Just wanted to mention that i feel he's been amazing since coming back from injury. Last season was a big disappointment but he certainly came back with a vengeance. With so many big players missing i felt Michael and Maka have done immense job in keeping the team together and demonstrated great leadership ability.

That shows that given a little time and with the right approach a player of that caliber can flourish and lead by example. Not to knock Jose but i feel that current regime found a much better use to Ballack's talents.

Hasn't he got himself another calf injury? didn't train with Germany today, although hoping not serious.

It was a calf injury that kept him out for 8 months wasn't it?

they're just both world class players, and would be whatever era they played in.

ballack can do everything you could ask of a central midfielder. I'm a fan.

I also like Lampard.

They can play together.

Cheers,

Butch

Foot/ankle injury wasn't it? Anyway agree that the tank has been really solid in the last month or so. H'es always been class.

i honestly believe we would have dropped at least 6 or 7 points if maka and ballack hadnt been available these last few weeks. hes stepped up and shown us the player he really is.

Completely agree

No doubt that thanks to Ballack and Maka returns in form, we're still in the race

I also think although he has not shine against Portsmouth, he

has almost scored once and created chances, a pretty one missed awfully by SWP

Obviously, he and Maka show actually signs of fatigue due to this long run but reinforcements will come in time ...

Credit to Ballack - he was completely written off by a lot of Chelsea fans 12 months ago, but he has really stepped up when had to.

I have no doubts that Ballack and Lamps can play in the same midfield. My only worry is that I am not sure where that leaves Essien - who in my opinon should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Personally I would like to see how we play with Ballack playing deep behind Lamps and Essien. I think that might get the best out of all three of them.

Ballack is a good enough tackler and reader of the game to play the screening role well. And when he gets the ball in deep positions, he can have a bit more time on the ball to show off his range of passing. Essien plays best when he can roam over the whole field dominating the game - and Lamps is at his best when he can have free reign to join in the attack whenever he wants, rather than having to play as a deeper playmaker.

Our best team for the last few months of the season in my opinion (barring injuries):

....................Cech........................

Belletti.......JT.......Carvalho........Cole

...................Ballack.......................

...........Essien.......Lamps.................

SWP.......................................Cole

...................Drogba......................

Credit to Ballack - he was completely written off by a lot of Chelsea fans 12 months ago, but he has really stepped up when had to.

I have no doubts that Ballack and Lamps can play in the same midfield. My only worry is that I am not sure where that leaves Essien - who in my opinon should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Personally I would like to see how we play with Ballack playing deep behind Lamps and Essien. I think that might get the best out of all three of them.

Ballack is a good enough tackler and reader of the game to play the screening role well. And when he gets the ball in deep positions, he can have a bit more time on the ball to show off his range of passing. Essien plays best when he can roam over the whole field dominating the game - and Lamps is at his best when he can have free reign to join in the attack whenever he wants, rather than having to play as a deeper playmaker.

Our best team for the last few months of the season in my opinion (barring injuries):

....................Cech........................

Belletti.......JT.......Carvalho........Cole

...................Ballack.......................

...........Essien.......Lamps.................

SWP.......................................Cole

...................Drogba......................

I wouldn't want to be leaving Anelka out.

How about:

---------Cech

Belletti---JT-- Riccy----Bridge

--------Ballack

-----Essien------Lamps

--------Joey

------Anelka

----------------Drogba

In my opinion, good managers pick the players to fit a system, rather than finding a system to fit the players.

We have never looked good playing a 4-4-2 diamond. It is a system of scratchy 1-0 wins, the odd 0-0 draw and generally ugly football. Sure, it means that our two good strikers and 4 good central midfielders can all be on the field at the same time, but that doesn't mean that we will actually create chances or score goals.

If you really want Anelka in the team, I would go with:

..................Cech....................

Belletti.....Carv.....JT.............Cole

SWP.......Lamps...Essien......Malouda

..........Anelka.......Drogba............

At least then we would play with a bit of width and a bit of pace - which is what you need to do in the Premiership to win games convincingly.

you know before he came back he said that this year he will win CL with chelsea and Euro with Germany.