Pick6;1359912 wrote:Apparently you have to play in Spain to be considered for these awards

Hey, the awards go to the best players and the best players are playing in the best league, currently La Liga.

But seriously, not to get into the whole La Liga vs EPL (and the others), but La Liga is pretty damn good over the last 2-3 years. You have Madrid and Barca, but even beyond that, all 4 in the CL advanced this year, last year they represented very well in CL and Europa league. Then the fact Spain at the International level is unbeatable at the moment and 90% of those players are in La Liga, its not surprising at all.

Yeah. No EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga, or any other league but La Liga are best 11? Bull.


I'm calling Bull



For 1 example of why this is FUBAR: Ashley Cole > Marcelo.

My favorite Messi goal this year was against Chelsea... oh wait

Not a single player from the EPL. :laugh:

ohiobucks1;1359917 wrote:Yeah. No EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga, or any other league but La Liga are best 11? Bull.


I'm calling Bull



For 1 example of why this is FUBAR: Ashley Cole > Marcelo.

Marcelo sucks, I agree with this.

I would say 8 of the 11 are pretty clear cut though. Falcao, Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, Cassillas and Pique.

Then you have Ramos....meh, but did win Euro and La Liga and is Reals 3rd best field player. Alves...not sure where he came from. Great Right Back, but was often injured and Brazil competed in no major tournament. Then Marcello. He is just baffling. Not sure he is a top 10 defender in the world.

Id have Ashley Cole in there. Ballotelli is deserving, but not over the 3 forwards listed. Id have to dig deeper to come up with viable replacements. But there isnt TOO much argument with the 8 I listed, imo.

Pick6;1359924 wrote:My favorite Messi goal this year was against Chelsea... oh wait

lol, he did choke in that game (well the PK at least). But thats ok, he will get it this year...Oh wait

Automatik;1359935 wrote:Not a single player from the EPL. :laugh:

Other than Cole, who do you insert. Serious question cause this is a good debate and I just dont know who I would put in off the top of my head. Silva? Toure? Ballotelli? Rooney? Lamps? Terry? Just throwing out names.

I dont consider myself an expert by any means. I've only followed soccer for 3 years, but I think I would take Pirlo over Alonso and Kompany over Pique as well as Cole over Marcelo.

Pick6;1359993 wrote:I dont consider myself an expert by any means. I've only followed soccer for 3 years, but I think I would take Pirlo over Alonso and Kompany over Pique as well as Cole over Marcelo.

I think Pirlo and Zlatan have a strong argument. But Pique was voted top defender of the Euro 2012 tournament. He was a lock for this, and its deserved. Barca is close to unbeatable when he plays, and struggles mightily when he is out. Not the same with Alves (which is why I think he is a stretch) and a few others (Busquets...who some people voted for). Messi and Pique are probably the two most indispensable players for Barca. Iniesta and Xavi are close, but when Cesc replaces them, the loss isnt as big lol.

Pirlo was awesome in Euro and Serie A. I think I would vote for him next. Tough call between he and Alonso, but the more I think about it, I think you are right. Pirlo was Italy in Euro 2012. Kompany over Pique no way, though. And Marcelo as I have said is extremely puzzling. Cole over him easily. Heck, 9 people over him easily lol.

Laley23;1359987 wrote:
Other than Cole, who do you insert. Serious question cause this is a good debate and I just dont know who I would put in off the top of my head. Silva? Toure? Ballotelli? Rooney? Lamps? Terry? Just throwing out names.

I think you could make a case for RVP, maybe Gomez. Zlatan?

Falcao is the only legit "forward" on there IMO, the rest are just attacking mids or wingers.

BALOTELLI?! No way...he's starting to be Torres -- much hype and no follow through.

I can see RvP and Zlatan being in there. I'm tired of this "La Liga is superior" talk. They have two teams and a third sitting around. Outside of that, it's garbage. No one cares about anything but Barca, Real Madrid, or somewhat Atletico -- but if Falcao leaves, they'll take a major hit, just like they did when Forlan wasn't playing well (or not even there).

I hope all the other European clubs starting taking their youth academies into more serious consideration. Focus on those. Grow them up to be special. Manchester United is the top club for that, they have had more of their youth players make their senior team than any other club in Europe (citation needed, but there is a site that shows that). Ajax has gotten into a rut of growing players and selling them, not even focusing on their first team with their academy players. The clubs use their academies as money makers now, unfortunately. Soccer clubs aren't good businesses.

There's a reason why the Bundesliga is the top attraction for fans, other clubs and leagues need to take note.

Lol. Real and Barcelona and thats it??? Not right now.

Atletico and Bilbao played in the Europa League final last year. 2 make the Knockout in CL last year and make the Semis. All 4 teams in the CL this year make the knockout, Barca and Malaga winning their group. Real 2nd and Valencia tied for second. None of those are Atletico who is in 2nd in La Liga right now. Watch the top teams in La Liga, they are really really good right now.

And I mentioned Balotelli cause he was awesome during Euros. But you are right, he is not close to a top 11 player. He did have a great tourney though.

Oh, and going back to the former players-turned-managers topic...

Ryan Nelson, QPR defender, gets announced as the head of TFC. This is interesting. I wonder how that'll pan out...

Liking this at Old Trafford this morning!

Are you watching Arsenal/City? Insane start. Gunners get a man sent off, PK is missed. The Emirates is rockin.

Hard to believe it's only about 2.5 weeks until the Hex starts. Opening game vs Honduras will be in Colorado.

Just read on ESPN that Pep signed a 3-year contract with Bayern Munich. Interesting move for him, as I had been reading he was looking at the EPL for his next venture.

Link.

New NASL team...Indianapolis gets a franchise and will play in 2014!

Good for them. Website here.

DEMPSEY!!!!!

92 minute shocker to steal a point!!!

Automatik;1370288 wrote:DEMPSEY!!!!!

92 minute shocker to steal a point!!!

COYS!!!!

DUECES!!!!!!!

Congo came back from 2-0 down and drew Ghana this morning. Time to celebrate...

[video=youtube;ySbL1eB-EXg][/video]

It's a little NSFWish...just a few choice words.

Also...huge news in the partnership of the MLS and USL Pro.

Chelsea Hazard Kicks the ball boy and gets red carded. Check out the video. I'm sure he will be getting a huge fine and suspension

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1310718/chelsea%27s-hazard-sent-off-for-kicking-at-ball-boy?cc=5901

sportchampps;1373232 wrote:Chelsea Hazard Kicks the ball boy and gets red carded. Check out the video. I'm sure he will be getting a huge fine and suspension

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1310718/chelsea's-hazard-sent-off-for-kicking-at-ball-boy?cc=5901

LOL I cant believe he did that.

I saw this earlier on Deadspin. Didn't read the article. Why was the kid on the ball like that? Did Hazard think he was stalling?

Yeah I think it's safe to say he thought he was stalling. I was lucky enough to be a ball boy the first few times the US played Mexico at Crew Stadium and I can tell you we stalled when the US was winning.