Gem Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3432106,00.html Hamburg ace Rafael van der Vaart has alerted Chelsea by saying he would be interested in a move to the club. The Dutch international is hoping to leave Hamburg at the end of the season after seeing a proposed switch to Valencia last summer fall through. Chelsea are thought to be long-term admirers of Van der Vaart and are weighing up a move for the classy playmaker. Van der Vaart is keen to avoid any transfer disappointment this summer and has his heart set on a switch to a top club. "I would like to have everything cleared up early, but we cannot agree in July that I will be staying - that would be unrealistic," Van der Vaart told Sport Bild. "What happens when Chelsea or another top club comes along on August 21 and offers 30 million euros? "I would want to move, even at the very last minute of the transfer window. "Hamburg made me a great offer last year and I turned it down because my aim is to move to a big club where I can improve and win trophies. "My opinion will not change." --- Oooh a nice attacking midfielder with something about him. Please Uncle Roman, splash the cash on this fella!
g3.7 Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 can pass the ball. has flair. I'd love it- he's been great at hamburg (though val says hes slightly injury prone which is a worry), and it would be an extremely positive step towards a more pleasing type of football.
mad_mac Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 All for him coming. Sorry Gem I really think, as much as I don't want it to happen, that we have seen the last of Lampard in the premiership. I do think it will be interesting to see, though, who in the midfield we also see exiting? Next season, our midfield could be: VDV, Ballack, Mikel, Maka, Essien (although i think he might leave) this meaning, Lampard and Sidwell to leave
Maksimov Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Van der Vaart is a great talent, but he does seem a little injury prone. And I'm a little puzzled why he would name us as his possible destination. Unless he knows that Grant won't be the manager next season...
Nibs Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Next season, our midfield could be: VDV, Ballack, Mikel, Maka, Essien (although i think he might leave)this meaning, Lampard and Sidwell to leave I don't think Essien will leave. I think we will be hard pushed to get another season out of Maka. Great though he's been for us, his recent performances have been poor and I think it's time to move on. Also still unsure about Ballack. He had a great mid season and I thought we were finally getting the real deal but he's been back to his strolling best of late. He's just not doing enough.
Maksimov Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Also still unsure about Ballack. He had a great mid season and I thought we were finally getting the real deal but he's been back to his strolling best of late. He's just not doing enough. Maybe he's starting to save himself for Euro 2008...
Essien's Strike Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 people who think ballack strolls about A) dont watch him and B) dont know he runs more than any chelsea player full stop including lamps.
mad_mac Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Maka was give a year long extension to his contract, I think. so he will probably retire with us. Think he might be used to train Mikel
dkw Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 well said essiens strike. he covers more meters per match than any other player. i really wish people would think things through before posting.
Nibs Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 well said essiens strike. he covers more meters per match than any other player. i really wish people would think things through before posting. zzzzzzzzzzzzz Sure he covers a lot of ground. So did Carlton f**king palmer in his heyday. Don't get me wrong, Ballack has been good at times this season. But on quite a few occasions, when you expect a player of his calibre to really step up and show his worth, he's been poor. We can all run about a lot. Big deal. I'm looking for something with a bit more substance than just "covering a lot of ground". Where was he against Wigan??? Strolling.
g3.7 Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 ballack has been consistently one of our best players, if not our best player since his return for injury.
Guest Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 ballack has been consistently one of our best players, if not our best player since his return for injury. Agreed. Ballack has been absolutely massive for us this season (when his played). As for Ballack not being a good player dispite covering the yards, you could maybe say that about someone like a Kezman or Dirk Kyut (sp?), but we are talking about Ballack here!.
bjd Posted April 17, 2008 Posted April 17, 2008 well said essiens strike. he covers more meters per match than any other player. i really wish people would think things through before posting. so youve seen those champions league stats then ? well done. Keith Jones mustve run 80 miles everytime he played for us. Ditto Darren Wood. And Andy Myers. Running around a lot does not mean you are a good player. Ballack is class, but as has been said, when we need him most (ie - right now) he seems to be floating.
dkw Posted April 17, 2008 Posted April 17, 2008 and being a player who has time and space enought to stroll doesnt make him sh*t. gullit was a master of playing the game at his pace. he did ok.
Nibs Posted April 17, 2008 Posted April 17, 2008 You can't compare Ballack to Gullit. Gullit was so economical with the ball - he hardly ever gave it away. I've seen Ballack give the ball away more in one match than Gullit did in an entire season.
dkw Posted April 17, 2008 Posted April 17, 2008 why cant i? they play a very similar game. gullit strolled games too. didnt make him rubbish. just a different style to the up and at em english midfielder.
Guest Posted April 17, 2008 Posted April 17, 2008 You can't compare Ballack to Gullit. Gullit was so economical with the ball - he hardly ever gave it away. I've seen Ballack give the ball away more in one match than Gullit did in an entire season. Are we talking about the same Ballack?
Nibs Posted April 17, 2008 Posted April 17, 2008 You can't compare Ballack to Gullit. Gullit was so economical with the ball - he hardly ever gave it away. I've seen Ballack give the ball away more in one match than Gullit did in an entire season. Are we talking about the same Ballack? YEP. There are times when he gives the ball away far too easily and gives away countless free kicks. Look, I know he's class and he does often show that. I've voted him MOTM on at least 2 or 3 occasions this season and when Lamps was out and Essien & Mikel were away at the ACN, he was brilliant. But of late, he has gone backwards again and his whole body language at times is one of not being over bothered (despite all that running about!!!)
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