Michael Ballack

[Tomo 21,751]

Was having a think about this the other day and i actually want this to happen now, i think for a year this could be genius.

One year deal, adds some beef to the double pivot, replace Drogba as the ultimate big game player.

Terry, Cech, Lampard and Drogba have finally got their hands on the Champions League, the trophy however still eludes Ballack. This trophy has eluded him, we as a club may have got our revenge for Moscow and Barca but Ballack aint.

We are looking to be the first team to retain the European Cup since it became the Champions League, Ballack comes back for one last shot at the trophy that has eluded him all his career, it's written in the stars, is it not?

[warnie_666 1,081]

Was having a think about this the other day and i actually want this to happen now, i think for a year this could be genius.

One year deal, adds some beef to the double pivot, replace Drogba as the ultimate big game player.

Terry, Cech, Lampard and Drogba have finally got their hands on the Champions League, the trophy however still eludes Ballack. This trophy has eluded him, we as a club may have got our revenge for Moscow and Barca but Ballack aint.

We are looking to be the first team to retain the European Cup since it became the Champions League, Ballack comes back for one last shot at the trophy that has eluded him all his career, it's written in the stars, is it not?

There are iditos out there that wouldnt want Ballack because he is jinxed. All his teams have ended runners up be it club or country. But Ballack is BOSS!!

[Rambo 1,729]

Can't see this happening at all.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Was having a think about this the other day and i actually want this to happen now, i think for a year this could be genius.

One year deal, adds some beef to the double pivot, replace Drogba as the ultimate big game player.

Terry, Cech, Lampard and Drogba have finally got their hands on the Champions League, the trophy however still eludes Ballack. This trophy has eluded him, we as a club may have got our revenge for Moscow and Barca but Ballack aint.

We are looking to be the first team to retain the European Cup since it became the Champions League, Ballack comes back for one last shot at the trophy that has eluded him all his career, it's written in the stars, is it not?

He hardly became a big game player when he was with us in the first place. What makes you think a nearly 36 year old injury prone has-been is magically going to become one?

And I'm sorry, signing him back just because the CL trophy has eluded him is not really a good excuse based on rational thinking, but sappy sentiment.

Its clear that months after he has been released by Bayer that all clubs relies he has little to offer, is near retirement too injury prone, and is asking too much in wages for what he has to offer. Its good thing he club is not considering this.

[Badboy 1,526]

Ballack was a player I really didn't like when he played for us. He was stagnant in midfield and we constantly got overrun when he was in the midfield, he'd be a disaster if we resigned him.

[Madmax 9,219]

^ That's pretty strange because I seem to remember his performances in the holding role in the second part of the Double winning season under Carlo were a huge part of our recovery and subsequent victorious climax.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

^ That's pretty strange because I seem to remember his performances in the holding role in the second part of the Double winning season under Carlo were a huge part of our recovery and subsequent victorious climax.

True, even under Grant, he came back from injury with a little more than two months to the end of the season and he was the main reason we managed to claw back something like an 11 point gap with utd to only goal difference with two games to go.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

^ That's pretty strange because I seem to remember his performances in the holding role in the second part of the Double winning season under Carlo were a huge part of our recovery and subsequent victorious climax.

We didn't have a holding midfielder for the last month or two (at least when Mikel was injured for the last month), we played a flat midfield trio of Malouda, Ballack and Lampard, where they all had to advance up the field together. When we did play with a holding midfield it was always with Mikel.

[Funkyflashman 187]

Was always one of my fav players but don't think he'd be such a great move considering the new direction we're going in. Wouldn't be a particularly clever move on the board's part to have this vison for a new style of football, clean house with Essien and Meireles and then bring in Ballack? No point IMO.

Much rather see him back for his coaching badges, maybe Sheva too...

[Madmax 9,219]

We didn't have a holding midfielder for the last month or two (at least when Mikel was injured for the last month), we played a flat midfield trio of Malouda, Ballack and Lampard, where they all had to advance up the field together. When we did play with a holding midfield it was always with Mikel.

There's a distinction between the position and the role/mentality though. The bit about Malouda, Lampard and Ballack advancing together is wide of the mark. If there's one thing we learned about Ancelotti in that season, it was that he preferred structure at the back and individual brilliance up front, always keeping the base similar but varying the front 6 throughout the season in terms of positions, roles and freedoms. Starting out with the diamond, then the Mourinho Chelsea 4-3-3 around the time it started going wrong (December - Jan) and ultimately the 4-3-2-1 that saw those 7 goal scorelines. Bally didn't play much a lot till the Inter defeat but after that Mikel was marginalised by Carlo and Ballack shined in his absence. Obviously nowhere close to the rigid 'water-carrier' role Mikel has had here through the years but certainly the most defensive out of the other midfield operators alongside him in Lampard and Malouda/Deco.

[Spike 12,049]

Was always one of my fav players but don't think he'd be such a great move considering the new direction we're going in. Wouldn't be a particularly clever move on the board's part to have this vison for a new style of football, clean house with Essien and Meireles and then bring in Ballack? No point IMO.

Much rather see him back for his coaching badges, maybe Sheva too...

Shevchenko has started a career in politics.

[Porthos 35]

Ballack is in talks to join the new West Sydney A-League team

[Spike 12,049]

I would love to meet him.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

West Sydney? I may run into him

[johnske64 14]

West Sydney? I may run into him

You run? Not with that gut you won't.