Cesc, Kolo, and Van Persie nominated for Ballon D'Or

[FabregasTED]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11096_2815765,00.html

Great, GREAT honor for these young players. I just glanced at the list quickly, but I don't think any other team other than Milan had their entire spine (CB, CM, CF) nominated.

[Guy Fawkes]

I'm very glad Kolo gets the respect he deserves here. I truly believe he's the best center back in the world (I am ridiculously biased in everything I say, though, but I believe it to be true).

[Skizz]

The full list:

Premiership based players

Dimitar BERBATOV (Tottenham)
Petr CECH (Chelsea)
Cristiano RONALDO (Man United)
Didier DROGBA (Chelsea)
Michael ESSIEN (Chelsea)
Cesc FABREGAS (Arsenal)
Steven GERRARD (Liverpool)
Ryan GIGGS (Man United)
Florent MALOUDA (Chelsea)
Wayne ROONEY (Man United)
Paul SCHOLES (Man United)
Carlos TEVEZ (Man United)
Kolo TOURE (Arsenal)
Fernando TORRES (Liverpool)
Robin VAN PERSIE (Arsenal)

La Liga based players

Eric ABIDAL (Barcelona)
Daniel ALVES (Sevilla)
Fabio CANNAVARO (Real Madrid)
Iker CASILLAS (Real Madrid)
DECO (Barcelona)
Mahamadou DIARRA (Real Madrid)
Samuel ETO'O (Barcelona)
Thierry HENRY (Barcelona)
Frederic KANOUTE (Sevilla)
Lionel MESSI (Barcelona)
RAUL (Real Madrid)
Juan Roman RIQUELME (Villarreal)
ROBINHO (Real Madrid)
Ruud VAN NISTELROOY (Real Madrid)
David VILLA (Valencia)

Serie A based players

Gianluigi BUFFON (Juventus)
Gennaro GATTUSO (Milan)
Zlatan IBRAHIMOVIC (Inter)
Filippo INZAGHI (Milan)
Paolo MALDINI (Milan)
Andrea PIRLO (Milan)
Clarence SEEDORF (Milan)
Francesco TOTTI (Roma)

Players based elsewhere

David BECKHAM (LA Galaxy)
Rogerio CENI (Sao Paulo)
DIEGO (Werder Bremen)
Miroslav KLOSE (Bayern Munich)
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa)
Shunsuke NAKAMURA (Celtic)
Guillermo OCHOA (America Mexico)
Ricardo QUARESMA (Porto)
Franck RIBERY (Bayern Munich)
Luca TONI (Bayern Munich)

Beckham? WTF?!!

[bostonf4lyf]

this list is much more accurate than the fifa player of the year, but what is beckham doing on the list?

[DaPrince84]

this list is much more accurate than the fifa player of the year, but what is beckham doing on the list?
his first half with Madrid was big...

[Gittle]

his first half with Madrid was big...

You mean second half. Madrid was languishing off the pace shortly after the winter break, then Fabio Capello finally decided to play him, and after that point, they couldn't lose. Surely, that can't be a coincidence. (And I think Becks is overrated!) ;)

[antifan]

his first half with Madrid was big...
The first half of what game? ;)

Why is Riquelme on the list? Were these nominations made 2 years ago?

[Skizz]

Beckham got nominated because he's single handedly turned Madrid AND the MLS AND the England team around :rolleyes:

And to make myself bulletproof - [/sarcasm]

[Gittle]

Beckham got nominated because he's single handedly turned Madrid AND the MLS AND the England team around :rolleyes:

And to make myself bulletproof - [/sarcasm]

Well, one out of three ain't bad. Now, he might not have had everything to do with Madrid's success a year ago, but the team just clicked when Capello figured out that it would be a good idea to play him. As for MLS, I don't think he was brought in to be a saviour, except in the eyes of the US sports media (BSPN, erm, I mean ESPN).

As for England, I am reminded of what Ali G once asked him. "Beckham, we has all seen pictures of you wearing clothes that is well embarrassing and make you look line a laughingstock. Why does you wear that England football shirt?" Then Posh chimes in and says, "Be patriotic, for goodness sake!" to which Ali G replies, "I is....Listen, if Jamaica is playing, I is always supporting them!" :D

That reminds me...Rick hasn't been around for a while, and I must say, it's a much less tense atmosphere. So I will go with one of Ali G's most pertinent quotes from just before that interview: "Now, Africa ain't just the country that gave us Bob Marley." :p

[CaptVimes]

More to the point why is Raul on the list. These things always are a joke.

[n4100]

Someone missed the fact that Kaka is on the list.

[Guy Fawkes]

Someone missed the fact that Kaka is on the list.

Beckham>Kaka






:p

[Gooner_for_Life]

This is how we do.

[impalemeplz]

congrats to the new king, cesc and rvp.

i think beckham has a case. he provided the experience that was very much needed in that run in to the title. i truely think without raul and becks there is no way they would of produced some of those turn arounds in key games and score some of those last minute goals to grab crucial wins.

his leadership if nothing else gets him on the list.

[Silva 5]

Beckham is still quality. I honestly feel like he is the best England player. Gerrard is awesome because of his workrate, Rooney is a physical phenom and when Owen is healthy, very few match his finishing ability, but none of which have as much composure and class on the ball as Becks.

but this thread is all about our boys. congratulations to all of them for getting the recognition. king kolo is really something special...i don't think i've ever seen a center defender play with so much joy like toure does.

[antifan]

Please, someone explain Riquelme. Did he even play in Europe last year?

[mintone]

I count at least 11 players that don't deserve to be there either because of injuries or just plain poor form.

[Skizz]

Didn't Riquelme get dropped for ages after falling out with the hierarchy at Villarreal?

[SHADEY]

Please, someone explain Riquelme. Did he even play in Europe last year?

I seem to remember a time during the summer, when Riquelme had just lead Boca(?), or whomever went back to Argentina to play for, to their domestic cup and then played very well for Argentina in the Copa America. This, of course, was highlighted in every other sentence spoken by Tommy Smith on ESPN, who got so used to talking about him that he simply referred to him as "Roman".

So my point is, that if Tommy Smith speaks your name and then says, "The Old Onion Bag" over and over, then you must be qualified to be nominated for significant awards. Everyone knows that.

[HomeatHighbury]

Great honor for our boys, but for some of the others, I'm a bit puzzled......but at least this list is more legit than the Fifa World Footballer of the Year one. That one was a complete laugh IIRC