CHOULO19 24,332 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 ^ 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubber bullets 1,183 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 ^ 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkyflashman 187 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmax 9,219 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 12,049 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porthos 35 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Ballack is in talks to join the new West Sydney A-League team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 12,049 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I would love to meet him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 West Sydney? I may run into him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnske64 14 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 West Sydney? I may run into him You run? Not with that gut you won't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nachikethas 1,154 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 well we should give atleast an appriciation letter to him for the fact that he predicted our CL victory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOULO19 24,332 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I would love kill to meet him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 12,049 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Why would you do this?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOULO19 24,332 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Why would you do this?! I'd do it if I have to. Let's say his team have a signing session and you decide to go. I would, without hesitation kill you and impersonate you in order to meet Michael... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 12,049 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I'd do it if I have to. Let's say his team have a signing session and you decide to go. I would, without hesitation kill you and impersonate you in order to meet Michael...I'm behind seven proxies, do your worst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo talks Blue 85 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Well yeah, we DO need him. He left early. Losing a great player like him wasn't a good experience for the club. But only if RDM signs him or shows some interests at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porthos 35 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Sounds like he is indeed coming to Sydneyhttp://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/deal-to-bring-former-germany-captain-michael-ballack-to-western-sydney-wanderers-reportedly-imminent/story-e6frf4gl-1226478417827 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiclasCFC 2,582 Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 xPetrCechx, azinopik and nachikethas 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase 43,479 Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 Tom Adams @tomEurosport Michael Ballack announces his retirement from professional football at the age of 36. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero 1,874 Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 : ( Fuck Löw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ankit 3,176 Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 Thank you Michael Ballack. This is all i can think of to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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