12 Jan 2015 19:05:49
well done to ranaldo on winning the balon d'or, its a pity we never got him when he issued a come and get me to us, that's when we had some pull

1.) 12 Jan 2015
Forget that, how did the two Brazilians make the team?

2.) 12 Jan 2015
No! that's when he was a nobody.

3.) 12 Jan 2015
12 Jan 2015 20:01:07
What do you mean, that could be Raheem Sterling in 4 or 5 years time ?

4.) 12 Jan 2015
If it is Sterling I hope it comes without the spoilt child whining face and total lack of humility. He might be a great player but wouldn't you love to give a good slap ;-)

5.) 12 Jan 2015
12 Jan 2015 22:33:02
Ronaldo is anything but a spoiled child, and has quite considerable humility, perhaps slightly arrogant. I believe you are confusing him with Lionel Messi who is far more arrogant and child like.

6.) 12 Jan 2015
And well done to Borini, Lambert and Mario for jointly winning the Barn'Dor.

7.) 13 Jan 2015
To be fair, Ronaldo(who I don't like) worked so damn hard to get where he is today, so fair play to the guy. He has my respect for that.

8.) 13 Jan 2015
When I saw the post by piledriver, I thought to myself.

Is that marketing gimmick on legs called David Luiz in the team of the year??

Never. then I saw it.

I've stopped taking this celebrity footballers crap seriously now. If you ever wanted some evidence that pundits and players are pretty clueless - here it is.

What a joke.

Between Gerrard being in the PFA team of the year last year, and Giggs being voted PFA player of the year in 2009, I always thought the English game was rampant with establishment arse-lickers who don't have a clue.

Messi as player of the tournament at the WC for turning in average performances - and now this.

We can now see that the international game - and not just the players and press in England - is full of mindless drones with exceedingly low IQs.

He's on the cover of FIFA, he must be good. eh.

Here is a true story btw. This happened just a minute ago.

I just mentioned to the wife: "the FIFA team of the year was announced today".

"Is Luis in it?" she asked.

"Yep". I said.

#pause - "David Luiz".

She burst out laughing.

Before the Brazil-Germany match in the World Cup I said to the wife - "watch this muppet, I swear he's one of the worst centre-backs I've ever seen, but he has big hair, the world cup is in Brazil and has a great knack for finding TV cameras so he can point to the heavens - so he's a star".

I had to endure a Luiz montage and lots of brainless establishment ex-pro's blandly saying that he was a top-top player before the match kicked off.

"Ignore them. they don't have a clue, just watch Luiz, I implored".

90 minutes later - the wife had stated that yes, this guy Luis was awfully bad.

Now, these same people at the BBC were jumping on the bandwagon, as the reality bus crapped all over them.

"He looks pretty poor defensively" one of the BBC brain trust said, after watching arguably the worst individual defensive display by a player in the history of the tournament.

Unable to listen any more. I switched to Irish TV, renowned for a no-nonsense approach to punditry that does not like bland fence-sitters.

Contrast the BBC with RTE commenting on Luiz.

Eamon Dunphy was asked:

"What do you think of Davis Luiz?".

"He's a clown". Laughed Dunphy.

"Didn't we say so before the match".

I guess Irish people have less tolerance for BS. lol. Proper order.

Anyway. Back to the point.

What a joke the FIFA team of the year has become. David f****** Luiz.

Why not Martin Skrtel? He's as average as anything. Even he's better than Luiz! Vincent Kompany or Cahill are the obvious real candidates too. Zabaleta had a great season.

The likes of Luis Felipe, Godin and Juan Fran were key to worthy title-winners at Athletico Madrid.

Barzagli, Bonucci or Chiellini at CD and Asamoah at LB at Juve are all very impressive players who walked Serie A. Good to see a strong Juve side in Europe - they look better than they have in years. Not a fancy haircut amongst them though unfortunately.

In Germany whilst the likes of Hummels and Dante both had good seasons, and compared with the disaster area that is Luiz, they are clearly reliable defenders. David Alaba of Bayern is simply a Rolls-Royce of a player and the most talented LB I have seen since Maldini and then Roberto Carlos.

Just a few obvious suggestions. Many others will have their own no doubt.

ps: I do not always manage to get my wife (of many years) to watch a defender purely to see just how bad he was. I don't make a regular habit of it - I have only done so one other time -and that was to watch Djimi Traore btw - which says something!

(and yes. Djimi was remarkably awful that day too.)

9.) 13 Jan 2015
No FORNAX I wasn't at all.

10.) 13 Jan 2015
Didn't we scout Ronaldo at the same time we scouted Sinama-Pongolle and Anthony LeTallec?

11.) 13 Jan 2015
Ronaldo might act like a petulant child atimes BUT he is a role model and a perfect example for young kids that talent is NOT everything. If you don`t work hard and and are not ready to sweat and don`t have the hunger and determination to be great, you simply WON`T be because talent alone will NOT get you to his level. I respect him for wanting to leave Utd and go to Spain and challenge himself as well as prove to himself and the world that he can be dominant in any league he plays in (Portugal, England and now Spain) which he has proven just like legends like Van Nistelroy (dominant in England and Spain), Brazilian Ronaldo (Was top scorer in Brazil, Holland, twice in Spain, and Italy), Zidane (dominant in France, Italy and Spain). I will always respect him for that more than Messi who seems just content w/ playing his backyard and is not willing to challenge himself. IMO, I will never consider you who only plays in your backyard to be the best over someone who not only plays well in his neighborhood BUT has the ability to got to other neighborhoods and kick butt.

12.) 13 Jan 2015
I was also in complete shock when i saw Luiz in the FIFA XI. I know PSG paid a ton of money for him, but that doesn't mean he's any good.

Also, i agree with what you said about celebrity footballers getting all the attention. I work with this guy who is almost completely blind, and one day he said to me, "How did Messi win Player of the Tournament? He wasnt even the best player in his team."

13.) 13 Jan 2015
You know there are other teams that scouted Ronaldo before Man Utd, I don't hear anyone else moping about.
We haven't done too badly ion scouting terms. Yesil, Suso,Sterling Ibe, Ojo. Most teams wish they had our young stars. Its a pity we wish we had their coaches to bring up these youngsters, but such is life I guess. Please stop moping about spilt milk, worry about BR and the talent he is killing right now at LFC.

YNWA

14.) 14 Jan 2015
Made my morning that Ozone. Brilliant.

15.) 15 Jan 2015
15 Jan 2015 07:55:59
the Barn'Dor . very good

Hats off you, Ozone. Post of the week.