LIONEL MESSI HAS won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the third season in succession.
The Argentine international fended off rival nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Hernández to take the prestigious award, which was presented by former Brazil international Ronaldo.
Yet to reach his 25th birthday, Messi has already staked a claim to being worthy of consideration as one of the game’s all-time greats. In 194 appearances for Barcelona, he has scored an incredibly 136 goals, including 55 in 2011.
The Puskás Award, granted to the player judged to have scored the year’s most impressive goal, was presented to Santos phenom Neymar for this strike against Flamengo in the Brazilian domestic league:
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The top scorer from the Women’s World Cup, Japan’s Homare Sawa, was named Women’s World Player of the year ahead of another prodigious Brazilian talent, Marta.
This MUST Stop next season. Calling Shamrock, ‘Rovers’ gives the impression that De Rov-ers i.e. Sligo Rovers, are involved with fighting the Garda and burning, fireworks and generally interrupting games. Whether it be against Bohs, Rov-ers or any team in the league. On behalf of the real Rov-ers i.e. Sligo Rovers, please differentiate between the league champions and the other crowd intent on causing trouble. To ‘the Shams’ fans who came to cheer their team, see you next season, to the bowsies, stay away from the beloved Shogies
Nobody refers to Sligo as “Rovers”, except for Sligo fans of course.
When a League of Ireland fan references “Rovers”, they’re talking about Shamrock Rovers, not Sligo. That’s the way it’s always been and that won’t change. Sligo fans can say Shams in every sentence they want, it doesn’t matter.
Also, Sligo Rovers fans constantly referring to Shamrock Rovers as “Shams” (even club officials, embarrassing) is honestly one of the most cringeworthy things I’ve ever heard/read, it’s almost as odd as them calling Galway fans “crusties”, most of the dopes saying it are in Galway for College because you have to leave Sligo unless you’re content with doing a colourbook course in ITSligo.
the reason Shams fans get bad press is because a small minority of them ruin it for everybody else. At the showgeounds on Friday there were people there with their families to enjoy a very special moment in Sligo Rovers history and to be fair not one that happens to often and the so called “fans” ruined it with their behaviour so sad for all LOI fans
@Gary Mason, there’s a huge difference between a bit of atmosphere and some idiots throwing fireworks at stewards, at players and onto the pitch during the match, which is what happened on Friday night. I’ve been going to the Showgrounds for most of my life, have gone to loads of matches in both Carlisle & Newcastle in the UK, and last Friday night first time I felt genuinely worried that someone was going to get seriously injured on the pitch by supporters acting the way they did-before the match kicked off, there was at least one Sligo Rovers fan on his way to hospital to get glass removed from his eye because of *some* of the Shams supporters. Pretty much every club has some troublemakers, but there’s a huge difference between creating an atmosphere at a match and causing serious injury to someone. (Although in their defence, they did at one point throw a firework onto their own banner and nearly set that alight too….)
Vinny, Vinny, Vinny,We don’t call our team ‘Rovers’ we say…De Rov-ers! and as for the moniker ‘Shams’ it refers to Shamrock Rovers pretending, that the L.O.I. shines from their ass holes, with the help of the powers that be that is. We in the North West like to call our team De Rov-ers with a hyphen, to distinguish one set of football supporters i.e. De Rov-ers from the so called ‘Fans’ that follow Shams. Your real supporters are salt of the earth, which is why I, along with many others, sat in protest in the midfield of Glenmalure Park, Miltown, fadó, fadó, in solidarity with them. Did you hear and see the applause for Twigs? that my friend is what REAL fans do. You wouldn’t be expected to know this, but hitch your mules to our wagon train next season and experience how De Diehards, Forza Rov-ers and ancillary fans enjoy a game. Bring the family, Grannies, Granddads, Women and Children, they’ll be very safe and enjoy the football. Derry City for the cup!!!
While compiling the piece, I looked through all the LOI-related pics available on INPHO, which were taken over the course of the season, and the 53 you see above were the best/most striking, in my view.
I also really like those linesman pics, and particularly the way the sky looks in them, which is why I used more than one of them. I’m sorry if they weren’t to your taste.
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Out of 53 photos only 1 of trouble. Well done Shamrock Rovers, and ya wonder why you get bad press!
This MUST Stop next season. Calling Shamrock, ‘Rovers’ gives the impression that De Rov-ers i.e. Sligo Rovers, are involved with fighting the Garda and burning, fireworks and generally interrupting games. Whether it be against Bohs, Rov-ers or any team in the league. On behalf of the real Rov-ers i.e. Sligo Rovers, please differentiate between the league champions and the other crowd intent on causing trouble. To ‘the Shams’ fans who came to cheer their team, see you next season, to the bowsies, stay away from the beloved Shogies
Nobody refers to Sligo as “Rovers”, except for Sligo fans of course.
When a League of Ireland fan references “Rovers”, they’re talking about Shamrock Rovers, not Sligo. That’s the way it’s always been and that won’t change. Sligo fans can say Shams in every sentence they want, it doesn’t matter.
Also, Sligo Rovers fans constantly referring to Shamrock Rovers as “Shams” (even club officials, embarrassing) is honestly one of the most cringeworthy things I’ve ever heard/read, it’s almost as odd as them calling Galway fans “crusties”, most of the dopes saying it are in Galway for College because you have to leave Sligo unless you’re content with doing a colourbook course in ITSligo.
36 people from Sligo dislike this
the reason Shams fans get bad press is because a small minority of them ruin it for everybody else. At the showgeounds on Friday there were people there with their families to enjoy a very special moment in Sligo Rovers history and to be fair not one that happens to often and the so called “fans” ruined it with their behaviour so sad for all LOI fans
go sit on a barstool if you can’t take a game with a bit of atmosphere, less than half those sligo fans will be there next year anyway
@Gary Mason, there’s a huge difference between a bit of atmosphere and some idiots throwing fireworks at stewards, at players and onto the pitch during the match, which is what happened on Friday night. I’ve been going to the Showgrounds for most of my life, have gone to loads of matches in both Carlisle & Newcastle in the UK, and last Friday night first time I felt genuinely worried that someone was going to get seriously injured on the pitch by supporters acting the way they did-before the match kicked off, there was at least one Sligo Rovers fan on his way to hospital to get glass removed from his eye because of *some* of the Shams supporters. Pretty much every club has some troublemakers, but there’s a huge difference between creating an atmosphere at a match and causing serious injury to someone. (Although in their defence, they did at one point throw a firework onto their own banner and nearly set that alight too….)
Is it march yet ?
Where’s the flair from UCD / Cork first game of the season?
Vinny, Vinny, Vinny,We don’t call our team ‘Rovers’ we say…De Rov-ers! and as for the moniker ‘Shams’ it refers to Shamrock Rovers pretending, that the L.O.I. shines from their ass holes, with the help of the powers that be that is. We in the North West like to call our team De Rov-ers with a hyphen, to distinguish one set of football supporters i.e. De Rov-ers from the so called ‘Fans’ that follow Shams. Your real supporters are salt of the earth, which is why I, along with many others, sat in protest in the midfield of Glenmalure Park, Miltown, fadó, fadó, in solidarity with them. Did you hear and see the applause for Twigs? that my friend is what REAL fans do. You wouldn’t be expected to know this, but hitch your mules to our wagon train next season and experience how De Diehards, Forza Rov-ers and ancillary fans enjoy a game. Bring the family, Grannies, Granddads, Women and Children, they’ll be very safe and enjoy the football. Derry City for the cup!!!
Hard to believe somebody can conjure up 53 images of league of Ireland football.
Always the one knocker.
Go sit on your bar stool derek!
Shamrock are Shelbourne (ask Brian Laws) and Sligo are Sligo. Nobody is Rovers. Simples.
if they bothered to look they’d find more and better pictures, instead we have ‘general view of a linesman’ more than once
Hi Gary,
While compiling the piece, I looked through all the LOI-related pics available on INPHO, which were taken over the course of the season, and the 53 you see above were the best/most striking, in my view.
I also really like those linesman pics, and particularly the way the sky looks in them, which is why I used more than one of them. I’m sorry if they weren’t to your taste.