Kelly's been shortlisted for FIFA Women's World Player 2005!!!!!!!!! yey!!

go kelly, go kelly....

this is from the bbc website:

Smith shortlisted for Fifa award

England striker Kelly Smith has been named on the shortlist for the Fifa Women's World Player 2005 awards.
Smith, who turns 27 later this month, is among 24 players in the running for the prestigious gong.

The winner will be announced at a special Gala presentation in Zurich on 19 December.

Smith, who plays for Arsenal, has scored 11 goals in 44 appearances for England and was a key player as they hosted the 2005 European Championships.



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The shortlist for the Fifa Women's World Player 2005 awards:

S Boxx (USA), M Dominguez (Mex), L Georges (Fra), S Gulbrandsen (Nor), SH Ho (Kor), L Kalimari (Fin), S Kunnas (Fin), R Lingor (Ger), H Ljungberg (Swe), H Marklund (Swe), Marta (Brz), S Minnert (Ger), P Modise (RSA), M Mostrom (Swe), P Nkwocha (Nig), B Nordby (Nor), C Paaske Sorensen (Den), ES Park (Kor), B Prinz (Ger), H Sawa (Jap), C Sinclair (Can), K Smith (Eng), A Strangeland (Nor), C Welsh (USA)

The winner will be announced on 19 December.

As a die hard fan Katie, what do you think her chances are of landing the award going up against all those other great players?

not sure she'll get it tho, but only because england didn't play many matches in the euros and cos she's had so many injury problems this year. i mean, she wasn't match fit in the euros and only played the first half of the first 2 matches (but was still amazing) and she missed the start of the season with Arsenal cos of injury. but i can say that ive seen her play at bristol, fulham and against frankfurt and she was SO GOOD its untrue, Arsenal are a different side without her (and not in a good way)

so, to conclude.... she's been awesome but she's not been at her best. if we'd seen her fully fit then she would deffo win!!! not that im at all biased!!!

xx

That is a tough list, a lot of good players there and I don't know how they can pick 1 player that was tops.....

As im very stupid Katie, and dont have a clue about Womens football, could you maybe help me in by telling me who you reckon is the "worlds greatest" like the Womens Ronaldinho, Henry etc.

i'll vote for Prinz.

I watch one of the last game on the Germany Women Team on Eurosport. And i like her way of playing with the ball...

And can you tell me the winner for the last year. I think it was from USA.

it was prinz last year, apparently if she wins this year it'll be the third time in a row (i think that's right, think i read it somewhere..........or i could have just imagined it!)

xx

Prinz is quality but will be nice for Kelly to win Come on England!

haha!!!!

i put a post about the fifa women's world player shortlist on the bbc women's footy msg board (exactly the same as my starting post for this one)

i then followed it up with im not sure she's gonna get it tho cos she's had loads of injury problems but she's still been ace etc etc

and someone's replied with:



haha!! i mean as if kelly would come on a msg board and brag about herself!! she's not like that at all!!

i just think its hilarious that someone thought i was her!!!

especially as my username is 'KeLLySMitHiSaLeGeNd'...... i mean really!!! she's the most un-bigheaded person ever!! as if she'd do that!!

hey Katie! if thats a pic of u then Kelly Smith must ave changed. lol

Yeah since i last saw her about 3 or 4 weeks ago.

Have u met her Katie?

Katie, u seem clued up on womens footy.

Lisa Burrows used to play for Arsenal, has she now gone to Fulham?

Great news that Kelly has been shortlisted for the award. I think Prinz will win even though she didn't have a great european championship but you never know Kelly could make it in the top 3.

yeah she plays for fulham now

xx

yeah , i see her at the Arsenal matches, ive met her a few times after the game.

she came up to me and we were chatting for a bit on saturday after the frankfurt game. she's lovely, really easy to get along with.

i got spoony to mention her on radio one 2day, about her being shortlisted for fifa women's world player 2005. he was like 'you go girl!!'

xx

i only have one comment to make `Come on Kelly` .

Glad Lisa's doing well! I played football with her at my team Bushey Rangers for a few years and we were like best mates even when she was at Arsenal Academy she was still playing for Bushey until she got in Arsenal Reserves which quickly meant Engalnd U19's and then verging on Arsenal first team.
However last time i saw her she was considering going to Fulham. I saw her brother yday and he confirmed that shes gone there so i hope it all goes well for her, if all goes wrong shes welcome back at Bushey anyday! Her dads like one of the main men of our footy club and Lisa lives round the corner so hopefully she will be down to watch us play soon!

There's a poll on the FIFA site, where you can vote for who you think will win the award.
Unfortunatelly there are only 3 options: Shannon Boxx, Marta & Birgit Prinz though.
I'm glad to see that Marta leads in the poll - I don't wanna see Prinz winning it again

If you'd like to vote, here's the link. Blue poll on the right

Only a few days left!

The list was cut down to three players in November following the original shortlist of 24 released in October. Smith didn't do enough to make it through, but she was by far the leading English player of 2005 in my opinion. Arsenal (and England) are a far far better side with her in the line-up.

Marta has a huge majority vote on the FIFA website poll, but most other polls i've seen have given it to Birgit Prinz. I don't think Shannon Boxx or the USA have done enough this year for her to be crowned WPoY but you never know.

At just 19, Marta has the women's footballing world at her feet and if she doesn't win this year I'm sure she will go on to win many in the future. She has continued her great form for Umea in the Swedish league and looked a cut above the rest at every level she has played at.

Prinz has been nominated for the fourth consecutive year and if she is voted the winner, it will make it three years running, something never before seen in either the men's or women's award. She has now scored nearly 100 goals for Germany and led them to the Euro 2005 glory as the best team in the competition by a distance.

Oh I didn't know that

Thanx for the info, Rabbidogg

Fingers crossed for Marta (or Boxxy) then

If you want to know more about the 3 nominated ladies, here are the links:

Marta

Shannon Boxx

Birgit Prinz

I'm not saying she should or shouldn't win, but Shannon Boxx is a big time layer....For those who aren't familiar with her imagine a female Patrick Vieira....she's not fancy at anything, but is just huge when it comes to patrolling the midfield....I'm surprised she's on the list since she gets very little 'press', even here in the states where she's overshadowed by some of other team mates, but good for her..

absolutely LOVING the smiley by birgit prinz!

haha! chuffin hate the germans!!

I've seen Shannon in a few USWNT games and was really impressed with her style of play.
She's always where she should be.
She's like Mary Phillip in the English team
- although they play on different positions (Mary is a defender),
but what I mean is - you barely realise that she's there,
and then she appeares exactly where she should be when you need her to be there