Sorry, but this has got to be the shock of the year for me. Coach by Coach breakdown of votes Yeah, Alberto Aguilar Mijes has Landon as his # 3 choice behind Reberto Carlos and Kahn, but this has got to be news.
And, keeping that amazing streak up, he even got a third place vote from the Cape Verde Islands coach, too. I wonder if they get the MLS Shoot-out package there?
Shouldn't this be also posted in the Mexican Forum? They shouldn't be denied the pleasure of this news..
It's awsome that Landon got some recognition from the World, but unfortunatly he won't have a chance of winning unless playing in Europe, no matter how well he plays. But some of the other votes were hilarious: Bhutan: 3rd-Nakata Djibouti: 2nd-El Hadji Diouf (for a striker who never scores in the WC) EL Salvador: 1st-Kluivert Jordan: 1st-Recaba Kuwait: 3rd-Hasan Sas Actually I think this is much cooler. Other than that wacky Hong Myung Bo vote by Myanmar, Landon is the only non-European baller that got a vote. That alone says something.
Why would you say the Hong vote was wacky? He was the Bronze Boot winner at the WC, for one thing.. Voted 3rd best player.. He had a good domestic year also which can't be said for many who got votes. A few votes for him is not out of line. I'm sure most would think the Landon vote closer to "wacky".
The Mexican's are proud people, and they don't want to think that just anyone is going to knock them out of the World Cup. So with their coach giving Landon the nod, it is like saying 'we were beat by some quality players or player.' Not 'we were beat by the toilet of the futbol world, so we must be what's floating there.' Simply trying to save face for being eliminated by the USA. Anyway it is nice to hear someone from the States got a vote. Any idea if this is a first?
That was my thought exactly. Surprized he didn't vote for Reyna also..Guess that would have been too much..
I don't even know why I should explain this, but besides Hong, Donovan is the only player voted for who doesn't play in Europe.
Sorry to go a bit OT but did anyone else notice that the reason Ronaldo got POY was because the coachs of nearly all the no-mark football nations in the world voted for him? The coaches of the better nations were more objective and less affected to the hype.
No wonder Brazil punted Scolari, he voted for Beckham (!) Bielsa voted for no Brazilian players. Very strange. Other strange ones: Antigua and Barbuda: Edmilson (!) 2nd Panama: Kleberson 3rd Scotland: Nesta 3rd (Berti's definitely off his head here) Somalia: Ilhan Mansiz 3rd Myanmar: Maldini 3rd Iran: Totti 3rd And my personal favourite:- Chinese Taipei: Batistuta 1st; Totti 2nd and Casillas 3rd Astonishing.
I have much more respect for Mexican soccer now. Yes, this is a first. No USA soccer has gotten a single vote ever. A step in the right direction.
Yeah, "the hype". That must be it. It certainly has nothing to do with ability. btw- didn't this Ronaldo fella score a couple goals back in June? I seem to recall reading something about that.... LMAO
Yeah, but he didn't do jack for his club. This award is NOT meant to be redundant to the World Cup Golden Ball winner.
You're saying he shouldn't have? Why b/c of France's WC showing? I'm not a big fan of Arsenal, but I would put Henry top 3 in the world last year. The problem with you and all these small country coaches is that they believe all the shoe sponsor's hype. Look at Beckham, I like Beckham but I would say Man U could claim to have 4-5 players better than him. Look how many votes he collected. It's just the hype. Ronaldo hype. Figo hype. Roberto Carlos, oh Jeez don't get me started. Ever since he scored that spectacular free kick people think he is god. He's a horrible defender. He collected tons of votes. Henry would have scored 10 if he would have played for Brazil in the WC. If they aren't doing shoe commercials that get shown here in the US, they probably aren't worth voting for, right? Yeah, ok.
I love it that Donovan got a vote, but I hate it that he is one of the few players whose whole name was given as most of the world doesn't have a clue who he is.
As much as it pains me to admit this as a Spurs fan Henry does deserve Arena's vote. It's ridiculous that Ronaldo won it. I believe he scored less than 10 goals for club and country last year. Some coaches that have an idea what the ****************** they're doing are Dick Advocaat - Henry, Vieira, Ballack A little France/Arsenal (hey, they're the same thing!) bias but based on fact Stephen Constantine of India (!) - Zidane, Vieira, Ballack Bruce Arena - Raul, Kahn, Henry My favorite has to be the guy from China Ronaldo (he spent two entire seasons injured and then forced the club to sell him!) Rivaldo (he only has one name!) and the most ridiculous vote... Rui Costa (played like s**t after a big money transfer and did nothing on an underachieving team at the World Cup!)