On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
Wonder if that is true, not sure about the source But be interesting where Mourinho see's himself next then. Does he think Yanited will want him then? They say his representatives are not happy with the slow progress but still, maybe they don't even want him xD
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
A bonafide moron.
and not the guy who dives and cheats..
Only Barca fans truely appreciate the importance of Busquets.
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
A bonafide moron.
and not the guy who dives and cheats..
Only Barca fans truely appreciate the importance of Busquets.
Because all the other people see him dive and cheat?
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
A bonafide moron.
and not the guy who dives and cheats..
Only Barca fans truely appreciate the importance of Busquets.
Because all the other people see him dive and cheat?
Cristiano also dive most games and you never criticize him . Xabi Alonso played American Football in Real Marid and you never criticized him neither, etc. You really are obsessed with Busquets diving and you can't see how great he is and how he is the most consistent Barcelona player this years.
Also, Busquets softened the diving after Mourinho left la liga, the same way Pepe softened his tackles.
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
A bonafide moron.
and not the guy who dives and cheats..
Only Barca fans truely appreciate the importance of Busquets.
Because all the other people see him dive and cheat?
Cristiano also dive most games and you never criticize him . Xabi Alonso played American Football in Real Marid and you never criticized him neither, etc. You really are obsessed with Busquets diving and you can't see how great he is and how he is the most consistent Barcelona player this years.
Also, Busquets softened the diving after Mourinho left la liga, the same way Pepe softened his tackles.
lol always Mourinho with you guys You do know that both player's greatest offenses were before Mourinho joined La Liga?
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
A bonafide moron.
and not the guy who dives and cheats..
Only Barca fans truely appreciate the importance of Busquets.
Because all the other people see him dive and cheat?
Cristiano also dive most games and you never criticize him . Xabi Alonso played American Football in Real Marid and you never criticized him neither, etc. You really are obsessed with Busquets diving and you can't see how great he is and how he is the most consistent Barcelona player this years.
Also, Busquets softened the diving after Mourinho left la liga, the same way Pepe softened his tackles.
lol always Mourinho with you guys You do know that both player's greatest offenses were before Mourinho joined La Liga?
Madrid Mourinho was a butcher team. Most dirty team I have seen.
And I repeat, when you complain about the constant dives of Ronaldo for getting penalties I will think that you are not biased against Barcelona.
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
A bonafide moron.
and not the guy who dives and cheats..
Only Barca fans truely appreciate the importance of Busquets.
Because all the other people see him dive and cheat?
Cristiano also dive most games and you never criticize him . Xabi Alonso played American Football in Real Marid and you never criticized him neither, etc. You really are obsessed with Busquets diving and you can't see how great he is and how he is the most consistent Barcelona player this years.
Also, Busquets softened the diving after Mourinho left la liga, the same way Pepe softened his tackles.
lol always Mourinho with you guys You do know that both player's greatest offenses were before Mourinho joined La Liga?
Madrid Mourinho was a butcher team. Most dirty team I have seen.
And I repeat, when you complain about the constant dives of Ronaldo for getting penalties I will think that you are not biased against Barcelona.
On Makalele, when he left Madrid their entire team suffered and when he joined Chelsea they improved quite a bit.
I think players like Makalele, Pirlo, or even Neuer as sweeper keeper offer so much that isn't quantifiable. Although I think Germany was better after they moved Lahm back, they couldn't even have played their 2014 opening back four with a different keeper. They used a slow back line and a keeper that prevented opponents getting behind the defense.
People continually criticise Busquets for something that happened 8 years ago (or w/e) when he was super young (the look between the hand when he was rolling around). He has dived some in those times, but the last couple of years there's very little diving going on at Barça. Even Neymar is staying upright after getting kicked a few times, which was very apparent in the match against Espanyol. Even Suarez has given up diving. I won't say that none of these players will never dive again or have never dived this season, but they can absolutely not be called divers based on this or last season.
On January 07 2016 10:49 Rebs wrote: But no bro, hes more popular than Neymar, so its obvious he is going to win it. Obviously the performances dont matter. Just like when Ronnie wins it. Tapins and Penalties all the way to being crowned best player in the world
Just like Neuer not winning it after his performance at the world cup. Even Messi, who did nothing that year, was ahead of him. Balon d'or is a popularity contest and is not worth anything.
So they stopped over rating performances in the worldcup, back in the day they would have given it to him based on like 5 games ?
Messi being ahead of Neuer was debatable but Ronaldo deserved it. Its not like the deserving winner hasnt won it. So I dont see the logic behind the griping. Besides the monstrous stats on their own are enough to put them in the top 2. There is no real argument against cold hard stats He also half carried his team to the final whereas Neuers WC team was pretty stacked and there was little room for standouts. Even a guy like Lahm couldve been in the discussion based on WC performance. Dude was killer solid.
Sneider deserved 2010 though. That one I will concede was an unfair pass. but hardly "less than the dirt under your shoes". I think you overvalue your shoe dirt even by metaphorical standards.
Sneider had an amazing 2010 and I was hoping he would win. Arjen Robben was also very good that year. I think that stats are way overrated in that the meaningful ones are pretty much offense only in these discussions. I mean, I think Makalele may have actually been the most important player in the world at one time but its hard to quantify that like you can just say Ronaldo 1 goal per game or something.
There is a difference when the stats are overwhelming and someone who scored like 30 goals in a season. There are stats that you can argue with based on intangibles and some you cant. Ronaldos and Messi's stats let alone the intangibles simply outweigh any intangibles you can bring to the table.
Before those 2 those things mattered, and even if their raw output drops they will start to matter.
Guys like Ronnie, Kaka, Zidane or Nedved were not strikers and they were deserving winners,
Granted defensive players could use some more love. They are the backbone after all and everything else works off the backbone. But just like the Human body, the backbone doesnt really do anything, but without it, you cant do anything either. So should we just hand out player of the year awards to defensive midfielders on every team each year ? After all, everyones got a backbone (except Arsenal lol)
Wheres the Busquets love then ?
If Makelele was the most important player in the world at some point, then we need to offer the same respect to a guy like Sergio B. But its easier to romanticize about the guy who got shafted by Perez of all people+ Show Spoiler +
A bonafide moron.
and not the guy who dives and cheats..
Only Barca fans truely appreciate the importance of Busquets.
Because all the other people saw him dive and cheat?
Obviouslly no one has even seen Ricardo Carvalho, Mou's chief leutienant pull the pants of every play from Portugal to England to Spain. He probably has the biggest underwear collection of opposition attackers you can imagine. If serving no better purpose than securing his financial with their sale should times get tough.
But that one dive and peak will never be lived down. Everytime you think of that let me remind you of this beloved man mountain. + Show Spoiler +
Its moronic to make a value judgement on this incident just as much as any other. But obviously haters need to hate.
What as that line again... ? Oh right... "Its a fucking disgrace". The irony.
I find the discussion about Neuer not getting the Ballon d'Or last year rather funny... People criticize the popularity contest that leads Messi and Ronaldo to win every year, but Bayern did exactly the same for 2 years in a row already. Before the actual vote, people weren't saying "Neuer deserves it", people were saying "Müller/Lahm/Neuer deserve it". In the end the results were revealed step by step like every year: first you have the top 25 (or something like this), then you have the top 3 and finally the winner. Before the top 3 was revealed, these same people were still pushing for one of these 3, not Neuer in particular. And when only Neuer was selected in the top 3, players from Bayern started doing their PR "all behind Neuer". It was the same with Ribery the year before...
When journalists were responsible for voting for the Ballon d'Or, the winner was more like a "memory" for that year. Cannavaro winning was to reward the Italian team for winning the World Cup, it wasn't absurd, it was just a different way to attribute this award. Titles mattered more than stats. It was more of a team award than an individual award like it is now.
There are many problems with the current attribution system. The vote of the captain of the Nicaragua national team has as much weight as say Del Bosque. And after the award is attributed, the votes are revealed. And if you didn't vote for your best buddy or people from your country, you get attacked in the medias, you lose your control over the team, etc... In the end, it's just like political elections. Your friends, agent, teammates run the campaign for you, and if you had enough support you win. And no one has the power to beat Messi + Barcelona and Ronaldo + Madrid right now.
And as Rebs mentioned, they are so superior to the rest that there's no debate if we only take performance into account, and not titles.
On January 08 2016 08:43 Eliezar wrote: On Makalele, when he left Madrid their entire team suffered and when he joined Chelsea they improved quite a bit.
I think players like Makalele, Pirlo, or even Neuer as sweeper keeper offer so much that isn't quantifiable. Although I think Germany was better after they moved Lahm back, they couldn't even have played their 2014 opening back four with a different keeper. They used a slow back line and a keeper that prevented opponents getting behind the defense.
You know Lowe Germany just plays whatever system Bayern Munich has played for however many years right ? The whole sweeper keeper thing is nice and all but it just means you play a higher line so your keeper plays up.
It isnt something that works long term and its not something he does consistently anyway now since people have caught on and arent afraid to take a shot or two.
Playing a high line with possession like that almost exclusively means when you are called on it is because someone broke the line and has created a very good scoring opportunity. You can probably find a highlight reels of 1 guy with pace from a low or mid level La Liga club, just run around the Barca defense and score. It also means you can shine more over a good run of form.
Victor Valdes got alot of hate but he played the sweeper keeper wayyy before Neuer did. I find it strange that the world discovered Neuer like he did something revolutationary. Granted he is probably a better keeper than Valdes but Valdes was no slouch. Excellent touch and pinpoint distribution.
And again while the sweeper keeper position has value, its value is only in your team being skilled enough to push up and play a high line with possession. In this case everyone's job is harder. Especially the midfield who have the burden of retaking possession asap or tracking back if the retake press gets broken.
Very few teams can play that way. Only 2 really do and Barca stepped of it quite a bit in higher profile games after getting bitten so often. Klopp has tried to get Liverpool to play that way but without the kind of players needed for it. They kill one in every 3 games and have no steam left for a few weeks after. They probably will suffer injury woes at this rate aswell.
People saying that Balon d'Or is a popularity contest have no idea about football or whatsoever (yes Fifa is a corruption center but the award normally have sense). Messi and Cristiano are -by far- the best 2 players in the last 15 years; both will be remember among the best players ever. Neuer had a couple of great seasons, same Ribery, Roben, Suarez, Iniesta (i LOVE that guy) or maybe others, all are amazing players. But people is just getting badly used to the insane standards of both Messi and Ronaldo. Any of them, with a bellow their average level, is still way better than the rest. Example: Messi reached the 2014 World Cup in his lowest form of his whole career, and still managed to carry Argentina to the finals (him with Mascherano + Dimaria, but he was the key).
EPT
