FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013

Balu

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Men’s shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013

The following 23 men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013:

Gareth Bale (Wales), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Müller (Germany), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Franck Ribéry (France), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Luis Suárez (Uruguay), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Robin Van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).
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I think it's the best short list in years. Vidal probably deserves to be in there ahead of Pirlo and Mata ahead of Hazard other than that I think it's a very good list. Anyone else missing? Maybe Reus and Gündogan? Dortmund probably deserves at least a second player.


The following ten coaches (in alphabetical order, first nationality and then team) are in contention for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football 2013:

Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain FC/Real Madrid CF), Rafael Benítez (Spain/Chelsea FC/SSC Napoli), Antonio Conte (Italy/Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United FC former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Germany/FC Bayern München former coach), Jürgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), José Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid CF/Chelsea FC), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil/Brazil national team), Arsène Wenger (France/Arsenal FC).
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Coach of the year should really go to Heynckes after the treble and without an important international tournament played in 2013.
 
Balu said:
Men’s shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013



I think it's the best short list in years. Vidal probably deserves to be in there ahead of Pirlo and Mata ahead of Hazard other than that I think it's a very good list. Anyone else missing? Maybe Reus and Gündogan? Dortmund probably deserves at least a second player.



Coach of the year should really go to Heynckes after the treble and without an important international tournament played in 2013.
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Yeah agreed on Heynckes. There shouldn't even be a contest there tbh.

I suspect the top 3, in no particular order, will be Messi, Ronaldo, Ribery? I'd like someone "outside" of the big 2 to win it, even if that means Al Pacino's co-star in "Scarface"!

Yaya Toure shouldn't be near that list, token pick from Africa. Last season was far from his best. Gundogan should be there ahead of him, Robben, arguably Pirlo, Xavi (he wasn't great last season either), Hazard.

Reus, Mata and Vidal are good shouts as well.
 
Only question will be what suit will he be wearing this time

311828,xcitefun-lionel-messi-fifa-award.jpg
 
[coolredwine, post: 14432312, member: 61553"]Gareth-fecking-Bale. :wenger:[/quote]
I always feel last season in England was a bit overrated but he clearly deserves to be in the shortlist.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
[coolredwine, post: 14432312, member: 61553"]Gareth-fecking-Bale. :wenger:
I always feel last season in England was a bit overrated but he clearly deserves to be in the shortlist.
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Ish84045 said:
:lol:

Come on buddy, love him or loathe him, but compared to some of the names on that list (Yaya Toure, Hazard :lol:), he deserves to be on there based on last season's form.
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His is the first name on the list. :wenger: :lol:

Also, what are his achievements like, a PFA Award along with being the top scorer of the club, propelling the team to Europa places?! Same goes for Suarez.

Yaya had a painfully average last season. Hazard, uhmmm, a good debut season in PL, that is all.
 
coolredwine said:
His is the first name on the list. :wenger: :lol:

Also, what are his achievements like, a PFA Award along with being the top scorer of the club, propelling the team to Europa places?! Same goes for Suarez.

Yaya had a painfully average last season. Hazard, uhmmm, a good debut season in PL, that is all.
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Really?
The following 23 men (in alphabetical order)...
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Not his fault that no player whos last name starts with an A is nominated.
 
Bale deserves to be on the shortlist. Hazard and Yaya could have been replaced by Vidal and Reus.

Individually Cristiano has been the best in this calendar year IMO but him not winning anything would make it tough for people to vote for him. Messi's still the favourite, would be delighted if Franck can get it. That should be the top 3 anyway.
 
coolredwine said:
His is the first name on the list. :wenger: :lol:
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Yep, I think it's alphabetical for "Bale"!

Balu said:
Not his fault that no player whose last name starts with an A is nominated.
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Also, I honestly don't think that, based on last season's form, there are 23 better performing players then him. Especially considering whos on that list already.
 
I think there's some baffling names on that list, but it's usually the case with these kind of lists.

I actually hope Ribéry wins it, I think he deserves it considering his achievements. Though to be fair I think individual awards in a team sport is a bit retarded.

As for manager, hope Heynckes gets it, he deserves it big time, I just hope there's no sentimentalism that goes into the vote and it's awarded to SAF on a kind of "career achievement" basis, he doesn't deserve it more than Heynckes or Klopp considering last season (even though he did very well of course, you won't find me arguing otherwise, I just think others are more worthy).
 
Whether it's based on last season, or the calendar year of 2013, I don't think Yaya should be on the list. He's not been the same player he was during City's title winning season.

If it is based on just the calendar year of 2013, then I'd argue RvP shouldn't be on it either.


I kinda hope Zlatan wins it, because he's a massive bell-end, and winning that prize will propel him into uncharted bell-end territory. I definitely want to see that happen.
 
OnlyTwoDaSilvas said:
Whether it's based on last season, or the calendar year of 2013, I don't think Yaya should be on the list. He's not been the same player he was during City's title winning season.

If it is based on just the calendar year of 2013, then I'd argue RvP shouldn't be on it either.


I kinda hope Zlatan wins it, because he's a massive bell-end, and winning that prize will propel him into uncharted bell-end territory. I definitely want to see that happen.
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There's absolutely no way he deserves it though.
 
coolredwine said:
Reus, Gundogan, Vidal...
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So? Gareth Bale played in lot weaker team than those 3 and almost single handedly put Spurs on 5th. 30 goals and 11 assists in last season for club and country.
Yaya Toure is in that list. What did he do last year?

Bale should not be in top 3 or top 5 for last season IMO but perfectly deserved to be in top 23.
 
The Man Himself said:
So? Gareth Bale played in lot weaker team than those 3 and almost single handedly put Spurs on 5th. 30 goals and 11 assists in last season for club and country.
Yaya Toure is in that list. What did he do last year?

Bale should not be in top 3 or top 5 for last season IMO but perfectly deserved to be in top 23.
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Meh! This wouldn't go anywhere. Just that he hasn't warranted a place in that list still...
 
Rooney in Paris said:
I think there's some baffling names on that list, but it's usually the case with these kind of lists.

I actually hope Ribéry wins it, I think he deserves it considering his achievements. Though to be fair I think individual awards in a team sport is a bit retarded.

As for manager, hope Heynckes gets it, he deserves it big time, I just hope there's no sentimentalism that goes into the vote and it's awarded to SAF on a kind of "career achievement" basis, he doesn't deserve it more than Heynckes or Klopp considering last season (even though he did very well of course, you won't find me arguing otherwise, I just think others are more worthy).
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I think Ribery is still underrated, the level he played on and his consistency were incredible in the last 18 months and way too often people underrate his part in Bayern's success. It's no coincidence that he didn't play in Bayern's only loss in the league last season and also missed the return leg against Arsenal, which is still the only CL game Bayern didn't win in 2013 (We won 9 out of 10 games including away games at Arsenal, Juve, Barca and City). I don't think he can win it though, there are too many Bayern players nominated and votes for Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Müller and Robben might be votes he could have had if they weren't nominated. He also won't get a lot popularity votes in comparison to Messi and Ronaldo.

What I really found interesting about the UEFA player of the year award is that mainly in UK the journalists thought he didn't deserve it at all and that he's only winning it because of the team he plays in, ignoring how big his impact on the team really is. ( for example: http://www.uefa.org/uefa-best-player-award/season=2013/how-was-won/index.html - I also read an article about the press reactions after he won the award, which had quite a lot disrespectful comments from English newspapers). It's a bit sad, really. He set a new Bundesliga record of consecutive games without loosing this weekend - Bayern now didn't loose in 39 consecutive games when he played. Also Bayern never lost a game in which he scored in. Very often I get the impression that the whole "better than the sum of its parts" approach isn't really popular in England and players that help the team play better football are massively underrated in comparison to players who don't do that but produce a moment of brilliance despite their teams playing shit (which Ribery also does btw, just not as often because usually he helps the team playing great first). It's strange because imo the former will lead to more entertaining football and way more success in the longterm and therefore should be rated higher.
 
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coolredwine said:
Meh! This wouldn't go anywhere. Just that he hasn't warranted a place in that list still...
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Yes he very clearly has. He scored 31 goals from attacking midfield for a side outside the top 4. It's a list of the best 23 performers of the last year, not hipster fan top trumps. What else should you have to do to get on it?
 
Vidal, Reus and Gundogan not being in the short list is insane. Yaya and Hazard shouldn't be anywhere near it.

Heynecks should and will win the best manager award.

Ribery should get the Ballon D'Or, but I think that again Messi will get it (though it will be completely undeserved). Ronaldo will join them in top 3.
 
How can anyone have a problem with Bale being there? He was the best player in the league last season and nearly dragged a fairly ordinary Spurs side into CL places.
 
Balu said:
I think Ribery is still underrated, the level he played on and his consistency were incredible in the last 18 months and way too often people underrate his part in Bayern's success. It's no coincidence that he didn't play in Bayern's only loss in the league last season and also missed the return leg against Arsenal, which is still the only CL game Bayern didn't win in 2013 (We won 9 out of 10 games including away games at Arsenal, Juve, Barca and City). I don't think he can win it though, there are too many Bayern players nominated and votes for Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Müller and Robben might be votes he could have had if they weren't nominated. He also won't get a lot popularity votes in comparison to Messi and Ronaldo.

What I really found interesting about the UEFA player of the year award is that mainly in UK the journalists thought he didn't deserve it at all and that he's only winning it because of the team he plays in, ignoring how big his impact on the team really is. ( for example: http://www.uefa.org/uefa-best-player-award/season=2013/how-was-won/index.html - I also read an article about the press reactions after he won the award, which had quite a lot disrespectful comments from English newspapers). It's a bit sad, really. He set a new Bundesliga record of consecutive games without loosing this weekend - Bayern now didn't loose in 39 consecutive games when he played. Also Bayern never lost a game in which he scored in. Very often I get the impression that the whole "better than the sum of its parts" approach isn't really popular in England and players that help the team play better football are massively underrated in comparison to players who don't do that but produce a moment of brilliance despite their teams playing shit (which Ribery also does btw, just not as often because usually he helps the team playing great first). It's strange because imo the former will lead to more entertaining football and way more success in the longterm and therefore should be rated higher.
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I agree with all that. I think he's exceptional, and I agree that he probably isn't valued enough. It should also be noted that he basically drags that French team to any victory, and he's always instrumental whenever they play well. He's also a great team player I feel, not greedy, always trying to play in a way that will benefit the team. He's an immense moron off the field and I think like you said that he doesn't have the popularity that will help him win it, but I think he's been the best player on the planet this year; now of course, Messi is a better player taken individually, but that's why I said I think these awards are retarded, I don't think you should reward a player for being brilliant individually, but for being brilliant individually and putting his brilliance to the service of a team and helping them be successful. Ribéry ticks all the boxes I consider should be ticked to be considered the best in the world, this past year.
 
Hazard is an odd choice, and as others have said Yaya didn't have his best season. I don't know why people are surprised about Bale though. He was one of the best three players in the prem last year, all of which are on the list. Nobody has complained about Suarez, yet he didn't get Liverpool in the top 4 which is what people are trying to use as an argument about Bale. Madrid didn't want Suarez either, yet they broke the bank for the Welshman.
 
I don't understand the Bale discussion. Of course he deserves to be in there. There are always a few weird ones, who mainly are there to represent a certain group - like for example Toure as the now best African player. Gündogan and Reus probably missed out because there were already 5 German players nominated and FIFA wants a lot different countries represented. Pirlo is probably in so that at least one player form Italy makes the list - at least it's not Balotelli who was nominated the last years if I remember correctly. It's not perfect but it makes sense. The top 10 should be in, the other 13 are at least partly there because of political reasons, I don't think that's really a big deal. Fifa needs to make sure that every league and every country feels represented and has a candidate who deserves a few votes. It won't lead to a completely undeserved top 3, and that's important.
 
1) Messi
2) Ronaldo
3) Ribery

Messi's win wouldn't be completely undeserved at all as one or two of you suggest. I don't think a player scoring 65 goals in the past season for club and country winning a ballon d'Or could ever be regarded as unjust or not deserved. It is an individual award at the end of the day and whilst Ribery played an outstanding role in bringing success of 3 fronts to Bayern Munich, Messi individually was just better than the rest.
 
Mockney said:
Yes he very clearly has. He scored 31 goals from attacking midfield for a side outside the top 4. It's a list of the best 23 performers of the last year, not hipster fan top trumps. What else should you have to do to get on it?
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1. He scored 26 goals.
2. There is a certain Michu who scored almost the same number of goals to propel his far inferior side in to Europa League.

kthnxbye
 
This list must be wrong... there are no English players on it?

There's obviously been a clerical error.
 
Balu said:
I think Ribery is still underrated
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The english media grossly underrate Ribery still. The guardian had him ranked #29 only last december in their "top 100 european players" list which is a downright joke.
Ribery received an overall rating of 2.1 (1-6 with 1 being "world class") last season in the "kicker" which is a full 0.5 better then the next season best in the last 15 years, and that is a ranking system which favors goalkeepers - hardly any field player ever averaged better than 3.0 .
 
coolredwine said:
1. He scored 26 goals.
2. There is a certain Michu who scored almost the same number of goals to propel his far inferior side in to Europa League.

kthnxbye
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What are you on about? Everyone agree he deserved to be on that list except you. Have you watched any football last season?
 
do.ob said:
I miss Christian Streich on that list.
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Laudrup, Simeone, Montanier also deserve to be on that list. Wenger really looks out of place and Mourinho's last season wasn't great either, loosing the dressing room at Real and winning nothing with the most expensive team of all time is hardly a big achievement.
 
I don't even think Chelsea fans will argue that Hazard should be on that list. Especially over Mata.
Toure also shouldn't be there.

Maybe I'm bring a tad biased but De Gea?
 
Balu said:
Laudrup, Simeone, Montanier also deserve to be on that list. Wenger really looks out of place and Mourinho's last season wasn't great either, loosing the dressing room at Real and winning nothing with the most expensive team of all time is hardly a big achievement.
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Well.. I may earn myself some flames here but I think aside from Heynckes and Klopp everyone on that list is there because of his name and/or his club.
 
coolredwine said:
1. He scored 26 goals.
2. There is a certain Michu who scored almost the same number of goals to propel his far inferior side in to Europa League.

kthnxbye
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1. He scored 5 goals for Wales.
2. I wouldn't have a problem with Michu's inclusion. Though he's a striker who's goals were far less individual than Bale's.
3. Surely you'd have more issue with Toure or Hazard?
4. Your weird hatred of Bale isn't reason enough.
 
Sarni said:
How can anyone have a problem with Bale being there? He was the best player in the league last season and nearly dragged a fairly ordinary Spurs side into CL places.
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He wasn't though. Suarez and van Persie were better.
 
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