Ballon D'Or

So, now that we've had the bi-annual pick-a-team-pick-a-number list that is the FIFA world rankings, we can move on to the 'who is the best player in the world out of the FIFA exec committee's favourite players' award; the Ballon D'Or. Admittedly, the three players who make up the list (Lionel Messi, Christan Dior and Xavi) are world-class players who do deserve accolade's such as this one. However, they are players to whom attacking comes naturally. Why does it have to be forwards that are on the shortlist. How many goalkeepers made the original 53-name list? 1, Iker Casillas. Take from that what you will.
My point is that there should be more team players involved in the shortlist. (Before I continue, ask yourself this, when was the last time you saw any of those three players come back and defend for a corner?) Players like Van Persie, who is a natural team player. He isn't selfish, likes to see his teammates on the ball and encourages them to push forward themselves. Players like the all-dominating Nemanja Vidic. He is a great player isn't he? Plays well alongside the speed and technical ability of Rio Ferdinand in what must be one of the all-time great United centre-back partnerships.
Someone who should be considered in the future for this prestigiously pointless accolade is Wojciech Szczęsny (yes, I copied his name from Wikipedia, you try spelling it). A man who, at the age of 20, was called upon by Arsene Wenger (aha, I know how to spell that one) to be the man between the sticks at Old Trafford. Not a daunting debut by any stretch of the imagination. He has performed in every game since like someone who has been there his entire life. He will be a world-class goalkeeper and, should the useless bureaucrats that call themselves the FIFA executive committee look beyond their own paid-for, goal-scoring muppets that make up the list, he will be in for a good chance of winning the Ballon D'Or in years to come. If you don't believe me, click on the link below and watch him chip the current holder (and more than likely this year's winner) Lionel Messi.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74QEtyPZ3ek

Poppy Fiasco

For a long time now, poppies have been the symbol of the heroes who fought and died in various wars that the UK has been involved in. The majority of people in the country wear poppies around November as a mark of respect on Remembrance Sunday.
Most English footballers consider wearing the England shirt as a great honour, in the same way that most people consider wearing a poppy as great respect. So those who get to do both should consider themselves extremely lucky. Except they won't. They can either wear the England shirt or they sit in the crowd wearing a poppy. Thanks to FIFA's excellent rules and judgement, players from England and Wales are forbidden from proudly wearing poppies during the game.
What FIFA think they're playing at is unknown to everyone apart from themselves. They are the singularly most corrupt and most useless organisation in the world, followed closely by the FA. So far the FA have written several strongly worded letters to FIFA asking for them to relax the rules on commercial and religious symbols (which is what poppies are apparently).
So far, England will be able to wear black armbands depicting poppies on them. Great, that's just fantastic. What I call on the Football Association to do is to paint a giant poppy on the pitch at Wembley. After a year when the FA managed to cock up our chance to host the World Cup, it would restore national pride and restore our confidence in the FA. I love this sport, I love England and I'm damned if that idiot Sepp Blatter is going to ruin this weekend for the Great British public. So come on you idiots at the FA, show FIFA that we will not conform to the wishes of a corrupt organisation and we shall wear our poppies with pride; and honour the fallen who have given their lives in defence of this country.