12/21/24
December 22, 2003
Pavel Nedved has been named European Footballer of the Year: So my question is, how is Nedved the European POTY when he wasn't even a finalist for World POTY and Zidane, who was World POTY, isn't even in the top three in this contest? And what about Emile? How com Heskey doesn't show up as a top 5 vote getter even though he was simply magnificent?
posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 01:14 PM - 20 comments
Very funny bill... Heskey isn't even up for 2nd division player of the year. Buddha, think about it...what teams have won the Champion's League the last few years? If Manchester United won, i could see him (Scholes) getting nominated, but that isn't what happened.
posted by StarFucker at 01:14 AM on December 23, 2003
Starfucker, old cock, since an Italian team last won the thing, in 1995-6 season, Real Madrid have won it 3 times, Man U once, Dotrmund once and Bayern Munich once. The only other time Juventus have won has been 1984/5, and don't forget English clubs were banned for about 10 years and even then only Milan of the Italian teams managed to win the thing, admittedly 3 times. Anyway, having thought about it, your argument doesn't convince me.
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:22 AM on December 23, 2003
Er, FB, you are aware that the last Champions League final was between two Serie A teams? Nedved's a fantastic player. He's reletively unknown in the UK, at least compared to the likes of Ronaldo or Zidane. And yet, he's possibly more important to both his club and country than either of them.
posted by salmacis at 04:31 AM on December 23, 2003
Buddha, old dick...as salmacis points out...and while i laugh my ass off...yes, two Seria A teams were in the final last year!! Oh shit... That is fucking priceless... Please, continue your argument...i am sitting in wild anticipation...
posted by StarFucker at 07:24 AM on December 23, 2003
So, basically what we're saying is you can't win the European Player of the Year award unless the league you play in provides the team which wins the Champions League? Barmy. It should have gone to Mikael Forssell anyway. Or maybe that should be ugly European POTY. 
posted by squealy at 08:34 AM on December 23, 2003
I think Nedved deserved it - his performances in the Champions League last year were awesome, and if he hadn't been banned (for a truly stupid tackle on McManaman in the semi, after Juve were basically already through - he probably would have helped Juventus win the thing. Also, the bias in this award is that its done by a French magazine. This means that basically, British, or British based players, never, ever win the thing (little Mickey Owen excepted, but that was just because he scored a hatrick - that hatrick, for us English, I suppose - in Germany, and the French hate the Germans even more than they hate the English, probably)
posted by dng at 10:12 AM on December 23, 2003
Starfucker old bean, well done on spotting the deliberate mistake! Everyone said that it was going to be a forgettable final, and it was, so it don't count. I'm off for a lie down.
posted by Fat Buddha at 11:00 AM on December 23, 2003
A little much with the dicks, cocks and male2male kissing around here lately, chaps! We're sports fans, after all, manly men (and femaley women).
posted by billsaysthis at 02:12 PM on December 23, 2003
Sorry, Bill, you are quite right. Lets have a hug.
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:38 PM on December 23, 2003
Fat Buddha old frumpy floater... Well done on NOT spotting who spotted your questionable, deliberate mistake... Why don't you read about England's past football glories while you are laying there...should be a quick read.
posted by StarFucker at 02:46 PM on December 23, 2003
Starfucker, old chap, give us a kiss.
posted by Fat Buddha at 03:26 PM on December 23, 2003
It's 1966 all over gain, eh Buddha? There's even a (sort of) new Beatles record, the conservatives are threatening the teenagers/protesters and drugs are in the (footy) news.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:54 PM on December 23, 2003
You Yanks are picking on the wrong feller, I couldn't give a flying fuck in a doughnut about England.
posted by Fat Buddha at 06:59 PM on December 23, 2003
I could though. Pick on me at your peril yankee bastards. Tell me, how many World Cups have you won? Better, tell me how many times you've gone past the group stages?
posted by squealy at 07:18 PM on December 23, 2003
And you can fish that bloody tea out while you're at it.
posted by squealy at 07:22 PM on December 23, 2003
Well why would you bring up Paul Scholes, Buddha? Surely there are better players playing in England at this time that deserve the award? What about Ryan Giggs? Anyway, I think the US made it to the semis in 1930 and didn't they beat England once?
posted by StarFucker at 02:41 AM on December 24, 2003
I would bring up Scholes old chap, not because he is English but because he is an outstanding player. I mentioned him for football reasons, the same way as I mentioned Spanish , Brazilian French and Portugese players. The issue is football, not parochialism. As for Giggs, excellent player, but in my opinion Scholes is a class apart and above anyone else in Britain, with the possible exception of Henry and makes a much more rounded contribution to his teams ability to win trophies than any other player I can think of; and has done for about the last ten years. The reason his lack of recognition surprises me is that he has been a major contributor to his teams dominance of the English League and their ability to consistently progress a long way in the Champions League. As Fergie has said, just this last week "we miss Scholes even when we are winning" Like the Scottish git or not, he knows a thing or three about the beautiful game. Gary Neville said the same in a Sunday Times article the other day, and whatever you think about him, he knows a thing or four about winning and what is required of a player. I happen to agree that Nedved is an excellent player, I just don't happen to agree that he was the most deserving recipient this year.
posted by Fat Buddha at 04:01 AM on December 24, 2003
Right, right...so that comment about being superstitious... I'm just seeing things that aren't there, right?
posted by StarFucker at 08:38 AM on December 24, 2003
It's a line from a Ronnie Lane song: How Come.
posted by Fat Buddha at 10:25 AM on December 24, 2003
Hmm. Three Italian based players in the top 4 when everyone knows La Liga is head and shoulders above any league in Europe and therefore the world. You could have picked Roberto Carlos, Zidane, Raul, Casillas or Figo from Real Madrid alone. These awards leave me baffled. How come Paul Scholes never gets a mention. How come Juventus players have won the thing 8 times. I aint a superstitious fella, but it worries me.