Football Banter

2011 Ballon d'Or World Footballer/Manager of the Year shortlist.

Player nominees: Eric Abidal (France), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal),
Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina),
Thomas Muller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England),
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

Coach nominees: Vicente Del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United), Rudi Garcia (France/Lille),
Pep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona), Jurgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Loew (Germany/Germany national team),
Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay/Uruguay national team), Andre Villas-Boas (Portugal/Porto, Chelsea),
Arsene Wenger(France/Arsenal).


I think Lionel Messi will win it over Ronaldo on the basis that Barca's goalscoring is mostly done by Messi where as Real have at least 3 opptions.
Last season & so far this season. This season in brackets.
Messi App 55 (17) Gls 53 (22) Assists 24 (11)
Ronaldo App 54 (16) Gls 53 (14) Assists N/A

I'd like to see Jurgen Klopp get the managers award for winning Borussia Dortmund first Bundesliga title for 9 years & he did it with a team that has an average age of about 22/23??? Or Oscar Tabarez for winning the Copa América with Uruguay for a record 15th time.

I don't know all the stats but.... Eric Abidal, Samuel Eto'o, Neymar, Arsene Wenger

*All stats taken from Wikipedia. Updated 3rd November.

I'm really not sure how they work this out either Mitchell to be honest. Adding to your list of Eric Abidal, Samuel Eto'o, Neymar, Arsene Wenger , I would personally question Nani and Benzema, also if they are chucking in Rudi Garcia, then I think they should have included Harry Redknapp as well.

Add to all that, why is Fabregas there?

(04-11-2011 20:11 )iamthatjack Wrote:  Add to all that, why is Fabregas there?

because he plays for real madrid!

Yes, that was the other one I wanted to list... But I think terence has just answered that now

BREAKING NEWS - BREAKING NEWS - BREAKING NEWS

Quote:The Football Association confirms it has appealed to Uefa against Wayne Rooney's three-match ban.

My question, why ? Rooney lashed out at the guy. Sure it wasn't a career threatening 2 foot challenge, but rules are rules. It is like when a player raises his arm in a confrontation, he knows he will be getting a straight red.

Why risk further punishment by appealing a 3 match ban when he was so guilty ? A straight red card carries a 3 match ban, end of, no exception, get over it!

(04-11-2011 20:19 )Money_Shot Wrote:  My question, why ?

Simple answer, because England's chances of doing well in the tournament depend almost entirely on a fully-fit in-form Rooney. Or at least that's the view of the FA.

I think Rooney is an exceptional player, and possibly to the closest to world class we have in the England side. However England set up the team to accommodate and cater for Rooney. This I believe is where we go wrong as we don't actually play to our strengths, just our strength. As Rooney's international record speaks volumes for a player so pandered for I hope the team find a formula without him and he becomes an impact sub.
I am personally a strong believer of the most in form XI should play, not the biggest XI names. It is a crying shame that in recent years it has never been the case and players play off their reputations.

I would like, if the F.A actually had any balls, sack Crappello now, get a new coach installed who is going to be the boss for the 2014 world cup, get him to now prepare for that. Like Germany in the last tournament, bleed through the youngsters and build a team for the future that will be able to compete for World Cup in 2014 and the Euro's in 2016.

Rather then the the tail end of the so called "golden generation"

(04-11-2011 20:13 )terence Wrote:  

(04-11-2011 20:11 )iamthatjack Wrote:  Add to all that, why is Fabregas there?

because he plays for real madrid!

Unless I'm missing a joke of some sort, you mean Barcelona?!

(04-11-2011 21:45 )iamthatjack Wrote:  

(04-11-2011 20:13 )terence Wrote:  

(04-11-2011 20:11 )iamthatjack Wrote:  Add to all that, why is Fabregas there?

because he plays for real madrid!

Unless I'm missing a joke of some sort, you mean Barcelona?!

my poor attempt at humour!