FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist

**jebus** · 28/09/2007, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by gustavo

Dida is a class goalkeeper one of the best in Serie A

I agree, I mean he's made his mistakes but so do most keepers including people like Reina, Casillas and the legendary Peter Schmeichal (who gaffed a lot more than people care to remember)

**backstothewall** · 28/09/2007, 7:16 PM

Originally Posted by gustavo

...one of the best in Serie A

I really don't consider that much of a recomondation. three quarters of seria a goalkeepers wouldn't make a premier league bench.

**gustavo** · 28/09/2007, 8:27 PM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

I really don't consider that much of a recomondation. three quarters of seria a goalkeepers wouldn't make a premier league bench.

Seriously?
I can think of Dida , Toldo , Amelia , Buffon , Serini , Curci , Abbiati , Belardi , Chimenti and Frey that would all would " make a premier league bench"

**backstothewall** · 29/09/2007, 12:25 PM

Toldo, Buffon and Frey, Abbiati isn't in Serie A at the minute, on loan in Spain. Belardi as an example is a 29 year old, who is warming a bench, and has never played for his country. Chementi is 37, and never been capped!! Sereni has spent his career trying (unsuccessfully) to establish a regular place in a team, and has just gone on a free transfer to try same at Torino.

As an example Man city have Swedens first choice keeper on the bench. Villa have Denmarks. Even Fulham have Kasey Keller, who has been to 3 world cups and has over 100 caps

Italian keepers, the top 1 or 2 at any time, always strike me as dodgy. They simply can't cope with the ball in the air, and seem to spend all their time rolling about on the ground when they get the slightest touch.

**bellavistaman** · 01/10/2007, 8:58 PM

Jebus your bang on in every point you make, even though i disagree about wayne rooney, the sheffield wed factor makes you a very fair judge and all you rpoints seem to be more than reasonable.

Why not 50 names aswell, 55?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 01/10/2007, 9:11 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

You are joking right? I know football is a matter of opinion and all but do you seriously think Ferdinand is a better centre back than even Vidic? Thats not even mentioning Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Toure, and Carragher, who are certainly better than him, and Richards, King, Dawson, and Agger, who many people would take ahead of Rio (I know I would).

As I watch almost all of Man Utd's matches I can say without doubt that Rio is a better player than Vidic. Terry, Carvalho and perhaps Carragher are the only players you mentioned close to him but Ferdinand just shades it.

**Dodge** · 02/10/2007, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by jebus

I mean what the hell has... Iniesta.. done individually last season that has made them stand out as being among the top 55 players in the world?

Iniesta was Barcelona's best player last season (Messi is better but was injured for large parts of it). He's second only to Messi this season

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

Jebus, Ferdinand is the best centre back in the Premiership- that might have something to do with him being on the list.

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I think for years he was overated but now the backlash has been so much I think he might now be underated.

**jebus** · 02/10/2007, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

As I watch almost all of Man Utd's matches I can say without doubt that Rio is a better player than Vidic. Terry, Carvalho and perhaps Carragher are the only players you mentioned close to him but Ferdinand just shades it.

Seriously, there's blind support and then there's idiocy, this is leaning more towards the area normally occupied by those Americans who still think invading Iraq was a good idea

Originally Posted by Dodge

Iniesta was Barcelona's best player last season (Messi is better but was injured for large parts of it). He's second only to Messi this season

I don't doubt that Iniesta is a fine player, but I do doubt that he would be in the top 55 in the world. He did reasonably well (didn't score enough goals for his type of player in my opinion) last year in a stuttering Barcelona team that didn't quite rightly win anything, and this year its been more of the same. He's good, not great though, but he's probably the one player I listed that I would concede I may have been a bit harsh on and that he might, just might, get in the top 55, but again I have no doubt that if he played for Sociedad, Levante or even Depor that he would never even be considered for this type of list.

**backstothewall** · 03/10/2007, 9:04 PM

Dida: Fool

**Dodge** · 03/10/2007, 9:49 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

I don't doubt that Iniesta is a fine player, but I do doubt that he would be in the top 55 in the world. He did reasonably well (didn't score enough goals for his type of player in my opinion) last year in a stuttering Barcelona team that didn't quite rightly win anything, and this year its been more of the same. He's good, not great though, but he's probably the one player I listed that I would concede I may have been a bit harsh on and that he might, just might, get in the top 55, but again I have no doubt that if he played for Sociedad, Levante or even Depor that he would never even be considered for this type of list.

I'd honestly rate Iniesta as one of the top 5 midfielders in Europe. And the stuttering Barcelona team would've won La Liga if they had the same rules as any other European league, so they weren't as bad as you've made out...

**jebus** · 05/10/2007, 4:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I'd honestly rate Iniesta as one of the top 5 midfielders in Europe. And the stuttering Barcelona team would've won La Liga if they had the same rules as any other European league, so they weren't as bad as you've made out...

They were poor in Europe, and didn't deserve to win the league in my eyes, but then again I'm in favour of all leagues adopting the head-to-head rule to determine league positions if clubs finish level on points

**bellavistaman** · 05/10/2007, 6:22 PM

Anybody think Arteta should be in it, obviously behind Fabregas but i thin khes a better midfielder than Seedorf i think if Seedorf is in it so should Raul, i think there careers are at the same stage now really

**gustavo** · 06/10/2007, 11:20 AM

Seedorf had his best Milan season last season so I'd have to disagree , plus Rauls only 30

**Over the post** · 10/10/2007, 10:48 AM

World player of the year list: Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cech (Chelsea, Czech Rep), Ronaldo (Man Utd, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy), Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lampard (Chelsea, England), Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Rooney (Man Utd, England), Terry (Chelsea, England), Tevez (Man Utd, Argentina), Thuram (Barcelona, France), Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), Vieira (Inter Milan, France).

Fair amount of average performers in here: Cannavaro, Eto'o, Henry, Klose, Lahm, Lampard, Ronaldinho and Thuram have all had poor seasons. I reckon Kak� will walk it.

**noby** · 10/10/2007, 10:54 AM

World player of the year? Is there no-one outside of Europe deserving of a place on the shortlist? Genuine question, as I am unfamiliar with football on other continents.

**Over the post** · 10/10/2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by noby

World player of the year? Is there no-one outside of Europe deserving of a place on the shortlist? Genuine question, as I am unfamiliar with football on other continents.

Riquelme is included as playing for Villareal although he spent last season on loan at Boca.

I suppose anyone who's halfway decent gets snapped up by a European club while they're young but if you look at nationalities there are a good few South Americans and Africans in there.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 17/12/2007, 7:28 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7121175.stm

AC Milan and Brazil star Kaka has been named Fifa's world player of the year, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the honour in Zurich.

Kaka's latest award crowns a superb year in which he led AC Milan to Champions League victory this season, scoring 10 goals in the process.

In a poll of all national coaches and captains, Kaka polled 1,047 votes, Messi 504 and Ronaldo 426.

The 25-year-old was named European player of the year earlier this month.

"It's really special for me - it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one game for Brazil," he said.

"But the Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for."

Kaka, who has won 42 caps for Brazil, scored one goal and set up two others at the Club World Cup final in Japan on Sunday to hand AC Milan a record fourth title.

More to follow.
_____________________________

No suprise there with the order. Kaka has been amazing this year.

Also since the award was introduced no players outside of La Liga or Serie A have won it.

**geysir** · 17/12/2007, 8:55 PM

In a poll of all national coaches and captains, Kaka polled 1,047 votes, Messi 504 and Ronaldo 426.

I wonder who Stan voted for

I think Mick voted for Rui Costa in 2001, the year Figo won it.

**superfrank** · 18/12/2007, 12:07 PM

Over half the votes....says it all really.

Champions League, World Club Championship, Ballon d'Or, World Player........not a bad year for him.

**stojkovic** · 18/12/2007, 8:00 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I wonder who Stan voted for

The Three Man Committee voted.

They nominated Messi and presented their vote to the FAI Board for ratification. This was rejected.

RayDonDon are still interviewing candidates.