Golden Ball Nominees

[Pablo Chicago]

Here is the list of Golden Ball nominees:

GB Nominees (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5021716)

Who do you think will win?

[gaijin]

Lampard.

Or maybe Gerrard.

And Again. Why is Beckham on that list?

[AllezParisAllezPSG]

was just wondering why france football's golden ball is so important... i'm only 20 yrs old but i remember thinking just recently on how the "ballon d'or" is not really THAT important since it only involves France Football... but then i realized that it got so much media attention around the world and it was huge w/ FIFA (is obviously the most important) ... so anybody know why/how it has become so big?

in any case, don't get me wrong, i'm happy to see its so important... france football is my favorite soccer magazine... can't wait to arrive at a Relay at the french airport and see my first france football and l'equipe... god i miss them...

[Pablo Chicago]

was just wondering why france football's golden ball is so important... so anybody know why/how it has become so big?...

Journalists, from around the world, get to vote, so it has become much more than a French thing. In a nutshell, it's nothing more than a popularity contest.

[The Potter]

It's much better than the FIFA award. imo

[Teso Dos Bichos]

As I said in another thread...

To save you the effort, I have highlighted the joke nominations for this year. Here they are:

David Beckham (Real Madrid)
Luis Figo (Internazionale)
Luis Garcia (Liverpool)
Michael Owen (Newcastle)
Raul (Real Madrid)
Arjen Robben (Chelsea)
Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid)
Robinho (Real Madrid)
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

[The Potter]

Just to clarify.Do you have Robinho as a joke because he has just moved to Europe?

[Pablo Chicago]

It's much better than the FIFA award. imo

Why? What makes the media more qualified to judge the talent of a player than FIFA associations and national team captains?

[The Potter]

Why? What makes the media more qualified to judge the talent of a player than FIFA associations and national team captains?


I often wonder how much football some of the people on the FIFA poll actually see. It must be like watching work. The FIFA award does seem to go to the player with the biggest name and the best show reel

[gaijin]

my rundown... :cool:

Adriano (Brazil, Inter) - Outside bet, was outstanding in 2004 but has had a mixed 2005, especially of late.

Michael Ballack (Germany, Bayern Munich) - Could win, but has done nothing spectacular on the European stage. No WC Qualifiers also has hindered his vote somewhat.

David Beckham (England, Real Madrid) - Why? Seriously. Why?

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus) - Solid for Juve, but it has to take a superhuman effort for keepers to win this thing.

Mauro Camoranesi (Italy, Juventus) - Not Ballon d'Or quality for me.

Fabio Cannavaro (Italy, Juventus) - Won't win it, not been making headlines much.

Jamie Carragher (England, Liverpool) - Solid choice, although his domestic form has been poor. For CL he was the best defender in the tournament. Could possibly cause an upset.

Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea) - Could Cech follow up his countryman Pavel Nedved and win the covereted award? Me thinks no. One of the best and consistent keepers in Europe, but see Buffon as to why he won't win. Maybe not Yashin good, but maybe an outside bet.

Gregory Coupet (France, Lyon) - See above. Best keeper in Ligue 1 and for Les Blues (but Barthez is on his way back!)

Cris (Brazil Lyon) - Solid for Lyon, but sadly Ligue 1 is not a huge league and doesn't get enough exposure and credit. Sadly, Cris is something of a unsung hero, who really doesn't get the plaudits he fully deserves. He won't win, because of this fact.

Deco (Portugal, Barcelona) - Should have won in 2004, as he was one of the favourites. His chance has gone. His chance was last year.

Dida (Brazil, Milan) Again, a great keeper, but.... keepers rarely win it.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea) [restrained biased post, somewhat] You can't polish a turd, but you can throw enough perfume at it, to make it smell nice. Chelsea can buy any schlepp and make them seem half decent given the amazing service of Duff, Lampard, Robben etc. Drogba is an average striker, who I detest. Even more so, because he hasn't been fully found out as the piece of crap that he is.[/restrained biased post, somewhat]

Other than that, his chance was 2004, surely...

Emerson (Brazil, Juventus) - See Cris. Although, iirc Juve fans are somewhat critical of him at times.

Michael Essien (Ghana, Lyon-Chelsea) - Serious contender. Took Lyon to the CL quarters won the Gones their 4th succesive title and led Ghana to their first world cup. This guy is a very good bet to take home the trophy. The African player of the year is his for the taking imo.

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Barcelona) - A very good bet. Scored lots of goals in La Liga and brought league success to Barca since 1999.

Luis Figo (Portugal, Real Madrid-Inter) - See Beckham. Why? He has only just returned to international football and was less than impressive for Real, just sitting on the bench living off past glories.

Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Villarreal) - Golden Boot winner, can he claim the Golden Ball? Maybe.....just maybe.

Luis Garcia (Spain, Liverpool) - Won't win. Sadly the CL does not mean everything. Liverpool have been poor domestically.

Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool) - Could say the same, but his winning of the CL player of the year award (MVP of Europe) could win him this vote. I think the Euro tides are with him.

Thierry Henry (France, Arsenal) - Broke Ian Wright's goalscoring record. Outstanding for Arsenal, but maybe will fall just short, however getting to second in last year's FIFA poll of the year could work with him.

Xaiver "Xavi" Hernandez - (Spain, Barcelona) - I like this guy, very underrated. However, just like those Lyon players, I don't think he will for being something of the driving essence that allows Ronaldinho to grab the headlines.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Juventus) - A good to long outside bet. Has been consistent for Sweden in their qualification group, and did well in his debut Serie A season. Been a bit patchy of late, although his form now is back on the up. Could he ghost ahead?

Juninho (Brazil, Lyon) - A serious dark horse. I would love him to win, and probably should. Just like Essien I think he could prove a shock, but maybe not saw when you consider what he has accomplished.

Kaka (Brazil, Milan) - Great geting Milan to the final, but for that final, he won't win. Long long shot.

Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea) - Favourite imho. Should win. And not because he's English... :p

Roy Makaay (Netherlands, Bayern Munich) - Has been very poor of late. Below his standard. As a result, he is a long shot.

Claude Makelele (France, Chelsea) - Most underrated player in Europe. If Lampard should win, then Makelele should also get the plaudits for being the industrious driving force for Lampards attacking flair, that has won him so many admirers.

Paolo Maldini (Italy, Milan) - He doesn't quit does he? This guy never seems to age. Maybe they'll go with the sympathy vote to round off a great career. But I doubt it.

Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic, Juventus) - He would join such lumineres like Di Stefano, Cruyff, Keegan, Rumminegge and Platini to have won the awrd more than once. I don't think he will join the party however.

Michael Owen (England, Real Madrid-Newcastle) - Eh? Oh well, if it goes the criteria on goals per minutes ratio, then I guess he should be on the shortlist.

Park Ji-sung (South Korea, PSV-Manchester United) - The Asian Vote?!?!?

*cue trolling from some fanboys without an appreciation of sarcasm*

Looooooong shot.

Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Milan) - Underrated in the Makelele sense.

Raul (Spain, Real Madrid) - Another PR vote. Go and sit with your pals Figo and Beckham and ponder how soon you will be joined by Robinho and you can play yiour trips and dayouts together etc...

Don't get me wrong, I think he's a brilliant player, but next to some of the names on here, then I don't think he deserves it.

Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina, Villarreal) - Good outside bet. I like his style of play, but maybe in a few years when he does something really special in Europe or on the international stage then we can tout him as a favourite.

Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Chelsea) - Gets injured too much. Had he played more games then we could well be saying he his a favourite. Outside bet. Also has been rather poor this season.

Roberto Carlos (Brazil, Real Madrid) - Explain Real fans. I haven't really seen much of him. Does he deserve it? Some say he has been a much improved player...

Robinho (Brazil, Real Madrid) - *sigh* We may as well stick Messi on the list too. thought he did well at the Confed Cup, but has done nothing of merit in European club football. Cannot speak for his time at Santos however. But it must have been special to get him a place here.

Ronaldinho (Brazil, Barcelona) - Current FIFA player of the year. The world's best. Is he Europe's best as well? We may well see. A very good bet.

Ronaldo (Brazil, Real Madrid) - Can't comment really. Could he win it a 3rd time, and join Van Basten, Cruyff and Van Basten?

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United) - A dark horse.

Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United) - Serious contender, a very good bet.

Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine, Milan) Current holder. I don't think he will join another Milan compatriot (Van Basten) in winning two year's running. That said, he could well, and maybe then the comparisons would be accurate.

John Terry (England, Chelsea) Strong bet. About time a defender won. Since Sammer I think (???)

Lilian Thuram (France, Juventus) - Hmmmmm. Won't win.

David Trezeguet (France, Juventus) - Injured far too much to be seriously considered.

Marc van Bommel (Netherlands, PSV-Barcelona) - Good outside bet. But how many players since Cruyff at Ajax have won the trophy for the accomplishments in the Eredivise?

Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands, Manchester United) - Not been his old self. I feel as if his time has passed. Not at his prime at the minute.

Patrick Vieira (France, Arsenal-Juventus) - If he continues his form for Juve, then he might be a favourite for 2006. But not here.

Zinedine Zidane (France, Real Madrid) - Back for Les Bleus but not the Zizou that destroyed everyone and everything a few years back. Great player, but won't win.

[Pablo Chicago]

I often wonder how much football some of the people on the FIFA poll actually see. It must be like watching work. The FIFA award does seem to go to the player with the biggest name and the best show reel

Agreed. However, I'm no fan of the media. I'd like to see Euro players and coaches select the GB winner.

[The Potter]

Agreed. However, I'm no fan of the media. I'd like to see Euro players and coaches select the GB winner.


There is a UEFA award Gerrard won.

[Pablo Chicago]

There is a UEFA award Gerrard won.

Does Gerrard deserve an award based on Liverpool's Champions League performance? Okay, I'll give you that one.

Golden Ball? I don't think so.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Just to clarify.Do you have Robinho as a joke because he has just moved to Europe?

Correct

[Kaka']

This year's award will be very difficult to hand out. Out of the 50 named I see 20+ with a chance of winning it. That is a high number especially without any clear cut favourites we could see the award go to an undervalued/underrated player.

I see Kaka', Adriano, Lampard, Gerrard and Ballack as favourites right now. But a player who I think deserves serious consideration is Claude Makalele. Having him in the Chelsea midfield makes Lampard much more potent and the Terry and Gallas pairing much stronger.

[nuff_said]

Doesn't Casillas deserve to be on that list? just wondering...

[marakana10]

Top 10- in my opinion anyone of these could win it

1. Frank Lampard, M, Chelsea
2. Thierry Henry, F, Arsenal
3. Samuel Eto'o, F, Barcelona
4. Diego Forlan, F, Villareal
5. Micheal Essien, M, Chelsea-years at Lyon
6. Mark van Bommel, M, Barcelona-year at PSV
7. Ronaldinho, M/F, Barcelona - my favorite to take it
8. Andriy Shevchenko, F, AC Milan
9. John Terry, D, Chelsea
10. Steven Gerrard, M, Liverpool

I might have missed someone but each one of these players made a large contribution to their team someway in terms of winning a trophy or outstanding achievement. Personally I want Henry to win because he has simply marveled in goals, and even if he didn't achieve anyting in European football I think his record speaks for itself, he has scored the most goals in the EPL since '99 at 141 followed by Shearer at 104. That says something about the guy... But that's probably my Arsenal favorism taking over! lol He should be followed by Makalele, and Ronaldinho. Makalele especially, the unsung hero. But clearly Ronaldinho will take it, my favorite to win it.

[nicephoras]

There is a UEFA award Gerrard won.

Yes, CL MVP - an award specifically for the CL. But this is for overall performances. Gerrard's been crap for England and Liverpool were not so great in the EPL.

[ForeverRed]

This year's award will be very difficult to hand out. Out of the 50 named I see 20+ with a chance of winning it. That is a high number especially without any clear cut favourites we could see the award go to an undervalued/underrated player.

I see Kaka', Adriano, Lampard, Gerrard and Ballack as favourites right now. But a player who I think deserves serious consideration is Claude Makalele. Having him in the Chelsea midfield makes Lampard much more potent and the Terry and Gallas pairing much stronger.

Yea but Lampard was great even before Makalele and he wasn't recognized for it....it's time for Lampard to get it....I wish him and Henry could share it though.....Henry was robbed last year in the FIFA award.

[marakana10]

Plus how many goals did Henry score last season? 31 in all competitions, and 40 goals the previous season. the man was robbed and not because I'm an Arsenal fan... How would you feel if you scored 40 goals in today's game of football and didn't get an award? I would be steaming....

History:

04-05: EPL: 25 goals/32 matches, CL: 5 goals/8 matches, Cup: 1 goal/7 matches

03-04: EPL: 30 goals/37 matches, CL: 5 goals/ 10 matches, Cup: 5 goals/12 matches

Overall: 71 goals/106 matches over last 2 seasons

71/106=.6698*100= 66.98% strike rate

Andriy Shevchenko over last 2 seasons:

04-05: Serie A: 17 goals/29 matches, CL: 6 goals/10 mathces, Cup: none

03-04: Serie A: 24 goals/32 mathces, CL: 4 goals/9 matches, Cup: none

Overall: 51 goals/80 matches=.6375*100=63.75% strike rate

Thus Henry can compete with the best. Source: http://fr.sports.yahoo.com, this website is excellent for looking up score records of individual players...

As for Gilardino, overall 50 goals/84 matches= 60% in the last 2 seasons... Not bad for a youngster :D