Id actually forgotten he was our player.

[web]http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2706549,00.html[/web]

Probably many that would disagree with me but I think it is a real shame. We could have done with Ballack filling in for Frank yesterday. I think he would have done a far better job in that role then any of our other central options.

I won't disagree, darn good assesment old boy.

This is definately a major loss. I would have been interested with Frank out to see how Ballack could run things in central midfield. Now we're missing both and that can't be good. Some people can look on the bright side at least, you can see Essien playing in the center now

Am I the only one who finds this vaguely suspicious? His injury is listed as an "ankle sprain" in the official site and it's never been until now reported as that. 5/6 months recovery for this? It had been variously reported as a bone fragment and possible resulting nerve damage. What possible other motive besides player health could have being kept from the squad?

I, for one, would really like to see how would he do, if given the opportunity to play few games while Lampard is out.

Last I heard was there were complications after the surgery - it hadn't healed properly. Remember how he flew back to Germany because he didn't think he was getting the right treatment at the club. Looks like the surgery he had over there might have put back his recovery by several months.

Our injury situation is becoming a joke:

JT - injured (still not fully fit)

RC - still out

Bridge - out for months

Lamps - out for weeks

Essien - still not fully fit after missing a few games already

Drogs - injured all season, now another problem

Ballack - out for months

Sheva - who knows. Never fully fit since he got here

Malouda - couldn't train last week and played as if he was nowhere near fit

Pizarro - doesn't look fully fit

Joe Cole - only now recovered after a year of injuries

Sinclair - just recovered after Wes Brown brok his foot

Who've I missed? Well, it looked yesterday like Cashley has had his right leg amputated.

I've heard Robben is injury-free now he's left, though. Didn't Madrid also offer gazillions for Ballack the other week?

I think you'll find Ballack has had two ops since he return to Germany for treatment before the end of last season. Obviously something is wrong and if the rumours of nerve damage are true (I not sure where the referred pain point is, at a guess I would say lower back) it could well be a long time before we see him again in a blue shirt.

I'm suspicious of the club's offical line of saying he 'wouldn't be fit for most of the qualification games' meaning surely that he is likely to be fit for some of them so why not name him in the squad?

Far be it for me to be sceptical but could we be trying to ensure he's not cup tied during the January transfer window and hopefully injury free by then? That'll be the press angle for sure and no doubt Ronnie will be linked with coming the other way even though he would almost certainly be cup tied himself.

well after than january window you can change your european squad... seems odd though to not stick him in anyway.

well after than january window you can change your european squad... seems odd though to not stick him in anyway.

and who should be dropped?

seems odd to not stick him in the european squad anyway- no-one needs to be removed.

Is there a possibility that Ballack wasn't included in the CL squad so he wouldn't be cup tied come January transfer window?

seems odd to not stick him in the european squad anyway- no-one needs to be removed.

you mean he should be on the B list?

no- you could put jt on the homegrown list and move him there for example.

there was enough space to have him on.

Regarding Ballack not being in the squad so he won?t be cup tied, according to this article in The Guardian you are cup tied only if you play:

The other suggestion is, of course, that Chelsea are trying to push him out in January. That could well be the case but again, there was no need to shoot themselves in the foot at the same time. Inclusion in the squad list alone does not make you cup-tied, only playing in the competition does.

Full Article

Leaving out Ballack just doesn't add up

Regarding Ballack not being in the squad so he won?t be cup tied, according to this article in The Guardian you are cup tied only if you play:

That is true - it is why Cashley was allowed to play in the CL for us last season from the start as he appeared on the bench for Arsenal in the qualifiers but didn't get on the pitch.

the ballack diaries return.

[web]http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8751_2708186,00.html[/web]

The Guardian's take on the Ballack omission:

[web]http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/09/05/leaving_out_ballack_just_doesn.html[/web]

no- you could put jt on the homegrown list and move him there for example.

there was enough space to have him on.

JT is on the homegrown list. and he's the only one, that's why we have only 23 players instead of 25. so no, no place for ballack until someone is dropped.

Other theory would be that ballack is on his way off. I could see him leave Chelsea in winter, maybe to Madrid who were already after him in summer. Its really a strange thing.

[web]http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0,,10268~1107108,00.html[/web]

I think this is about Jose taking a stance and sticking a rocket up him. Think about it. Ballack has had his behind kissed for the last 5 years in Germany, waltzes in here, thinks he can sit on that behind that is so preciously kissed because everyone has told him he is so good. No, he doesn't have to work hard, he is Michael Ballack. Reality check. Chelsea and the EPL is not a small pond, and there are plenty of big fish. Sure Ballack has class, just needs to work a bit harder. Should be sent back to the reserves when he is fit.

I think this is about Jose taking a stance and sticking a rocket up him. Think about it. Ballack has had his behind kissed for the last 5 years in Germany, waltzes in here, thinks he can sit on that behind that is so preciously kissed because everyone has told him he is so good. No, he doesn't have to work hard, he is Michael Ballack. Reality check. Chelsea and the EPL is not a small pond, and there are plenty of big fish. Sure Ballack has class, just needs to work a bit harder. Should be sent back to the reserves when he is fit.

Hang on a sec, your jumping to a very large conclusion here. Do you have anything to back this up or is it completely "gut feel".

i saw somewhere that kenyon had said he wont be fit till the last group game, therefore it would be daft to include him over a fit player. it may be as simple as that. but obviously thats not a very good story.