A Ballack Conundrum.

[Davva]

According to the Chelsea website Ballack has not been included in the squad for the Champions League.

http://www.chelseafc.com/xxchelsea180706/index.html#/page/NewsHomePage/list_2209129_0

I was under the impression that he was brought in specifically for the CL and as (so we are led to believe) he is approaching being fit I can only think of two reasons not to include him.

1. His injury is nowhere near being healed and he is going to be out for months.

or

2. The 'Powers That Be' don't want him 'cup-tied'.

The second reason would suggest that he is going to be sold in January.

Selling him would certainly bring us a tidy net profit as he came on a 'free'. But with the ACN coming up I'm just finding this all a little confusing.

Any thoughts people?

[peridigm]

He is 31 right? Hmmm, MLS?

[Master_Chief123]

We can confirm that Michael Ballack has not been included on the list for the group phase. Unfortunately Michael's current injury meant, at the time of the squad submission deadline, we could not guarantee his availability for the majority of the group phase games.

Naturally we hope Michael's recovery is as quick as possible, that he returns to full training ahead of schedule and that he will then be available for the latter stages of the competition, should we qualify.

Think that explains. :D

[Davva]

Think that explains. :D

Hmmm...so he's going to be out for another two months.

I was thinking he was getting ready to be playing sooner rather than later.

[j.fisher]

2. The 'Powers That Be' don't want him 'cup-tied'.


I believe that before anything else.

[lobomojo]

I believe that before anything else.

The plot thickens, apparently he will be playing for Germany in October, my guess is he is reunited with Robben in January....

[Bruckner283]

You got the impression that when he went off to Germany to have his operation without the clubs knowledge/permission he REALLY pissed some people off. Wonder if he still paying the price for that?

[Davva]

I've just had another thought.

Will a player be considered to be 'cup-tied' if he is only named in the squad or does he actually have to play?

[tracertong]

Just been on sky sports news that chelsea are the only team in the champions league not to have registered 25 players , you have only registered 23 due to certain criteria not being fulfilled.

[Celtic_79]

Maybe JM want to protect him and play him in the Premier League only

[Osnator]

I've just had another thought.

Will a player be considered to be 'cup-tied' if he is only named in the squad or does he actually have to play?


The player does have to play, otherwise he is not cup-tied. Hence I can imagine only two possible explanations for not including him in the roster:

a) Those who had to decide are of the opinion that there are 25 Chelsea players better/more useful than Ballack.

b) Ballack won't be recovered until the winter break.

I really hope for the sake of my national team that a) is the reason and not the latter, but considering his contribution to Chelsea's last CL campaign, not including him for quality reasons would surprise me.

[lobomojo]

Guardian's take is he is going away:

http://myspace.drewpydraws.com/animal/you-have-annoyed-monkey.jpg

Sky says Real too cheap to take him:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2707763,00.html

As long as we don't do a Crespo deal and pay his salary for Real, I could care less, now is when he is needed

[yasik19]

sell him to Arsenal....isn't that what we do?

[schafer]

If it's true we've only registered 23 players, then I think the injury is the most likely bet. If we didn't want to cup tie him, why not get rid of him in the summer instead of keeping him on but not playing in the competition where he was best last season? I doubt we'd have a 'gentleman's agreement' with Real to not cup tie him, considering they haven't been the most gracious in their dealings with us lately. Furthermore, if the SSN report is too be believed, then a lowering of the transfer fee due to him being cuptied might make it easier for him to go to Real.

[L.G.S]

Not included in the squad list for the group stage. The ENTIRE group stage?

[schafer]

Not included in the squad list for the group stage. The ENTIRE group stage?

Yeah, I think the way it works is that you can register 25 players for the group stage, then again in the knockout rounds (due to Jan. signings, injuries, etc.)

[lobomojo]

Yeah, I think the way it works is that you can register 25 players for the group stage, then again in the knockout rounds (due to Jan. signings, injuries, etc.)

I could be wrong as I am just going what I read in the media today but it indicated we would only be able to add a maximum of 3 players to the list by Feb 1, 2008 for the next stage.

[BobanFan]

Just been on sky sports news that chelsea are the only team in the champions league not to have registered 25 players , you have only registered 23 due to certain criteria not being fulfilled.

I think that you've only registered 23 is because you need 3 "home-grown" players and Terry is the only one, so you can't fill the last two spaces. In the knock-out stage you can change* 3 players from the group stage, but you still have to have the 3 "home-grown" players.

*not too sure as to whether it's add to the squad or replace.

[yasik19]

I think that you've only registered 23 is because you need 3 "home-grown" players and Terry is the only one, so you can't fill the last two spaces. In the knock-out stage you can change* 3 players from the group stage, but you still have to have the 3 "home-grown" players.

*not too sure as to whether it's add to the squad or replace.

so how's is that any different from last year, and we registered all 25 players right away I think.

[The Jitty Slitter]

this is all very strange.