Ballon d'Or shortlist announced

Soldato
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Didn't realise they'd merged the Player of The Year and the Ballon d'Or awards. Bit of a shame actually, I kind of liked that you'd get two different winners.

Player of the Year nominees:

  • Xabi Alonso (Spain)
  • Daniel Alves (Brazil)
  • Iker Casillas (Spain)
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
  • Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
  • Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
  • Cesc Fábregas (Spain)
  • Diego Forlán (Uruguay)
  • Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
  • Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
  • Júlio César (Brazil)
  • Miroslav Klose (Germany)
  • Philipp Lahm (Germany)
  • Maicon (Brazil)
  • Lionel Messi (Argentina)
  • Thomas Müller (Germany)
  • Mesut Ozil (Germany)
  • Carles Puyol (Spain)
  • Arjen Robben (Holland)
  • Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
  • Wesley Sneijder (Holland)
  • David Villa (Spain)
  • Xavi (Spain)
Manager of the Year nominees:
  • Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea)
  • Vicente del Bosque (Spain)
  • Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
  • Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
  • Joachim Löw (Germany)
  • José Mourinho (Internazionale/Real Madrid)
  • Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay)
  • Louis van Gaal (Bayern Munich)
  • Bert van Marwijk (Holland)
  • Arsène Wenger (Arsenal)

Can't really see anyone passing Messi for the player award, apart from maybe Iniesta or Villa. Glad to see Fabregas make the list, though he won't win it. Also good to see Forlan on there, he's had a stormer of a year. Also, as much of a dislikeable footballer as he is, Drogba must be the most complete striker in the world right now.

As for the manager award, it's surprising to see Wenger and Ferguson on there, despite neither winning much last year. Sign of how regarded the Premiership is? Will most likely be Mourinho, or possibly del Bosque there really, van Gaal for third place I reckon.
 
It does show how highly regarded english players are, not 1 in the list.
Who would deserve to be in there though? The usually solid top English players (Gerrard, Lampard) haven't clicked recently, we were shocking in the World Cup, and whilst Rooney was fantastic last season, he's suffered a terrible dip in form at just the wrong time for this.

As much as I loathe the poor "I have trouble getting up in the morning with my millionaire paycheck" dear, Ashley Cole is probably England's best player right now. He's about the only name I can think of who wouldn't look out of place being on there. But as it's too much of an attack-minded award, and he's never been quite as forward roaming at Chelsea, it would always be a long shot.
 
Fabregas isn't world class he doesn't even play for Spain LOLOL

Messi was by far the best player in the world last year, by miles. Sneijder may win it due to the often bizarre nature of voting
 
Imho, Messi for player of the year and Mourinho manager.

Don't forget how well some of the players on that list are doing though, C. Ronaldo is on 35 goals in 37 appearances for Real, which is fantastic. All the players on that list are in brilliant form and amazing players.

Funny with it being off the back of a World Cup, could see one of the Spain trio getting it (Xavi, Iniesta, Villa)

No English players? ... There's a surprise :p has the World figured out how over rated most of them are?
 
Messi & Maureen easily for this.

Couldn't give a rats ass there are no English players. Our teams didn't fare well in Europe and we sucked in the WC. *shrugs*
 
Never mind no English players, simply a lack of players from the premiership is the more worrying thing.
 
Messi & Maureen easily for this.

Yep id say the same...id be very surprised if Messi didnt win it...if Sneijder wins it then i would think its only because he won the CL last yr with Inter.

Not surpised that there isnt any english players in the list...there hasnt been any outstanding players other than Rooney for Utd last season but he had such a rubbish WC so didnt think he would make the list.
 
Generally a poor 6 months leading up to this award, you can't play well for half a year and be considered one of the best
 
Gyan is an outrageously poor choice. Alves and Puyol too. It's as if they've just made up the numbers with a token African and some Barca players.
 
DM's nefarious all-blinding pet hate aside, hasn't Ozil been decent for Madrid? I make no claims to know about his form for Bremen previously.

God knows why a Sunderland second-choice striker made the list though.
 
Ozil came off the back of a very good season in Germany, burst on to the International side (imho the best International side at the World Cup), and is playing very well for a Real Madrid team who are as a team playing very well.

Klose was very good at the World Cup but along with Gyan seem there to make up the numbers. Gyan couldn't cut it in France :o

Puyol has had a decent season and was decent at the World Cup :confused: as to why he's in ahead of for example Lucio.

Alves was good for Barca but struggled to make an impact at the World Cup.
 
Sneijder for me as i saw him play in the league and didnt see Ozil so i cant judge him on his world cup.
Robben and Forlan are outside chances though as they both had good seasons and were both good in the world cup.
 
Messi or Iniesta for me. Can't see beyond Jose for manager.

EDIT: That said, Villa's had a pretty good year, was fantastic in the world cup as well...
 
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