Is this the state of English football..... Ok Looneys a good player, but only one Englishman nominated.. Who is the best..? Wayne Rooney is the only English player named on the 23-man shortlist for the 2011 Ballon d'Or. The prestigious award is the most coveted individual honour in world football, and is currently in the possession of Lionel Messi, who is looking to claim it for the third successive season. .Rooney is one of four Premier League-based players to make the list along with United team-mate Nani, Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City. Rooney is looking to be the first Englishman in a decade to take the award, with Michael Owen the last one to take the honour in 2001. Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is one of eight players from Barcelona to make the cut, whilst Real Madrid boast five candidates including 2009 winner Cristiano Ronaldo. The coach of the year is also decided at the same event, and that sees Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Andre Villas-Boas all nominated. Player nominees: Eric Abidal (France), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain)
I've read through that list of nominations several times, am I blind or is David Silva not included in that list? I have my own gripe that Hernandez is missing from the list but I think excluding Silva is just ridiculous.
Well in fairness he has only recently come really good for Man C, he certainly wasnt as prolific as he has become now. The same with the Spain squad. He only now is staking his claim to a starting berth after being nothing more than a bit part player for them. He still has a job on his hands to dislodge a Spain midfiled of Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas (who has been playing fantastic of late), and Xabi Alonso.
Jacky watching ur Robbie Keane for LA Galaxy with Beckham and co. v NY with Henry... MLS the new place to find some stars... Landon Donovan, is pure class. Beckham just got Henry booked...haha.
Surprised Abidal is in the list, could be on sentimental grounds given his health issues but Marcelo from Real has had a much better season at full back. I'd be very surprised if it's not someone from La Liga, Messi seems the obvious choice but Ronaldo scored more goals in La Liga last season, Xavi for me though. Greatest footballer I've ever seen, jogs around in every match dominating the midfield, tempo and possesion for his team. Iniesta and Messi come very close for the award though. Wayne who?
Wayne Rooney, for me, is not even in the top 20 in the world. He is a decent player but there are 7 players in Manchester who are better than him...... Tevez, Aguero, Silva, Hernandez, Nani, Johnson and Yaya Toure. Add to the fact there is Suarez, RVP, Modric, VDV, Mata etc in the PL and then you have the list above, how does Wayne Rooney get any sort of mention along side these greats.
Coloccini's hair Suarez is on the list. Rooney has earned his place on that list this year because he was instrumental in helping United win the 19th league title, and started this season brilliantly, not to mention a Champions League final goal and his one man machine hat-trick at West Ham. Johnson...really? and Tevez...how many times have you seen him spray a 60 yard pass across field? Robin Van Persie I'll give you, the guy is a genius. Modric and Mata are nowhere near Rooney. If you're going to judge Rooney on just his goal scoring record and not his vision and technique then Darren Bent and DJ Campbell should have been in there in front of him going off last season's tallies. As for Silva only coming good this season, I disagree, he has been top class for all of 2011. Yaya Toure was also a good call.
hahahahaha I think Rooney would be very disappointed if he won to find out that it wasn't actually a balloon Syd!
Rooney is a good player capable of the occasional piece of brilliance. However he does not do it on a regular basis. I have watched Man U enough to know that you would win matches without him. I stand by what I say as it is my opinion and obviously you have yours. However, I am sure you will agree too, he is light years behing the big 2 in terms of goals and set up play!
Title of this thread is right. I'd swap him for a ballon - even if a ballon is 5 magic beans. (Link: Rooney and old cows) x
If I'm right in thinking it's done on the 2011 calendar year, then surely Robin Van '28 goals in 27 PL games' Persie must get on the list!? For me, Messi winning with Xavi and Iniesta completing the top three. Although I've got a feeling it won't be Messi again this year... but the boy is just incredible!
