So the Champions League draw has taken place and has thrown up a few tasty-looking clashes.
Celtic and Manchester United fans will look forward to their respective club’s clashes. Group F will be strong with Atlético Madrid, Lyon and Bayern Munich all vying for qualification to the knock-out stages.
The toughest group, however, looks to be Group H, with Spanish champions Real Madrid up against Juventus and FC Zenit St. Petersburg.
The draw was, as usual, broken up by the presentation for the best player awards for the previous season in the four generic positions—goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward.
I sat gobsmacked at home as Chelsea dominated the awards. Granted, Petr Cech probably deserved to win the best goalkeeper award as he is brilliant for Chelsea. But can somebody please tell me how John Terry and Frank Lampard won the awards for their respective positions?
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I just cannot comprehend how the man who cost his team the trophy in last season’s final can be “the best” in his position.
Manchester United conceded only two goals in the knockout stages of last season's Champions League, so surely with them as the eventual winners of the competition the award should have gone to either Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic. The latter especially had been particularly solid and resolute at the back.
As for Frank Lampard's win, he isn’t even the best midfielder on his team, with both Michael Essien and Michael Ballack probably being in better form than Lampard last year. Steven Gerrard should have won this award in my opinion, however.
And just for the record, Cristiano Ronaldo won the top forward and overall player award.
In the same awards last season, the honors were dominated by previous winners AC Milan, and rightly so. With Chelsea receiving yet another favourable draw (think Olympiacos, Fenerbache, and Liverpool last year, as well) in the group stages this year, this all seems remarkably intriguing.
Perhaps Ambramovich’s Roubles have influence beyond that of prising Robinho from Real Madrid. What can I say, I love a conspiracy theory!
Thoughts below, as always, on anything to do with the recent Champions League draw...
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2 months ago
Hopefully Mr. Rooney can resist the urge to applaud in Spain this year..!
2 months ago
I agree whole-heartedly!!
2 months ago
Uefa hate Manchester United so do FIFA Jon. The only trophies we'll ever get off them are the one's they've got no choice but to give us.
2 months ago
I know, it shouldnt annoy me but it reall does, i mean can you see where im coming from with regards to terry and lampard winnng?
also the fa hate us too... we're like a sucessful millwall - everyone hates us, we dont care!
2 months ago
Strange.. that's all I can say.
2 months ago
Terry's position is center back not striker. He didn't miss the kick because he is not skilled, he missed because he slipped, not that it is excusable either. Granted he missed the spot kick in the end, but so did Anelka who is a forward/striker. Had Anelka extended the shoot-out there is no telling what could have happened.
As for Lampard being the third best midfielder in this group at Chelsea, thats crazy. He was off his game due to his mothers passing. He still played brilliant down the stretch although the goals weren't there like usual.
I usually don't stick up for my team because I am very objective when I read these articles but I disagreed with only those two observations.
Aside from my opinions, great article.
2 months ago
I'm as baffled as you are. I was absolutely shocked Rio or Vidic didn't win best defender. I don't have as many complaints about Cech or Lampard.
2 months ago
Those awards were ridiculous frankly, Terry is bettered by Vidic and Rio, Stevie G is better than Lamps, and Cech, well can't complain, but I did think that van der sar would get it because he only conceded two goals in the knockout stages, where as cech conceded that amount against liverpool in one match.
2 months ago
Interesting article Jon. I take the awards with a pinch of salt to be honest.
2 months ago
I just cannot comprehend how the man who cost his team the trophy in last season’s final can be “the best” in his position.
No Chelsea fan believes that. It was unfortunate that he slipped but the guy is a legend and always will be.
2 months ago
You can argue a reasonably strong case for Lampard seeing as he scored important goals in the quarter-final, semi-final and the final itself.
The Terry one really is baffling though. I’m sure he was injured for half the CL games anyway and Chelsea were hardly convincing defensively in the knock-out games, conceding 3 to Liverpool and losing at Fenerbahçe.
It really does make you wonder if the managers who voted for this particular award know anything about football after all?! More likely it seems they’re just voting for the biggest “name”…
2 months ago
Good piece, Jon..Sevilla, Celtic..United have found a decent group and the awards selection left quite a few people baffled.
from 2 months ago
I mean Villareal..
2 months ago
I was betting that Drogba wud win something........but thankfully Ronnie blanked him out.......
2 months ago
First of all the most important thing is that Man United were the ONLY team to go the whole european campaign unbeaten , so how Chelsea players won anything at all is beyond me .
Rio and Nemanja were like the twin towers at wembley - solid .
Cristiano was the best player and rightly so .
Edwin was by far the best keeper all year .
And Scholesy was a lot better than any midfielder in the tournament , i mean he broke his nose in a challenge in the final for god sake , and the goal against Barca was heaven .
Nothing away from Franky Lamps , he was like a soldier as ive already said , i wouldnt be able to get out of bed after my mum died let alone play football .
But the awards were atrociously handed out .
2 months ago
Lampard still scored 20 goals last season, even though he was injured for 2 months and his mother passed away... I think Gerrard is a better player, but Lampard consistently scores 15-20 goals a season... I don't have any arguements with Cech being best keeper. Btw Vidic>>> Rio>>> Terry-++++
from 2 months ago
Lamps is consistent and even having missed more games last season than the one before he was still invaluable to our team.
2 months ago
More juvenile Manc whinging. Thats all I seem to read on here these days. Pathetic.
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