Ballon D'Or 2012 (part 2)

Messi
Pirlo
Iniesta
Ronaldo
Aguero

 

^^^
I believe a shortlist of 3 will be announced in early December and they will attend the FIFA Gala in January.
I'll continue with my prediction of Messi, C.Ronaldo and Casillas but I also feel Iniesta and Falcao will challenge for that third slot. Pirlo as well.

 

Betting odds:

1. Messi 1.6 - 1.7
2. Cronaldo 3.5 - 4.5
3. Iniesta 3.8 - 6.0

Probably how the top 3 will pan out, and IMO how it should pan out.

 

Based on OPTA statistics, compiled by whoscored:

 

By countries:
Spain - 7
Italy - 3
Argentina, Ivory Coast, Germany - 2
France, Columbia, Sweden, Brasil, Portugal, England, Holland - 1

By continents:
Europe 17 (from 8 countries)
South America 4 (from 3 countries)
Africa 2 (from 1 country)

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Anyone missing in your opinion? Anyone doesn't deserve to be on the list?
My opinion - Busquets and Pique shouldn't be anywhere near this list. Would prefer Arturo Vidal and Eden Hazard. Also Balotelli hasn't really been that good and I think a nod to Belhanda or Goetze would be much better placed.

Also Petr Cech may have sucked for Czech Rep., but he was pivotal to Chelsea winning the Champions League. Would place him ahead of Buffon.

Shocking to see only 1 Brasilian on such a list...

 

Pique is the big aberration for me - I think he's started fewer than 30 games for Barcelona in 2012. That's nowhere near enough to merit inclusion.

As for the final three, it's obviously going to be Messi, Ronaldo and a big gap to third place. With the emphasis being on the top two, any of a number of players could round it out.

 

Jose Antonio Camacho, who gets to vote as coach of the China national team, revealed last week who he voted for:
1- Iniesta
2- Casillas
3- Xavi
Quote: "The best players are Spanish, right?"

Spain captain Iker Casillas also let out who he voted for...
1- Sergio Ramos
2- Cristiano Ronaldo
3- Xavi
Second straight year he didn't list Messi in his top three.
Sergio Ramos via twitter:
"I want to thank my great friend Iker for his vote for the Ballon d'Or."
image

When asked last Tuesday who he voted for Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque offered no hints:
"I'll vote for the top three when the time arrives."

 

Camacho voted last year: 1. Casillas, 2. Xavi, 3. Iniesta. Hate the biased voters.

 

Balotelli and Pique are the least deserving imo

 

I thought they aren't allowed to vote for their teammates?

 

I think clubmates have always been allowed. It was fellow countrymen that wasn't until last year.
For example, a year or two ago Casillas voted for C.Ronaldo, Ozil and Benzema (I think), no Spaniards but all Real Madrid teammates. But starting last year he could vote for Spaniards as well.

It was reported by sportyou.es although the article did not provide a direct quote from Casillas.
Still, Ramos thanked him via twitter...

260829074841280512 is not a valid tweet id

 

Now that's bs imo...
Pathetic voting for his buddy. I mean come on no one can seriously think that Sergio Ramos deserves the Ballon D'Or.

 

Interesting, I think it's a toss up between Messi and Casillas. Btw Camacho is hilarious!

 

It should be Messi . CR7 and
... whoever ... As no one really deserved such honor beside the two "obvious"!

- Especially Balotelli (for one nice long shot at Euro) and Pique ... for being among the Euro winner? Even Kun, Ramos and Nuer are to make out the 23names? What a SAD list! that made Neymar become a circus player? GOSH

- My final TOP5:
Messi, CR7, Falcao, Iniesta and Pirlo -
if extend to 10: Yaya Tourre, Xavi, Drogba Zlatan and Cassilas

 

Ibrahimovic basically hinted that no Messi on his ballot.

 

Alex Ferguson is nominated for the coach of the year award. This one is really the worst of them all:

• Blew a eight points advantage (early April 2012) in the title race. Manchester City overtook them.
• Humiliated in the Champions League (11/12) and in this current edition the form isn't spectacular either.
• Humiliated two times by Athletic Bilbao, which is like David versus Goliath.

Really horrible nomination.

 

FIFA Coach of the Year candidates:
Vicente del Bosque (Spain)
Roberto di Matteo (ITA - Chelsea)
Alex Ferguson (SCO - Manchester United)
Pep Guardiola (ESP - FC Barcelona)
Jupp Heynckes (GER - Bayern Munich)
Jürgen Klopp (GER - Borussia Dortmund)
Joachim Löw (Germany)
Roberto Mancini (ITA - Manchester City)
Jose Mourinho (POR - Real Madrid)
Cesare Prandelli (Italy)
Shortlist of three finalists will be announced on November 29.


Last week Spanish media reported that Iker Casillas voted for Del Bosque ahead of Mourinho.

 

The top two yes but below these two it is contentious.

I remember that whoscored rated David Luis among the best, while he was and is extremely criticized.

In this top 20 list spots four and five (Ibrahimovic and Hazard; who are very close to each other but on considerable distance of place 3 and place 6) are very debatable. Similarly, Vidal is arguably not a top 10 player in the world and Reus above Van Persie can't be true.

With all due respect for Juventus but there is no way that they possess three (Pirlo, Chiellini, Vidal) of the best 10 players of the world/europe.