Ballack and Robben signed by Madrid for 40 million!!!

You know a lot of people make fun of our squad, but it isn't that bad:

1st choice (4-3-1-1) or (4-3-2-1 if Pato moves back, and both Kaka and he supply Ronaldo):


2nd choice (4-4-2):

. If Madrid signs Ballack (the Bayern and Germany one) and Robben i would make that favs for la liga O7/08.

--------------Casillas

Ramos-----Cannavaro----Metz----Torres

-----------------Diarra

-----Robinho-----------------Robben

----------------Ballack

-----------RVN-----------Raul(should be Saviola)

is a very good team

also if this is really true and chelsea sell both of them with any replacements i can't see them winning the CL This year.

Edit after further consideration i would still have Barca/Valencia has favourites.

Why
Metz, Torres/LB and Canna.

The name ballack really had me in crazyland of a moment their, though with the additions of those two the team automatically gets better

That team actually has a good balance indeed. Very attacking wing players in the diamond, but defensively strong fullbacks to cover their backs. Aggressiveness and defensive strenght in the centre with Diarra (Ballack will help out in the defence also, of course), and Ballack linking attack and midfield with his passes (he can play deeper also, in a double pivot, if necessary (e.g. difficult away matches). Raul and RVN still working well as a partnership, and getting tons of support by the very technical and highly creative midfield, especially on the wings.

In addition to that, Real would have considerable strenght in the air also (defensively and in the attack), which is not too common for Spanish teams, with both Metzelder and Ballack being excellent in the air.

Looks good.

I am not worried. As usual with Madrid, there will always be some problem or the other that comes up.

kas wrote:I am not worried. As usual with Madrid, there will always be some problem or the other that comes up.

i know what you mean , but tbh i think if ballack comes... raul will play better 10 fold. he will have to stay upfront (where he's better) or him and ballack will run into each other all game, also we can have 2 extremely attacking wingers because we have conservative full backs(no cicinho and RC anymore) and a DM

[quote="S4P"]

blutgraetsche wrote:Well, it's your club. I thought that Mourinho learned his lesson from last year, when injuries cost you quite a few crucial matches.

Which is why we have brought in 5 players and are only selling 2. If Valencia's injuries are as bad as they were last season, we will be very unlucky.[/quote]

Clearly a typing error on your part, but don't worry I corrected it for you.

Is the deal done?

40M meh, not too bad. Still quite alot tho'.

Real Madrid 2007/2008?

------------------- Casillas

-- Ramos -- Metzelder -- Cannavaro -- Torres

------------------- Gago -- Diarra

----------- Robinho -- Ballack -- Robben

------------------- van Nistelrooy

===============================================

That would be a very good team, what are the sources for this story? I'm not a Madrid fan, but I expected more from the transfer side this Summer. I know Schuster has only been at the club a few weeks but the team looks like it could do with a few changes.

That team looks awesome!

Ofcourse they will need time to gel, but it looks great!!!

Again, no deal is done. This is just the offer Madrid have made. And btw, there's no way Pepe will not be played as one of the CBs. Cannavaro and Metzelder will have to fight for the other one.

Very good team. Pepe, Guti, Higuain, Raul, Saviola would be good subs as well.

So nothing offical yet, could be a lot of rubbish...


@ Dutchies/Germans

What position does "the midget" play? For Ajax it seems to be at the tip of the diamond, would signing Ballack mean, we won't go after him? As they play in the same position?

TM wrote:So nothing offical yet, could be a lot of rubbish...

I think a deal will be done. Maybe a few million euros more. Or some heavy performance-related bonuses.

Parks lives wrote:Very good team. Pepe, Guti, Higuain, Raul, Saviola would be good subs as well.

Don't forget Julio Baptista and ....... Dudek.

kas wrote:

TM wrote:So nothing offical yet, could be a lot of rubbish...

I think a deal will be done. Maybe a few million euros more. Or some heavy performance-related bonuses.

What do you make of it? Good deal/bad deal?

TM wrote:

kas wrote:

TM wrote:So nothing offical yet, could be a lot of rubbish...

I think a deal will be done. Maybe a few million euros more. Or some heavy performance-related bonuses.

What do you make of it? Good deal/bad deal?

Two very good signings, but I'm not too worried. I have belief in our own squad, and like I posted a couple of pages ago, I have a feeling something is bound to go wrong.

Cesc wrote:

Parks lives wrote:Very good team. Pepe, Guti, Higuain, Raul, Saviola would be good subs as well.

Don't forget Julio Baptista and ....... Dudek.

I left out Dudek on purpose.

Still need one or two more defenders maybe as back up. Heinze is available.....

Parks lives wrote:

Cesc wrote:

Parks lives wrote:Very good team. Pepe, Guti, Higuain, Raul, Saviola would be good subs as well.

Don't forget Julio Baptista and ....... Dudek.

I left out Dudek on purpose.

Still need one or two more defenders maybe as back up. Heinze is available.....

CB: Cannavaro, Metzelder, Pepe, Ramos
RB: Ramos, Cicinho, Salgado
LB: Torres, Marcelo,

I'd like to have another LB and flog Salgado!

I don't understand why everyone is saying it's a bargain. Robben is too injury prone, and Ballack has seen his best day's. I certainly don't think it's a bargain, and if anything I think it's actually a good deal for Chelsea.

blutgraetsche wrote:Nobody. According to S4P and Hadrada, both Chelsea fans, that won't be necessary, since they are more or less obsolete (scroll back).

Not at all. Malouda was signed at the time when the Robben saga kicked off. I have a feeling Jose knew more than he was letting on.

Sidwell wasn't signed to replace Ballack, but we have so many CMs that it is possible to sell him.

Calidad wrote:I don't understand why everyone is saying it's a bargain. Robben is too injury prone, and Ballack has seen his best day's. I certainly don't think it's a bargain, and if anything I think it's actually a good deal for Chelsea.

That's one of the reasons. The signings of Pepe, Schuster himself, and potentially Ballack and Robben are at such hefty prices and/or such big expectations that there will be immense pressure on Madrid and these players/the manager. Kind of like Henry for us.

kas wrote:

Calidad wrote:I don't understand why everyone is saying it's a bargain. Robben is too injury prone, and Ballack has seen his best day's. I certainly don't think it's a bargain, and if anything I think it's actually a good deal for Chelsea.

That's one of the reasons. The signings of Pepe, Schuster himself, and potentially Ballack and Robben are at such hefty prices and/or such big expectations that there will be immense pressure on Madrid and these players/the manager. Kind of like Henry for us.

As far as Robben goes, he is injury phrone, but Liga is far less physical than the EPL, and hopefully this will mean he won't get injuried as often.

Ballack is getting on a bit, but they also said Ruud was past his best. But this guy has bags of experience, and can only help the squad, god knows we lack some steel in the midfield.

Cesc wrote:Real Madrid 2007/2008?

------------------- Casillas

-- Ramos -- Metzelder -- Cannavaro -- Torres

------------------- Gago -- Diarra

----------- Robinho -- Ballack -- Robben

------------------- van Nistelrooy

===============================================

That would be a very good team, what are the sources for this story? I'm not a Madrid fan, but I expected more from the transfer side this Summer. I know Schuster has only been at the club a few weeks but the team looks like it could do with a few changes.

Pepe is not going to be on the bench 1) because he cost 30m. and 2) he has been much better than either Cannavaro or Metzelder in the preaeason so far. Also, I don't think that both Gago and Diarra will play. Instead, there will be a second forward playing alongside van Nistelrooy.

kas wrote:

TM wrote:

kas wrote:

TM wrote:So nothing offical yet, could be a lot of rubbish...

I think a deal will be done. Maybe a few million euros more. Or some heavy performance-related bonuses.

What do you make of it? Good deal/bad deal?

Two very good signings, but I'm not too worried. I have belief in our own squad, and like I posted a couple of pages ago, I have a feeling something is bound to go wrong.

same feeling i had with Barca last season even though you on paper had strengthed. i dont believe we will win anything this year or at least in the league.last year gave us a real chance to build long term so i see this year as gelling time. as for the transfers i dont believe them at all. the same people said stuff like quarsema being included in the pepe deal, kaka forcing his way out,buying inestas clause of 60 mil so untill they show up with madrid shirts nothing has been done.

TM wrote:
@ Dutchies/Germans

What position does "the midget" play? For Ajax it seems to be at the tip of the diamond, would signing Ballack mean, we won't go after him? As they play in the same position?

Ajax play a 4-3-3, and Sneijder plays in the attacking midfield, so yes, he'd play on the the same position, although you can't play Sneijder in the defensive midfield, unlike Ballack, since that would be suicide. Don't expect any defending from him at all, so your midfield would still remain relatively lightweight.

Some Real fans speculate that you are going to sign Kaka sooner or later anyway, so signing Ballack now, who gives your rather young squad additional experience that is badly needed, is a very good mid term solution.

I agree, but it's up to your board to get the deal done (hopefully).

supermadrid wrote:

kas wrote:

TM wrote:

kas wrote:

TM wrote:So nothing offical yet, could be a lot of rubbish...

I think a deal will be done. Maybe a few million euros more. Or some heavy performance-related bonuses.

What do you make of it? Good deal/bad deal?

Two very good signings, but I'm not too worried. I have belief in our own squad, and like I posted a couple of pages ago, I have a feeling something is bound to go wrong.

same feeling i had with Barca last season even though you on paper had strengthed. i dont believe we will win anything this year or at least in the league.last year gave us a real chance to build long term so i see this year as gelling time. as for the transfers i dont believe them at all. the same people said stuff like quarsema being included in the pepe deal, kaka forcing his way out,buying inestas clause of 60 mil so untill they show up with madrid shirts nothing has been done.

I won't even waste time in writting Line-ups or possible teams etc, until i see it Confirmed on the Chelsea and Real Madrid websites.

blutgraetsche wrote:

TM wrote:
@ Dutchies/Germans

What position does "the midget" play? For Ajax it seems to be at the tip of the diamond, would signing Ballack mean, we won't go after him? As they play in the same position?

Ajax play a 4-3-3, and Sneijder plays in the attacking midfield, so yes, he'd play on the the same position, although you can't play Sneijder in the defensive midfield, unlike Ballack, since that would be suicide. Don't expect any defending from him at all, so your midfield would still remain relatively lightweight.

Some Real fans speculate that you are going to sign Kaka sooner or later anyway, so signing Ballack now, who gives your rather young squad additional experience that is badly needed, is a very good mid term solution.

I agree, but it's up to your board to get the deal done (hopefully).

Sneijder has been playing in the last season + now as a #10 attacking midfielder .. playing in the hole behind the main forward.

as Blut says its best to sign Ballack.

blutgraetsche wrote:

TM wrote:
@ Dutchies/Germans

What position does "the midget" play? For Ajax it seems to be at the tip of the diamond, would signing Ballack mean, we won't go after him? As they play in the same position?

Ajax play a 4-3-3, and Sneijder plays in the attacking midfield, so yes, he'd play on the the same position, although you can't play Sneijder in the defensive midfield, unlike Ballack, since that would be suicide. Don't expect any defending from him at all, so your midfield would still remain relatively lightweight.

Some Real fans speculate that you are going to sign Kaka sooner or later anyway, so signing Ballack now, who gives your rather young squad additional experience that is badly needed, is a very good mid term solution.

I agree, but it's up to your board to get the deal done (hopefully).

agree with you about the midterm solution but even if kaka didnt come ballack would be a great move since he provides alot of experience and winner mentallity. and right now we need a box to box player next to diarra/gago and there is no better player in this position then ballack.he provides the balanced needed. but im sure we will end up with robben at max because there is no way mijatovic is that smart.

Real 'make £27m offer for Ballack, Robben'

MADRID, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Real Madrid have offered Chelsea a combined bid of up to £27million for Germany captain Michael Ballack and Dutch winger Arjen Robben, Spanish media reported on Saturday.

The Spanish champions have been negotiating for Robben for a number of weeks, but the sudden inclusion of midfielder Ballack in the deal comes as something of a surprise.

Media said Real were lining up a five-year deal for Robben, 23, and one of three years for Ballack.

The Germany captain, who turns 31 next month, has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League after moving from Bayern Munich on a free transfer in May 2006.

Real's new coach Bernd Schuster, a former Germany international, said he wanted a player of Ballack's characteristics a week ago.

Robben has been stalling over signing a contract extension at Chelsea, though his current deal has two years left to run.

The pacy, left-footed winger joined the Londoners from PSV Eindhoven for £15million in 2004 but has struggled with inconsistency and injury in his three years at the club.

Real have made no secret of their desire to sign Robben since president Ramon Calderon promised to bring him to the Bernabeu when he took office last year.

supermadrid wrote:
agree with you about the midterm solution but even if kaka didnt come ballack would be a great move since he provides alot of experience and winner mentallity. and right now we need a box to box player next to diarra/gago and there is no better player in this position then ballack.he provides the balanced needed. but im sure we will end up with robben at max because there is no way mijatovic is that smart.

Yep, long term it would be a very good solution also, since Ballack is a very versatile player. Imagine him playing deeper (his ideal position btw.), and Kaka in front of him (just hypothetically speaking Milan fans!). Would be one hell of a midfield, if you consider your quality wingers also.

He won't get any younger, but since he can play deeper also (where pace is less important), he'd still be valuable to the team in a few years also.

Besides, La Liga is a less physical league, so I expect both Robben and Ballack to be injured less often there.