FIFA Ballon d'Or list 2012

[fAnta 107]

Neur instead of Cech? I do think ribery should be there but Cech made 2 cup saving saves in FA Cup and UCL. His pen shootout went right every time!

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

Doesn't really matter in United's case, does it? They have been utterly average for like 1-2 years now. The fact is Fergie didn't win any trophies to warrant him a place in the shortlist. Managers like Rene Girard who won Ligue 1 with Montpellier on the back of shoe string budget and he's not even up there?! Ridiculous!

If Di Matteo doesn't win FIFA Men’s Football Coach of the Year then how the hell will you ever win it?

Look at the descriptions comparison between Di Matteo and Ferguson's achievements last year courtesy of Fifa's shortlist descriptions:

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I never understand why defenders and goalkeepers never get the credit they deserve. If a striker scored as many goals as Cech stopped in the most important matches last season, he'd win this in a heart beat.

[Rmpr 8,977]

I never understand why defenders and goalkeepers never get the credit they deserve. If a striker scored as many goals as Cech stopped in the most important matches last season, he'd win this in a heart beat.

It is quite simple. The goal is what drives football, people wait for it, scream and end up remembering only who scores.

I am not saying it is right, but it is how it is.

FIFA Ballon d'Or is only a poll that journalists, captains and coaches vote. It is not studied to analyse who fully deserves it. It might be viewed as a popularity contest.

A bit like Oscar. At least they make voters really watch the movies. I doubt many voters have followed half of the 23 candidates...

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

I never understand why defenders and goalkeepers never get the credit they deserve. If a striker scored as many goals as Cech stopped in the most important matches last season, he'd win this in a heart beat.

I think it's a matter of there being very little difference between top keepers. Cech has been fantastic for us but in all honesty, I think we would have won everything we won under Mourinho with Cudicini in goal because he was also an excellent keeper. There are just more top keepers than there are top teams. You look at someone like Lloris. If he were a striker with his pedigree, he'd have cost about 35-40M pounds. Instead, he went for 10M Euros. (And it's amazing to me that Arsenal haven't been able to find a top keeper since Seaman). I also think you can win with less than elite keepers. I've never thought Valdes was a particularly great goalie yet Barcelona have been the best team in the world over the past five years or so.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I also think you can win with less than elite keepers. I've never thought Valdes was a particularly great goalie yet Barcelona have been the best team in the world over the past five years or so.

But that applies to every position on the team. My logic is: the aim of football is to win matches and tournaments, so the most important player is the one that helps the team win the most. No player was more important to winning the CL last year more than Cech.

[Tomo 21,733]

I try to prevent myself from thinking conspiracy but this is getting silly.

Cech not on this list

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Srsly WHO THE FUCK is making that list ?

Karim Benzema ?

Ramos ?

Pique ?

Balloteli ?

Rooney ?

Neuer ?

My top 3

1.Ronaldo

2.Messi

3.Falcao

Honorable mentions Yaya Toure - the guy was beast this year.Ibra - he may be a bitter cunt but his arrogance is backed up.Pirlo - turned Juve into pretty strong team, same with his national team.And about CFC players well we played shit and dire in 90% of the games last year even Drogba who is in the list probably had his worst year in terms of number of goals and overall skill.

Ramos has been nothing short of incredible for both club and country, he more than merits his place on the list and, is arguably, the best centre back in the world.

[couris 232]

1. Messi

[Kezza 1,965]

Mario Balotelli? Mario fucking Balotelli? Wtf has he done?

The most controversal player of the year gets nominated? LOL

Cech made argueably two of the most important saves in this clubs history (okay one was a save, but he scared Messi with his penalty dance he does which made Messi miss), those two games alone warrant a nomination over Balotelli. And Mario Balotelli gets nominated for one good game in the Euros.

Jesus!

[Rmpr 8,977]

What I want: 1. Drogba, 2. Ronaldo, 3. Neymar/Balotelli.

What will happen: 1. Messi, 2. Ronaldo, 3. Iniesta.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

But that applies to every position on the team. My logic is: the aim of football is to win matches and tournaments, so the most important player is the one that helps the team win the most. No player was more important to winning the CL last year more than Cech.

It's different with a keeper. Most keepers will make fantastic saves. The natural reaction when seeing a fantastic save is "he's a great keeper" (which of course, any keeper playing at a top level is) but the real question is, is that a save that other top keepers would have made and it's very difficult to know. The difference between keepers is harder to tell than at most positions. (I'd say that in general, defensive positions are harder to evaluate than offensive ones).

[Thistle 77]

Rooney gets his usual token entry.

Mata not even being on the list is a joke. Was easily our best player last season and it was in a team that won the champions league and fa cup, as well as also playing a part in Spain winning the Euro's.

[termninja 5,290]

I'm having high hopes Di Matteo wins it. His achievement is the biggest of them all. Champions League is the most difficult to win and he didn't have a team like Del Bosque or Mourinho had.

Really, Balotelli's inclusion on that list is laughable. As for Pique, I can't tell because I don't waste my time looking at Barcelona passing the ball around like a bugged AI in a video game but my feel is that he isn't worth to be included there also...

Just as you lads said, Cech should have been there.

[Jase 43,479]

Which is really what I pointed out in my post myself (Although it wasn't much better in Europe league.), just pointed out that part of your argument was't really valid when it's about this year.

The awards are given to those who performed best in the previous season, not the year. And even if it does go by year, what has Ferguson done with United this year to merit a place in the shortlist?

[Spike 12,049]

Fowards

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

2. Lionel Messi

3. Sergio Aguero

Midfielders

1. Xavi

2. Juan Mata

3. Andrea Pirlo

Defenders

1. Vincent Kompany

2. Ashley Cole

3. Mats Hummels

Goal Keepers

1. Petr Cech

2. Iker Casillas

3. Samir Handanovic

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Rooney gets his usual token entry.

Mata not even being on the list is a joke. Was easily our best player last season and it was in a team that won the champions league and fa cup, as well as also playing a part in Spain winning the Euro's.

Mata was not a big part in the CL win last season. He played quite poorly after the group stage. Also, "playing a part" in Spain winning the Euros is giving Mata too much credit. He came on in the 86th minute of the last game and scored a meaningless goal. I think Cech has a good case for inclusion and Drogba being on the list is nice. Two other points I want to make:

1) I wish people would stop saying things are jokes just because they don't agree with them. This list is different from the list I've had, but it's not a complete joke. Every player on the list is terrific.

2) The FIFA lists are always biased towards Barca and Real Madrid. 10 of the 23 shortlisted players play on those two teams (neither of whom made the final of the Champions League). I'm not sure if it's a bias or just laziness, but it seems like it's always like that.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Robbie should win the manager award, though it will probably be Del Bosque