Then what's the point of that list? lol

Well, again Manuel Neuer is beyond the rankings as what he does doesn't fit into the formulas to determine the ranking of GKs

Isn't the golden ball usually voted on after the semis but before the final? I doubt that is the official list.

Anyways I think the top 3 nominees right now have to be James, Robben and Messi. Everyone else is a drop below them as far as the Golden Ball is concerned.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Isn't the golden ball usually voted on after the semis but before the final? I doubt that is the official list.

Anyways I think the top 3 nominees right now have to be James, Robben and Messi. Everyone else is a drop below them as far as the Golden Ball is concerned.

Yea you have a point as these things are done just after/before the semi and finals BTW don't kid yourself remove James from that list, stop sucking into the sneidgeresc fluke

Messi and Neymar. They are more decisive players. Either at scoring or passing or making any decision. By far better decisive players and can win matches and they did

Robben were not decisive. His best ability, his dribbling success is very low at this tournament. (He has 25 dribblings. In comparison Messi has 41 according to Opta).Maybe you dont see it because Messi gets past a player quietly without a scandal. When robben gets past a player we watch it 5 times (replay of diving). So it may seem to people that Robben dribbles more.Anyway his passing was nonexistent, his scoring happened in 5-1 thrashing vs Spain. I still dont understand how he got this hype. And he did zero useful thing vs Costa Rica

The Robben hate is strong in this one.

Not strong. For me he is 4th best player in the world. But in this world cup Messi and Neymar were better

Robben has been about 10x better than Neymar was this tournament, and more dangerous. Messi has been on Robben's level though. Robben, Messi and James have been the three best players by far IMO. I think the Golden Ball will come down to who has a better showing in this game between Robben and Messi.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Isn't the golden ball usually voted on after the semis but before the final? I doubt that is the official list.

Anyways I think the top 3 nominees right now have to be James, Robben and Messi. Everyone else is a drop below them as far as the Golden Ball is concerned.

Yes very much. However since James is unfortunately not in the semi finals someone else could go ahead of him in the next two days.

El Cujo wrote:I think the Golden Ball will come down to who has a better showing in this game between Robben and Messi.

That is a strong factor no doubt but we can't rule out a player from Brazil or Germany who has performed well so far and happens to perform excellently in the semi final leading his team to the final. e.g. David Luiz, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, etc.

Here's what the bookies say and I largely agree.



7/4

Lionel Messi


7/2

Arjen Robben


4/1

James Rodriguez



11/2

David Luiz


10/1

Thomas Muller


16/1

Manuel Neuer



25/1

Neymar


25/1

Robin van Persie


33/1

Julio Cesar



40/1

Angel Di Maria


50/1

Gonzalo Higuain


50/1

Thiago Silva



66/1

Oscar


80/1

Toni Kroos


100/1

Andre Schurrle

did you get your brother to join, harmonica?!   

Hapless_Hans wrote:did you get your brother to join, harmonica?!   

If that comment is on me then what is the sense? I have just posted the bookies odds from William Hill and agreed that Messi is the front runner at the moment. What's so unacceptable about that?

the battle is between Robben and Messi, no matter what happens to the other semifinal.
Muller has very little chance because out of his 4 goals he scored 3 in the first match vs Portugal. if you compare play making most importantly decisive performance he will loose the battle far too easily to those two.
Neuer has very little chance....because its difficult for a keeper to win unless he is extraordinary....unfortunately many keepers had tremendous performance this time and one might even think whether he is the best keeper let alone best player...
Luiz might have chance for some bookies but again cants see him winning it over those 2.....specially because one of them have chance to go to final....
Its funny people even consider James...no matter how good you are, you cant win it without reaching semi final....thats a fact as far as i know...

Depending on how Luiz does tonight he could become a favorite for the award imo.

Brazil's backline (not Alves) has been Brazil's main weapon and the spine of the team in defense and in attack. They deserve credit imo

Z, pls. Without Thiago Silva, Luiz will be exposed today for what he is. Watch this space.

Zealous wrote:Depending on how Luiz does tonight he could become a favorite for the award imo.

Seriously..

Anyways, I'm going with Robben so far, he can't really do much harm from now on. Or, if Germany wins the WC (they will), then maybe Muller.

Like I said if Luiz plays great tonight he becomes the favorite. FIFA awards like these aren't judged on stats people, they are judged on perceived clutchness of the candidates.

However if he goes back to being Sideshow Bob then he doesn't even come close to winning lol

Zealous wrote:FIFA awards like these aren't judged on stats people, they are judged on perceived clutchness of the candidates.

Spot on

Zealous wrote:Like I said if Luiz plays great tonight he becomes the favorite. FIFA awards like these aren't judged on stats people, they are judged on perceived clutchness of the candidates.

However if he goes back to being Sideshow Bob then he doesn't even come close to winning lol

If this were true Sneijder would have won the Golden Ball four years ago.

El Cujo wrote:

Zealous wrote:Like I said if Luiz plays great tonight he becomes the favorite. FIFA awards like these aren't judged on stats people, they are judged on perceived clutchness of the candidates.

However if he goes back to being Sideshow Bob then he doesn't even come close to winning lol

If this were true Sneijder would have won the Golden Ball four years ago.

Forlan was Captain Clutch in 2010 for Uruguay. He won the Golden Ball deservedly based on that.



What Forlan did in South Africa was ridiculous, no way in hell anyone wins that award over him considering how many spectacular goals he scored.

All of Sneijder's goals were deflected/lucky shots. That doesn't mean Sneijder wasn't better than Forlan but no one votes for boring players in these things. That's why James is front runner this year for example.

messixaviesta wrote:

Hapless_Hans wrote:did you get your brother to join, harmonica?!   

If that comment is on me then what is the sense? I have just posted the bookies odds from William Hill and agreed that Messi is the front runner at the moment. What's so unacceptable about that?

Not at all mxi my friend, sorry for the confusion. Was a meant as joke directed at james07

Zealous wrote:Like I said if Luiz plays great tonight he becomes the favorite. FIFA awards like these aren't judged on stats people, they are judged on perceived clutchness of the candidates.

However if he goes back to being Sideshow Bob then he doesn't even come close to winning lol

I'm personally not judging by the stats, I'm judging the way I see him play. He has had a decent tournament so far, but it was TS who pretty much cleared up everything in the defense.

Hapless_Hans wrote:

messixaviesta wrote:

Hapless_Hans wrote:did you get your brother to join, harmonica?!   

If that comment is on me then what is the sense? I have just posted the bookies odds from William Hill and agreed that Messi is the front runner at the moment. What's so unacceptable about that?

Not at all mxi my friend, sorry for the confusion. Was a meant as joke directed at james07

Sorry for my misunderstanding. Thanks for clarifying my friend.

dronte wrote:

Zealous wrote:Like I said if Luiz plays great tonight he becomes the favorite. FIFA awards like these aren't judged on stats people, they are judged on perceived clutchness of the candidates.

However if he goes back to being Sideshow Bob then he doesn't even come close to winning lol

I'm personally not judging by the stats, I'm judging the way I see him play. He has had a decent tournament so far, but it was TS who pretty much cleared up everything in the defense.

If TS had been in the semi final he would have certainly been a front runner for the award but his unfortunate absence makes it nearly impossible for him now. I do think he should be in the top ten list though.

For me it's gonna end up being between;

James Rodriguez
Arjen Robben
Manuel Neuer