Category: Awards

Best of the Best…

After a weekend of football, there is always major reaction or should we say overreaction to the events we have witnessed. But that’s football isn’t it? We react to what we see. And how we react as individuals is what makes the debate and dialogue that much more interesting.

This is not about who is the greatest ever footballer. Our Top 10 Best Players in Europe list is about who we think is great right now. The criteria for making the list is based on recent form, goals scored, assists provided and overall performances and general brilliance of each player.

So get mad, get riled up or simply agree with who we think is lighting up Europe from a football perspective.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo = Real Madrid

2. Lionel Messi = Barcelona

3. Robin Van Persie = Arsenal

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic = AC Milan

5. Xavi = Barcelona

6. David Silva = Manchester City

7. Thiago Silva = AC Milan

8. Wayne Rooney = Manchester United

9. Sergio Aguero = Manchester City

10. Robert Lewandowski = Borussia Dortmund

Overrated FC…

Tis’ the season to laud the best of the best. The football universe is filled with incredible talent. And we love to bestow awards on those who play sexy football. Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta and Rooney are world-class players. They are part of the reason we love to watch the beautiful game.

On the other side of the coin, there are some players who have prominent roles in elite teams and they often leave you scratching your head as to why. And let’s face it. Every team has them. Even the team you love and adore.

We present our Overrated FC team of the season. Now remember…the keyword here is overrated. Nobody is saying they are rubbish! But they certainly won’t be winning the Ballon d’Or. Do you agree with our choices?

Goalkeeper = Joe Hart {Manchester City}

Left Back = John Arne Riise {Roma}

Center Back = Joleon Lescott {Manchester City}

Center Back = Johan Djourou {Arssenal}

Right Back = Glen Johnson {Liverpool}

Midfield = Sami Khedira {Real Madrid}

Midfield = Gareth Barry {Manchester City}

Winger = Ricardo Quaresma {Besiktas}

Winger = Aaron Lennon {Tottenham Hotspur}

Striker = Nicklas Bendtner {Arsenal}

Striker = Robinho {AC Milan}

Manager = Arsene Wenger {Arsenal}

Overrated FC Subs = Heurelho Gomes {Tottenham}, Anton Ferdinand {Sunderland}, Christoph Metzelder {Schalke 04}, Assou Ekotto {Tottenham Hotspur}, Jack Rodwell {Everton}, Mathieu Flamini {AC Milan}, Alberto Aquilani {Juventus}, Angel di Maria {Real Madrid}, Andy Carroll {Liverpool}, Edin Dzeko {Manchester City}

Goal of the season…

fernandoIt’s that time of year where we harp on about the greatness of players, teams and managers. Us fans like to have our say in who wins what.

First-up is a fan favourite – Goal of the Season. With so many great games and performances, it really was difficult to pick the best goal. There were great individual goals and also incredible team goals scored in the Premier League this term. But who ranked in the top 3? Do you agree with the choices? Have your say… 

1. {Fernando Torres} vs Blackburn. A great ball from Jamie Carragher and then the beautification of football personified by the sheer brilliance of Torres. Check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmpc1dUls4&feature=related.

2. {David Bentley} vs Arsenal. Who knows if Bentley will even be at Tottenham next season. He will always leave Spurs fans with one of their greatest memories against Arsenal. Rough quality, but you can still see this amazing goal very clearly.       http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1941068/david_bentley_goal_for_tottenham_vs_arsenal_on_29_10_08/

3. {Paul Konchesky} vs West Ham. Against his former club, Konchesky takes the ball himself and blasts the back of the net with a stunning shot. Take a peek and remind yourselves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_IOJhE0fgI

Honorable mentions also go to Andrei Arshavin’s goal against Blackburn, Glen Johnson’s goal against Hull City and Carlton Cole’s goal against Wigan.

Steve Gerrard Gerrard…

gerrard1Surprise. An award was presented today and it didn’t go to a Manchester United player!

Steven Gerrard was voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writer’s Association. Congratulations. You deserve the accolade. Gerrard played a lot more than 13 games this season. 29 in the Premier League and 40 total for the season. He would have played more if it wasn’t for injuries. What then? Would he have been the PFA Player of the Year? And would Liverpool have been crowned Premier League Champions by now?

Whatever the outcome this season, Steven Gerrard is one of those football players we’ve just loved to watch. I think he’s also one of those players every fan would love in their team. He’d be captain of my team. He’s got balls and spirit. He deserves to win a title with Liverpool. It’s the trophy that’s eluded him thus far. Gerrard wants to win the Premier League as bad as Roger Federer wants to win the French Open. But will it happen for them? Will this be their year?

And the PFA award goes to…

giggsyRyan Giggs was named the PFA’s Player of the Year today. It’s the icing on the 20 year career cake for Giggsy. He’s twice been named as the Young Player of the Year, but he never won the big one. A lot of people in the media think he didn’t deserve to win as he only started 12 games for Manchester United in the Premier League this season. Most people think it should have gone to his United team mate Nemanja Vidic and that this was a heart string vote by his fellow professionals. One thing you can’t deny is his contribution to football and Manchester United. But that’s not what this award is about is it?

Not knowing if Giggs would return for more football next season, the PFA seem to have pulled an Academy Award type move by rewarding the great Welshman in a season that was definitely influential, but not necessarily his best. It’s a bit like the year when Paul Newman won Best Actor for the Colour Of Money. He’d been nominated so many times before for great movies and he’d never won. But in 1996, the Academy were bitten by the nostalgia bug and before anyone could say “and the award goes to…”, the statuette was already on proud display in Paul Newman’s downstairs bathroom.

Is Ryan Giggs the Paul Newman of football? Do you thinks Giggs deserved it this year? Was he named PFA Player of the Year because of his legend? It’s undeniable he’s one of the best talents the Premier League has seen. But should this have been Steven Gerrard’s year?