Marseille footballer Joey Barton discusses the FIFA XI and what it says about the standards in the Premier League for the Paddy Power Blog
The all-La Liga FIFA World XI is a rude awakening for the Premier League. It’s voted on by the international coaches and captains and the media, so it tells us the rest of the world don’t rate the Premier League as highly as we do.
We’re too quick to throw around the ‘world class‘ label. People are always calling English players ‘world class’ and then wondering why we don’t win World Cups or get close to winning major competitions. The media have built these players up to be world beaters when they’re not really. Until the media wake up and say to themselves ‘hang on, we’re actually talking bollocks here’, they’ll keep telling us we’re world class when we’re not. Far from it. It’s got to the point where you’ve got 17 year old lads playing a few games in the first team, doing reasonably well and then immediately demanding £30,000 or £40,000 a week. What’s going on? No-one seems to be earning their spurs any more.
It’s not just us though. Juventus went unbeaten throughout their successful Serie A campaign and none of their players got a mention. Borussia Dortmund were brilliant in Germany and Bayern Munich were excellent all the way to the Champions League final and they didn’t get a look in. Chelsea won the Champions League and there’s none of their players in it.
There’s no doubt that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, what’s the point of having a vote? Everyone knows that, just give him the award. He was that good last year, it’s embarrassing to even have a vote. They should just call it ‘the Messi Award’ and have done with it. It’s hard to believe that some people didn’t even have him in the top three. The Ballon d’Or has become the Eurovision Song Contest with all the political voting. People are voting politically. I saw Ronaldo gave his vote away to Bruno Alves because he wanted to win and he couldn’t vote for himself.
What are awards really? Does Messi really need the Ballon d’Or to prove he’s the best player in the world? He should know that himself.
well said Joseph , Ur twitter is my bible
All joey does is say it how it is! Then he gets battered by the media and pundits! The truth hurts!
Joey.. the award is a farce as we all know van Persia Suarez bale … just some names that should be in there. Uera and fifa hate British football full stop and all others are jealous of the worldwide status of the league …they can stick the award where the sun dont shine. Our 11 would batter their 11
The bit about Messi, a certain Jose Mourinho would completely disagree. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCLPkN7RnjE
Never thought I’d say it/read it anywhere, but “Joey Barton is right” (and “The Mediocre One” is just bitter cos he’ll never get the “top job” !)
Well said Joe well said.
im glad someone has realised the english premier league is an over hyped piece of shite. too much media attention is always the excuse i hear for players turning out pish
Yeah spot on their, english media are deluded!
Mr Barton you play with passion (which often gets branded around players that cannot play but have a big heart) you have great quality and talk sense about football and all the idiots in it. Absolute legend keep it up
Spot on Joseph
This is what we’re all thinking anyway. I guess you’re our voice then. The media do talk a lot shh. You know people are listening to you when you start getting fined by the FA haha
Agree with what you say here Joey.However do you not agree that FIFA seem a little bias? Robin Van Persie didn’t make the team after all he’s done, yet Falcao somehow does? And Marcelo somehow made when left backs such as Leigton Baines are performing like they are. FIFA’s decisions always seems to favour Spain and the Spanish league and go against anything English. Thoughts?
Joey all you have to do is look at transfer fees for these young British footballers. Hull apparently have made a £2m offer for Brady from United who has made hardly any appearances for Man Utd is the same value as Michu who was top midfielder scorer in la liga last year ?
It’s the same when they cap players so young. Chamberlain, Sterling, Walcott had not achieved anything in the game when they made their debut. Years ago you would have bad to played 100 games to be considered.
I enjoyed those jäger bombs that wer on ur tab In copper face jacks Dublin two years ago. A true gentleman joey
I think there are many world class players in the premship, bundesliga, serie A ect. But the truth is la liga, like the spanish national squad, is just going through a golden period. I think falcao IS better than Van persie, for example. There are brilliant players in the premship, and other leagues as well, its just there are players that are even better in spain. Pirlo should have been in there though…