Michael Ballack

[Gravy]

The German in my office (the German authority on German footy funnily enough) says that Ballack will be a flop in England. He plays one good gamea year apparently and is like a big girl. One touch and he goes down (he'll fit in at Chelsea then) but doesn't tackle. Very similar to Veron he said and will not make it in England.

 

We can but hope.

[Benitez]

similar to Veron? Don't fink so like!

[Gravy]

similar to Veron? Don't fink so like!

 

In as much as he didn't fit into the English game and deliver what was needed.

[Benitez]

oh right, thought they meant as in style

 

Still, don't reckon thats right though. I reckon he'd be just fine. And if they say he only has 1 good game a year - sounds like they have a bad case of sour grapes or something, cos that really isn't true!

 

Even though I don't see loads of Bundesliga games, I've seen a few recently and seen him play more than one good game, so that suggestion has gotta be wrong

[Ripley]

The German in my office (the German authority on German footy funnily enough) says that Ballack will be a flop in England. He plays one good gamea year apparently and is like a big girl. One touch and he goes down (he'll fit in at Chelsea then) but doesn't tackle. Very similar to Veron he said and will not make it in England.

 

We can but hope.

You need a new authority on German football.

 

Nobody can confidently claim he will be a flop in England. He may have an almost Beckhamesque self-regard, but the last thing he is, is a big girl.

 

He is currently ranked 4th best midfielder in performances this season (close behind the Bremen trio of Micoud, Frings and Borwoski) and has 13 goals from 24 games.

 

He may be a flop here and Chelsea may be getting him a year or so past his best, but only a fool would confidently predict that he WILL fail.

[Gilps]

If he was that good surely he would have led bayern to a CL final by now?

 

Leverkusen having got there in spite of him I suppose?

[wacko]

Leverkusen having got there in spite of him I suppose?

Good point, well made. I really felt for Topmueller at the end of that season. Like us the previous year, Leverkusen completed every fixture, but whereas we won a treble, they lost the CL final, the DFB cup final and they even lost the league to Bayern on the last day of the season. Then all their best players went to Bayern.

[Grimes]

The talk last year was that he was going to Barca, did they change their minds or did he opt for the big dosh at Chelsea?

[SteveT]

The talk last year was that he was going to Barca, did they change their minds or did he opt for the big dosh at Chelsea?

 

The rumour is that it was the dosh - though I don't really know whether he's the kind of player that Rijkaard would want.

Bayern general manager Ulli Hoeness said they offered him 36 million euros over four years, he rejected it and they weren't prepared to go any higher.