Michael Ballack: Der Kaiser Mk 2

Ballack to become manager!

We all know Michael Ballack. German football legend. Star man for Bayer Leverkusen, Bayer Munchen, Chelsea and Germany during his career as a player.



He has now announced that he is ready, at the age of 36 that he wants to become a manager but only at a club in England or Germany. "Germany is my home country. I would love to manage there." he told sky sports. "Or maybe England. I had fun there playing for Chelsea. I wouldn't mind returning one day. Maybe as their manager."

More news to come on this story as it comes.

Good luck!

Hope he goes to Chelsea! Good Luck!

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Jose: LOL!

Jose Mourinho is not often noted for having a sense of humor. So when earlier asked if he was worried about Michael Ballack taking his job, the portuguese replied "lol, next you'll be asking if Emile Heskey will score a hat trick for Barcelona. I am the happy one, Roman is happy too, the players as well. I am not going, I will take the little horse to the title this season."

Elsewhere, rumours are coming in that clubs such as Dresden and Hamburg of Germany and England's West Brom and Huddersfield have approached the former chelsea midfielder to be their new manager. But, the big story is that he may be on his way to the saints of Southampton. Mauricio Pochettino was relieved of his duties earlier this week after comments about football manager fans lead to a number of fm scout users calling him a "pleb" and accusing Southampton of "lacking kindness to their fans." As a result, the club sacked the former argentina defender, and have been looking for replacements, with ex-saint striker Alan Shearer and current saints Jos Hooiveld and Rickie Lambert being linked to the job. But, according to reports in Spain and France, he may be on his way to the Saints.

(Replies)
@Captainbrickarms: Thanks man
@Tallery1164: I would have, but too easy. Southampton adds some challenge.

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The German Saint!

It is official. Michael Ballack has been appointed as the new manager of English Premier League side Southampton. The 37 year old former Germany international replaces Mauricio Pochettino at the club, reportedly on a 1 year deal, dependent on his performances during the season. Many Southampton players have said that they are shocked but pleased that the deal has been completed.

Adam Lallana: " As club captain, it was a big interest for me to see who the new manager is, and I personally welcome on board someone who has had experience already as a leader, having been a national team captain of one of the biggest countries in football, and I cannot wait to work under him."

Rickie Lambert: "Although it is a surprise appointment, I feel this can only be good for the side and him. Having talked to Michael, he wants the club to go in the same direction as us, the players, and that will happen over the next few seasons, we believe."

However, there have been criticism's already. Sir Alex Ferguson responded by saying he would never appoint a manager with no experience, to which Michael hit back with "He says he won't appoint an inexperienced manager, yet brings in a man, who played all of 2 games in the champions league and has never won a trophy. Good logic." Whereas Ballack's former Germany team mate Oliver Bierhoff said that Ballack was destined to fail. "Twice he ended a season all in runner up spots. Destined to fail I think." Ballack chose not to respond with anything other than "The season is young. My side will be proof enough that Oliver is wrong"

His first pre-season friendly will be against Frence outfit Marseille, a fixture many expect them to lose.

Alfred James, Sky Sports.

The Saint's go marching on!

Southampton fans had fears that the season would be awful somewhat lessened by a great pre-season under new boss Michael Ballack.

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V.S. Marseille (Home)
Lallana 18
Sharp 78
Adam Lallana

V.S. Wimbledon (Away)
Lambert 30
Gaitan 51
Nathaniel Clyne

V.S. York (Away)
Osvaldo 46
Sharp 63
Will Hughes

V.S. FC Martigues (Away)
Lambert 18, 40, Pen 44
Fortune 34
Rodriguez 39, 45 + 2
Rickie Lambert

V.S. Clermont Foot (Away)
Lambert 3
Videmont 4
Sharp 24, 27
Capelle 50
Rodriguez 82
Billy Sharp

V.S. Coventry (Away)
Manset 30
Lambert 55
Sharp 71
Osvaldo 90 + 1
Rickie Lambert

Southampton have also been busy selling, but it's the three players they have signed that have been the focus for fans.

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Newly appointed Japan captain Keisuke Honda has agreed to leave Russian side CSKA Moscow at the end of his contract, which ends at the end of the year. He will officially be joining the saints in January. Ballack says that he will give competition to the midfield, and judging by the friendlies, Ballack prefers 4 players, Lallana, Cork, Schneiderlin and Wanyama. Although, two other new boys also have been playing and well.

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Nicolas Gaitan has joined the saints on loan from Benfica, with possibility of a £10 million transfer for the deal to be permanent. Ballack said that "Gaitan is of champions league quality. To have someone like him at the club, can only be good for the players." One in particular I think:

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Will Hughes. The Derby youngster has been heralded as a future England superstar. And no wonder, he has been a sensation for Derby county, and if his performance against York was anything to go by, Ballack has done brilliant to coerce him to Southampton.

The Saints will start their league campaign against Manchester City, with Aston Villa, Peterbrough (League Cup) and Cardiff to end the month. Can the Saints keep up their good form under Ballack?

This is Dave Jones, Sky Sports.

Tough start for Saints!

Southampton have been in tough times recently. The start to the league campaign was not the start they wanted at all.

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Manchester City was up first. A valiant effort from Southampton there, but goals from Navas and man of the match Silva either side of Schneiderlin's strike meant no points for the saints.

The Villains of Aston Villa trashed Southampton. Lallana had given the away side the lead, but own goals by Clyne and Lovren put the saints behind, before second half goals by Benteke and Tonev left the club in tatters. Ballack was left fuming at the teams display, and threatened to transfer list the lot, if they didn't win against both Peterbrough in the leage cup, and then against Cardiff in the league.

Billy Sharp proved his worth for the saints by scoring the only goal against the posh. Sharp had been extradited after Southampton's promotion, but the appointment of the new boss has allowed him to flourish. The Cardiff match was won by a silly mistake by the keeper, when David Marshall dived too early for a through ball, and it culminated in a goal for Morgan Schneiderlin.

The Saints will need to improve on this start however with Michael Ballack saying that the start his side has made has been unacceptable.

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Despite the clubs poor start, Morgan Schneiderlin has been performing brilliantly. Having been linked with moves to Tottenham, Benfica and Bourissia Dortmund, people had expected the Frenchman to struggle under pressure. Instead, the player has performed the best of his teammates. He has scored against both Manchester City and Cardiff, and against Peterbrough was a very good player.

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West Brom and Fulham have started the league season strongly currently being unbeaten, with only Chelsea ahead of them. The london based side opened their season with a 6-1 thrashing of Arsenal, and haven't looked back. Elsewhere, the newly promoted sides have all performed poorly, but it's Arsenal that are the most surprising sitting in 14th place, having already lost a london derby.

With transfer deadline day having just passed, people are a buzzing at the transfers that have happened this summer. Today, sky sports brings you a list of a select few transfers, and what we think of the deal.

Raphael Varane £23. 5 million from Real Madrid to Man. City.
The young french defender has been a good player for Real Madrid for a few years, so it was a surprise to us that they'd let a good youngster like him go to a champions league rival. The deal has also in our eyes been too little for him, he should have been a bit more, even for a defender.

Andriy Yarmolenko £22 million from Dynamo Kiev to Barcelona.
At age 23, Andriy Yarmolenko has been likened to being like a playmaked version of Shevchenko by many. That being said, this transfer is a surprise. Yarmolenko and Dynamo have not in recent years set a light the world, so for Barcelona to spend £22 million on their best player is a bit of a shock.

Antoinne Griezmann £20 million from Real Sociedad to Monaco.
For Monaco, this is a brilliant deal. Griezmann is a good young playmaker, and can score a few goals to boot. With James Rodriguez, Falcao, Mame Biram Diouf and Lucas Ocampos already at the club, it seems like Monaco will score loads of goals this season. For Sociedad, it is a poor transfer deal. With Isco and Illaramendi already gone, to lose another key player is a poor deal by the club, and it may set them back a few years.

Ever Banega £17. 5 million from Valencia to Manchester United.
Ever Banega provides a defensive player, someone to hold the play between defence and midfield while the others bomb forward. However, in recent years the Argentine has been lacking in quality, and it may not be the right transfer for Manchester United, but good for Valencia.

Elsewhere, Claudio Yacob joins Benfica for £10.25 million from West Brom, Davide Santon leaves St. James Park for German champions Bayern Munich for £10 million, Fabio Coentrao finally leaves Real Madrid joining Tottenham for £7 million and Micah Richards leaves Manchester for London, joining Arsenal for £6.75 million.

Great job so far! Hopefully you can make a top 7 finish with southampton

Gaitan returns to Benfica!

Nicolas Gaitan has returned to parent club Benfica after a terrible injury caused loan club Southampton to terminate the loan. Gaitan suffered an injury in the game against Hull City which ended 1-1, and will be out for 3 months.

"Although I would have loved to keep the Argentine at the club, his injury is a long term one, and thus, we felt it better that he returns to Portugal, and gets himself specialist treatment at his parent club. We wish him all the best in recuperation and the rest of his career." stated Ballack to bbc sports. With Rickie Lambert already missing for 2 months, this is another blow for the club, and hopefully the club can regroup without the Argentina midfielder and England Striker.

Replies: @Pokarioboy: Cheers man, although the loss of Gaitan hurts.

September: Southampton back in their groove

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Southampton erased memories of their opening defeats to Manchester City and Aston Villa to pull themselves back up the table.

V.S. Norwich Away
Sharp 45+1 (pen)
Becchio 59
Rodriguez 64
Adam Lallana

V.S. Hull Home
Sagbo 16
Sharp 89
Yannick Sagbo

V.S. Sheffield Wednesday Home (Capital One Cup)
Cork 35
Jack Cork

V.S. Arsenal Away
Rodriguez 15
Rosicky 76
Tomas Rosicky

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Despite a first league defeat of the season, Chelsea still lead the way at the top of the table by two points. Fulham are still exceeding expectations in 5th place. But, good news for Cardiff and Hull, in the relegation zone at the beginning of September, up to 14th and 15th respectively at the end of it.

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Despite not being a man of the match once, Jose Fonte has won the player of the month, narrowly beating free scoring Billy Sharp. The defender was fantastic at the back, keeping the defence marshaled so they only conceded 3 goals and remained unbeaten. Fantastic.

Next month, Michael Ballack's side fight his former employers Chelsea, followed by Everton, Sunderland and a capital one cup match with Newcastle United.

Ballack: Better luck next time Jose!

Southampton boss Michael Ballack said before the big match with Chelsea that he felt it would be a tough game, as Jose was a great manager and he himself was just a learner. Jose Mourinho intending probably to put off and infuriate the German told Sky that "I don't need him to tell me we are better than him. I already knew that. He should focus on trying to get his own side on our level."

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So he did. First half goals from Billy Sharp and Jay Rodriguez, followed by a battling second half defensive display, meant that the Saints triumphed 2-0, just to show that he was as good afterall.

Mike Rotch, Sky Sports.

The Saints are on the up!

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Southampton remained unbeaten again, with 3 wins in the league and a dramatic penalty win over Newcastle United.

V.S. Chelsea Home
Sharp 25
Rodriguez 32
Billy Sharp

V.S. Everton Away
Mirallas 28
Sharp 39
Rodriguez 46
Adam Lallana

V.S Sunderland Home
Sharp 48, 62
Billy Sharp

V.S Newcastle Home (Capital One Cup)
Osvaldo 36
S. Taylor 41
Lovren 81
7-6 Penalty win by Southampton, Debuchy missed penalty

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Tottenham have climbed to the top of table after recent good results. Southampton have kept climbing up to 7th, while Cardiff are now up to 11th but with relations between Mackay and Tan, things may not end well. Time is running out for Brendan Rodgers with Liverpool down in 14th. It's bad news for Stoke, the only side still without a win occupies second bottom, only Crystal Palace and their poor defense keeping them off bottom.

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Southampton's three wins sees the Saints manager win manager of the month.

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Meanwhile, Billy Sharp came second to Nacer Chadli in player of the month after scoring 4 goals in 3 games, and Callum Chambers defies many of the coaches at Southampton who told Ballack to drop the player, as he wins the young player of the month.

Haywood Yapinchme, Sky Sports.

Fantastic form recently Hope you sustain top 7!

Good start to the season! I think you'll be able to finish top 7!