Doesn't seem to have typos as far as I can see: Don Balon says that Figo had 12 assists this season. Quick search learned that this number matches with some (strict) sources but not all sources.
Excellent work, mate. I think is only missed the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. I'll search for them, later
Yes, I've already bought the right issue for 1996-97 - will receive that soon. That will leave 1997-98 missing.
I only bought a few (not many at all overall; similar with FourFourTwo) issues of World Soccer in the early part of this century to be honest, but yeah maybe Don Ballon played a part in voting for the ESM teams of the month etc. I don't recall any teams shown in World Soccer for Spanish domestic football though, or any ratings as far as I remember so maybe those were just published directly in Don Ballon issues (which I suppose makes sense, but their Europe wide selections for each month would be shown in World Soccer certainly).
Yeah, it's not in World Soccer (I've got every copy for the 90s). Also WS don't split out the teams for the ESM monthly selection by who actually voted for who (at least not in the magazine, they have done on the website sometimes).
Yeah, I remember in an issue or two I bought that the 'vote' of each publication was printed for a particular month but maybe that was a rare occurance then (unless you mean it doesn't show which individual journalist voted for who but I'm guessing that wouldn't be shown on the website either). I may be thinking of about 2004 I think. I seem to remember (I did check the magazine relatively recently but don't have it to hand right now) about 12 publications or something like that being involved - A Bola from Portugal, a Danish one, a Turkish one, Voetbal International etc.
Yes that's right. Sadly WS treat it a little bit inconsistently so in some months they go to town and list all the votes and in others they don't even post the summary telling you the team of the month.
OK, thanks. I thought that maybe (just maybe) they maybe listed such best teams of colleague publications in end of the season overviews/reviews. Anyway, I'll receive the 1996-97 one soon (I'm certain it is the right issue) which will leave 1997-98 as most glaring omission then.
@msioux75 @PDG1978 @Raute @comme Took some time, but I can now upload some sharper scans of the October 1985 issue. This will help msioux75 to re-compute both scales (I made it extra big so that there's no ambiguity). The introduction: 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 Some of the foreign stars playing in this period (1975-1980): Netzer, Breitner, Cruijff, Neeskens, Jara, Van Dijk, Luis Pereira, Keita, Rep, Brindisi, G. Mühren, Kempes, Scotta, Joao Alves, Rui Jordao, Henning Jensen, Stielike, Krankl, Bonhof, Bertoni, Cunningham, Simonsen, Roberto Dinamite, Valdano, Dirceu, Fernando Morena. To be continued.....
1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 Some of the foreign stars playing in this period (1980-1985): Stielike, Cunningham, Dirceu, Morena, Kempes, Simonsen, Krankl, Schuster, Valdano, Frank Arnesen, Hugo Sanchez, Fernando Gomes, Tomaszewski, Metgod, Maradona, Barbas, N'Kono, Calderon, Magico Gonzalez, Archibald, Surjak. Team of 1975-1985 (in the eyes of 'Don Balon')
@msioux75 @PDG1978 @comme @carlito86 This is not definitive but here are some interesting articles that I saw recently or saved before that (from 'Shoot!'). I did try to be balanced and representative though. Alfredo di Stefano found out and experienced: great players are not always equally great trainers, coaches or managers. I had to make a selection though and I haven't seen everything. Article about rough play in Spain, 12 may 1979 Second article about rough play, June 1980 Interview with Luis Pereira, 1976 Article about Laurie Cunningham, December 1979 A very interesting article with different views on Cunningham his relative merit, May 1980 (includes Kempes, Simonsen, Herrera etc.) Article on Johan Krankl (and Simonsen vs Cunningham), 1980 Article and interview with Allan Simonsen at his transfer for Barcelona, summer 1979 Is Mario Kempes a twelve days wonder? Part 1 Is Mario Kempes a twelve days wonder? Part 2 (long read but nice to briefly gloss over) No, he isn't... Nice interview with Johan Neeskens, January 1978 However, Rensenbrink disagrees with Neeskens that he can become a "new Cruyff" Brief profile on Johan Neeskens Some good bits here too: Kevin Keegan had an opinion on Diego Maradona, May 1980 ("shouldn't go to Barcelona") Article similar to the 2nd Cunningham article on Diego Maradona, April 1984 (also appeared in a newspaper) Hopefully this are some nice bits. Next week I hope to receive and post the 1996-97 ranking and the 1998-99 one.
I checked the ratings for the period 1975-79 and sadly there isn't an only factor to recompute the rankings. For example, in the season 1975-76, for the ideal XI the conversion factor has a range from 3,29 to 3.73, that makes a big spread into the 1/10 scale. I fail to see a correlation between greater to lesser grades or for number of matches The only exception is the 1976-77 season. Here's the ideal XI by grades in that season (Factor from 3,335 - 3,345) -------------------------------------------- Ed.1993 ----- Factor ----- Ed.1985 Johan CRUYFF --------- Forward------ 2,13------- (3,345)-------- 7,12 JUANITO; J.Gómez --- Forward------ 2,13------- (3,335)-------- 7,10 Luis PEREIRA---------- Defender------ 2,13------- (3,345)-------- 7,12 Iñaki CHURRUCA---- Midfielder------ 2,11------- (3,345)-------- 7,06 Eugenio LEAL--------- Midfielder------ 2,10------- (3,345)-------- 7,02 MIGUELI---------------- Defender------ 2,09------- (3,340)------- 6,98 Mario KEMPES--------- Forward------- 2,06------- (3,340)------- 6,88 Johan NEESKENS---- Midfielder------ 2,05------- (3,335)------- 6,84 José Angel IRIBAR-------- Keeper------ 1,93------- (3,345)------- 6,46 MARCELINO Pérez---- Defender------ 1,89------- (3,345)------- 6,33 Jose A. CAMACHO----- Defender------ 1,86------- (3,335)------- 6,20
This video shows the Kempes goal described in one of the links in Puck's post, plus another from him (wearing 10 as opposed to 9 though) in the other leg of the tie:
Thanks. What I also saw was that this.... .... correlates with a brief update from late September 1979 by Shoot. It isn't at odds with each other at least.
Yes, maybe it's the case that it isn't black and white (one season he is always lacklustre and the next excellent) but it's definitely how everyone sees it in general terms it seems, including himself. The other article does have parallels with this one doesn't it... Maybe also throws into doubt whether he'd win a 1978 World Player of the Year award had it existed, although the fact the votes would start to be cast before the year had ended, and IIRC for example Rensenbrink wasn't in his best form at the very start of 1978/79 either, could maybe still go in his favour (but we'll never know for sure I suppose - as mentioned in your other links the likes of Zico and Rivelino didn't shine throughout the World Cup for example and probably 1978 was not the best year for them in general too so he'd be the obvious South American candidate still I guess, even though playing in Europe).
Yes I agree. As I said above I tried to be fair so therefore I thought two articles is enough and those two covered sufficient ground I thought (with both views covered). The magazine did have some gems in there and although the focus was understandably on England & Scotland itself, they didn't overdo it with promoting Keegan or so and downtuning Kempes, Simonsen, Bettega etcetera (from what I've seen only from 1979 onward they start to call him the world's top player and/or with no one at a higher level/category than him; not yet in 1977 and 1978 from what I've seen). Some bits are rubbish but it has also some/more truly good things.
I've not yet the 1997-98 rankings but this is a tandem of two posts. 1996-97 Don Balon team of the year ('la vigésima edición' - the twentieth edition) Songo'o; Luis Enrique, R. Rios, Naybet, R. Carlos; Seedorf, Guardiola, Rivaldo, Raul; Alfonso, Ronaldo Three Real Madrid players, three Barcelona players. In an accompanying article they mention "Hierro, Figo, Kiko, Finidi, Redondo, Jarni and Oli" as good and popular players, but for this season not good enough to displace the others. ---------------------- As appendix (what is the right thread?): before the 1997-98 Serie A season started there was a poll among footballers and managers. Ronaldo received 153 votes, Zidane 94 votes. It is notable to see that a past-prime Weah was still a very popular player among colleagues and managers (just as Djorkaeff, who happened to be a primary supporting-actor for both players this year!).
One oddity to highlight: Figo was the foreigner of the season in the 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons. Zidane was foreigner of the season in 2001-02. Unlike 2002-03 (it was not Nihat but Makaay) this is not a typo on wikipedia. Yet Zidane did not make the team of the season. His place was taken by six Spaniards in midfield and attack. That's why the 'foreigner of the season' did not make the team selection. He was included in 2002-03 obviously.
[this is the 2nd post as mentioned in post #244] Here are some additional pieces (fitting in this thread) and that I thought was worthwile 1977 article about Primera Division as the 'Klondyke' of European football (it asks whether the 'gold rush' would end, but as we know this would last until ~1983 at least) Valencia CF big spenders? Nice anecdote: the 'blaugrana' of Barcelona is difficult to see in the dark... Interview with then national team manager Kubala Interview with Real Madrid manager Miljanic (he had a year later also one with IFB but that was less interesting) Hans Krankl interview (1978) Better read of the 1979 Kempes article Johnny Rep played in three different countries and wasn't exactly dumb - his take Johnny Rep 1977 interview Johnny Rep 1978 interview part1 Johnny Rep 1978 interview part2 Johnny Rep 1979 interview Juanito as a repeated offender, LOL
@PDG1978 @comme @Raute @msioux75 I cross referenced this with the earlier excerpts (1994 to 1997) and I didn't see a typo or a 'change'. It should be correct and good. 1997-98 Don Balon ideal team 1998-99 Don Balon ideal team It is nice that they show with whom the players were 'competing' for each respective position and/or inclusion. Both graphs are taken from the 1999 guide. The 'ideal teams' are now complete between 1975 and 2003. I'll try to make an overview later.
Here are more detailed results for the season 1999-00 (btw, I noticed that what rsssf and wikipedia says for player of the season is sometimes incorrect) Deportivo la Coruna was champions