*Official* English Football Season 2006-07

[Craig]

By the same token a few of those players won't be there.

Surely club form and reputations are the main reason they get nominated?

 

[Scaly piscine]

FIFA Shortlist for World of the Player:


FIFA World Player of the Year shortlist: Adriano (Inter, Brazil), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Luis Figo (Inter, Portugal), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Germany), Philippe Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal, Germany), Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Marseille, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal, Czech Republic), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea, Ukraine), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Patrick Vieira (Inter, France), Zinedine Zidane (retired, France)

Suprised John Terry did not get listed if Adriano can get listed and he has been in shocking form for the whole of 2006.

But 12 players nominated is a pretty good thing. Who will win?

I think Ronaldinho will probably get it, even though his World Cup form was rubbish (compared to some of his displays for Barcelona).

Seems like they just picked a realistic small shortlist (note the 'short' bit FIFA) and then just filled out the numbers with random big names across the big countries.

 

[Craig]

TBH Miroslav Klose looked a bit random for mine.

 

[Pothas]

lets face it club football is now more important than internationals. Based on that Gerrards inclusion is perfectly valid. Certainly as valid as Ronaldhino who was played out of position and had a very poor world cup. Club football is now more important and far superior. I do love the world cup espeicaly when the likes of Argentina are in full flow but we have to face the fact that interneational football is in a pretty poor state

 

[Scaly piscine]

If people think club football is more important than internationals then football really has become americanised in a soulless way. Club competition should always be second to international competition, but club competition is perceived to be more important when money takes over.

 

[Pothas]

concurred on all accounts, take away gerrard and terry from that team and it becomes extremely mediocre.

Lets not suddenly pretend that England have no good players they do. Rooney is still a brilliantly talented footballer and he will find his form again. Ashely Cole is also undeniably a very good full back as is Gary Neville. Rio Ferdiand although maybe overated is also a perfectly comeptant centre back most of the time. Lampard is also a good club player even if he has been shocking in recent internationals. The fact that they do not play well at internatioal level does NOT make them bad players. Whare i agree is that there is a lot of mediocre players in and around the squad. As i have said international football is just a bit rubbish.

 

[Pothas]

If people think club football is more important than internationals then football really has become americanised in a soulless way. Club competition should always be second to international competition, but club competition is perceived to be more important when money takes over.

That may be partialy true but to be honest to watch a premiership, champions league or even league 1 match is always far more entertaining than watching an England match. The quality in the champions league is always higher than you are likely to see in an international match.

 

[roseboy64]

well, glad of last nights result, feel sorry for paul robinson but ha, hes overated anyway, rest of the team very poor, tactically outclassed, this formation doesnt work with the type of player england possess, distinct lack of shape, very poor performance, makes you realise that take away 3 players from the england line up and they become a very average cumbersome side, tactically and otherwise inept, well played croatia, hopefully another performance like this against russia will see england fail to qualify.

How is Robinson overrated? Unless the media are saying he's the best in the world he shouldn't be considred hyped up. IMO he's a very good 'keeper. Not he best but pretty close.

 

[Matteh]

TBH Miroslav Klose looked a bit random for mine.

Hardly.

 

[roseboy64]

lets face it club football is now more important than internationals. Based on that Gerrards inclusion is perfectly valid. Certainly as valid as Ronaldhino who was played out of position and had a very poor world cup. Club football is now more important and far superior. I do love the world cup espeicaly when the likes of Argentina are in full flow but we have to face the fact that interneational football is in a pretty poor state

I'd think if you're comparing performances for both club and international Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the front runners. In the latter of last season he played well. In the WC he did well, had a shot at Young Player of the WC. Also, has started this season. Best 2006 out of that lot.

 

[roseboy64]

I'd think if you're comparing performances for both club and international Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the front runners. In the latter of last season he played well. In the WC he did well, had a shot at Young Player of the WC. Also, has started this season. Best 2006 out of that lot.

Also, Cannavaro, Henry, Klose, Gerrard, Ronaldinho and maybe Eto'o. I expect those to be the only serious contenders.

 

[Scaly piscine]

That may be partialy true but to be honest to watch a premiership, champions league or even league 1 match is always far more entertaining than watching an England match. The quality in the champions league is always higher than you are likely to see in an international match.

You seem to confusing quality and entertainment somewhat.

The quality appears higher because teams aren't as defensive (they've got to please the fans who pay their wages after all), it still ends up that relatively defensive teams do well in Europe - there just aren't many of them. Give players time and space and lots of opportunities they will look better, this is the case with players like chief poseur even tho he misses lots of chances. So many players look good in the Premiership and CL, then they turn to pap in international football, how many do it the other way?

 

[Pothas]

No, Barcelona are far better than any international team and the champions league produces better quality and better entertainemnt than an international match. Club teams get to train and play together every week and gel far better as a side. Being defensive does not mean you are a quality side, just look at England.

Players like Vladmir Smicer looked quality in international football so it doesnt just go one way.

 

[Scaly piscine]

No, Barcelona are far better than any international team and the champions league produces better quality and better entertainemnt than an international match. Club teams get to train and play together every week and gel far better as a side. Being defensive does not mean you are a quality side, just look at England.

Players like Vladmir Smicer looked quality in international football so it doesnt just go one way.

Nope, look at how awesome Brazil or even their second string look in friendlies when they're given time and space, didn't look so clever against France did they? Numbers dictate international sides are generally better at least in terms of personnel, there is 1 international side for each country there are 4 sides in the CL from England, Spain and so on. Also players do not need that long to 'gel' - that's just an excuse. So many players wouldn't look rubbish in internationals but good in club football and hardly any are the other way (you'll have to do a lot better than one dubious example to disprove that), this is mainly down to it being a step up in class and an illusion created by games being more defensive - there is no other broad ranging reason (something like them not caring to play properly or they can't adjust to the different pace might be a reason, but only for a few players).

 

[Neil Pickup]

Seaman 96 > Robinson
G Neville 96 > G Neville 2006 (slightly)
Adams > Terry
Southgate > Ferdinand
Pearce > Carragher
McManaman >>>>> Parker
Gascoigne = Lampard
Platt >>>> Carrick
Anderton > Ashley Cole (as far as left wing is concerned anyway)
Sheringham > Crouch
Shearer > Rooney, slightly.

Gascoigne >>>>>> Lampard.

 

[Pothas]

Nope, look at how awesome Brazil or even their second string look in friendlies when they're given time and space, didn't look so clever against France did they? Numbers dictate international sides are generally better at least in terms of personnel, there is 1 international side for each country there are 4 sides in the CL from England, Spain and so on. Also players do not need that long to 'gel' - that's just an excuse. So many players wouldn't look rubbish in internationals but good in club football and hardly any are the other way (you'll have to do a lot better than one dubious example to disprove that), this is mainly down to it being a step up in class and an illusion created by games being more defensive - there is no other broad ranging reason (something like them not caring to play properly or they can't adjust to the different pace might be a reason, but only for a few players).

You seem to be forgetting that the 4 champions league teams from one nation do not draw players from that same nation, there is a massive concentration of top quality players in top european clubs. The fact that so many of Englands fringe players do not get into their club sides shows that massive strenght of the top european clubs as well as Englands lack of depth. Lets face it Chelsea would beat England and Barcelona would beat Spain and dont forget that Greece won the european championship. International football is weak.

 

[Scaly piscine]

You seem to be forgetting that the 4 champions league teams from one nation do not draw players from that same nation, there is a massive concentration of top quality players in top european clubs. The fact that so many of Englands fringe players do not get into their club sides shows that massive strenght of the top european clubs as well as Englands lack of depth. Lets face it Chelsea would beat England and Barcelona would beat Spain and dont forget that Greece won the european championship. International football is weak.

If it's weak why does the original rubbish team flogger (chief poseur) do so badly in international football? Follow that through to 100s of other examples. The nationality of players in club sides is irrelevant to the argument - the player pool in the CL is much bigger than the player pool for the main country teams, so the weaker players are the ones that don't make it to play for their country, so the personnel are indisputably better for the national sides. As for Greece, so what? There are examples for the CL like Liverpool and Porto. England's supposed first XI - all of them would walk into their club sides except possibly Joe Cole. Likewise for other countries. How many CL teams' first XI would make the first XI for their national sides? Maybe Chelsea and Barcelona (can't be bothered to check or find out exactly what their first XIs are) not many more if any.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Gascoigne >>>>>> Lampard.

Doesn't change the general line of argument.

 

[Pothas]

If it's weak why does the original rubbish team flogger (chief poseur) do so badly in international football? Follow that through to 100s of other examples. The nationality of players in club sides is irrelevant to the argument - the player pool in the CL is much bigger than the player pool for the main country teams, so the weaker players are the ones that don't make it to play for their country, so the personnel are indisputably better for the national sides. As for Greece, so what? There are examples for the CL like Liverpool and Porto. England's supposed first XI - all of them would walk into their club sides except possibly Joe Cole. Likewise for other countries. How many CL teams' first XI would make the first XI for their national sides? Maybe Chelsea and Barcelona (can't be bothered to check or find out exactly what their first XIs are) not many more if any.

Teams such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Inter are made up almost entriely of internationals. Then the likes of Manchester United, Milan, Lyon, Liverpool and Valencia have an awful lot of international players

Of course the players in interntationals are no worse than players in club football because they are the same players. The fact is how many of the big players produce there best on the world stage and how many good sides were there in the world cup? The answer not a lot. I dont see this as a good thing but i cant help when watching it that it should be so much better.

 

[marc71178]

2 wins away from home for the City now - so what if its only 2 of the bottom 3, I'll take any small bonuses!!!

And to think we did it in spite of the T & T FA's efforts to prevent us - absolutely disgraceful and unfair treatment...