Ballack at Chelsea

is there ANY way this relationship is EVER going to work, bearing in mind Lampard's and Essien's presence at the club

Are you honestly implying that you think we should sell/bench Essien, for Ballack's sake?

Another German failure Otto.

It's clear that the Teutonic wonder ain't such a wonder when he's in a bigger pond. The stars of Germany are nothing compared to Frank Lampard, easily one of the greatest midfielders of all time.

S4P2 wrote:Are you honestly implying that you think we should sell/bench Essien, for Ballack's sake?

I am saying that the presence of THREE central attacking midfielders like Flumps, Ballack and Essien, means one or two of them are going to get benched in a

4-3-3 system

---------------------

quick answers needed before rai's fingers get itchy and he starts laying down the law

He's been a gigantic flop so far.

I like SteveOoO

Solidus wrote:He's been a gigantic flop so far.

agree

btw , The Special One .. has taken Ballack out of the Untouchables

Lampard + Essien remain

I'd bench Ballack, if it came down to a direct comparison of Essien Lampard or Ballack.

Essien would get in pretty much anyones team, and despite my thoughts on Frank as a footballer, he does for Chelsea contribute his weight in goals, considerably more goals than Ballack.

Football Genius wrote:I'd bench Ballack, if it came down to a direct comparison of Essien Lampard or Ballack.

Essien would get in pretty much anyones team, and despite my thoughts on Frank as a footballer, he does for Chelsea contribute his weight in goals, considerably more goals than Ballack.

Football Genius wrote: despite my thoughts on Frank as a footballer, he does for Chelsea contribute his weight

true , true

otto hat Euch alle lieb wrote:

S4P2 wrote:Are you honestly implying that you think we should sell/bench Essien, for Ballack's sake?

I am saying that the presence of THREE central attacking midfielders like Flumps, Ballack and Essien, means one or two of them are going to get benched in a

4-3-3 system

---------------------

quick answers needed before rai's fingers get itchy and he starts laying down the law

Essien is not an attacking central midfielder.

In the PL:

Essien>>>Lampard>>Ballack

Overall:

Essien>Ballack>>>>>>Lampard

so what do you call him then

a DMC, a winger

how do you want to fit all three into a 4-3-3 system

otto hat Euch alle lieb wrote:so what do you call him then

a DMC, a winger

how do you want to fit all three into a 4-3-3 system

At most, he is a CM, who can also play as a DCM. He is neither creative nor prolific enough to be a ACM.

otto hat Euch alle lieb wrote:so what do you call him then

a DMC, a winger

how do you want to fit all three into a 4-3-3 system

He's a box to box midfielder who can defend like a beast.

Overall:

-----Mikel----
--Essien--Ballack-

In the PL:

---Essien---
-Lamps-Ballack

Altho, most Chelsea fans might prefer seeing the first.

Personally i'd play Ballack in the CL, and Lampard in the EPL. With Essien playing in both.

Have not got a kalou wrote:

otto hat Euch alle lieb wrote:so what do you call him then

a DMC, a winger

how do you want to fit all three into a 4-3-3 system

He's a box to box midfielder who can defend like a beast.

Overall:

-----Mikel----
--Essien--Ballack-

In the PL:

---Essien---
-Lamps-Ballack

Altho, most Chelsea fans might prefer seeing the first.

im not a chelsea fan but the first one looks fantastic

only thing i hear about frank

goals goals goals, but what about assists, this guy cant make a pass to his mates

for gods sake, for an midfielder its less imprortant to make goals,

Deisler wrote:only thing i hear about frank

goals goals goals, but what about assists, this guy cant make a pass to his mates

for gods sake, for an midfielder its less imprortant to make goals,

If Shevchenko, Pizarro, or Kalou can become an effective partner for Drogba, then Chelsea can consider dropping Lampard. But the problem is they just can't find the right 2nd striker to get them even 10-15 league goals a season, so they have to rely on Lampard's goals.

kas wrote:

Deisler wrote:only thing i hear about frank

goals goals goals, but what about assists, this guy cant make a pass to his mates

for gods sake, for an midfielder its less imprortant to make goals,

If Shevchenko, Pizarro, or Kalou can become an effective partner for Drogba, then Chelsea can consider dropping Lampard. But the problem is they just can't find the right 2nd striker to get them even 10-15 league goals a season, so they have to rely on Lampard's goals.

and lampard relies on those deflections

Deisler wrote:only thing i hear about frank

goals goals goals, but what about assists, this guy cant make a pass to his mates

for gods sake, for an midfielder its less imprortant to make goals,

Not sure that ballack has done any better with assists either

He had a poor season but maybe like sheva too old to move to the EPL and get used to the physical side and hasn't quite got the hunger that he used to have (he doesn't have the hunger of lampard that's for sure ). I know Germany is close in terms of the physicality of their game but maybe he can't make that little step up and being in central midfield is possibly the hardest place to be.

otto hat Euch alle lieb wrote:

S4P2 wrote:Are you honestly implying that you think we should sell/bench Essien, for Ballack's sake?

I am saying that the presence of THREE central attacking midfielders like Flumps, Ballack and Essien, means one or two of them are going to get benched in a

4-3-3 system

So in conclusion:

Otto is yet again banging on and on about something to do with the country he is from, either lying or being plain ignorant about what position Essien plays in and implying a whole series of racist garbage as his excuse for yet another one dimensional, boring thread on an issue that has been covered much better by other posters.

And the mods are expected to give a $h!t about whether this guy leaves or not?

Mexicanbecks wrote:

kas wrote:

Deisler wrote:only thing i hear about frank

goals goals goals, but what about assists, this guy cant make a pass to his mates

for gods sake, for an midfielder its less imprortant to make goals,

If Shevchenko, Pizarro, or Kalou can become an effective partner for Drogba, then Chelsea can consider dropping Lampard. But the problem is they just can't find the right 2nd striker to get them even 10-15 league goals a season, so they have to rely on Lampard's goals.

and lampard relies on those deflections

To be fair to Lampard, only around 10% of his goals are deflections (which works out to about 2 a season). The problem is, only around 10% of his shots convert into goals.

Lamps hads just scored another handful in pre season.

I personally think, ok, he doesnt play well for England, and in terms of playing for a side who are capable of pretty passing triangles he aint gonna contribute,

but for Chelsea he has been a MONSTER, and I can see why Mourinho classes him as an untouchable.

He's possibly now the most underrated player on these boards after a terrible WC.

I am Mum-Ra wrote:Lamps hads just scored another handful in pre season.

I personally think, ok, he doesnt play well for England, and in terms of playing for a side who are capable of pretty passing triangles he aint gonna contribute,

but for Chelsea he has been a MONSTER, and I can see why Mourinho classes him as an untouchable.

He's possibly now the most underrated player on these boards after a terrible WC.

Hes not underated, because hes not tremedously talented in his all round game, what he is for Chelsea is very effective, in providing 15-20 goals a season from a 'midfield' player.

I still think hes a luxury player, and to accomodate him you need somebody who is able to track back and pass a football a lot better.

I am Mum-Ra wrote:Lamps hads just scored another handful in pre season.

I personally think, ok, he doesnt play well for England, and in terms of playing for a side who are capable of pretty passing triangles he aint gonna contribute,

but for Chelsea he has been a MONSTER, and I can see why Mourinho classes him as an untouchable.

He's possibly now the most underrated player on these boards after a terrible WC.

Nope, just the one this pre season.

Have not got a kalou wrote:

I am Mum-Ra wrote:Lamps hads just scored another handful in pre season.

I personally think, ok, he doesnt play well for England, and in terms of playing for a side who are capable of pretty passing triangles he aint gonna contribute,

but for Chelsea he has been a MONSTER, and I can see why Mourinho classes him as an untouchable.

He's possibly now the most underrated player on these boards after a terrible WC.

Nope, just the one this pre season.

You might own this board, but pls dont piss on my fire. thanks

I am Mum-Ra wrote:

Have not got a kalou wrote:

I am Mum-Ra wrote:Lamps hads just scored another handful in pre season.

I personally think, ok, he doesnt play well for England, and in terms of playing for a side who are capable of pretty passing triangles he aint gonna contribute,

but for Chelsea he has been a MONSTER, and I can see why Mourinho classes him as an untouchable.

He's possibly now the most underrated player on these boards after a terrible WC.

Nope, just the one this pre season.

You might own this board, but pls dont piss on my fire. thanks

haha, alright then.