Cannavaro?! Are you kidding me?
17. Nov, 2006 
5 Comments
There are way too many rumors about Cannavaro being the winner of the European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d’Or). Apparently they have relaxed the criteria to win this once prestigious award. So much so that any diving cry-baby playing for a cheating team can win it. He’s a good footballer, don’t get me wrong, but captaining the World Cup wining team shouldn’t be a shoe-in.
Thierry Henry was the #1 goal-scorer in the EPL, the second highest goal-scorer in the Champion’s League, he was 10 minutes shy of winning the Champion’s League as a captain and ended up as runners-up, and he helped his National side to win runner-up in the World Cup in a shoot-out. *exhales*
I know Cannavaro has some accolades, but if you look at each player’s performance last year, this is no contest. Henry had better win this. Otherwise I’m going to shit a 2 liter bottle of tapioca pudding.
As The Cannon reports there is a possibility that Henry could be rested for the Newcastle match. I don’t know if I’m thrilled about this idea… but if Wenger thinks he needs it, then this is the match to do it. We’ve got plenty of goal scorers that could work. With all of our experienced players out, The Cannon author then makes the natural assumption that Toure could be captain. If Henry truly is out, that would be perfect. Although Jens normally takes that role…
Meanwhile GilbertoSilver puts forth an interesting formation that I think would work. Swap Van Persie for Baptista and I think we’ve got something. However, with Henry possibly resting that would throw the whole thing off.
In the comments yesterday a rather interesting idea was put forth regarding Kolo Toure. The basic-notion was that Toure could work out as a defensive midfielder. Being a fullback, he’s always going to be defensive and quite mindful of what would be needed to hold the line. On the offensive front, he has shown that he has a solid foot and decent touch, so he might only need a bit of work to develop a shot. The problem? Passing. If he’s going to play in that holding role, his pass percentage needs to hit 100% and I don’t know that he is there quite yet. Then again, I’ve seen Gilberto give up some real stinkers.
And on a non-Arsenal news note, Beckham is further pissing off Real’s coach (Fabio Capello) by attending Tom Cruise’s wedding against his wishes. Listen Fabio, you film-school-glasses-wearing pin-striped-suit punk, if Becks wants to attend an insane Scientologists celebrity-spectacle of a wedding, that’s his business, not yours. Leave the soon-to-be future MLS star alone.
I kid.
Well I’ll be up early as always cheering on the Gunners in normal fashion. I’m eager to see the line-up, and I hope we can pull off a convincing win. Come on ARSENAL!
i do not wont to believe cannavaro is going to win ballon d or.that means there is absolute politics in this award not giving on merit. thierry henry deserve it.
You forgot to add that Cannavaro is a complete cheat and real madrid have been pants since he joined them.
If a player from a proven corrupt team wins, it will show up the french and italian thieving and cheating mentality.
How many of those clean sheets were thanks by the ref?
wake up and smell the coffee….Henry hasn’t and wont win it for obvious reasons… true he played in both World Cup and Cahmpions League finals…. did he make a difference in either???? nope….. Cannavaro was by far the best player at the world cup…. Won Serie A league on the pitch (if you know your facts Juve were punished last term for offences in the 2004-2005 season).
Besides….every Arsenal fan i meet has been telling me how badly Henry has been playing this season…
Dont get me wrong Henry is a very good player…but every time he has the chance in a major game to make a difference he seems to bottle it.
Also i think they’re giving this award to Cannavaro because in the past they somehow failed to award it to Baresi or Maldini
Heh
“Apparently they have relaxed the criteria to win this once prestigious award. So much so that any diving cry-baby playing for a cheating team can win it.”
Am I alone in remembering Eboue’s less than corinthian behaviour that lead to the free kick for sol campbell’s goal? And am I alone in remembering Thierry’s less than edifying behaviour after the game when he went around in a strop whining at eto’o and ronaldinho, and pretty much talking himself into staying at Arsenal?
anyhow, as a man utd fan I would like to say that though I think henry can sometimes be an annoying whining primadonna, who couldn’t score in a final to save his life, he’s also a superb footballer, and while this may not be a vintage year for the EFOTY, Henry is the only player in europe to have a good domestic 2006.
He was top scorer in the premiership by miles, and has done pretty well this season. he helped drag an arsenal team that couldn’t win a premiership game away from home against a team in the top half of the table past real madrid and juventus and villareal. He had a decent if unspectacular world cup, and unlike most star players didn’t actually disgrace himself.
It’s just so hard to take cannavaro and buffon seriously when you saw how horribly juventus were mutilated at highbury, and when any credit you could give them for their league form was wiped out by the discovery that their league was completely bent. Oh, and anyone thinking of giving cannavaro the award surely can’t have watched him playing for real madrid since the summer.
hmm, the third paragraph’s conclusion should read a good domestic 2006, a good champions league and a good world cup.