The Prestigious Balloon Door Returns...

[No Kane No Gain]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24723510

Fifa world men's player of the year shortlist: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar (Barcelona), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Thiago Silva (Paris St-Germain), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Robin Van Persie (Manchester United), Xavi (Barcelona).

Fifa coach of the year shortlist: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid CF), Rafael Benítez (Napoli), Antonio Conte (Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United's former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich's former coach), Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).


The players nominated is actually pretty good for a change. Not sure why Hazard is there but there's no one obvious that's been missed out.

I'm not sure what's going on with the coaches list though, seems like they've just picked the usual suspects regardless, albeit with no Barca manager.

Good to see Bale getting recognition again though

 

[SpursDisciple]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24723510

Fifa world men's player of the year shortlist: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar (Barcelona), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Thiago Silva (Paris St-Germain), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Robin Van Persie (Manchester United), Xavi (Barcelona).

Fifa coach of the year shortlist: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid CF), Rafael Benítez (Napoli), Antonio Conte (Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United's former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich's former coach), Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).


The players nominated is actually pretty good for a change. Not sure why Hazard is there but there's no one obvious that's been missed out.

I'm not sure what's going on with the coaches list though, seems like they've just picked the usual suspects regardless, albeit with no Barca manager.

Good to see Bale getting recognition again though

That should read Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur). He is not nominated for anything to do with his Real Madrid form!

 

[Spursguru]

Why is Wenger in there?

Don't see how he could win it, over say Fergy?

Seems a bit un-necesary to have such a long manager shortlist. It's got to be Jupp, no one else came close.

 

[Dier Hard]

Very tough call to make.

Ribery has had a fine 2013 as has Zlatan. Messi will probably pip them but it's not as clear cut as it has been in previous seasons. I'd personally choose Ribery as he his good season contributed to a treble success for Bayern.

As for manager, only one winner for me - Jupp Heynckes. To win a treble of DFB Pokal, Bundesliga and Champions League in his final season as a Manager is just remarkable. It'd be a fitting and worthy tribute to the man to go out with the Ballon D'or.

 

[The RDBD]

"Why is Wenger in there?"

For the N consecutive seasons of getting into the CL, and doing so on the final
day of the PL for 3 out of the last 8 seasons ??

 

[Dier Hard]

"BREAKING: Gareth Bale, Ashley Young & Neymar have all been nominated for this year's FIFA Fallon d'Floor award."

Gotta admit that tickled me a little.

Notable mentions need to go to Suarez, Vidal and Busquets too!

 

[No Kane No Gain]

"Why is Wenger in there?"

For the N consecutive seasons of getting into the CL, and doing so on the final
day of the PL for 3 out of the last 8 seasons ??

It's based on the calender year though, I think. So in terms of that I'd imagine he's on quite a run with Arsenal which may have got him in there.

 

[Spursguru]

It's based on the calender year though, I think. So in terms of that I'd imagine he's on quite a run with Arsenal which may have got him in there.

Sounds like the kind of arse about foot way these things are run.

So because he had a good run in last year, just getting 4th, and now sits at the top of the table having won f-all he is up there with a Manager that finished above him and won the Europa league, or a manager that won the league with Cancer, or a manager that did the first treble in the clubs history in his last year. hmmm

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Fifa coach of the year shortlist: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid CF), Rafael Benítez (Napoli), Antonio Conte (Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United's former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich's former coach), Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).

[video=youtube;ueZ6tvqhk8U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueZ6tvqhk8U[/video]

 

[Spurm]

why are the players previous clubs not included on the list? What has Bale done for Real to deserve the nomination? Surely it should be listed:
Bale - Real Madrid/Tottenham Hotspur

Same for Falcao, Neymar and whoever else is on the list.

Edit - Just saw SD's comment.

 

[SpursDisciple]

why are the players previous clubs not included on the list? What has Bale done for Real to deserve the nomination? Surely it should be listed:
Bale - Real Madrid/Tottenham Hotspur

Same for Falcao, Neymar and whoever else is on the list.

Edit - Just saw SD's comment.

Should always read my comments first! Seriously though, it is disrespectful to the teams they achieved the nominationwith. As you say, it goes way beyond Bale. Benitez's is for Chelsea, Mourinho's is not. Ozil's nomination is for Real, Ancelotti's is not. To be consistent, the managerial nominations should include Ferguson (Unemployed)

 

[totsfan]

Suprised Mata isn't listed,as he was Chelsea's best attacker IMO,Ozil listed yet Real sold him,that makes Perez look a prat,also saw today that Ancellotti wanted Neymar instead of Bale

 

[Wandering Yid]

I'd like to see it go to Lahm just to show it doesn't always have to go to a goal scorer. If there's any justice it will go to a Bayern player but no doubt Messi will win again.

 

[KingHotspur]

Aguero should be on there imo.

 

[District Line]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24723510

Fifa world men's player of the year shortlist: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar (Barcelona), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Thiago Silva (Paris St-Germain), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Robin Van Persie (Manchester United), Xavi (Barcelona).

Fifa coach of the year shortlist: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid CF), Rafael Benítez (Napoli), Antonio Conte (Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United's former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich's former coach), Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).


The players nominated is actually pretty good for a change. Not sure why Hazard is there but there's no one obvious that's been missed out.

I'm not sure what's going on with the coaches list though, seems like they've just picked the usual suspects regardless, albeit with no Barca manager.

Good to see Bale getting recognition again though

Hazard has every right to be in there if Yaya Toure is, and for all Bale's brilliance he didn't actually lead his team to any silverware or league finish of note.

The omission of Mata and Chiellini/Buffon is staggering though. Also not sure how Wenger made the Coach list.

 

[Wandering Yid]

Hazard has every right to be in there if Yaya Toure is, and for all Bale's brilliance he didn't actually lead his team to any silverware or league finish of note.

The omission of Mata and Chiellini/Buffon is staggering though. Also not sure how Wenger made the Coach list.

Point? The same is also true for Cavani, Falcao, Suarez, Yaya. Surely that's a case for them to be included, it's harder to shine individually in a less able, less dominant team.

I haven't checked this but it wouldn't surprise me if Wenger had more league points than any other UK manager in 2013, which perhaps justifies inclusion.

 

[District Line]

Point? The same is also true for Cavani, Falcao, Suarez, Yaya. Surely that's a case for them to be included, it's harder to shine individually in a less able, less dominant team.

I haven't checked this but it wouldn't surprise me if Wenger had more league points than any other UK manager in 2013, which perhaps justifies inclusion.

Disagree, I think it's easier to shine individually in a less able team. Falcao won silverware at Madrid and Cavani was top scorer in Serie A. Wenger lost cup games to Blackburn and Bradford so I don't see the justification for his inclusion this year.

 

[SpursDisciple]

Disagree, I think it's easier to shine individually in a less able team. Falcao won silverware at Madrid and Cavani was top scorer in Serie A. Wenger lost cup games to Blackburn and Bradford so I don't see the justification for his inclusion this year.

I don't think that is true. You see less of the ball and are under more pressure to do something when you have it. Messi shines because Barca are set up to feed him (and he is a wonderful player). Same with Ronaldo and Real.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

Point? The same is also true for Cavani, Falcao, Suarez, Yaya. Surely that's a case for them to be included, it's harder to shine individually in a less able, less dominant team.

I haven't checked this but it wouldn't surprise me if Wenger had more league points than any other UK manager in 2013, which perhaps justifies inclusion.

River Plate
Argentine Primera División: 2008

Porto
Primeira Liga: 2010–11
Taça de Portugal: 2009–10, 2010–11
Portuguese Super Cup: 2010, 2011
UEFA Europa League: 2010–11

Atlético Madrid
Copa del Rey: 2012–13
UEFA Europa League: 2011–12
UEFA Super Cup: 2012

 

[SpursDisciple]

River Plate
Argentine Primera División: 2008

Porto
Primeira Liga: 2010–11
Taça de Portugal: 2009–10, 2010–11
Portuguese Super Cup: 2010, 2011
UEFA Europa League: 2010–11

Atlético Madrid
Copa del Rey: 2012–13
UEFA Europa League: 2011–12
UEFA Super Cup: 2012

The award is for 2013, so most of those are irrelevant? The Copa del Rey then?