TOTY Neuer, Alves, Silva, Ramos, Lahm, Ribery, Iniesta, Xavi, Ronaldo, Messi, Ibrahimovic. Ballon D'Or: Ronaldo. Thoroughly deserved from Ronaldo. I don't like him as a person but he was magical this year. No idea how Alaba and Schweinsteiger missed out on TOTY.
Surely the big news from the Ballon d'Or was that ..... Julio Cesar collected his Golden Glove Award from @FIFAcom tonight at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich, won during the Confederations Cup.
That is utterly ridiculous that our 3rd choice (well is it actually 2nd considering Cesar played in the cup!!) could win that! Little old QPR have the Golden Glove winner as 3rd choice!
Defies belief doesnt it...... Im still a fan of Ceasar and believe he is a good keeper......Its going to take a lot to make me believe that Green is better than Ceasar. Is green even part of our national team anymore?
I would take Green to the WC as third choice keeper at the moment. I don't see anyone better than him after Hart and Forster. As for Cesar still remaining with us, that is quite bizarre and could only happen at QPR. Don't Galatasaray usually sign up these overpaid ageing Brazilian players. He must be on bundles with us if no one else is prepared to cough up. He's obviously happy to sit back and take the cash for as long as possible before excepting a lower deal on transfer deadline day to ensure that he remains Brazil's No.1 for the WC. Sterling work Mr Hughes.
Thats Harry for you mate... Let us know what you think when you see him lifting the world cup in a few months....Just like he did the Confed cup not so long ago... Then tell me Green is a better keeper!!! Maybe a look through his trophy cabinet wouldnt go a miss either
Anybody who thinks Green is a better goalkeeper than Cesar needs referring to a mental institution. I just assumed that Cesar would have handed in transfer requests/would refuse to play in the fizzy pop leagues. Amazing to think he'll be number 1 choice for the World Cup favorites but can't get on the bench for a second league side. Astonishing.
Finally something we agree on Many posters on here rate Green higher. Intresting views from some, but to be fair he's done well this season so far. Better than Ceasar? Not in my book!
Cesar is the better keeper, but there's not a lot in it now as Cesar isn't anywhere as good as he was a few years' ago. Most people prefer Green because of his attitude compared to Cesar's and I tend to agree with that stance.
I found Cesar's refusal to leave his line infuriating. He is probably a better shot stopper and Green's handling can be less secure on occasions, but I'm sure the defenders appreciate his willingness to come a claim crosses when we are under pressure. I'm happy with Green ahead of Cesar.
I thought it was a great marketing and PR job done by club. Not sure what the global audience was, but certainly many tens of millions world wide. It is just a pity that they could not agree that Julio Cezar will wear the "for sale" badge and "price tag!" Perhaps today, the club will be overwhelmed with offers for our world class star and world beater, or more precisely, "stopper"?
Englands media representative in the vote got it spot on. Based on 2013 it was wrong to give it to Ronaldo, if Ronaldo deserved it then Mario Jardel should have won it every year through the mid 90's. He didn't of course, football is more than goals, then ONLY stat Ronaldo beat Ribery in. And don't get me started on overall game, there is no contest between the two. Why Franck Ribéry earned my vote for World Player of the Year please log in to view this image By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent The Telegraph 11:00PM GMT 13 Jan 2014 For those who judge the game on individual brilliance contributing to team success in the glorious pursuit of trophies, Bayern Munich’s treble-winning Franck Ribéry enjoyed an epic 2013, the key player in the best team, and earning this judge’s vote for the Ballon d’Or won by a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo. Convincing cases could be made for the three players on the short-list, for Lionel Messi as well as Ronaldo and Ribéry. Ronaldo’s scoring and dedication has been phenomenal, although Real Madrid did not win anything in 2013. Messi helped inspire Barcelona to La Liga and continues to grace the game. Moving briefly away from the subjective nature of placing one player ahead of another, one reality that cannot be disputed is that football lovers are privileged to be watching the game in an era lit up by such talents. It is important to acknowledge that this is the decade-long era of Ronaldo and Messi, two individuals who deserve to be recognised among the greatest to play the game. It is also important to appreciate the facts, the stats and the destiny of trophies and honour what Ribéry achieved in 2013. The scarfaced Frenchman may not enjoy the same PR of Ronaldo or Messi. He does not feature in many style magazines or front ad campaigns. As Bayern suspect, he may not have had the same lobbying behind him as others. Yet he was the most dazzling star in the glittering galaxy of stars that was Bayern in 2013, easily Europe’s most exceptional team of the year. What made Ribéry even more special was that he stood out even when surrounded by such in-form winners as Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben, who all made the 23-strong long-list for the Ballon d’Or. Judges are instructed to vote on this selection criteria: “Performances for club and/or national team (particularly in important matches), fair play and general level of performance in 2013.’’ The key phrase has to be “in important matches”, meaning title-deciders, Champions League tests and major internationals. Ribéry delivered time and again: the treble of Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup as well as those gilded baubles of Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup. Along the way, he collected individual honours as Bundesliga player of the year (not bad in a league that produced the two best sides in Europe, Bayern and Borussia Dortmund) and voted Most Valuable Player in Fifa’s world shindig in Morocco. Most significantly, Ribéry was voted by Uefa as their Best Player in Europe, receiving the award in Monaco in August ahead of Ronaldo and Messi. In winning the treble last year, Ribéry’s footwork and hard work was constantly on display. He showed balance, technique, confidence in either foot, losing markers with a dropped shoulder and a flick of acceleration to dribble into the box, creating chances for team-mates or finishing himself. The way Ribéry changed directions, tricking the very best defenders, almost carried echoes of Johan Cruyff in his Ajax pomp. Ronaldo, technically a superior player to Ribéry, had a sensational year but without the medals Ribéry picked up. For lovers of stats, the main criterion where Ronaldo and Messi eclipse Ribéry is in goals scored (66-42-22), although his supporters in Germany argue about the respective qualities of the bottom of La Liga compared to the Bundesliga. But Ribéry won more games (45) than Ronaldo (40) or Messi (26). According to statistics compiled by the BBC, Ribéry made more dribbles (1,084) than Ronaldo (252) and Messi (331), created more chances (149 to Ronaldo’s 94 and Messi’s 70), made more passes (2,903 to Messi’s 2,136 and Ronaldo’s 1901) and made more assists (18 to the others’ 15). He definitely tracked back more. It was Ribéry’s understanding of the need to press quickly, regaining the ball, and covering back occasionally to cover for adventurous full-backs that made him even more revered by his team-mates. His all-round influence in the Champions League brought that individual plaudit from Uefa. Ribéry was actually not great at the Emirates in the round of 16, but an ankle injury meant he missed the second leg when Bayern lost 2-0 (but still progressed on aggregate). Bayern looked poorer without the counter-attacking threat of their No 7. In the quarter-final win at Juventus, Ribéry’s ability was seen in one particularly audacious pass to Mario Mandzukic. In the semi-final against Barcelona, Ribéry was good in the first leg at the Allianz Arena and even better at Camp Nou; unstoppable down the flanks, two of his crosses brought a Gerard Piqué own goal and Müller headed goal. In the final, Ribéry played a part in both Bayern goals at Wembley. There is dismay in parts of France and Germany over this particular vote in a competition which was run solely by France Football magazine until merging with Fifa’s World Player of the Year. The vote was expanded to include the captain and coach of each national team as well as one reporter from each Fifa member country. It all seemed straightforward this year. On Nov 1, I received an email from France Football with the 23 players chosen by the Fifa Football Committee and the editors of France Football. After consideration of the merits of Neuer and Lahm, Robben and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the leading three were obvious: Ribéry, Messi and Ronaldo. After deciding to award the first-place five points to Ribéry, I gave three to Messi on the basis of his superb contribution to Barcelona’s La Liga triumph and one point to Ronaldo in third. On Nov 14, a day before the deadline, cutting it slightly late as usual, I cast the vote by email. On Nov 19, all voters received an email from France Football, saying that not all had voted – amazingly – and the deadline was therefore being extended to Nov 29. The conspiracy theorists went into overdrive as it followed a rapprochement between Ronaldo and the Fifa president Sepp Blatter, as it allowed both legs of the European World Cup play-offs to be included. Ronaldo’s fabulous displays for Portugal against Sweden were inevitably fresh in the minds of those late-voting judges. (Ribéry was also playing well, guiding France past Ukraine). For those who abided by the original deadline, the vote was cast, and could not be recast. I would not have changed anyway. For France and particularly Bayern, Franck Ribéry was utterly magnificent in 2013. Three big medals confirm that. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bayern-munich/10569968/Ballon-dOr-Why-Franck-Ribery-earned-my-vote-for-World-Player-of-the-Year.html#disqus_thread
Trouble is Ribery is one seriously ugly bugger. Ronaldo's individual skill level over the past five years has been top drawer, Messi has been in a more successful team and benefitted from that. I think Ronaldo has been the best player this year and fully deserves it. Wonderful player, consumate arsehole...
No problem with that Soop, you're not alone. Henry Winter touched upon it "The scarfaced Frenchman may not enjoy the same PR of Ronaldo or Messi. He does not feature in many style magazines or front ad campaigns." At least the media who does this for a living had Ribery as #1 more than anyone else. http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/ballond'or/playeroftheyear(men)/02/26/02/68/fboaward_menplayer2013_neutral.pdf
Of course Cesar is the better keeper, but I would rather play Green - honestly! Green has shown more desire to play well for the club imo, whilst Cesar has not really performed to the level expected, and the level that we pay him for. Cesar has rejected a few moves to sit on his high wages rather than play elsewhere in a World Cup year (his home World Cup as well) which speaks volumes. Cesar is the better keeper on paper, but imo hasn't shown it. Green hasn't put a foot wrong this season really so no reason to drop him.
