Interesting thread here 1122622752278626307 is not a valid tweet id For this season I think Ronaldo his league form is not better as, say, Hazard or even Aguero, but his five KO stage goals are a huge bonus and lift...
Raheem Sterling voted player of year by Football Writers’ Association - getting 62% of votes— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) April 29, 2019 So the PFA has been given to VvD while FWA went with Sterling. Probably that is alright (in too many years there was a 'double' imho) and it never happened that a defender won both, but I've seen commentaries now that previous harsh treatment of Sterling by the press (his gun tattoo etc.) played a part. Maybe some small sort of nationality bias as well, now a feasible candidate is at hand (not true for every year), given that the women vote was altered in a similar way (a dutch lady surpassed by a brit).
And the confirmation for how it worked: I voted for Van Dijk, but I can totally understand and support others' reasons for voting for Sterling. I almost did so myself. It's not just about the off-field importance and it's not about the football. The FWA award, historically, is about more than "just" performance— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) April 29, 2019 Actually, the guideline from 1947 is that the vote is about "the professional player who by precept and example is considered to be the footballer of the year."— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) April 29, 2019 I voted for Sterling. Van Dijk is the most impactful player in the PL this season (reflected in his PFA award win) but FWA FOTY has never been only about that. Sterling has managed to be City’s outstanding player while also becoming so much more to English football as a whole https://t.co/Hbcr57dnHl— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) April 29, 2019 If you look at the history of the award you’ll see that often isn’t the case 🤷🏻♂️We’re football writers, so narrative always plays a role. Sterling hasn’t just been one of the best players this season - he’s been the best story— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) April 29, 2019 I'd say this is though an approach not without vulnerabilities (echo chamber?), even if there are good reasons to take this into account. It's not like VvD has shown a total lack of sensitivity or ignorance of the small and big gesture (which - honestly - felt genuine, improvisational and spontaneous and not pre-meditated).
I think this year was very close between the two (Sterling and Van Dijk), and that's being given as an explanation for what was probably a tough choice for every voter. In the recent past, Cristiano Ronaldo (wink to get Rooney sent off at the world cup, reputation as a diver) Luis Suarez (racist incident, biting incident) Jamie Vardy (not so flattering tweets and impressions he had made in the past). All three, and I'm probably missing others, were not exactly viewed favourably in terms of professionalism. In the case of Ronaldo and Suarez they were very clearly the best in the league that season and it can explain to a degree why they won anyway. But in Vardy's case, Kante and Mahrez were just as worthy. I don't know how many such cases exist where one player pipped the other due to their off field impact. As a black man, and having lived in England too, I must say I was rooting for Sterling and I can't help but feel some pride seeing him being recognised for what's been a tremendous season. With that said, I believe if you take both of them away and replace them with players already at the club, Liverpool would lose more. I hope both make the Ballon D'or, Fifa POTY podium.. there's a few players who've been within the same ballpark, but only Messi has been better this season.
Kun is just a striker (as lewadowski or kane) Ronaldo has been a LWF for most of this season helping build attacks ,contributing to several assists and was at one point in the first part of the season averaging 2 crosses per game (which is in line with most WC wingers) https://www.google.com/amp/www.spor...es-more-than-just-a-poacher-20181229.amp.html https://amp.calciomercato.com/news/juventus-make-100-more-crosses-with-ronaldo-60016 The all round game of Kun which has improved vastly under pep is still way behind this There is a stronger case for hazard but the 5 KO stage goals (all his teams goals)tilt the balance in Ronaldos favour At 34 years old his performance is still worthy of a podium place finish (Messi is clear cut number 1 here even if he fails to progress beyond the SF)
I was reading not so long ago about Cantona perhaps losing some possibility/probability of the 1993/94 FWA award, due to some on-field petulance. Actually in an article about being given the award for 1995/96 I think (after he had the Crystal Palace incident, which was far more notable than previous behaviour, but that was not in 1995/96 and it seems it was seen that his behaviour had been particularly clean/admirable in that season after his return to the game). The Vardy one does seem strange when it shouldn't have been a landslide playing wise I'd say, but then maybe the other factor of the PFA award already being handed to Mahrez (just like in 93/94 to Cantona, and 95/96 not to Cantona) comes into play in swaying the journalists towards the 'other' choice so the awards are split? This year that's not what happened I suppose, with both awards being handed out together, but yeah I remember Puck posting about Van Dijk's admirable behaviour a while back so it's not like he wouldn't be a good choice on that basis. Purely on performance I still wonder whether Hazard should be in the frame (I at least think he's a major candidate for best PL player during 2018/19, but that's a bit different to getting the verdict as best player of 2018/19 overall I suppose).
I'm not so sure about Suarez in 2013-14, whose weakness was his performances against the top teams. I mean, Yaya Toure scored 20 league goals (6 pens) and 9 league assists as a nominal midfielder while also being the hub of his team (more passes and higher pass accuracy as David Silva). Maybe because Man City was for a long time stuck at #3 in the table and only jumped to #1 in the last two matchdays it snowed under. Also if you replace him with Laporte imho, and replace Sterling with Mane/Hazard, but in general I'm in favor of these awards going to attackers.
Undoubtedly. I'm not taking away Sterling his efforts but the British media have created their own story in the way Sterling was previously treated and that there's understandably (and rightly) more of a focus on the commendable efforts of their native stars (at the same time, various complaints often are directed to overseas players but that's a different subject). The big gesture: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...lass-act-both-on-and-off-the-pitch/ar-BBSNlh7 The small gesture: http://www.sportbible.com/football/...et-to-young-mascot-in-classy-gesture-20181120 https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spo...verpool-van-dijk-netherlands-gesture-15430063 With The Times writing 26 december: "[W]ith Klopp accepting that his summer stance of "Van Dijk or no one" could not stretch beyond another transfer window. Crucially, however, City were given no encouragement that Van Dijk saw his future at the Etihad. He remembered being a guest at the Champions League final between Juventus and Real Madrid in Cardiff in 2017 when Liverpool supporters kept approaching him, urging him to join, and saw parallels between Celtic and the fervour that might await him on Merseyside. He was swayed by Klopp's drive and dreams. Van Dijk understood Liverpool before he joined and he gets them now. Before the Wolves game he paid for a Christmas party for the Owen McVeigh Foundation, with 120 children benefiting. It is said that history weighs Liverpool down, although more often than not it points the way forward." I also think he presents himself well. Many British comments say (with some hyperbole I'd say) "he speaks better English as Kane and Sterling". As I said, in general I'm in favor of attackers (no defender has ever received the PFA & FWA double) but the whole 'story' is as much about the British press as it is about Sterling.
Re: the aforementioned Daniel Storey, this is also a decent take by him: https://www.football365.com/news/f365s-early-winners-johan-cruyff-and-his-ajax-legacy Surprisingly good Daily Mail article here too, that doesn't forget to highlight some main things (e.g. giving people who never played semi-professional football high and responsible positions): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...pponents-built-legend-John-Cruyffs-image.html
Certainly thought about Suarez vs Toure, though I can't remember if there were many people 'campaigning' for Toure. If it was close, it further points to the inconsistency of such a criteria. Re: the second point. It's the biggest point in favour of VVD. I think of all the big teams in Europe now, he's the least replaceable. Or another way, his team would be furthest from where they are without him. Eden Hazard is 2nd, and Messi is always key for Barcelona, but this season, domestically they haven't truly been challenged. And up to this point they would have probably found a way past the teams they played against in Europe. Of course Liverpool held Bayern without VVD, but that's more telling of Bayern's attack without Coman this season than Liverpool truly coping without VVD.
Yes I thought Liverpool was fine in that match (although there were some nervous and scrappy moments with Allison that could have cost them) but later on I saw pieces mentioning they missed his presence in the air with Lewandowski winning all aerial duels (didn't happen in 2nd leg) and problems in build up working through the rest of the team. https://miasanrot.de/2019-analyse-liverpool-fcbayern/ https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...mpions-league-first-leg-anfield-a8787526.html At 2nd thoughts I agree with you on Aguero. Lewandowski however had a very all-round campaign. He's more of a passer and through-baller as Ronaldo, worked more, had sub-standard support, and as others have mentioned, is Juventus now improved in the league? His usual CL form is however a big bonus.
This is remarkable trivia: Marc Overmars four years ago in VI, when the journalists confronted him with that often the crown jewels are 'stolen' (for free!) from the academy before they make their first team debut and synergy is hard to create. "I believe in cycles in football. Between the last European Cup of Ajax in 1973 and our Champions League win was 22 years. Now we are again 20 years further. Somewhere in the coming seasons it must be possible to touch that level again. After that attempt we can start again, because then the whole team will be dismantled. That is in my head. And no one will get it out." https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ess-story-of-the-champions-league-this-season
I heard one of the FWA voters talking about the award and they talked about taking into consideration off the field items as well, first point is that despite VDV edging it for me, Sterling as a very strong case for his on the field performances for winning the award. However his off field conduct has been fantastic, paying for a whole host of children from his old school to go to Wembley to watch the FA Cup semi final (and I think is doing for the final too) and his support of the young Crystal Palace academy player who passed away with Cancer, the local news had a section on it and he visited him, spent time with him, played pool etc... the family said it meant so much as Sterling was his hero. Sterling also paid for the funeral, attended in person and did a speech, he in my opinion is an exemplary off the field professional.
Surprise: most football writers don't really watch the football (a question that can be asked about players as well) I'd think so yes. Right now he's the most productive player of the league (combined G + A) and he has additionally an overall game that is as good as any attacker there, maybe the best (certainly better than Sterling or Mane I'd think). Only thing is maybe that he had some quiet matches against a few top six or top ten sides, but the overall state of the team is a proper 'excuse' (for the national team he has played well/very well against all the best/better teams he faced this season). I also agree with the (very subjective) observation of 'journalist' Michael Cox that Hazard is one of those players who look impressive live and in the flesh. I remembered @comme saying some things about that 'seeing in the flesh' too (here and while searching another one here). Close up cameras (tracking a player) often gives a rather different impression as well as the 'normal' cameras (see the link below). Van Dijk had a sub-standard match wednesday (also admitted by himself) but was on the other hand not totally embarrassed in the duels, interceptions and initiated/created a chance for Milner wasn't it. That he can hold himself 1 vs 1 against Suarez and pals is for the long run maybe more telling than the not tracking of one/two runs (as odd as it sounds). After hearing the Totally Football Show (where they were very mild on him, saying that even if he had reacted he would be too late for Suarez) I started thinking again on this and what to think of it if this was an 'ultimate test'. N.B. he was on monday asked what is the 'best goal' he scored - he replied that the ones he scored against Everton or Portugal are more like 'favorite' ones but that the best is probably this (was at times also adventurous for Southamton). So as a sort of evolving thought I right now have Hazard, Messi, Lewandowski (one of his most all-around seasons I think), Mbappe as the best players of their league (with Serie A undecided).
Hazard is the best EPL forward this season for me too. Stats might look similar to Sterling, but he is more of a one-man-team, while there isn't much seperating Sterling from Bernardo or Agüero imo. Ligue 1 and La Liga are easy. Reus was impressive at the start, but might be Lewandowski now. Serie A: I think Ronaldo is the best attacker and Chiellini the best defender.
The largest quality paper of Spain (which is also fairly non-partisan) had this article: https://elpais.com/deportes/2019/05/02/actualidad/1556788517_380111.html Thread This is probably right. Ronaldo having 'only' 20 league goals (with 5 penalties) while playing for by far the best team, firing so many shots, does create a bit of cognitive dissonance here.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.li...rpool-virgil-van-dijk-frustrated-16225679.amp Fake news being churned out by badabing most probably
Those things always remind me of Ronaldinho his crossbar video of which he and sponsor driven media claimed it was real... but it wasn't https://amp.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/8m3tan/ronaldinho_crossbar_video_remastered_the_first/ https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-43301972.html
Same goes for this one. I have stopped believing anything I see on social media. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...geous-bottle-flip-fans-divided-real-fake.html
I'm leaning to believe this because the bottle is half empty/half full and that makes the margin of error substantial (for professionals). With the target not too far away it is credible (for the right kicking power applied). With a full bottle I'd be more sceptical. I don't believe though the video where he nutmegs someone from 50 yards out. The crossbar challenges (where he hits 3/10 to 7/10) raise some doubts about that. But for sure a lot is possible now.
----------------Ter Stegen Kimmich-Pique-Virgil van Dijk-Alba Bernardo-Fernandinho-F. De Jong -------Messi-Mbappe-Sterling Oblak, Chiellini, De Ligt, Robertson, Savanier, Rodri, Rakitic, Cazorla, Zieych, Kai Havertz, Papu Gomez, Nicolas Pepe, Lewandowski, Tadic, Hazard, Aguero, Aspas