Topic: Ballon d'or 2019

[jillcwhomever]

Would have been nice as Van Dijk is shaping to be the defender of his generation but scoring 54 goals in a season should never get normalised and I fear it has.

Messi was the best attacker in the world by far last year. Van Dijk was the best defender.

How you split it that out is hard to say! Whichever way it goes certainly isn’t an outrage.

Basically you don't acknowledge the defending side of the game, just keep giving it to Messi. It diminishes the whole thing. As has been said just stop doing the award let him keep it, as it's pretty worthless.

[RobbieRedman]

Basically you don't acknowledge the defending side of the game, just keep giving it to Messi. It diminishes the whole thing. As has been said just stop doing the award let him keep it, as it's pretty worthless.

He's probably the best player there's ever been, it really doesn't diminish it him winning again. Annoying maybe but fair.

[jillcwhomever]

He's probably the best player there's ever been, it really doesn't diminish it him winning again. Annoying maybe but fair.

It does if other players having outstanding years are not getting the acknowledgement for it.

[El Lobo]

He's probably the best player there's ever been, it really doesn't diminish it him winning again. Annoying maybe but fair.

When people say to me: would you rather Van Dijk be thought of as a great player or a great winner? My answers always the same, to me, they’re not mutually exclusive.

[RobbieRedman]

It does if other players having outstanding years are not getting the acknowledgement for it.

They are though, Alisson 7th, Mane was 4th, Virgil 2nd, that's two players in top four without winning their respective league

Let's win the league and discuss our ballon d'or options later

[oxenstierna]

It does if other players having outstanding years are not getting the acknowledgement for it.

Alisson got acknowledged and so did VVD with his UEFA-award

[jillcwhomever]

It's less about our players for me than what this trophy is all about. They had this conversation on LFCTV and there is two train of thoughts. Is it about who is the best player in the world, or is about whose performances have had the biggest influence over the season. If it's the first it's Messi, if it's the second it has to be Van Dijk for the last season. So which is it?

[Alan_X]

I think Virgil was acknowledged by coming second in the Balon d'Or.

Would have been great if he'd won but he is generally seen as the best defender around. The only other defender in the top twenty was Trent at 19.

[oxenstierna]

Anyways we got the trophy that really mattered. Mane will get the next Ballon d’or

[Lad]

The greatest player perhaps to ever play the game wins a top award and it’s upsetting people because he had a poor game against us. I don’t get it. The man is a genius. Wonderful footballer. Attacking flair will always catch the eye over solid defence. Just the way it is.

[newterp]

some of you people. Did you even see Messi play last year? Fully deserved even though I wanted Virgil to win and love him

I saw him play twice.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

He's probably the best player there's ever been, it really doesn't diminish it him winning again. Annoying maybe but fair.

second year in a row he’s come up short defending a three goal lead and for his country, no way should he have won it

[idontknow]

I'm not disappointing with having 4 of the top seven players at the Ballon D'Or.

I remember when we had Julian Dicks.

Speak for yourself.

[Alan_X]

second year in a row he’s come up short defending a three goal lead and for his country, no way should he have won it

Messi plays in defence?

[GreatEx]

Arsed.

Extra motivation.

Win PL and CL and we'll sweep all the mutual back slapping and cock sucking awards you can think of.

[Caligula?]

Why did Luka Modric win last year then?

[rafathegaffa83]

Anyways we got the trophy that really mattered. Mane will get the next Ballon d’or

Yep. Great achievement for VVD regardless. And of course with him sitting next to Mbappe, he can let him know where Klopp will take him for an ice cream and donkey ride in Blackpool

[B0151?]

It wouldn't bother me if Modric hadn't won it last year.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

Messi plays in defence?

no but when your team blows it two years in a row and you miss chances, plus you state that was the aim in front of the barca fans at the start of the year you don’t deserve it, probably the voters feeling guilty for having him 5th last year

[Alan_X]

no but when your team blows it two years in a row and you miss chances, plus you state that was the aim in front of the barca fans at the start of the year you don’t deserve it, probably the voters feeling guilty for having him 5th last year

That's just being silly - what about being 7 points clear and losing the league?

[groove]

The criteria for this is so weird. If they were being consistent then VVD probably should've won it this year. Usually they lean in heavily on narrative/big performances in big competitions (world cup / cl)

If this award was literally 'who is the current best player in world football' (which is what this feels like) then Messi should probably have like 8 or 9 of these. Not 6.

[Clayton Bigsby]

It wouldn't bother me if Modric hadn't won it last year.

This in a nutshell. Laughable decision really

[Coolie High]

Messi is the best, VVD deserved second place.

The strangest choice was actually Ronald finishing third.

[Coolie High]

This in a nutshell. Laughable decision really

Nothing laughable about it, Messi is head and shoulders the best attacker in the world.

[Medellin]

Messi is the best forward in the world.

Virgil is the best defender in the world.

Virgil must be gutted, difficult when both are 10/10.

[B0151?]

Nothing laughable about it, Messi is head and shoulders the best attacker in the world.

What makes his season this year so much more Balon D'Or worthy than last year though? That's why it's laughable imo. It's stupid he only finished 5th last year, it's hard to make sense of the inconsistency

[jillcwhomever]

Nothing laughable about it, Messi is head and shoulders the best attacker in the world.

Van Dijk is the best defender in the world.

[Alan_X]

The criteria for this is so weird. If they were being consistent then VVD probably should've won it this year. Usually they lean in heavily on narrative/big performances in big competitions (world cup / cl)

If this award was literally 'who is the current best player in world football' (which is what this feels like) then Messi should probably have like 8 or 9 of these. Not 6.

The criteria are simple - whoever gets the most votes from selected journalists wins the prize. They choose five players in order and the players get a number of points depending on their placing. There's no point trying to make up bollocks about narrative or big performances. It's a vote and someone wins. Last year Modric had a great season and picked up a load of votes across the board. That's it.

[Alan_X]

What makes his season this year so much more Balon D'Or worthy than last year though? That's why it's laughable imo. It's stupid he only finished 5th last year, it's hard to make sense of the inconsistency

It's almost 200 journalists expressing their individual opinions on different seasons of football.

[jillcwhomever]

Out of interest when is the last time a player who doesn't play for Barcelona or RM won the Ballon d'or?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Out of interest when is the last time a player who doesn't play for Barcelona or RM won the Ballon d'or?

Ronaldo, when he won it whilst playing for the Mancs.

[jillcwhomever]

Ronaldo, when he won it whilst playing for the Mancs.

So every year since then its either been a Barcelona or RM player?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

So every year since then its either been a Barcelona or RM player?

Yup

On another note

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EAOM2mym38

 

[jillcwhomever]

Yup

On another note

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EAOM2mym38

 

I'm a bit dizzy after watching that. 

[stoopid yank]

6 players in the top 20 in the world. Is anyone else blown away by that? I think that is awesome.

[Bobinhood]

Personally, ive had it with this bs virgil is a defender nonsense. I want that man on the penalty spot all day going forward. Our whole game plan is 7 outfield players gum up the middle and press and counterpress with the sole aim of gaining possession and sending it out wide to one of the backs, and they plant one on healthyandycaroll van dyck's noggin. BOOM 

He will score 75 a season. 2 a game, like some u-8 kid too good for his age group. Then see them try and give it to messi again.  Ha. if ya cant beat em join em.

[Black Bull Nova]

Van Dijk 4 Messi 3

That's the one we'll all remember

[stockdam]

6 players in the top 20 in the world. Is anyone else blown away by that? I think that is awesome.

I wonder if that’s ever happened before?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I wonder if that’s ever happened before?

For us or any club in general?

[Son of Spion]

Messi is the best forward in the world.

Virgil is the best defender in the world.

Virgil must be gutted, difficult when both are 10/10.

Attackers always seem to be more prized than defenders. It's a bit like how the front man in the band always gets the plaudits over the bassist or drummer. Both may be 10/10, but the more flash guy gets the award.

I'm sure VVD will be disappointed, but I'm just happy we have the best defender on the planet playing for us. I'm sure VVD is also content with the fact that he has the European Cup sat in our trophy room while Messi hasn't.