FIFPro World XI

eirebhoy · 09-08-2005 11:46PM #1

FIFA announced the 55 players shortlisted for World XI. 38,000 footballer from around the world voted for 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, 4 forwards and 1 goalkeeper. More here:
http://www.fifpro.org/index.php?mod=one&id=14259

http://images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2005361149,00.jpg

How Joe Cole got in ahead of Duff I'll never know. Doesn't say a lot for Mourinho who prefers Duff does it. I'm shocked Joe Cole is in there tbh when you think of all the players that could be there. It wasn't long ago Duffer was voted the best left winger in the world and he has only improved since.

Guy:Incognito · 09-08-2005 11:49PM

This is like the maffia or something. Carra is going to have to kill off Gerrard to get a look in anywhere.

Beckham my arse! playing for Real gets you in if you have a big enough name.

Van Nistlerooy spent half the season out injured and couldnt kick a ball straight when he came back.

Drogba hardly had a world beating season.

Sol bloody Campbell? Whos haveing a laugh. Rio? seems being banned for a drugs related incident is a career boost nowadays.

Gileadi · 10-08-2005 12:46AM

im very keen to know how they narrowed the list down to the 55, i love Robben but he was injured quite a lot last year and wasnt around too much in the bigger games in the CL or premiership

carra should also be in there ahead of cambell or rio judged on his CL heroics

Serbian · 10-08-2005 12:56AM

The usual over-hyped English players. John Terry and Frank Lampard deserve to be in there but the rest, especially Joe Cole, are a joke, as is the entire competition.

Slash/ED · 10-08-2005 01:27AM

JOE F*CKING COLE!?

Dear jesus. I expected a list like this to be a total joke but that's taking the píss. This is like that list that had Diof down as one of the worlds greatest ever players.

therecklessone · 10-08-2005 02:16AM

Its voted on by the 38,000 members of FIFPro (all professionals)

Think of all the countries in the world who've never heard of Damien Duff...

These awards are like internet polls, totally unrelated to reality. Its a popularity contest FFS!!!

Though how the hell Joe Cole got in I'll never know...

SCULLY · 10-08-2005 09:11AM

eirebhoy wrote:

How Joe Cole got in ahead of Duff I'll never know. Doesn't say a lot for Mourinho who prefers Duff does it. I'm shocked Joe Cole is in there tbh when you think of all the players that could be there. It wasn't long ago Duffer was voted the best left winger in the world and he has only improved since.

I don't think that I would have Cole in the list either but Duff did precious little last season to warrent inclusion either. He started off great but in the second half of the season he seemed off the pace and quite lethargic. The Community Shield performance for Duff was typical of many of his performances since Christmas. Cole on the other hand, did improve as the season went on though whetehr he gets a chance this season remains to be seen.

eirebhoy · 10-08-2005 10:11AM

SCULLY wrote:

I don't think that I would have Cole in the list either but Duff did precious little last season to warrent inclusion either. He started off great but in the second half of the season he seemed off the pace and quite lethargic. The Community Shield performance for Duff was typical of many of his performances since Christmas. Cole on the other hand, did improve as the season went on though whetehr he gets a chance this season remains to be seen.

I agree but its not "Player of the first half of 2005". Its just the top 55 players in the world atm. BTW, that community shield performance is everything asked of Duff. Mourinho transforming him into a player that is only allowed beat players every odd game may be good for the team holding possession but its not doing him any favours personally. Robben was allowed to go and beat players and I can't remember him getting by one. Robben has never played well for Chelsea against a big team and Duff was usually the better of the 2 players in the 4-0 wins.

Big Ears · 10-08-2005 11:59AM

eirebhoy wrote:

Robben has never played well for Chelsea against a big team

Theres a simple reason for why that is..............pace , once a defender can match Robben for pace he has him . Just like in the Euro's Robben didn't look great because he simply wasn't quick enough to go by defenders and resorted to his diving antics .

Duff however is slower than Robben but still posses the skill to go by people quicker than him .

Joe Cole

, oh god these popularity contest are priceless .

Drag00n79 · 10-08-2005 12:10PM

While I agree that Cole's place is laughable, I would not have Scholes, Beckham, Figo or Drogba in there either. If it is based on last season, neither should Ruud van Nistelrooij be there.

Big Ears · 10-08-2005 12:22PM

Walter Samuel and R.Carlos' places are laughable too .

The Muppet · 10-08-2005 12:24PM

Shamrok wrote:

If it is based on last season, neither should Ruud van Nistelrooij be there.

Why, Who was the top scorer in the CL last year?

[Jackass] · 10-08-2005 12:33PM

Well we should expect this kind of thing by now tbh. It's not fashionable to be Irish in the football world...it never was, and it seems, we can never shake off our reputation from the Charlton era. Like, for example, Roy Keane, who was the best player on the planet for at least 3 years of his prime, yet was never even a third place runner up in any fiffa, uefa, or player/media (european) award. Easly deserved world player of the year in 98/99 season. Also don't forget Shay Given, consistantly the best Goalkeeper in the UK for about 4 years running......

England, on the other hand, is the most fashionable team in world football for some reason...all their clubs are the most markted, and their leauge is widely regarded as the best in the world. They even have celebretys in their national team who can't be dropped, such as glamour model David Beckham, who isn't a particuarly talented at his part-time job as a footballer, yet still holds out the likes of SWP from the national team.

But then again...who needs awards, we'll have a good world cup next summer, which is proof enough we have world class talent.

Drag00n79 · 10-08-2005 12:37PM

Never mind the Champions League. He scored 8 goals because ManU were in a soft group and he hit four against a pisspoor Sparta Prague side, which could only earn one point from the group. Tuncay Sanli (Fenerbahce) and Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen) scored five. Should they be chosen too :rolleyes: He scored six goals in the Premiership last season, hardly deserving of a place in this elite.

~Rebel~ · 10-08-2005 12:37PM

The Muppet wrote:

Why, Who was the top scorer in the CL last year?

ya top scorer in champs league fair enough, but a decision to include someone shouldn't be based on a handful of games in which he got loads against dodgy opposition instead of a whole season of misery. I think he's a great player and everything but he had a bad season and doesn't deserve that place, much as baros doesn't deserve one for being top scorer at euro's and having a mediocre season after it. He just wasn't in the top 10 strikers in the world last year and wasn't even close. Personally id pobably replace him with baptista or forlan for their amazing achievements.

That said, it is obviously a pretty stupid competition all round, but in the end it will probably actually be one of the top worlds players that wins it.

pickarooney · 10-08-2005 12:39PM

Kahn will still be on that list ten years after he retires.
Scholes?

Kingp35 · 10-08-2005 01:02PM

That list in abolute joke. I had to laugh at some of the players who were selected for it.

First off Kahn is in on relutation alone.

Joe Cole?? wtf is that about. Van Nistelrooy had a very poor season socring only 6 premiership gaols and he gets in there?? Sol Campbell was injured for a godd while and then he couldnt win his place back in the team. I dont think I have to say anymore why he shouldnt be in it. Scholes is well past his best and had an average season. Again in based on reputation and past glories. And worst of all I think is Drogbas inclusion. He did nothing last season to justify the crazy money that was paid for him There was far better strikers in the premiership alone than him last season. He was very average and even all the pundits are still very unconvinced as to whether he has it or not. A joke inclusion.

As for the non english bases players who shouldnt have been included. First off David Beckham. He has never been a top footballer and he is an average player who, if it wasnt for his playboy image would find it very hard to get into any top side at all. Walter Samuelhad a nightmare at Real. He is simply terrible for them and so left to go back to Italy. How he got in I dont know. And finally Figo. How did he get in? He couldnt even get a game for Madrid at the end of the year because Owen was keepeing him out. If he was playing so well do you think this would have happened.

I dunno if this list is supposed to be some kind of joke or something but it certainly seems like it to me

TheMonster · 10-08-2005 01:09PM

AFAIK this is not based on last season but refers to current standings of players. Van Nistelrooy has a poor season last season but few can argue is not one of the top strikers in the world. Scholes is probably the only United player not justified in being there. As with all these polls there will be a lot of dead wood in them. Joe Cole,Scholes and Figo are a case of this.

SCULLY · 10-08-2005 04:18PM

DubGuy wrote:

Also don't forget Shay Given, consistantly the best Goalkeeper in the UK for about 4 years running......

I love those green tinted glasses - are you telling me that Given is a better keer then say Chec?

Seaneh · 10-08-2005 04:45PM

Besides Chec Given has been the best keeper in england for well over 4 years.

Seaneh · 10-08-2005 04:48PM

DubGuy wrote:

Like, for example, Roy Keane, who was the best player on the planet for at least 3 years of his prime, yet was never even a third place runner up in any fiffa, uefa, or player/media (european) award. Easly deserved world player of the year in 98/99 season.

Green tinted glasses again.

Roy Keane was without doubt great that season but there were better midfeilders at the time, the best midfeilder (and imho player) in the world that year was Fernando Redondo, he was amazing in every department for Real.

[Jackass] · 10-08-2005 05:46PM

SCULLY wrote:

I love those green tinted glasses - are you telling me that Given is a better keer then say Chec?

Well what im saying is that Given has been the best g'keeper in supposedly the best leauge in the world for about 4 years running...and now that cech is in the leauge there is a another world class keeper, but i wouldn't consider him by any margin better than Given...both on a par, but not better.

Seaneh wrote:

Green tinted glasses again.

Roy Keane was without doubt great that season but there were better midfeilders at the time, the best midfeilder (and imho player) in the world that year was Fernando Redondo, he was amazing in every department for Real.

Obviously everyone can debate who they think is the best player in the world in any given season, for me Keane was unparaleld that season, you may say the same about Redondo, but my point is no matter how good Keane plays, by nationality, he could never have won the award....I don't know why you are both saying green tinted glasses, because i'm not...infact that's the very thing im talking about...if we call an Irish player world class its "green tinted glasses" how could an Irish player be world class!".... that's the my whole point Keane, Duff, Given are (were?) world class!
One of the most sucsessfull managers in club football history called Roy Keane the best player he's ever had...Duff will get his game ahead of the likes of Joe Cole who is on the list of the best players in the world week in week out, there's no comparrison!
Given is a top class goalkeeper no matter what anyone says, and im sure most people would agree the best keeper in premier leauge for years, certainly before cech.

I havn't got green tinted glasses, you've got white tinted glasses, you watch sky sports premier leauge action, you catch England internationals on the BBC, you here Sven GEs comments, and read the papers and believe all the hype, and quite honestly, crap about how good the English players actuallyare. You probably think David Beckham is one of the greatest players in the world, and has a reputation to match his skill...that Wayne Rooney is the new Pele, as was being said all over England in his first season with Everton (Don't get me wrong, he's a superb player, but not one of the greatest off all time) Or that Stephen Gerrard is even in the same leauge as Roy Keane (RE: Liverpool Vs United last season).....

I suppose if we dont even acknowledge our own players, how can we expect the rest of the world to? :rolleyes:

Davei141 · 10-08-2005 07:09PM

I havn't got green tinted glasses, you've got white tinted glasses, you watch sky sports premier leauge action, you catch England internationals on the BBC, you here Sven GEs comments, and read the papers and believe all the hype, and quite honestly, crap about how good the English players actuallyare. You probably think David Beckham is one of the greatest players in the world, and has a reputation to match his skill...that Wayne Rooney is the new Pele, as was being said all over England in his first season with Everton (Don't get me wrong, he's a superb player, but not one of the greatest off all time) Or that Stephen Gerrard is even in the same leauge as Roy Keane (RE: Liverpool Vs United last season).....

What a load of crap. Wayne rooney is an amazing player, he was hyped so much and has lived up to that, what more can you ask for. You can judge hes not one of greatest of all time and hes 18, good job, they said he could be the new pele not that he WAS the new pele. Gerrard not in the same league as keane? You having a laugh or what? and you dare say you aint got green tinted glasses. you choose a game where liverpool played crap vs united and base it on that. Im not saying gerrard is better or worse, but a rediculous statement like that is bull.

crap about how good the English players actuallyare

The english players are good, very good. you can dislike them because of the hype all you want, but the fact remains they have a great set of players.

Guy:Incognito · 11-08-2005 01:15AM

Davei141 wrote:

. Gerrard not in the same league as keane? You having a laugh or what? and you dare say you aint got green tinted glasses. you choose a game where liverpool played crap vs united and base it on that. Im not saying gerrard is better or worse, but a rediculous statement like that is bull. .

Gerrard hasnt a patch on Keane and never will. One big thing Keane has oe Gerrard is cop on. Gerrard is always trying to give a 40 yard killer ball. whereas Keane can stop and play the simple ball that, to people easily impressed by the odd great ball makes Gerrard look great. But to people who know football and have played it, Keane is far Better and is far far better thatn Gerrard. Plus then theres also the fact that they are completey differnt types of plyer. Gerrard is not a midfielder, He plays off the front two, breaking past the strikers. Thats the only position hes good at and looks good playng.

Keane dominates games and dictates the type of game and the pace its played at. He plays box to box and is undisputably the best at what he does.

Davei141 · 11-08-2005 01:51AM

Not a patch...laughable language, gerrard creative wise is better than keane. Keane is better at the bread n butter stuff but when gerrard is on top form to say hes not a patch on keane is actually insulting to anyone who watches football. Keane dictates the game well. Gerrard creates loads of goals and scores loads. But nobody can touch keane...Whenever he has a bad game its blamed on the team 'not trying enough', when gerrard has a bad game he gets slaughtered.

to people easily impressed by the odd great ball makes Gerrard look great

Classic stuff, odd great ball...do you know how many assists he has? how much his 'odd great ball' results in goals?

But to people who know football and have played it,Keane is far Better and is far far better thatn Gerrard

Well i know football and ive played. I love that 'people who know football' bull****. Gerrard created 3 goals tonight in the game against sofia, hes scored 7 so far...13 last year, been performing great since he broke into the liverpool side.

Keane dominates games and dictates the type of game and the pace its played at. He plays box to box and is undisputably the best at what he does.

If keane is the 'best at what he does', so is gerrard at what he does, so how can you go on about not having a patch on him when hes not even a midfielder as you put it.

Guy:Incognito · 11-08-2005 01:57AM

Davei141 wrote:

Not a patch...laughable language, gerrard creative wise is better than keane. Keane is better at the bread n butter stuff but when gerrard is on top form to say hes not a patch on keane is actually insulting to anyone who watches football. Keane dictates the game well. Gerrard creates loads of goals and scores loads. But nobody can touch keane...Whenever he has a bad game its blamed on the team 'not trying enough', when gerrard has a bad game he gets slaughtered.

Classic stuff, odd great ball...do you know how many assists he has? how much his 'odd great ball' results in goals?

Well i know football and ive played. I love that 'people who know football' bull****. Gerrard created 3 goals tonight in the game against sofia, hes scored 7 so far...13 last year, been performing great since he broke into the liverpool side.

If keane is the 'best at what he does', so is gerrard at what he does, so how can you go on about not having a patch on him when hes not even a midfielder as you put it.

You were the one who disputed the fact that Gerrard is not in Keanes league. I pointed out the differences.

Gerrard wastes a lot of possetion needlessly, whereas Keane doesnt, that alone makle him much more valuable. I would much rather Gerrard was a carbon copy of Keane than what he does now. Whoop dee doo, Gerrard had a big part to play in the goals that beat a mediocre team, that if anything less than a win was gotten , the team would have been slated. With or without Gerrard, Liverpool were expected to win tonight, Where is Gerrard when he is playing in the middle against Keane, Viera (sp?) and Makelele ? Nowhere, because they are the ones dictateing the game.

PHB · 11-08-2005 03:57AM

Of course they are going to dictate the game, they have an extra 8 years of experience.
Wait 8 years, Gerrard will be very similar to Keane/Makelele right now

ziggy · 11-08-2005 09:42AM

This post has been deleted.

Kingp35 · 11-08-2005 10:03AM

Seaneh wrote:

Besides Chec Given has been the best keeper in england for well over 4 years.

I totally agree on this. Its beyond me why he has stayed at Newcastle for so long when he could easily have moved onto one of the big boys who were all looking for a top goalkeeper at one stage or another

eirebhoy · 11-08-2005 10:13AM

ziggy67 wrote:

I don't think Keane & Gerrard can really be compared, they do different things.

Keane does the "water-carrier" role that is so vital in todays game.
Gerrard does the goalsorer/creator role.

Scholes is more in the Gerrard mould than Keane.

In Championship manager terms I always would have thought Gerrard was a MC. Keane used to be but is now a DMC. Someone like Lampard/Ronaldinho is an AMC (although until Essien comes in Lampard has to fill in the MC role). I musn't be watching many Liverpool games. I though Gerrard was a box to box player (ie. The same position as the Keane of old).

ziggy · 11-08-2005 10:58AM

This post has been deleted.

FIFPro World XI

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