and Viera so far, or replacements for Pires and Giggs....

I'm thinking it is the money as well, but I cant see how this is a good thing for chelsea unless they are going to unload some of their midfielders?

At the minute they have Maniche, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Cole, Duff, Geremi, Robben AND SWP

Frank Lampard, Essien, Makelele and Cole wont settle for 2nd choice to Ballack who demands a first team spot every game.

In attack as well - if chelsea want to play him there- which would baffle me if its true.. they have Drogba, Crespo, Carlton Cole, and Gudjohnsen

Drogba and Crespo wont settle for rotating and I'm sure Eidur wouldnt want to as well.

Unless he wants to sit on the bench then- very doubtul though.


duff robben and swp are all wingers so no problems there. maniche and geremi like people have said will be leaving most likely in the summer

but it has been reported llike you say he may go up front..... well cole is never gonna make it with chelsea, crespo will be leaving, and drogba aint that good (has a lot of strength though)

i think it is looks good for chelsea to be buying him

It's interesting that while Chelsea seem to be getting better and better, some of their rivals, particularly Arsenal and Man Utd, are getting worse and worse. There haven't been many noises about potential midfield replacements for Keane and Viera so far, or replacements for Pires and Giggs....

Perhaps it's because anytime they appear to be in the market for someone decent (eg Man Utd for Ballack) then Chelsea come up with a higher bid, whether or not they really need the player.

Perhaps it's because anytime they appear to be in the market for someone decent (eg Man Utd for Ballack) then Chelsea come up with a higher bid, whether or not they really need the player.

Nonsense. Chelsea can't buy everyone, and don't have that policy anyway.

Theo Walcott spurned Chelsea's advances despite being offered more money and higher transfer fee.

This is a splendid piece of mischief making nonsense

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,283-2067386,00.html

:D

£121k per week & the opportunity to give Chelsea & mirror image of Frank Lampard but on the other wing.the press were highlighting the technical weaknesses of the others who were either too defensive or too offensive or not aggresive enough or capable of scoring from midfield.
Ballack has a decent scoring record & apparently a close resemblance to the best midfield palyer in Chelsea,, Frank Jnr.

This is a splendid piece of mischief making nonsense

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,283-2067386,00.html

:D

Interesting find that Cath- nice one :)

Well it almost looks a done deal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4781902.stm

so no-one else can sign him ?

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=367854&CPID=22&clid=&lid=3&title=Ballack+on+way+to+Blues+-+Agent
Just in on the Sky Sports website.

What a stupid move for someone aged 29 - especially to a club that is overrun with a lot of midfield players fighting for a place.

Discuss.

Angelus, what's happened mate?

I seem to remember that you'd been told by your sources at MU that both Ballack and Owen would be joining you? Post here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=537867&postcount=53)

On Balllack, the speculation about Lampard to Barca just wont go away, perhaps it is more likely than appears? Sell Lamps for £20-25MGBP and get Ballack for nothing....

liencam, i dont think you understdand do you mate??

owen and ballack are going to man utd in the summer, angelus said it so it must be true

liencam, i dont think you understdand do you mate??

owen and ballack are going to man utd in the summer, angelus said it so it must be true


Oh right...I should have realised he meant this summer, and not last, as he originally indicated....

:D

I can't imagine Owen going to Man Utd when he's a boyhood Evertonian and played for Liverpool. Still, Rooney jumped ship.....

I don't see Lampard going to Barca, I think the press are making too much of the fact he's learning Spanish (isn't his girlfriend/wife Spanish?).

i cant understand why he put "it would be nice to see him at pool dont get me wrong"

why would it?

Man Utd don't really need any more strikers. They quite obviously need some top midfielders (ie a left winger, midfield general and a creative attacking player), so it seems baffling to think they would move for Owen.

Man Utd don't really need any more strikers. They quite obviously need some top midfielders (ie a left winger, midfield general and a creative attacking player), so it seems baffling to think they would move for Owen.

Gyp - check the date on the Angelus post I linked to, I was just questioning his statement that both players would join Man U - Owen last summer, Ballack this.

:thumbsup:

Gyp - check the date on the Angelus post I linked to, I was just questioning his statement that both players would join Man U - Owen last summer, Ballack this.

:thumbsup:

Ahhh I see. Wrong on both counts then. It looks like Ballack to Chelsea is a done deal.