Was There Any Doubt???

[footyfan1]

Ballack Named German Player Of The Year

July 27, 2005

BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack picked up another accolade when he was named German Player of the Year in a poll conducted by Kicker magazine.

The Germany captain collected 516 votes from German journalists Wednesday with FC Cologne striker and international team-mate Lukas Podolski his nearest rival with 103 votes.

Ballack, 28, was a driving force for Bayern last season helping the Bavarian giants to a league and cup double.

Bayern manager Felix Magath collected the German Manager of the Year award winning 433 votes after winning the double in his first season at the club.

Mainz 05 handler Jurgen Klopp finished just behind Magath receiving 328 votes for keeping the minnows in the German top-flight against all the odds.


***I think Ballack is a very deserving winner. However, I would have voted for Klopp over Magath for Manager of the Year. IMO, most Bundesliga managers could have done what Magath did with that kind of talent. Hell, even a moronic hack like Matthias Sammer "won" a title with a team whose talent was superior to all others.

[Dead Fingers]

***I think Ballack is a very deserving winner. However, I would have voted for Klopp over Magath for Manager of the Year. IMO, most Bundesliga managers could have done what Magath did with that kind of talent. Hell, even a moronic hack like Matthias Sammer "won" a title with a team whose talent was superior to all others.

I think Felix partially got the nod because of how Bayern just stormed away with the title at the end. However, I do think Klopp would have appropriate as well.

[SirManchester]

Klopp was the man, no doubt about it, but Magath deserves credit also because of the way he won the double. There was absolutley no competition between FCB and the rest of the Bundesliga teams. Footyfan, What you said about Magath and Bayern is exactly what I think about Mourinho and Chelsea.....it wasn't Mourinho's coaching that won them the double, it was the money and the players. Sure, Mourinho is a good coach, but there are several other coaches who could have done the same with what the Russian gave to him.

And hooooray for Ballack, I knew it...he deserves it more than Marcelinho! THe Brazilian was awesome, but Ballack blew him away in the second half of the season, well not exactly but he was brilliant!

Anyways, ALL HAIL BALLACK! :D

[eissman]

It is always nice to have awards spread out amongst several teams, but realistically, Ballack was clearly the most influential player down the stretch for his team, and Magath was most deserving having done the double in his first year and thus winning his first major trophy after all these years of coaching. It was due.

Congrats to both... now lets see if we can't keep the egos in check and remained focused on the ultimate prize... the CLS trophy!!!

[footyfan1]

Klopp was the man, no doubt about it, but Magath deserves credit also because of the way he won the double. There was absolutley no competition between FCB and the rest of the Bundesliga teams. Footyfan, What you said about Magath and Bayern is exactly what I think about Mourinho and Chelsea.....it wasn't Mourinho's coaching that won them the double, it was the money and the players. Sure, Mourinho is a good coach, but there are several other coaches who could have done the same with what the Russian gave to him.

Agreed.

And hooooray for Ballack, I knew it...he deserves it more than Marcelinho! THe Brazilian was awesome, but Ballack blew him away in the second half of the season, well not exactly but he was brilliant!

Whoa Manny! Slow your role bro!! If this award were given for strictly Bundesliga play, I would have given that to Marcelinho! This award covers play for both club and country! Ballack's international performances is what gives him the nod over Marcelinho!

Again, if this were strictly based on Bundesliga play, Marcelinho kicked Ballack's ass.

Marcelinho: 18 goals, 13 assists, 31 "Scorer Points"

Ballack: 13 goals, 6 assists, 19 "Scorer Points"



Anyways, ALL HAIL BALLACK! :D

No thank you. He has my respect. I'll save my "Hails" for the true greats such as Zidane as he enters his final season in the spotlight.

When Ballack earns "hailing", I definitely won't have a problem "hailing" him.

Ballack is well on the way, but hasn't gotten there yet. He will though. I have no doubt he will.

And soon.

[BMGuy]

Again, if this were strictly based on Bundesliga play, Marcelinho kicked Ballack's ass.

Marcelinho: 18 goals, 13 assists, 31 "Scorer Points"

Ballack: 13 goals, 6 assists, 19 "Scorer Points"


but can marcelinho help to solidify the defense and midfield as effectively as ballack ?? Can he mark Veira or some other great midfielder and stop them from dictating the game :confused: Also marcelinho wasn't worn out by playing for his national team and in uefa cup :rolleyes:

The word "Influential" is not just about the scoring stats.

[footyfan1]

but can marcelinho help to solidify the defense and midfield as effectively as ballack ?? Can he mark Veira or some other great midfielder and stop them from dictating the game :confused:

The word "Influential" is not just about the scoring stats


That's not Marcelinho's job. Marcelinho does his job better than anyone else in the league.

Ballack won because of what he did internationally and deserved the award.

I only said if it came down to "Bundesliga Only", in my opinion Marcelinho kicks Ballack's ass.

If you want to get into the meaning of the word "influential", try this on for size.

You take Ballack away from Bayern and they probably still win the title. They move Frings or Deisler over and keep right on going.

They don't win it by as much, but they probably still win it.

You take Marcelinho away from Hertha and there is no question they are fighting to stay mid-table, if they aren't fighting relegation.........

THAT'S "INFLUENTIAL!" :cool:

[sting-ray]

yea! and same thing i think with Marek Mintal. Nuernberg made many points because of him.

[BMGuy]

That's not Marcelinho's job. Marcelinho does his job better than anyone else in the league.


then scoring is not ballack's job as well, he's more as a central midfielder, not an attacking midfielder. Why did you bring that up ?


If you want to get into the meaning of the word "influential", try this on for size.

You take Ballack away from Bayern and they probably still win the title. They move Frings or Deisler over and keep right on going.

They don't win it by as much, but they probably still win it.


You take Marcelinho away from Hertha and there is no question they are fighting to stay mid-table, if they aren't fighting relegation.........

it looks logically at first and it's not really convincing because marcelinho is a real star in his team, so his contribution to the team is certainly greater than ballack. Ballack only shows his true value when bayern face a much tougher oppositions, like those 4 games against arsenal, chelsea.

Bayern couldn't play that good without him, and that is what it means influential as well.

Anyway, i'm not here to compare who is better, and i don't even think of it. :D Each of them did a great job last season and i think Marcelinho deserves more than the 3rd spot

[sting-ray]

they didn't beat chelsea...

[Dead Fingers]

they didn't beat chelsea...

actually..they did...just not by enough goals.

[sting-ray]

yea.. thats what i mean.. chelsea went to the next round.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

then scoring is not ballack's job as well, he's more as a central midfielder, not an attacking midfielder. Why did you bring that up ?



it looks logically at first and it's not really convincing because marcelinho is a real star in his team, so his contribution to the team is certainly greater than ballack. Ballack only shows his true value when bayern face a much tougher oppositions, like those 4 games against arsenal, chelsea.

Bayern couldn't play that good without him, and that is what it means influential as well.

Anyway, i'm not here to compare who is better, and i don't even think of it. :D Each of them did a great job last season and i think Marcelinho deserves more than the 3rd spot

Thanks footyfan1 for the PM...it seems that my 2 cents are necesary.

I don't know if there is any team right now in the WORLD who is more dependent on one person that Hertha is to Marcelinho. yea sure he has a lot of help from Basteurk and Gilberto, but these guys cannot be another Marcelinho. Marcelinho is literally a one man show...he just has not shown it to a wider audience. If Marcelinho was on the German NT, he would not only start every game, but he would change everything. Ballack wouldn't be the playmaker; Marcelinho would be. Ballack wouldn't be scoring half the goals he has scored; Marcelinho would be the one taking PKs and FKs, not Ballack.

As far as a leader is concerned, Ballack is far better than Marcelinho. Ballack isn't a person who would go into clubbing every night. But this is the way Marcelinho lives, he lives life as if there is no tomorrow, and thats how he plays his football, recklessly.

And you make the comment about defensively...why does Marcelinho have to track back when he had the BUNDESLIGA'S TOP DEFENSE behind him. You may have marginalized Niko Kovac to near retirement, but he's back and he was like a brand new player last year. So Marcelinho doesn't need to track back; often times, he has the ball so often that players can't take it away from him.

In summation, both are quality players, but both are different. Ballack is what you would call a fireman, a midfielder who will do everything and anything. Marcelinho is extremely skillful, flamboyant, just over the top. He can be brilliant and insane at the same time. I say they should've been joint winners.

[SirManchester]

Marcelinho was certainly exceptional this season but you gotta give a lot of credit for how well they did this past season to Basturk and Gilberto and Co.

You really think they would have done that well without those guys?

and yes, Zidane shall be hailed!!!!!!!!!!!

[footyfan1]

Marcelinho was certainly exceptional this season but you gotta give a lot of credit for how well they did this past season to Basturk and Gilberto and Co.

You really think they would have done that well without those guys?

EXACTLY MY POINT!!

If you have to give a lot of credit to the guys surrounding Marcelinho, you've got to to give a lot of credit to the guys surrounding Ballack! Do you think Ballack would have become the player he has become had he stayed at 1. FC Kaiserslautern??!!

Which player had the better talent surrounding him?? I don't think there's any argument there.....



and yes, Zidane shall be hailed!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't like the teams he played for, but his greatness just shined through. And what's so superb about him is that he reached his peak late in his career. I think we'll see the same out of Michael Ballack. He's already showing the signs.