Spain dominate shortlist for new FIFA Ballon d'Or

Seven members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad have made it onto the shortlist for the first ever FIFA Ballon d'Or award, with Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan the surprise name on the 23-man list.

Xavi, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas were the Spaniards who made the list, but there was no place for an Englishman, Frenchman or Italian after their poor performances in South Africa.

The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in Zurich on January 10, 2011, with the players chosen by football experts from the FIFA's Football Committee, the Technical and Development Committee and the Committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's World Cup, as well as by a group of experts from France Football magazine.

The new award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the France Football Ballon d'Or and on December 6, 2010, FIFA and France Football will announce the names of the three men who have received the most votes.

Shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010:

Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

World Coach of the Year nominees: 

Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (FC Barcelona), Joachim Low (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk (Holland) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).

source: ESPN (www.soccernet.com)

Jose not planning any Real deals

Jose Mourinho has all but ruled out the possibility of new signings at Real Madrid in January.

ollowing the return of Florentino Perez to the presidency in 2009, Madrid have spent huge sums on the squad, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira among those to have arrived.

Despite the spending, Mourinho had complained of a lack of options in attack, with only Gonzalo Higuain and Benzema as established strikers, and there have been rumours of a move for Athletic Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente.

However, Mourinho has now said that, barring "something unusual", he is not expecting any additions to his squad before the end of the campaign.

"It's normal there's talk of players," he said on the club's official website. "Madrid is Madrid and there's always talk of players. Mainly it's great players because, if you talk of mediocre players, people won't believe it.

"It seems normal to me, but as coach I have to say not only what I think but what the club thinks and that is that this is the squad until the end of the season. These are the players which we have faith in.
"Real Madrid have made the investment that they had to do in previous years and this summer. We don't have the perfect squad, because the perfect squad doesn't exist. We have an excellent squad with players who give me a lot of confidence and I don't want any players in the winter market.

"It seems premature to me and unrealistic when there is talk of signings in January when the coach, and surely the director general (Jorge Valdano) and the president, will say that the market now and in January for Real Madrid is closed if nothing unusual happens."

source: ESPN

Juve deny Buffon rumours

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has dismissed reports Manchester United are working on a deal to sign Gianluigi Buffon.

United are currently in the process of identifying a successor to Edwin van der Sar, who turns 40 this month, and have recently spent time scouting Atletico Madrid youngster David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard of Aalesunds.

Reports have suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson may have made a move for Italy goalkeeper Buffon, 32, but Marotta insists no talks have taken place over a deal.

"I deny any negotiation with United. Buffon is a Juventus player," he told Tuttosport.

Buffon's agent, Silvano Martina, added: "These transfer rumours make no sense. Buffon has been sidelined for three months so who would want an injured player? Moreover, it seems to me that the best player at United so far has been Van der Sar."

Buffon will be out of action for the rest of the year after suffering a back problem during the World Cup.

source: ESPN

Ooops, I Didi it again. Arsene!

DIDIER DROGBA admits his amazing scoring record against Arsenal has him baffled.

His latest strike, as Chelsea went four points clear at the top, made it 13 goals in 13 clashes with Arsene Wenger's Gunners.
He said: "I don't know how to explain my record against Arsenal. Maybe it is just a question of being in the right place at the right time.

"It is good to go into the break now with a gap at the top, good to know we are four points ahead."
The Stamford Bridge goal-machine put the Blues in front before defender Alex scored from a stunning free-kick.
Yet Arsenal should have found the net themselves early on and Drogba admitted he complained to boss Carlo Ancelotti about the team's defending.

He added: "We were not defending well. We were not getting into the right positions. We didn't do what we were supposed to.

"In the second half we were much, much better. We showed more power, stayed in position better and played the ball out to Ashley Cole."

Arsenal have managed just one point, at Sunderland, from their last three Premier League matches.
Wenger admitted: "It was disappointing. We had the chances to win the game."

Source: thesun.co.uk