Ballon D'Or Shortlist

[lanman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7678835.stm

The big question for me is how is Pepe on here and not Rio Ferdinand?

[comme]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7678835.stm

The big question for me is how is Pepe on here and not Rio Ferdinand?

Pepe had a solid Euros and was pretty good for Madrid. But yeah, Ferdinand has been the best CB in the world this year.

Also Rooney? Until recently he has not been at the top of his game. Eto'o also shouldn't be on the list IMO.

[schafer]

Drogba shouldn't be on there either, IMO, with all his injuries this calendar year he hasn't done enough to warrant a spot.

[comme]

I didn't see Drogba on there.

He did very little in the last year.

[johan neeskens]

Van der Vaart but no Sneijder? How weird is that.

[schafer]

Yeah, Sneijder was definitely better at the Euros IMO (Van der Vaart was actually a little underwhelming) but I haven't seen enough of them for Madrid or Hamburg to know who was better there.

[Cirdan]

Yeah, Sneijder was definitely better at the Euros IMO (Van der Vaart was actually a little underwhelming) but I haven't seen enough of them for Madrid or Hamburg to know who was better there.

His last half year in Hamburg wasn't his best, but from what I hear, he started pretty good in Madrid.

Shortlist doesn't really matter, Ronaldo will win.

[essie]

Shortlist doesn't really matter, Ronaldo will win.


true

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Cue the annual farce.

[Perú FC]

Just I like was chosen Senna :D.

[phil80]

No Iniesta, Joe Cole, Ferdinand, Mascherano??

[Duck Manson]

The list should be:

Casillas
Messi
Ronaldo
Torres

[johan neeskens]

What I want to know is how exactly this thing is voted on. They say it's journalists of European football publications but who exactly? And how many in each country? Does say Romania's leading footy mag get a say?

Drogba, Adebayor, Lampard, Rooney, Eto'o, Van der Vaart don't deserve to be in there.

C. Ronaldo will win it but that's mostly because he beats the likes of Casillas in terms of tabloid coverage.

[comme]

What I want to know is how exactly this thing is voted on. They say it's journalists of European football publications but who exactly? And how many in each country? Does say Romania's leading footy mag get a say?

Drogba, Adebayor, Lampard, Rooney, Eto'o, Van der Vaart don't deserve to be in there.

C. Ronaldo will win it but that's mostly because he beats the likes of Casillas in terms of tabloid coverage.

It's from France Football. Go on the France Football website, and they show (or at least they did) who voted for who, and how many votes each country has.

Adebayor was outstanding last season (though quite a bit of that was in the prior calendar year). Lampard has been absolutely phenomenal since his mother died. So far this season he's playing the best football of his career, on current form the best player in the world.

[Duck Manson]

on current form the best player in the world.I'd give that to Zlatan. He's doin shit Lamps could only dream of.

[johan neeskens]

It's from France Football. Go on the France Football website, and they show (or at least they did) who voted for who, and how many votes each country has.

Adebayor was outstanding last season (though quite a bit of that was in the prior calendar year). Lampard has been absolutely phenomenal since his mother died. So far this season he's playing the best football of his career, on current form the best player in the world.

Here's what I take issue with to start off with: the fact that it's no longer just about European footballers but also about footballers in Europe. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that you then have to completely disregard Euro 2008 performances. But then, if they do that (which they would have to logically) then what is someone like Arshevin doing in that list? It's completely illogical with one set of standards for some players and another for the next. Lampard for example, while he may have been great for his club, was utterly shite for his country. Why is that irrelevant for his inclusion in the list while it's Arshevin's Euro 2008 performance that got him on the list? Then Rooney - we all know that he's a class player but his form has not been not very good for either club or country. So for him it's yet another set of standards, i.e. he gets picked on reputation and potential. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[Duck Manson]

It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.Arshavin has been pretty good for Zenit. Not saying he deserves to win this thing but he deserves to be on this list as much as most.

[johan neeskens]

Arshavin has been pretty good for Zenit. Not saying he deserves to win this thing but he deserves to be on this list as much as most.

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be on the list.

[comme]

Here's what I take issue with to start off with: the fact that it's no longer just about European footballers but also about footballers in Europe. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that you then have to completely disregard Euro 2008 performances. But then, if they do that (which they would have to logically) then what is someone like Arshevin doing in that list? It's completely illogical with one set of standards for some players and another for the next. Lampard for example, while he may have been great for his club, was utterly shite for his country. Why is that irrelevant for his inclusion in the list while it's Arshevin's Euro 2008 performance that got him on the list? Then Rooney - we all know that he's a class player but his form has not been not very good for either club or country. So for him it's yet another set of standards, i.e. he gets picked on reputation and potential. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

The award takes everything into account, just as it always has. If you don' compete in a tournament then you miss out on any prestige you might have gained.

Arshavin was outstanding for the UEFA Cup winners and the Euros.

Lampard was excellent in last season's CL, so far this season and for England in their competitive games.

Rooney, has been average for most of the year, but is now in great form. I agree he shouldn't be nominated.

[Duck Manson]

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be on the list.You're saying it doesn't make sense. He's played good for club and country. How does he making the list not make sense?