Posted October 10, 200717 yr Updated: Oct. 10, 2007Ballack eager to see out career at Chelsea Germany captain Michael Ballack hopes to stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career. Click here Ballack, who joined the London club from Bayern Munich at the start of last season, has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League and is currently sidelined with an ankle injury which has kept him out of action since April. He insists he is happy at Stamford Bridge, though, and wants to remain beyond the duration of his current contract which expires in 2009. 'I feel very happy here and would like to end my career here,' the 31-year-old told German television station ARD. He added in Bild: 'Although I want to end my career at Chelsea, if I am still fit when my contract runs out, why should I not play on for another two years?' Your views on this story? Email newsdesk@soccernet.com Join the discussion on our Message Boards soccernet...
October 10, 200717 yr Does Ballsack have any fans? another 2 years of him strolling round our midfield
October 10, 200717 yr If you look at our creativity in midfield(lack of it) im welcoming Ballack back even though i hated him the whole of last season. Its the same deal with Lampard you dont appreciate him untill hes gone, it was obviously a big difference having him on the pitch wich we saw last game. This mf and frontline would i like to see if Ballacks back --------------Essien------------- ---------Ballack--Lampard----- -J.Cole------------------Malouda ------------Drogba-------------- Maybe its to offensive but offense is the best defense, just look at Barca.
October 11, 200717 yr If you look at our creativity in midfield(lack of it) im welcoming Ballack back even though i hated him the whole of last season.Its the same deal with Lampard you dont appreciate him untill hes gone, it was obviously a big difference having him on the pitch wich we saw last game. This mf and frontline would i like to see if Ballacks back --------------Essien------------- ---------Ballack--Lampard----- -J.Cole------------------Malouda ------------Drogba-------------- Maybe its to offensive but offense is the best defense, just look at Barca. Your still sacrificing a second striker for a third midfielder, so its not THAT offensive. I'd actually say its a pretty good balance.
October 11, 200717 yr Not the biggest Ballack fan, but i feel he can improve on last season. Essien Ballack Lampard for most home games. Maka Essien Lampard for most away games.
October 11, 200717 yr Maka Essien Lampard for most away games. Look too defensive against most sides to me
October 11, 200717 yr Maka Essien Lampard for most away games. Look too defensive against most sides to me What away from home? Don't get too carried away with all this 'total football' bollox
October 11, 200717 yr maka/ essien/ lampard is only needed away to arsenal, away to barcelona, away to man united (these kind of games)... otherwise it leaves too much creative responsibility with lamps.
October 11, 200717 yr Author bring back an eidur in the midfield! essien i wouldn't use in DMC- having makelele really goes to show you that the main characteritics for this position aren't stamina speed or even fitness- they're strength, balance, un-knock-over-able-ness in the tackle... therefore imo only two of ballack/lamps/essien are needed, and that's if you consider mikel as an AMC in training (unless you want to keep the abhorrent 4-3-2-1 we were playing relying on a drogba volley on the turn from 30 yards in the 91st minute every few games... DMC: 1. Maka MC: 1. Lamps 2. Essien 3. Ballack MC2: 1. Joe Cole 2. Mikel 3. Signing (Kaka Van der vaart eidur anyone!)
October 11, 200717 yr If you are to believe the papers Lampard may be leaving (sorry day that would be). In that case, Ballack would be a very valuable asset and I for one would welcome his stated intention to stay and hope he is truthful.
October 12, 200717 yr It would be a lot harder for Lampard to create something away from home when he's in our box defending because Ballacks on the half way line with his hands on his hips. Dont forget we are only talking about the midfield away from home you'd still have Malouda,Cole and Drogba up front to offer creativity. Everybodies talking about 'total football' and 'entertainment', the trophies we have won recently whether we like it or not have been won by the strength of our defence. Forwards win matches but defences win titles. I'm all for entertainment but we need balance.
October 12, 200717 yr ive said before that i think some of ballacks problems stem from playing alongside lampard, and that jose struggled to find a way to play both. similar to the england situation with lamps and stevie me. ballack likes to control the midfield with a worker alongside him and wingers to send behind defences. without that hes almost worthless to the team. especially if he has to do the tidying up work to allow lamps forward.
October 12, 200717 yr ballack likes to control the midfield with a worker alongside him and wingers to send behind defences. without that hes almost worthless to the team. especially if he has to do the tidying up work to allow lamps forward. I've seen him play for us without Lamp's in the side and he's done no such thing. I know what he's supposed to do, he just didn't do it.
October 12, 200717 yr ballack likes to control the midfield with a worker alongside him and wingers to send behind defences. This is the set up he worked with on the German NT with Torsten Frings at his side and Odonker and Neuville working the flanks. I've seen him play for us without Lamp's in the side and he's done no such thing. I know what he's supposed to do, he just didn't do it. How often did this occur? Once or twice or after subs? Not frequently enough to guage how effectively he could manage.
October 12, 200717 yr Can't remember the game, CL group stage after we'd qualified or something like that. Remember saying 'let's have a good look at Ballack without Lamps in the side' and he was pony, if anything he played beter with Lamps next to him. Ballack has alot to prove for me to change my opinion of him, he just doesn't take control of the game.
October 12, 200717 yr yes- one game, away to werder bremen. great at home and away to valencia though- better than lamps or essien in those games- remember them?
October 12, 200717 yr So maybe he should just be played in europe (apart from any games against german teams). Oh that's right, he's not in the squad for europe is he. Well then, what about the domestic cups?
October 12, 200717 yr yes- one game, away to werder bremen. great at home and away to valencia though- better than lamps or essien in those games- remember them? I remember the games, Ballack didn't stand out above anyone else IMO, like I say he has alot to prove to me, I haven't seen him perform head and shoulders above anyone else while in a blue shirt
October 12, 200717 yr he wasn't great last season, but he wasn't terrible either. he's a bit of a scapegoat for all our troubles, unfortunately. even when he isn't actually playing.
