UEFA Unveils Club Football Award Nominees

After spending three months laboring over the evidence, UEFA has finally reached a point where it could release the nominees for their yearly positional awards. In another stroke of luck, they’ve thrown together a gala for us to enjoy on the 27th where they’ll make everyone dress up all fancy in order to watch some awards being handed out.

The list, as ever with UEFA, is no surprise. It’s dominated by, you guessed it, Barcelona. Six of the twelve nominees donned blaugrana last year, with the others coming from English also rans ManU, Chelsea and Liverpool.

The nominees, per uefa.

Defending champeens: Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Full list.

Given that list of holders, would you believe it if I said the champions typically dominate the haul? Perhaps Michel Platini & Co. were trying to tell us something about that fateful night in Moscow.

The predictions:

Goalkeeper: Did anyone truly stand out during the Champions League, particularly the latter stages? Was there an Iker Casillas-at-Euro2008 type performance in there? While they were all good, I don’t recall anyone standing head and shoulders above the rest, which means it’s going to be either the holder (Cech, who has won three of the last four) or the champion (Valdes).

Prediction: Cech.

Defender: It’s pretty tough to pluck from this group as well, but I think we can effectively rule out Vidic after being turned into a bout of vertigo during the final. JT was good, but given how well Pique played at his age with constant rotating partners, as well as the fact that he hoisted the trophy, we probably have to make him the favorite.

Prediction: Pique

Midfielder: Xavi was and is brilliant. Steven Gerrard was and is brilliant. But at one point last year, as the season progressed down the stretch, Andres Iniesta was the probably playing the best football in the world. The goal against Chelsea and his play in the final probably put his name on the trophy before the nominees were even announced.

Prediction: Iniesta

Forward: The votes, UEFA coaches, absolutely love players who a) won the trophy, b) score in the final and c) lead the competition in scoring.(Why? Mostly because they couldn’t watch all the games – but surely watched the final and scoreboard). Lionel Messi won the trophy, scored in the final and led the competition in scoring. Debate over.

Prediction: Messi.

Club Footballer of the Year: It’s not quite the Ballon D’Or, but it’s a damn, damn good barometer the last three years, as all three winners (Ronaldinho, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo) went on to win the Most Adored By Journalists Award.

Shall we just go along with that thinking? Certainly would be the smart move.

Prediction: Messi

And now, your turn:

Goalkeeper:
Defender:
Midfielder:
Forward:
Footballer of the Year:

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Category: Champions League, World Football