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Michael Ball

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I was surprised/pleased to read on the BBC website that Michael Ball, once of this parish, is likely to be offered a contract at Leicester City by his erstwhile boss Sven:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14206877.stm

I thought that Michael had retired after being released by City (2 years ago) so I wish him well.

Rob Sawyer, Cheshire Posted 26/07/2011 at 00:25:13

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Luke O'Farrell
1 Posted 26/07/2011 at 02:11:51

When he burst into the first team at Everton, he paid a visit to my primary school and I was proud to meet him and get his autograph.

He has been badly plagued by injury in the past 4/5 years.

He also trained with Blackpool and Wigan over the past 12 months or so, in a bid to get fit and playing again.

I play 5 a side on Thursday's and have seen him having a game, with his mates on one of the pitches, a few times over the last month or so.

Head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch, although that is to be expected. Was a joy to see a professional at such a close distance. His tackling, reading of the game, anticipation and first touch were tremendous.

Steve Sweeney
2 Posted 26/07/2011 at 07:49:42

Everton cannot sign anyone, we have no money.
It seems even Leeds can now put together a more
attractive package than us.

Dan Brierley
3 Posted 26/07/2011 at 08:58:24

Steve, who has mentioned money or signing anyone? Or do you just spout the same points on every thread you write in?

Michael Ball has been very unfortunate with injuries, it has had a big impact on his development. Its quite sad really, as he had the hallmarks of a top player. But quite rightly from the guys above, he is always considered as one of our own, and wish him luck at Leicester...

Peter Laing
4 Posted 26/07/2011 at 09:14:33

One of our own Dan until we were deprived of his emerging talent along with Francis Jeffers in another effort to balance the books, appease the banks and stave off financial meltdown. Sounds familiar ? how many years on.

Danny Biddle
5 Posted 26/07/2011 at 09:12:28

Was he not left in limbo by Rangers, who didn't want to pay us when he reached a certain number of appearances for them. Very unfortunate as i was convinced he'd become an England regular.

Guess it kind of shows why players want to make the best choices for themselves in such a short career...whether it's deemed to show a lack of loyalty or not.

Karl Meighan
6 Posted 26/07/2011 at 09:22:52

Good point Danny although the top players earn easily enough now in the Prem and from sponsorships so there is no need for them to be greedy which many are. They would be fools to turn down double your money offers but if they have been at a club for a long time there should be some loyalty imo.

Nice to hear Ball could be getting a contract and ime sure most here wish him well and remember a very good player when he burst into the Everton first team.

David S Shaw
7 Posted 26/07/2011 at 10:51:59

Before I opened this page I feared we were trying to buy him!

Gavin Ramejkis
8 Posted 26/07/2011 at 11:06:30

Ball was broken by Everton back in the days of Wally and Knox, thought it was fairly open knowledge he had several cortisone injections in his ankle to play games for us and it nearly ruined his career. He carried the results of those poor decisions when he went to Rangers who felt the effects of buying an injured player.

Good luck to the lad, I have good memories from when he played for us but we can't look back at ex players as a solution to the current problems.

Steve Mink
9 Posted 26/07/2011 at 17:12:10

Played in Leicester's pre-season tour of Scandinavia. Leic City-supporting mate of mine said he looked class.

James Stewart
10 Posted 26/07/2011 at 18:20:43

Good player along with Jeffers who had wasted careers.

Lee Courtliff
11 Posted 26/07/2011 at 18:42:09

Good luck to the lad. I think his debut was against Spurs at Goodison in April '97.

I was at the game and we were decimated with injuries (surprised?). We had Ball and some 17-year-old kid who I think was called John Hills playing down the left hand side for us.

They both looked good. I think Hills went back to Blackpool and obviously we know about Michael.

Shame, as he looked like he could become a quality centre half. Good luck to the lad.

Ian Kearney
12 Posted 27/07/2011 at 00:35:25

If he'd been a litlle bigger, I'm convinced he would have been one of the best footballing centre backs in the game. I remember him playing as part of a back 3 looking good.

As Gavin said playing on injuries hurt him, as it does many others ? has Gosling kicked a ball in a year?

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