Like Carlo still drunk or high from winning the double...looking to re-sign Ballack instead of resigning him. Shakin' my f**kin' head. I thought the goal now would be to be seriously vying for the CL.....keeping dead weight like this washed-up has been is not going to get it done. Clearly they not paying attention to what Barca is doing.
Washed up?!! For a fella who could talk about Obi's qualities that others cannot see in a blues uniform, I find it ironic how much you dislike Ballack who suffers the same fate (being unable to play his natural position). Think objectively and not emotionally and you'll realize that the team often has played much better with Ballack on the field than off it. We don't know what goes on behind close doors so its very possible that Ballack offers intangables that managers appreciate and the public cannot grasp. I think if you gave fans who have never seen either internationally the option to pick one or the other more would pick Ballack than Obi (despite the age difference). Say what you want about Ballack but the coaches love him and there has to be a reason for this. Only one who took issue with him was Gene Hackman who if he had his way would have sold Drobga as part of his garage sale. Ancellotti apears to be trying to preserve his core 1st XI as he adds pieces and build on it. So maybe Ballack is one of those players that he believes is key to executing his vision on the pitch. If nothing else the manager has bought himself some credit with the results he achieved this season, so give it a chance before criticizing it.
Brother, I can truly say what I say about John Obi Mikel without hesitation or equivocation because I have seen him play for Nigeria. With my own two eyes. I know what he is capable of and it is far more than what we see him do for Chelsea. I don't mind if nobody else (on this forum) sees it. It's quite possible that nobody else saw him play his natural position either. Talk to any Nigerian that follows their national team and they will tell you that Chelsea are not using him correctly. Also, he's ten years younger than Ballack. I like that figure.
Ballack, for what fleeting moments he has done something good in a Chelsea uniform, (not unlike Deco) has never lived up to the bare minimum of expectations applicable to him and his stature since he has come to Chelsea. His best game this season was against one of them bottom-feeder teams that gave him all the room to walk around like Caesar on the pitch. In the fast pace of the EPL and demanding CL schedule, we need more than the occasional defense-splitting cross ball and fouls and constant contention with the referees. He has looked nothing close to what he was in his last season at Bayern. So if you and the majority of Chelsea fans would want to take Ballack over JOM at this point in their careers I could only be thankful to God allyuh ain't part of the whole Chelsea decision-making process oui! A rash act is always regretted.
Like Carlo still drunk or high from winning the double...looking to re-sign Ballack instead of resigning him. Shakin' my f**kin' head. I thought the goal now would be to be seriously vying for the CL.....keeping dead weight like this washed-up has been is not going to get it done. Clearly they not paying attention to what Barca is doing.
He's still very technically gifted, and I imagine he brings alot of leadership qualities as well being a nat'l team skipper & icon. I agree he's not the Ballack of Leverkusen, WC 2002 or Euro 2004...but that was a long time ago so it's no surprise that what we're seeing today is a far cry from what made him the reputable player that he is. I too have seen him play some games and shake my head at how poor he was but I also don't imagine that his kind of experience and leadership is easily replaceable.
Kicker,....I don't disagree with what he brings........it's what he doesn't bring that
hurts Chelsea more than what he brings helps them...Chelsea don't need leadership. They have enough of that in Terry, Lapard and Essien (by his play) Nor is Chelsea lacking in technical ability in any position. They need to start bringing in youth, speed and skill in defense to start preparing for Terry's and Carvalho's downhill slide. They need to show more commitment to play on the wings (this is where Joe Cole and Malouda come in) they need creativity and pace in the midfield, neither of which seems to be Ballack's strengths and they need a tad bit more precision up front.
I not even asking Ballack to try to be the Ballack of 2004 or even 2002. That is like praying for world peace. If God came before me now and granted me one Ballack wish, I would just ask him to be the Ballack of 2006, his last year with Bayern Munich. If I was getting just that little out of him I wouldn't be so disgruntled. He is done, as far as what Chelsea is trying to achieve, as far as I'm concerned.