February 28, 2006

Chelsea kicked in the Ballacks.: Gotta love that headline. Bayern Munich and Germany captain Michael Ballacks reportedly turns down the chance to sign a 4-year deal worth GBP25m with Chelsea.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 01:56 PM - 7 comments

And Frank Lampard breathes a sigh of relief, I guess.

posted by scully at 02:43 PM on February 28, 2006

Frank Lampard is heading to Barcelona. That's why Chelsea is chasing Ballacks.

posted by Boot at 02:45 PM on February 28, 2006

I've been expecting some of Chelsea's targets to say no for some time now. Sure, the pay is great, but if you have to fight three other people for significant playing time, what fun is it?

posted by trox at 02:50 PM on February 28, 2006

Wow. So Barca is getting both Lampard AND Henry? ;)

posted by scully at 03:16 PM on February 28, 2006

Frank Lampard should head over to the schoolgrounds... Fucking over rated kickballer...

posted by StarFucker at 03:26 PM on February 28, 2006

The sub-text is always interesting. To keep the Bundesliga solvent, German clubs are not allowed to carry huge debts (or any debt at all?) and they have regular and intensive fiscal and prudential checks from the league. They can't afford to pay huge wages like those on offer in England, Spain or Italy, so I'm surprised Ballack stayed as long as he did. But at least the clubs don't go broke.

posted by owlhouse at 03:40 PM on February 28, 2006

Unless Chelsea win the Champions League or England win the World Cup this year I don't see Lampard leaving for Spain. I don't see either as that strong a possibility though. SF, you hate everybody in the EPL except Harry Kewell, I don't see how you can be so dismissive of the man who has such a high point total in fantasy scoring (just to use one indicator of worth).

posted by billsaysthis at 09:12 PM on February 28, 2006

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