The Premier League contingent of Ballon d'Or nominees constitutes for 11 out of the 30 names shortlisted. But who are the likeliest contenders of the award from England's top division?
ARSENAL
No footballer on Arsenal's books has ever been awarded the Ballon d'Or. Thierry Henry came the closest: coming second in 2003 and third in 2006, but it appears the Gunners will again be overlooked as Emmanuel Adebayor, despite netting 30 times last season, lacked the consistency required to be a European Footballer of the Year. On too many occasions would he have hot streaks followed by fruitless spells of offsides and wayward strikes. Henry's influence was all too apparent on Manu's game but the Togolese international did not have the talent to pull it off. Henry would linger on the shoulder of the last man in an offside position, then just as the ball was played, run back onside and retrieve the through ball. This had a great effect on the scoreline and the French international rolled the ball into the net many times as a result of it but it is something Adebayor is yet to perfect. A worthier candidate from the red and white camp in north London would be Francesc Fabregas. His long range powerful low drive sunk San Siro hearts and whipped the travelling support into paroxysms of euphoria as the Gunners secured their passage to the next round of the Champions League. In England's top division he played provider to the most goals out of all Premier League players. If the playmaking Spaniard maintained his early season form throughout the year then he could have feasibly pushed for a runners up spot, but a short term injury spoiled his chances to refind his goalscoring touch in the early months. Unfortunately for Arsenal fans there are far too many stronger contenders for either Sheyi or Cesc to claim the Golden Ball.
CHELSEA
Didier Drogba has had one good season in a Blues shirt and it was not last season. It took the powerful Ivorian two years to settle before he made a considerable impact in the Premier League in 2006-07 but this was made to look all the better due to his striking adversaries at rival clubs misfiring. The 30-year old played in less than half of Chelsea's league games last term, and was sent off for a flirtatious slap in the Champions League final in Moscow. Should this be rewarded? Chelsea's midfield duo Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack on the other hand merit commendation. Lampard was crucial to the Stamford Bridge firm's charge to Moscow, scoring an unsavable injury time penalty - hard and right in the corner - to book the Pensioner's ticket to Russia. Then, in the Luzhniki Stadium, it was his strike that cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo's 26th minute opener. His achievements in Europe have not gone unnoticed and he has already been awarded the Uefa Midfielder of the Year for his exploits on the greatest stage in club football. German attacker Michael Ballack also aided his team's cause in both domestic and continental competition. His brace over Manchester United in April kept the title race alive, and he also notched the winner in the club's quarter final triumph over Turkish giants Fenerbache.
LIVERPOOL
Rookie seasons for foreign imports are usually a mixed bag of successes lost in translation, some managers account for a six month month settling in period, but this rule need not apply for Fernando Torres. Endeared himself to Reds fans by opening his Liverpool account against Chelsea. Arguably his most important goal for the club was his Henry-esque turn of pace that killed off Arsenal's semi-final European hopes in April. He bagged an impressive 33 goals in his first full season in all competitions, but the majority of these arrived at Anfield. Will his away form come back to haunt him? Along with Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, El Nino is arguably one of the Premier League forerunners for a place in the top three, his European Championship winners medal will also help his cause. For a midfielder Steven Gerrard has a strike rate that even a forward would envy. In November he embarked on a seven game scoring run leading to endless plaudits by many a pundit. He developed a mutual understanding with the aforementioned Torres and the two - if their celebrations were anything to go by - seemed to enjoy a bond that can only be summed up as unashamed ''guy love''. Gerrard was selected in the Premier League Team of the Year for the fifth successive season which is a tribute to his consistency and determination.
MANCHESTER UNITED
If Cristiano Ronaldo is not elected as the overall winner of the Ballon d'Or then he will certainly receive a placing. He is the Premier League's strongest candidate for his phenomenal 42 goal haul, four shy of Denis Law's record 1963-64 tally. Many point to his so-called disappearance in the big or high pressure games but it was his name that made up 50 per cent of the scoresheet in the Champions League final, despite going on to miss his penalty in the shoot-out. He has already claimed two major individual European awards for his achievements last year: the Uefa Club Forward of the Year and the Uefa Club Footballer of the Year. The only doubt as to whether he will claim the Golden Ball is if his lethargic and seemingly uninterested efforts in a Portugal shirt over the summer have cast clouds over his fine club form that ran prior to the European Championship. Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar's goalkeeping theatrics have been noted but if anyone were to become the first glovesman to scoop the award since Soviet stopper Lev Yashin in 1963 then it has to be Real Madrid's Iker Casillas. Nemanja Vidic is enjoying a growing reputation and has become one half of an imposing backline that helped limit goals conceded to a mere 22 in the domestic league. His physical presence, bravery, and uncanny ability to threaten from set play are cited as reason for his nomination for individual prizes. However, he lost out to Chelsea captain John Terry in the Uefa Club defender of the Year. Manchester United number 10 Wayne Rooney completes the foursome of Red Devils nominees but team-mate Ronaldo's name will likely be practiced by the engraver should any Premier League representative claim the trophy. Rooney's average goal return was made to look all the weaker by his Portuguese pal who struck more than double the amount that Wazza returned. The scouse forward though brags an unrivalled work rate and tramples over every blade of grass in order to recover the ball.
Comments
0 comment