Pirlo for Balon d'Or?

Won Juve the league with magnificent play and assists, player of Serie A.
Best and decisive player of the Euro2012 so far

Be a nice alternative to the Messi/Ronaldo discussion

Someone wrote this before the Euro began > http://www.footballspeak.com/post/2012/06/05/Pirlo-Ballon-dOr.aspx

Playing well against an England team who failed to recognise his obvious playmaking talents has risen the saliency of Pirlo amongst the British/English. However I am disappointed Roy did not use more effective pressing tactics against him. While I love Pirlo, he plays in an unrecognisable position. By this I mean the general public do not see him making last ditch tackles or scoring goals, he goes about his business as quietly as it seems he acts of the field.

It is a shame players such as these were cast aside for such a long time during the start of the century. Hopefully with the rise in higher media profile for players such as Xavi, Alonso, Busquets, Pirlo can bring back the classic holding playmaker, but again it is a position which I think its importance is dependant on the football culture you grow in. For example, look at how Carrick is treated by the British media, yet when United played Barca in 2009, Barca highlighted not Rooney or Ronaldo but Carrick as the key man. While many people would prefer it if Carrick played more like Gerrard, or made an obvious impact by scoring goals ala Lampard.

Anyway mini rant over
To Pirlo

it was clear to me that King Kenny had instructed Rooney to man-mark Pirlo. The trouble was that Rooney kept forgetting.

Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo reveals why he decided an audacious chip in the penalty shoot-out against England. “It put pressure on them.”

The Italy midfielder scored with a sensational lob to beat Joe Hart in the 4-2 shoot-out victory.

“At the moment I saw the goalkeeper making strange movements, so I waited for him to move and hit it like that.

“It was easier for me to chip it at that stage. Maybe my effort put some pressure on England and in fact Ashley Young missed the next one after me.

“I didn’t fear an upset, as England barely created anything, just tried to defend the result and drag us to penalties. We stayed in control and in the end won out.

“We knew that we could control the match, as England are a very defensive team and we saw that from the way they played throughout the group phase. It’s just a shame we took this long to beat them and used up a lot of energy.

“We dominated the encounter and it’s a pity we didn’t take our chances during the 90 minutes or extra time. At least the penalties sent the right team through.

Pirlo utterly crushed England's hopes with that PK. It was over right then and there. Hart was reduced to the size of a cucaracha immediately.

Pirlo wrote:

Won Juve the league with magnificent play and assists, player of Serie A.
Best and decisive player of the Euro2012 so far

Be a nice alternative to the Messi/Ronaldo discussion

I've always admired Pirlo unlike the English media who seem to have just discovered his skills.

Never the less, admittedly Pirlo completed more successful passes than the entire England team WOW!...one must remember that he was up against a bunch of talentless hoofers who can't string two passes together.

If Pirlo and Italia beat Germany, then he'll get my vote.

Would certainly be a viable candidate. Sadly I think the voters are too thick to actually make deserving choices. Expect the usual Messi/Ronaldo competition with an edge to the latter this time around.

fcb wrote:Would certainly be a viable candidate. Sadly I think the voters are too thick to actually make deserving choices. Expect the usual Messi/Ronaldo competition with an edge to the latter this time around.

True that.

And what about Drogba. Surely he deserves a mention. He was a difference-maker in the Champion's League and FA Cup too. He also reached the final of the African Cup of Nations.

EMP wrote:And what about Drogba. Surely he deserves a mention. He was a difference-maker in the Champion's League and FA Cup too. He also reached the final of the African Cup of Nations.

Drogba deserves it because he has about 5 good games last season? Get the fuck out of here,the only game he was motm was us(Napoli) at Stamfrod bridge.

I would either give it to Pirlo or Messi this year.But players like Pirlo will never win the Baloon D 'OR.We all know the people who vote for these things are fucking idiots.

In 2010 Iniesta got voted ahead of Xavi and Sneider despite missing half of the season through injury.

Xavi deserved to win it in 2010 no doubt,but Messi got like 5 times more votes, Ridiculous,this is why I don't take these awards seriously any more.

I'm sure he won't win it, but i think he's more than deserving of a consideration, it's not just this tournament, he's been like this all season for Juve,


You shit!

why would he want to win it. when they made one for cana.

i think steven gerrard or john terry should win it. heroes

Pirlo or Busquets.