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| Luis Suarez [Photo Credit: Bleacher Report] |
We look at the recently released Ballon d'Or and Coach of the year lists from Benedict Chanakira's perspective. A world Cup year is always fascinating and has lots of football at stake. The biggest positive being the amount of waiting time fans get between the end of a season and the start of preseason friendlies or start of the next season. Brazil produced one of the biggest spectacles to date including the record breaking 7-1 German win over the host nation which saw the victors power to a fourth world cup triumph. Real Madrid completed the Decima and Manuel Neuer was mesmerizing!
Ballon d'or winner- There can only be one winner and that is Cristiano Ronaldo! I am convinced should the man go in goal he'd be better than Neuer. Untouchable. Unplayable. Superman. The Portuguese captain and talisman has been the difference not just for Real Madrid but in world football. Having powered Madrid to the much coveted 10th title in Europe he also set the record for most Champions league goals in a season. That was not the only throne he managed to reclaim from Lionel Messi, but also that of the best player in the world. It has not slowed down as the forward has started the season like a runaway train. He has managed a mammoth 22 goals in 15 appearances. He could afford to have a wasteful El clasico as Madrid ran riot against an exposed Barcelona. A close second would have to be Messi who despite an injury ravaged season put in a master class in Brazil and had it not been for Gonzalo Higuain's miss early on would have led them to glory. Arjen Robben who like Messi single handedly powered the Dutch to third, Manuel Neuer who has redefine the role of a goalkeeper has been monumental and countryman Thomas Mueller closely behind them. Top performers not just at the global showpiece but also at club level.
Missing Suarez? Dubious FIFA! - I am not a fan of FIFA. They have made some dubious decisions over the last few years whether its to do with Ballon d'or winners or disciplinary actions. I applaud their consistency in biased and senseless decisions. A matter to highlight is the Don; Sepp Blatter's mouth is ungoverned. Remember those comments against Ronaldo? Now Messi didn't deserve the golden ball at the World Cup. This is what puts me in doubt when it involves the governing body. The system brings into question the accuracy of their choices and the criteria of their award selections. Why didn't Wesley Sneijder win the 2010 award? World Cup finalist and treble winner? I must say the omission of Luis Suarez the Uruguayan star is puzzling.I admit his biting habits are unacceptable and leave as a bad example for youngsters. Liverpool managed to finish second and all due to a burst of 31 goals (joint top with Ronaldo in Europe). Albeit he missed the first 10 games and was still a powerful goal machine. How can he be missing among the best 23 players in the world. The severity of his offense is never as threatening as horrid tackles, diving and the racism in the game which receive minimal punishments. I agree with Luis who said biting is really not dangerous I compare it to two foot lunges, horrid tackles, diving which has a bigger threat to the opponent. Luis Suarez has become a target and is also synonymous in the last offense too. His omission a travesty of justice nonetheless. To rob the football man of an honor which he rightly deserves! Its just a harmless bite at the end of the day!
Team of the year- To compile a team of the year using the Ballon d'or shortlist is a challenge. I will employ a (3-5-2) system and will allow the mercurial Angel di Maria and Arjen Robben as wing backs. Neuer will be in goal and was a pivotal sweeper and a formidable last line of defense for Germany. A ploy that has seen majority of the World's shot stoppers implementing. Albeit with a couple of howlers. Sergio Ramos, Philip Lahm and Javier Mascherano will form a versatile, ball playing back three with aerial ability, physicality and experience. Mat Hummel's omission puzzles me! Di Maria and Robben will play as wing backs. They have had the experience of that role and will add an attacking threat moving forward. Toni Kroos and Paul Pogba will sit in front of the back four and while offering protection will add the dynamic of pin point passing forward. Thomas Muller will play behind and Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to complete my team!
Coach of the year- The winner is straightforward for me. I must note the ten are all exceptional coaching talents with Jose Mourinho chief among all of them for me. However in the context and relevance of the 2013\2014 season three stand out for me; Carlo Ancelotti , Joachim Löw and Diego Simeone. It has to be the Atletico Madrid mentor for me. Not just managing to prevent Barcelona and Real Madrid from league glory, but his ability to use a squad that was not as good as all three in comparison and come out on top. Simeone was a Champions League winner had it not been for a missing man on the goal line. With his disciplinary record like Zinedine Zidane the award will probably go to the German. Special mention to the two who closely follow. Those whose achievements are not to be ignored. Germans had talent in abundance and credit to Löw for mixing it up and finally delivering the World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti the Italian is top class. He has allowed himself to set records as he won his third Champions league as manager joining Bob Paisley. He has also managed to win the much coveted la dēcima which Real have tried to buy for 12 years.
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