Chelsea and Ballack

Bakedgoods

Bakedgoods

Bakedgoods

Capodecina
Permabanned
Joined
31 Dec 2003
Posts
5,172
Location
Barrow-In-Furness
As most followers of football will know, it's looking like he'll be coming to Stamford Bridge this summer. He'll be playing pretty much alongside Lampard, together as a 'dream pair' in the words of Mourinho.

I'm trying to work out which players will possibly be released though, if any? The introduction of Ballack will leave even more first-team capable midfielders open for selection. Even though the Gaffa does make a lot of substitutions I can't see all of the players welcoming a seat on the bench. I mean, look at the below list of players that will be available for the midfield.

Roben
Duff
Makalele
Lampard
Ballack
Essien
Maniche
Geremi
SWP
Cole

What's everyone else think about all this? Will the players function well together? (If you've only got Chelsea bashing comments leave it out for a change)
 
I think it's safe to assume that Lampard, Makalele, Ballack, Essien and Cole are going to provide the bones of the midfield. I can realistically see probably any two of the others moving on, and I'd be willing to bet that at least one of Robben and Duff won't be there come August.

SWP moving somewhere on loan is a decent possibility, too, I reckon. It probably depends what kind of World Cup he has, actually.
 
We are spoilt for choice of that there is No doubt. :D
Personally i am looking more at the other teams and thinking more about them. I want a good battle from day one next year.

I do think SWP's should be sold. I feel he is wasted at Chelsea and should be contributing to another team in the premiership as we don't need him. Sry SWP. ;)
There is not one other player i want to sell. I want to touch them all. :p
 
I can imagine a number of teams being interested in robben/SWP. It'd be sad to see Duff leave, I think he's a great player.

As a fan though, it's going to be quite interesting to see what happens. Practically all of the players in that midfield are worthy of playing for a 'top' club.
 
Maniche is on loan till the end of the season remember. i don't see him signing on permanently for a reported £5m or whatever it was.

out of the list i think Maniche/Duff/SWP and perhaps Robben will leave. Geremi won't leave I think, as he can play RB too. which reminds me, what about Glen Johnson? i reckon he'll deffo be leaving.
 
Maniche is on loan so I expect him to clear off, Robben is likely to leave too (Spurs?) & there are some rumours about SWP joining Arsenal in a swap for A. Cole. Geremi might stick around as he's been doing a great job as cover at RB now & then.
J. Cole, Lamps, Essien & Maka are going nowhere, not sure about Duff though.
Eidur might want to go elsewhere too, he's played in CM a bit this yeat too.
That would leave us with about 5-6 midfielders, that's not that many really:)

Edit: There's that young Diarra too don't forget, he looks promising:)
 
Last edited:
Can't see:

Maniche, Robben, Carvalho, Johnson, Duff, Crespo, Wright-Phillips, Bridge or Gudjohnsen there next season. I wouldn't be surprised if Cole went too.

If I were manager I'd get rid of Essien too.
 
NokkonWud said:
Can't see:

Maniche, Robben, Carvalho, Johnson, Duff, Crespo, Wright-Phillips, Bridge or Gudjohnsen there next season. I wouldn't be surprised if Cole went too.

If I were manager I'd get rid of Essien too.
Click to expand...

out of that list.

Maniche
Carvalho
Johnson
Duff
Crespo
Bridge

will go... doubt the rest will.. and cole will deffo not go imo
 
Cole plays 10 great games, no praise from Mourinho, 1 bad game and Mourinho is all over him, you could see from Cole's reaction when dragged off against Fulham (despite starting stronger than any other Chelsea player), I don't think Joe Cole is 100% content at Chelsea.
 
Cole won't be going anywhere & he's a much better player now than he was 18 months ago. A few quotes:

Mourinho said Cole was ‘untouchable’ and added: ‘I think Cole is playing magnificently in every game and he is perhaps our best attacking player at this time. When I came here nobody knew Joe Cole’s best position - not even him! We only knew that he was a creative player.’

‘I have been a regular in the Chelsea side for the last 12 months or so and shown my worth to the team. Yet football is a fickle game and I know things can change quickly. People want to see you do the business every week.

Cole said: ‘Last season was a cracking one for Chelsea Football Club, but we want this one to be even better. It's great for me to be part of such a success story and to be playing for a fantastic club like Chelsea.’”

:)
 
Ballack's imminent arrival at Chelsea will be tough on their existing midfield unit, even without him there has to have been dis-satisfaction with regular first team action for most of the midfield but understandably so given the choice Mourinho already has.
In my opinion, players heading to other teams could be from the choice of Duff, SWP, Geremi and Maniche....Having seen a lot of substitute appearances from these players and not really a lot of input compared to Lampard, Makalele and Cole and what you can expect from Mr Ballack.
 
Agree about Cole, cant see him moving atm. Robben is one I'd add to the maybe list. Arrogant *** by some accounts and jose doesnt like players like that. Good job he didnt move for Rio then.
 
Nedved11 said:
Galas would make an ideal move to Milan, they are very interested.
Click to expand...
More than very....;)
With their latest big cash injection from a new shirt sponser, who knows...;)

I think Chelsea first team midfield will almost certainly change if they get a world class striker. And that'd be the difference in who'd they'd sell or not.
If they were to get a striker that can score, rarther than relying on the midfield, i wouldnt be suprised to see the midfield setup like:

Essian or Makalele as defensive midfielder.
Then Lampard/Ballack/Cole in front.
With someone like Adriano up front instead of Drogba, that'd work.
Or, the above, but with Essian & Makalele, with 1 striker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom