I wonder if thiago Silva had gotten that red card in the consellation game for their third place game if he even would have even been considered for that honor?

Marquez was good but there was no way they were going to pick someone who didn't at least make the Quarterfinals.

Even with that red card and being suspended for the Germany game he was better than Luis. All FIFA were doing with the Luis pick was sticking to their guns, since they picked him as the best player after the Quarterfinals.

I was thinking the same as i was writing my original post, just a pity he gave the penalty away against the Dutch, they may have got through..

Spain's and Barca game will be changing drasticly.

On our coaching site is a coach named Jordi a spaniard who,posts on it from time to time, and wrote a book on how they play.

He just posted this

"Hi, all. Long time without posting and lurking from time to time, and now I see this. I can't go if not say my 2c.

The first thing you have to think about is that probably Barça will be 1 season without any signings, because of the FIFA ban. So, they have to take as much as they just in case of.

The second point is that this Board wants to eliminate whatever that can remind Laporta, Cruyff or Guardiola. If you have followed the last news, the Kit Manager (Txema Corbella), was fired after 32 years serving the 1st team. Also, the cook at the Training Center was fired (he came at Pep's time). According to some people the next ones in danger are Pepe Costa (the link between players and Board and, very close to Messi) and Carlos Naval (Delegate of the 1st team for around 30 years). The bosses at "La Masia" (Amor and Puig), have been fired with no explanation.

Another point is that this Board wants to sell Messi, whatever they say. He is not HIS player. Neymar or Suárez are. So easy.

We could be hours talking about the reform of the Camp Nou or the Tax Fraud Trial, but it's not my idea here.

Back to what is just football, if you put together points 1, 2 & 3, you'll find why so many signings and also why no players are promoted from B team. They are no interested in them, unless it's for selling. You can see that 7-8 players have been released from B team without any money coming in.

All this also is one of the reasons to take Luis Enrique as Manager. He knows the place, he has a strong character and... he won't play "possession style" as we know. Matches will be like hockey matches: up and down, up and down. It's going to be a game of transitions. No Xavi anymore to put the "pace" of the match, no more Busquets as CM (I bet will see Busquets and Mascherano together as a double pivot), etc.

Will we see a good Barça? I think so. Will we see the way of playing that everybody loved around the World? I doubt it a lot

For many time Barça has been "Més que un Club" (More than a Club); now, it's becoming "Un Club més" (Just another Club).

Sadly, this is what we have."

The ban imposed on Barca has been susspended, hence why they have signed a goalkeeper and Suárez, with regards to Messi there is only a few clubs who could afford him, PSG, Man City and Chelski and the fee would be close to £200m. If he did leave he would probably go to PSG,in which i cant see him leaving.

The point is they want him off Barca

Messi's a weird player imo. While he's probably the best player of his generation, but as soon as Xavi and Iniesta started declining he hasn't been nearly as good. Obviously he was injured for awhile but he was thouroughly underwhelming once he returned. There's also no way he deserved the Golden Ball at the World cup i'd have had him 8th after, Muller,Kroos,Lahm,Neuer,James,Mascherano and Robben in no particular order.

A move for him wouldn't be a bad idea. PSG would be unbelievable with his addition they already have, Silva, Cavani, Ibrahimovic, Motta, Cabaye and now Luiz.