Golden Ball. Who would you have voted for?

Rikand

Well I'll offer one that hasn't been mentioned, but i thought Khedira could have gotten it. He had a brilliant tournament imo, pulled the strings for Germany and you could see they were missing him in the final

seligehgit

Mats Hummels

Robben

Adamocovic

Neymar

My opinion without doubt it should have been James Rodriguez. Played outstanding throughout. Messi played decent in spells but not nearly enough to win the award.

Mascherano would have been a close second too. Was a rock in the midfield and showed great courage and pride in every game.

fearrua

Neymar

James Rodriguez I reckon. Messi seems to be taking a lotta criticism in this thread, quite undeserved in my opinion, but Rodriguez was the player that raised Colombia to another level, and it's a shame the referee allowed Brazil to kick him around like they did.

Sheepy99

It's been nearly a week i'd say that this has run its course.

marienbad

Gerard Houllier as part of the FIFA technical committee gives his reason for awarding Messi the Golden Ball

''We in the committee looked at all the games and judged who was most important for their team. He also played in the final, which is one of the conditions for the award of the prize

Messi was more than decisive in the first four games. In the semi-final against the Netherlands he took the first penalty and scored.

The analysis takes into account that he was captain of a united team, a team that played well together. That’s something not seen in a while for Argentina.

Messi was more than key in the national team and the way he played. To me, he fully deserves the Golden Ball award and he led his team to the
final.”

Interesting perspective and makes the decision seem much more reasonable

bucketybuck

Mats Hummels

marienbad wrote: »

Gerard Houllier as part of the FIFA technical committee gives his reason for awarding Messi the Golden Ball

''We in the committee looked at all the games and judged who was most important for their team. He also played in the final, which is one of the conditions for the award of the prize

Messi was more than decisive in the first four games. In the semi-final against the Netherlands he took the first penalty and scored.

The analysis takes into account that he was captain of a united team, a team that played well together. That’s something not seen in a while for Argentina.

Messi was more than key in the national team and the way he played. To me, he fully deserves the Golden Ball award and he led his team to the
final.”

Interesting perspective and makes the decision seem much more reasonable

Funny how opinions differ, I think that was a load of utter bollocks from Houllier.

Iused2likebusts

bucketybuck wrote: »

Funny how opinions differ, I think that was a load of utter bollocks from Houllier.

I agree so basically a player could have 7 motm performances but his team loses in the semi's and wont be considered for the award as one of the conditions is he had to play in the final. As for scoring a penalty in a shoot out being a consideration that is outrageous. I thought messi had a decent world cup and deserved to be in the consideration for team of the tournament despite his poor semi final and final appearances. They got it wrong and Houllier knows it.

Washington Irving

Mats Hummels

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

I agree so basically a player could have 7 motm performances but his team loses in the semi's and wont be considered for the award as one of the conditions is he had to play in the final. As for scoring a penalty in a shoot out being a consideration that is outrageous. I thought messi had a decent world cup and deserved to be in the consideration for team of the tournament despite his poor semi final and final appearances. They got it wrong and Houllier knows it.

It's almost as if they just made up a load rules in order to get their way. Very unlike FIFA.

marienbad

bucketybuck wrote: »

Funny how opinions differ, I think that was a load of utter bollocks from Houllier.

Well if one of the rules that you must have played in the final then that reduces any shortlist considerably, Messi Mascherano,Muller,Neuer , who else is there ? And out of that list Messi wining is not unreasonable , debateable yes unreasonable no.

bucketybuck

Mats Hummels

marienbad wrote: »

Well if one of the rules that you must have played in the final

Its also a brand new rule that has appeared out of nowhere, considering Forlan won the award in 2010 without playing in the final.

Funny that.

marienbad

bucketybuck wrote: »

Its also a brand new rule that has appeared out of nowhere, considering Forlan won the award in 2010 without playing in the final.

Funny that.

Too many conspiracy theories at this stage. Messi winning it was debateable but not unreasonable . No matter how good James Rodriguez was ( and he was brilliant) no player was going to win it if their team went out in the Q/F.

And once Rodriguez was out of it , it was an open competition . I suspect that what is held against Messi was that he was not as good as we hoped he would and should have been , but even Messi lite was up there with everyone else.

bucketybuck

Mats Hummels

marienbad wrote: »

I suspect that what is held against Messi was that he was not as good as we hoped he would and should have been , but even Messi lite was up there with everyone else.

I detest this argument, you know we are perfectly able to judge games and performances on their own merits. Messi was ineffective in the semi-final and final, thats just the way it was and it has nothing to do with comparing those performances to previous club performances.

SM01

Lionel Messi

eagle eye wrote: »

Where is this Mascherano stuff coming from? He was pretty mediocre for most of the tournament, its like people just watched one or two games and decided because he played well that they have to vote for him.

I'd throw this back in your direction and say you weren't watching him closely enough. He was vital and consistent throughout Argentina's tournament and seems to have improved his range of passing since his time at Liverpool.

marienbad

bucketybuck wrote: »

I detest this argument, you know we are perfectly able to judge games and performances on their own merits. Messi was ineffective in the semi-final and final, thats just the way it was and it has nothing to do with comparing those performances to previous club performances.

And I equally detest this argument ! It equally applies that we are able to judge things on their own merits ( as is Houlier by the way) it is just that we come to different conclusions than you.

Of course he wasn't ineffective ,that is just hyperbole . Of the Argentine frontline who was more effective than him ?

bucketybuck

Mats Hummels

marienbad wrote: »

Of the Argentine frontline who was more effective than him ?

Is it your argument that he was the best of a bad bunch? Really? Is that the criteria of player of the tournament now, that he be better than the rest of a frontline that scored two goals from play in four matches?

To answer the question anyway, both Di Maria and Higuain actually managed to score a goal outside the group stages, maybe they should have been named player of the tournament.

Turtwig

How is requiring three players at minimum to close you down ineffective?

Messi was instrumental in Argentina's goal in the final. Albeit higuain ran offside. That's higuain's mistake though. He made several in the final. Struggling to think of any messi made bar an overcooked free kick when he was out on his feet.

marienbad

bucketybuck wrote: »

Is it your argument that he was the best of a bad bunch? Really? Is that the criteria of player of the tournament now, that he be better than the rest of a frontline that scored two goals from play in four matches?

To answer the question anyway, both Di Maria and Higuain actually managed to score a goal outside the group stages, maybe they should have been named player of the tournament.

Why ask a question if you are going to answer it for me ? Who would you have nominated and why taking into account the restrictions outlined by Houllier

bucketybuck

Mats Hummels

marienbad wrote: »

Why ask a question if you are going to answer it for me ? Who would you have nominated and why taking into account the restrictions outlined by Houllier

Why on earth would I take into account the restrictions outlined by Houllier when my original point was that they were a total load of bunkum?

marienbad

bucketybuck wrote: »

Why on earth would I take into account the restrictions outlined by Houllier when my original point was that they were a total load of bunkum?

So anyone but Messi, thought so.

bucketybuck

Mats Hummels

marienbad wrote: »

So anyone but Messi, thought so.

:rolleyes:

dfx-

Angel Di Maria

Muller
Messi
Neuer
Mascherano
Navas

Dempsey

Neuer was a standout player, he played sweeper for a back line that would have leaked alot of goals only for him. His role was high risk and he never let his team down

Larry Wildman

Is there something that means Neuer can't win it?

i.e. he gets the "Golden Gloves" and an outfield player has to win the "Golden Ball"?

Because I reckon Neuer was the best player and so do a good few other posters but his name doesn't even feature in this thread's poll.