08 Oct 2018 19:50:46
I find it absolutely shocking that Lovren didn't make the 30 man shortlist but somehow Benzema and Bale did.

1.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 21:06:39
Really?

2.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 21:51:30
Honestly believe he should have gotten a spot given that it's a 30 man list Ben. Champions League and World Cup is as big as it gets and to be able to reach the final in both is a good feat. Those kind of things usually get considered, only 3 men played both finals this year. Benzema and Bale didn't really have standout seasons last season.

3.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 21:57:23
The award itself is more marketing and politics then footballing talent anyway. Along with that, comparing players across positions always proves difficult, with attacking players always receive most of the praise. Case and point, only 3 centre backs were included in the shortlist in the first place. Also do you base it on talent or the year they've had? how do you measure that year? Godin is clearly the best defender nominated and won the Europa League, Ramos won the champions league and Varane both the Champions league and World cup. Talent wise I wouldn't have Lovren in my top 5 defenders currently playing anyway and while he's had a good year he has no trophy's to show for it.

By the way, this isn't an attack on Lovren. I think he's a very good defender who's improved a lot in the last year. Look forwards to him and Gomez battling it out to start.

4.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 22:14:05
Fair points Eamonsf. I would like both Gomez and Lovren to have good seasons for us and hope the competition has a positive effect on them. I would prefer Gomez to win the battle though. He and VVD could be our centre back pairing for a good few years.

5.) 09 Oct 2018
09 Oct 2018 02:58:38
I'd have been surprised if he was on there tbh. Vvd was our best cb last season, is he on the list? I genuinely don't know. I know mane is, fair play to him he was brilliant last season. Hope he starts firing soon.

6.) 09 Oct 2018
09 Oct 2018 03:57:04
If we’re talking about the best performances across a year, then I agree, Lovren has been immense. Benzema barely played for the first part of the year, Bale is always injured even if he’s definitely got more talent than Lovren, and neither of them even reached the WC let alone shined in it.

7.) 09 Oct 2018
09 Oct 2018 05:16:15
Hi Mane man VVD is not on the list. Absolutely agree that he has been our best defender but I understand his omission as he only played half the season for us.

Your namesake Sadio definently deserves it. We have 4 of the 11 Premier League nominees so that's something to be proud of. Onwards and upwards!

8.) 09 Oct 2018
09 Oct 2018 05:17:12
Fully agree with you zpecialone.

9.) 09 Oct 2018
09 Oct 2018 15:41:54
Cheers oubaas, I honestly think van diike could be the first defender to win it for years. If Liverpool lift a champions league in the next 5 years. We are so lucky to have him, big, strong, fast and clever with the ability to play football. I'm so glad Jurgen stuck to his guns, some people were calling for klopp to sign Ben Gibson or even Rob holding when Southampton knocked us back. I don't think we would have qualified top 4 without van diike last season. That'll probably be an unpopular opinion but it was damn close at the end. Chelsea were so close and our defence was really brittle before van diike and now alisson arrived.

10.) 09 Oct 2018
09 Oct 2018 18:58:02
I stopped caring about the Ballon D'Or years ago when I started becoming political and when people just would not always alternate btw CR7 and Messi as if there were NO other footballers getting it done on the planet. That's why I loved the old way. It was via your league perf. and the inter'l competitions cos that's where ALL the best players played. Now, it's just a personized shambles, IMO.

11.) 09 Oct 2018
09 Oct 2018 21:09:46
Even Suarez made it on the list and he had a pretty poor year by his standards (mind you a lot of that was down to playing through injury)