Official: Ballack and Joe Cole released!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Seems the news hasn't gone down well with Ballack http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6198425,00.html

[Kostas 1,468]

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Ungrateful cunt.Hope no one will boo him if he'll play against us.

[CFC58 22]

Can't say I agree with letting JC go and join one of our rivals for the top spot. I would like him to join up with mourinho at Real Madrid if anything, would hurt to much seeing him play against Chelsea in England. Thanks for all the great years JC, I loved yah!

[Ollie 4,400]

Actually come to think of it, i'm actually quite happy. Ballack is getting old and i dont think he was very good last season and is on a hell of a wage so him going was quite an obvious one. Joe Cole, well i don't think it's about money because he's either going to Arsenal or Tottenham and there's no way they will give him 100,000 a week but if it is money, he's obviously going to city or maybe even madrid if he has a blinding world cup. We used him very poorly last season and i really can't blame him for leaving, i mean even the hopeless Kalou was in the team ahead of him.....

We had the best years out of Joe Cole and tbh he hasn't been great when he's played in the last 2 years or so and hopefully now it's Gael Kakuta's chance, if he is the new number 10 (that article said nothing about that) and plays a lot, he'll be one of the best players in the world in 2 years, i have no doubts about his ability. He has everything a winger could wish for. Pace, skill, goal scoring ability, i can't wait to see him back in a Chelsea shirt. And don't forget Yuri Zhirkov, he's a fantastic player and showed it when Ashley cole got injured, especially against Aston Villa at home. Altho that was at left back, he's a left midfielder by trade and given the chance, he could be brilliant for us there.

And btw what's so bad about benayoun? i think he's good lol, would fit into our team perfectly. He's premiership proven, has great skill and technique and he scores lots of goals when he plays. Ok he's 30 so only has maybe 3 good years left at a push but he's extremely fit and given a chance alongside Lampard and Essien, he'll shine and become a bit of a fans favourite in a year, trust me

This news wont make us worse, it'll make us significantly better

Edited June 9, 2010 by OllieCFC

[Rambo 1,729]

Actually come to think of it, i'm actually quite happy. Ballack is getting old and i dont think he was very good last season and is on a hell of a wage so him going was quite an obvious one. Joe Cole, well i don't think it's about money because he's either going to Arsenal or Tottenham and there's no way they will give him 100,000 a week but if it is money, he's obviously going to city or maybe even madrid if he has a blinding world cup. We used him very poorly last season and i really can't blame him for leaving, i mean even the hopeless Kalou was in the team ahead of him.....

We had the best years out of Joe Cole and tbh he hasn't been great when he's played in the last 2 years or so and hopefully now it's Gael Kakuta's chance, if he is the new number 10 (that article said nothing about that) and plays a lot, he'll be one of the best players in the world in 2 years, i have no doubts about his ability. He has everything a winger could wish for. Pace, skill, goal scoring ability, i can't wait to see him back in a Chelsea shirt. And don't forget Yuri Zhirkov, he's a fantastic player and showed it when Ashley cole got injured, especially against Aston Villa at home. Altho that was at left back, he's a left midfielder by trade and given the chance, he could be brilliant for us there.

And btw what's so bad about benayoun? i think he's good lol, would fit into our team perfectly. He's premiership proven, has great skill and technique and he scores lots of goals when he plays. Ok he's 30 so only has maybe 3 good years left at a push but he's extremely fit and given a chance alongside Lampard and Essien, he'll shine and become a bit of a fans favourite in a year, trust me

This news wont make us worse, it'll make us significantly better

Well said, people are forgetting we already have the players ready to fill in those spots. Zhirkov deserves more minutes and Kakuta/Stoch can break through next year.

[Laylabelle 9,535]

Rather him go Spurs then Arsenal/Scum..espically Man U!! He'd transform into a diff player no doubt

Sad day...start pickign his name off my shirt lol

[5354 204]

I highly feel Deco will be the next

[BlueLion. 21,491]

If Deco, Carvalho and Ferreira also go, the average age of the squad will have gone down to about 26, and that will decrease even further should youngsters come in.

[Term-X 7,891]

"Abramovich has invested millions over the years and, while of course winning the league and the cup is a success, he has the aim of winning the Champions League and he has not done that so he is revolutionising his team."They have aged a bit and I can understand that they want a younger team. It's just a shame that that affects Ballack."

^ Ballack's agent.

[Shane 2,275]

Matic > Ballack

[Manuf 1,448]

Matic > Ballack

I understand you might not like Ballack, but just be serious. You haven't seen much from Matic on top level and we don't know how he'll deal with pressure if everyone calls him better than for example Ballack. He can turn out to be flop or big player, wait to see more from him and than say statements like the one above.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Manuf

[Champion 0]

Sad Joe is going, he is a good player but I agree that his wage is way to high.

[Henrique 9,133]

now Chelsea deserves a real number 10.

[True_Blue 469]

I am sad to see Joe leave he has done a great job for us and i enjoyed his 7 years with us.I wish him all the best in his future to show that he is truly a great player,and i wish him a magic World Cup.

Ballack can fuck right off,he is shit and him leaving is the best thing Chelsea has done in ages.

[Ray. 217]

It's a sad day for Chelsea and an definitely an end of an era. I have been lucky enough to have watched Joe Cole and Michael Ballack in action over the last year. It's unfortunate that they're leaving, I have witnessed on so many occasions the respecct they have commanded on the pitch and know that they will be missed by their team mates and us the fans.

Would like to wish them the best of luck for the future.

[Shane 2,275]

I understand you might not like Ballack, but just be serious. You haven't seen much from Matic on top level and we don't know how he'll deal with pressure if everyone calls him better than for example Ballack. He can turn out to be flop or big player, wait to see more from him and than say statements like the one above.

I've seen him for the reserves and I think he has the makings to be a better player than Ballack, and I also feel Ballack being there was hindering his progress.

It's a sad day for Chelsea and an definitely an end of an era. I have been lucky enough to have watched Joe Cole and Michael Ballack in action over the last year. It's unfortunate that they're leaving, I have witnessed on so many occasions the respecct they have commanded on the pitch and know that they will be missed by their team mates and us the fans.

Would like to wish them the best of luck for the future.

Ffs, With the way you were making out that first part you'd swear they died! Players come and go mate, Its not a sad day for Chelsea, Joe Cole was looking for too much and Ballack is past it, They were both squad players, nothing else in this day and age. I respect both of them for what they have contributed to the club I love for the last few years, Mostly Joey because he was a magician, But players move on, I've seen better players leave the club and I'm sure you will too. Maybe this summer.

Also, You could call any player leaving an 'end of an era', But I feel that losing Joey and Ballack are the changes the club needs. Losing our old and hopefully giving players like Stoch, Matic and Kakuta a chance now.

[diskoviolente 425]

He was the third longest serving player for us. That really is something like an end of an era. But there is a new era to come !

Good luck Joey, whereever you´ll go, i don´t have anything against you, but please, turn United down

[HRiver 1,512]

I'm sad to see them both go but tbh I think that it was time for them to leave the club, and as many of you already stated it means more space for the youth.

They are both great players which we will never forget. I'm glad that Ballack won the league finally after 4 years, his mission with Chelsea was done.

Joey - will never forget his two goals against Spurs in the 4-4 drama.

Ballack - his two goals against Manure back in April of 2008.

Maybe I was being too harsh in the "Would you boo Joe Cole" topic but I was very disappointed at the minute considering the fact that he will join Spurs/Arsenal/Man Utd. I don't think I would boo him, seriously, but still I'm very disappointed.

I'll still like him as a player though.

Ballack - where will he go?

Edited June 10, 2010 by blackjack

[Joe Cool 388]

To me, this is pretty good news, despite all they have done for the club these last few years, it's not as if they have been spectacular the last season or so. They can be replaced, allowing more room for youth players (Kakuta), allowing the average age for the squad to go down.

But I've seen some crap like that twat Henrique posting: "Now Chelsea deserves a real number 10." And Joe Cole wasn't? Fuck off because you clearly have no idea what you're talking about.

At the end of the day, these will be beneficial to us, and hopefully we can start bringing youth into the squad this upcoming season.

Edited June 10, 2010 by Joe Cool