My social media time line was nothing but Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the results of the FIFA player of the year, goal of the year and World XI (amongst others) were announced on Monday. Whilst undoubtedly prestigious awards, the accompanying hot air and time taken to string it out was as painful as listening to a Steve Evans post match interview. But nowhere near as funny. Besides, the whole thing was rendered largely meaningless to me by the lack of any Brentford players in contention for selection.
Where was Jonathan Douglas jostling with Ronaldo for the main prize or David Button forcing Manuel Neuer out of the team? Much as Brentford have come on leaps and bounds, we are still some way off being forced to don the dinner jackets and meet Sepp Blatter. Which, given the hype and tedium of all that surrounded this, is probably no bad thing.
Instead , I gave up on it to read about the Creme egg scandal gripping the nation and wonder what will happen, should the club perform their annual ‘programme and confectionery’ promotion for season ticket holders later this season.
Creme eggs – all change at Cadbury
But catching up this morning on the fall out from the ceremony, I noticed one honour that had got little or no mention at the time, certainly relative to the shootout between Messi, Neuer and Ronaldo – Sepp Blatter’s Presidential award. Rather than being the right to host the World Cup for whoever handed over the biggest bag of cash (because, of course, that would never happen) this rank is, and I quote, “bestowed upon a person or institution that has made a superlative contribution to football without seeking to monopolise the limelight”.
And whilst long serving Peter Gilham was not up for nomination (yet) it went to a 90 year old former Japanese player and current journalist, Hiroshi Kagawa who covered his tenth World Cup finals last year. So modest is Kagawa that, talking about the event, he said “I was sceptical about coming to this ceremony today. But my friends in Japan said I must come – even if only to meet Manuel Neuer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and bring back some autographs”
Does FIFA have a decent heart amidst all the rumours of corruption and self-serving? One can only hope.
Long serving Kagawa receives his award (no autograph book for Sepp, though)
Embed from Getty Images
Tags: 0-0, 2013/14, 3-0, Alan Judge, Alex Pritchard, Arsenal, award, ballon d’or, Barry, Bees, Beesotted, Betinho, blog, book, Brentford, Brentford FC, Cadbury, celebrated, Celebrating like they'd won the FA Cup, Championship, Chuckle Brothers, Chuckles of Oz, comments, creme egg, Cristiano Ronaldo, david button, diary, Dougie, FA Cup, FIFA, football, footballer, Griffin Park, Harlee Dean, Hiroshi Kagawa, Ipswich, Ipswich Town, James Tarkowski, Jon Toral, Jonathan Douglas, José Ignacio Peleteiro Ramallo, Jota, journalist, just don’t mention that penalty, Kevin O'Connor, kindle, Lionel Messi, Manuel Neuer, Marcello Trotta, Marcos Tébar Ramiro, Mark Warburton, Matthew Benham, Moses Odubajo, Natalie Sawyer, Nick Bruzon, Nick Proschwitz, Paul 2-4, penalty, Peter Gilham, presidential, Rotherham, Rotherham United, Russell Slade, Sam Saunders, Sepp Blatter, Sky bet Championship, Spain, Spaniard, Spanish, Steve Evans, Stuart Dallas, Toumani, transfer, Trotta, Warbs, Wolves
BrentfordFC 
Golden balls but where were the Bees?
13 JanMy social media time line was nothing but Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the results of the FIFA player of the year, goal of the year and World XI (amongst others) were announced on Monday. Whilst undoubtedly prestigious awards, the accompanying hot air and time taken to string it out was as painful as listening to a Steve Evans post match interview. But nowhere near as funny. Besides, the whole thing was rendered largely meaningless to me by the lack of any Brentford players in contention for selection.
Where was Jonathan Douglas jostling with Ronaldo for the main prize or David Button forcing Manuel Neuer out of the team? Much as Brentford have come on leaps and bounds, we are still some way off being forced to don the dinner jackets and meet Sepp Blatter. Which, given the hype and tedium of all that surrounded this, is probably no bad thing.
Instead , I gave up on it to read about the Creme egg scandal gripping the nation and wonder what will happen, should the club perform their annual ‘programme and confectionery’ promotion for season ticket holders later this season.
Creme eggs – all change at Cadbury
But catching up this morning on the fall out from the ceremony, I noticed one honour that had got little or no mention at the time, certainly relative to the shootout between Messi, Neuer and Ronaldo – Sepp Blatter’s Presidential award. Rather than being the right to host the World Cup for whoever handed over the biggest bag of cash (because, of course, that would never happen) this rank is, and I quote, “bestowed upon a person or institution that has made a superlative contribution to football without seeking to monopolise the limelight”.
And whilst long serving Peter Gilham was not up for nomination (yet) it went to a 90 year old former Japanese player and current journalist, Hiroshi Kagawa who covered his tenth World Cup finals last year. So modest is Kagawa that, talking about the event, he said “I was sceptical about coming to this ceremony today. But my friends in Japan said I must come – even if only to meet Manuel Neuer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and bring back some autographs”
Does FIFA have a decent heart amidst all the rumours of corruption and self-serving? One can only hope.
Long serving Kagawa receives his award (no autograph book for Sepp, though)
Embed from Getty ImagesTags: 0-0, 2013/14, 3-0, Alan Judge, Alex Pritchard, Arsenal, award, ballon d’or, Barry, Bees, Beesotted, Betinho, blog, book, Brentford, Brentford FC, Cadbury, celebrated, Celebrating like they'd won the FA Cup, Championship, Chuckle Brothers, Chuckles of Oz, comments, creme egg, Cristiano Ronaldo, david button, diary, Dougie, FA Cup, FIFA, football, footballer, Griffin Park, Harlee Dean, Hiroshi Kagawa, Ipswich, Ipswich Town, James Tarkowski, Jon Toral, Jonathan Douglas, José Ignacio Peleteiro Ramallo, Jota, journalist, just don’t mention that penalty, Kevin O'Connor, kindle, Lionel Messi, Manuel Neuer, Marcello Trotta, Marcos Tébar Ramiro, Mark Warburton, Matthew Benham, Moses Odubajo, Natalie Sawyer, Nick Bruzon, Nick Proschwitz, Paul 2-4, penalty, Peter Gilham, presidential, Rotherham, Rotherham United, Russell Slade, Sam Saunders, Sepp Blatter, Sky bet Championship, Spain, Spaniard, Spanish, Steve Evans, Stuart Dallas, Toumani, transfer, Trotta, Warbs, Wolves