Mails: Chicharito wins the best worst goal
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The best sh*t goals
Great idea on the call for the best worst goals ever scored. One of my favourites is Little Pea kicking the ball into his own face, back in the 2010 Charity Shield (it’s still the Charity Shield in my mind, much as Coca-Cola are still maintaining their sponsorship of the League Cup).
It’s hard to tell if his initial kick would have gone in, as it’s curling up and away from the goal at pace. What makes it even more enjoyable is his cheerful little ball-imprinted Bruno Mars face after he realises he’s scored.
Dan, (scorer of literally dozens of terrible goals in parks across Britain) Brighton
…In response to Sean G, THFC, Dublin, I am going to nominate this beauty from Chicharito on his competitive debut for United. I’m sure that there are worse goals out there, but scoring via spooning the ball in off your own face is a pretty impressive feat!
Al (think he actually meant it….obviously) Williams
…For worst goals scored at the top level, may I suggest Chicharito’s debut goal for Man Utd vs Chelsea in the 2010 Community Shield.
Graceful.
…Arsenal, last Sunday. Plenty will say otherwise, but that was crimes against football, in a category so heinous, it was made specially for it.
James F, BCFC KRO
…Koscielny’s from last week’s has to be up there surely? He miskicked it into his own hand from a yard out and it won the game. It was crap.
Disclaimer: There are much, much better (worse?!) own goals. But they can’t be the worst goal, because own goals are, as we all know, hilarious.
Joe, AFC, East Sussex
…Two forgotten “gems” in the battle for “worst goal ever” came in one Champions League game 10 years ago this month (God I feel old).
Manchester United 3-0 Copenhagen sounds like a convincing score, and it was a one-sided game, but when two of the goalscorers are John O’Shea and Kieran Richardson you know somethings wrong
O’Shea made it 2-0 when he leapt like a salmon to head in a Ronaldo corner…except the ball came in significantly lower, hit O’Shea on the back of the calf and bobbled in (I believe he tried to pass it off as a back heel)
And Richardson made it three towards the end with an incredibly tame shot that the Copenhagen keeper pretty much threw into the net
Mike Coxon, ex-Northwich in Burgess Hill (the other goal was a standard Paul Scholes 25-yarder)
I think I recall Ravanelli scoring with his backside having charged down a ‘keepers’ clearance. Or was it Vialli? Scoring with your arse has to go down as a sh*t goal right?
Thom, Bristol-based Spur
…Some worst goal contenders of different types:
Nani against Spurs – Nani went down in the area and grabbed the ball looking for a penalty, it was a clear handball so Gomes put the ball down for a free-kick. However, Clattenburg didn’t blow his whistle, he instead waved advantage to Spurs so Nani tapped the ball into the goal. I think that goal epitomised refereeing without common sense, in that at Old Trafford an “advantage” for the visiting team is apparently conceding a goal.
Adam against Spurs – again Gomes is the anti-hero of this tale. A penalty was given for handball and Adam’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Gomes (this was during his period of dropping clangers every week…he was actually good a lot of time, honest!), and he was so pumped up by the save he was going crazy celebrating. From the resulting corner he was so pumped up that he came rushing out and clattered a Blackpool player and gave away another penalty! This time Adam scored. I felt quite sorry for poor Heurelho.
That own goal that settled the UEFA Cup final that finished Liverpool 5 – 4 Alaves, bit of a shame it finished that way.
That own goal by Laura Bassett to knock England out of the WC semi-final against Japan in 2015, so, so unfortunate.
All those Lampard deflected goals. All goals when Henry/Adebayor scored and they did that dance together, they should have been disallowed. That goal Chelsea “scored” against Spurs that didn’t cross the line in the 2012 FA Cup semi final…
Kevin G (can you tell I’m a Spurs fan?)
…In response to Sean G, THFC, Dublin I think the worst goal ever scored was Holland’s Wim Keift’s freak offside header against Ireland in the Euro 88 finals. We needed a draw against the Dutch in the final group game to progress to the semi finals and looked to have secured it after defending heroically for 82 minutes.
Then with 8 minutes to go a Dutch cross into the box was headed clear by the peerless Paul McGrath. It landed on the foot of future Everton manager Ronald Koeman who attempted a volley goal wards but only proceeded to kick the ball into the ground and away from goal where it looked to be flying harmlessly wide. That is until it hit the head of Wim Keift who was standing in an offside position. He redirected the ball towards the goal but it still looked to be going a mile wide until the ball bounced and spun wickedly beyond the dive of a disbelieving Packie Bonner and into the far post.
It was a cruel end to a fabulous tournament from the Irish. They played some amazing football. A world away from that nonsense last night.
Rob Melia Dublin
…My two pennies worth…
Collymore versus Blackburn
Weak, daisy cutter shot straight at Flowers which hit a divot in the turf and lopped up over him.
I think its worst than Taibi’s brain-fart because there was no errors which led to the goal and it was just a freak occurrence.
Possible competition could be Neville’s own goal versus Croatia as there was zero opposition involvement so makes it even worse!
Sutton dressed as lamb
Football on TV: Revealing your sh*t list
I’m surprised Chris Sutton didn’t get more votes for worst pundit in your recent poll. The man is properly ignorant and completely lacks charm. I absolutely can’t stand him.
He made a complete fool of himself on the MOTD2 program the day after the recent Manchester derby when talking about Claudio Bravo. He just couldn’t get his head around the fact that Bravo could be picked over Hart for his distribution and ball-playing ability rather than for his more traditional goalkeeping attributes. And he just dismissed all the arguments in favour of Bravo with his favourite phrase ‘I don’t understand it’.
I also thought that Sutton was the most ignorant and irritating of the lot of them in that Monday Night Club podcast debate on Bob Bradley getting the Swansea manager’s job over Ryan Giggs. Someone tried to point out to Sutton that Bradley would know more about ‘recruitment, the structure of the business and the business model’ of a club like Swansea than Giggs. His response?
‘Yeah, well a lot of that is just waffle, isn’t it?’
It’s got to the point now where I literally can’t listen to him speak any more without wanting to reach through my TV screen and punch him in the face.
Thomas Ewens
Eight conclusions on the Republic of Ireland v Georgia
Some Ireland views after the Georgia game:
1. Awful first half performance form Ireland. Georgia much the better team and should have been in front at the break after hitting the underside of the bar and the inside of the post. Dunphy slammed Martin O’Neill for his selection before the game and looked vindicated at the break – McCarthy in particular looked less then match fit.
2. Much better start to the second half which saw the Irish team start with a higher intensity with McClean and Coleman taking the game to the Georgians and attacking with pace and power.
3. The goal itself was reward for a gutsy captains performance from Coleman showing great touch, skill and pace to beat his man and cut in from the right wing. A bit of luck with the finish but well deserved for showing bravery to take on his man in the first place
4. The Georgian goalkeeper, who was receiving abuse all second half for his antics, deserves praise for his reaction to the horrific looking head injury Robbie Brady suffered in the 79 minute – immediately realising the seriousness of the injury, calling the physios on and rushing to help the player. Kudos.
5. What has happened to Shane Long? Looks totally off the pace and doesn’t look like half the player he was last season – a worry what with our lack of strength in depth up front.
6. Not sure about the central defensive partnership of Clarke and Duffy – looks like a mistake waiting to happen
7. Important win in the grand scheme of things in what will be the tightest of groups. Georgia will take points off others in the group. 3 points on Sunday against Moldova away and it’s been a decent start by the Irish. Austria away in November will be an acid test but if we can avoid defeat there then we will have 4 of the last 6 games in the group at home which could be a telling factor.
8. Finally this Icelandic Clap really needs to stop – cringe.
Regards,
Big Mac (Moldova 0 Ireland 1), Dublin
NFL leading the way on head injuries
Jerry‘s idea for an independent doctor to assess head injuries is great. Borrowing from yet another brand of football, the NFL started assigning two Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants (UNCs) to ensure players are checked for concussion by someone who isn’t paid by the teams. However, it doesn’t always work as it should. These UNCs are paid by the NFL, so could be biased to keeping good/entertaining/star players on the pitch.
Four weeks ago in the first game of the season (a replay of last season’s Super Bowl) Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers (and poster boy for the NFL) received this hit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn_L5cOCF70 to the head… it’s pretty brutal. You can see at the bottom that they’re trailing by 1 point with 38 seconds remaining in the game. He returned the next play and, although I couldn’t find the footage, his eyes were not looking at anything in the mortal realm – he was absolutely cooked.
The NFL released this statement a few days later: “There was communication between medical personnel on the Carolina sideline, including the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant, and the two independent certified athletic trainer spotters in the booth. During stoppage in play while on-field officials were in the process of administrating [sic] penalties, the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant and team physician requested video from the spotters and reviewed the play. They concluded there were no indications of a concussion that would require further evaluation and the removal of the player.”
Ziggy (Teams, Coaches and associations really need to value player’s health much more than they currently do) Sydney
Lots of love
Over the years, I have come to expect a lot from F365. I expect intelligent analysis, perceptive thinking, insightful comment and excellent writing. What I don’t expect is to open up the Mailbox after a two day hiatus and fine myself weeping all over my laptop.
Paul and James, I send you both all the good things I can, as someone who does not know you and never will but wishes you better days ahead. Matt and Justin B, laudable mails boys. Simon, your son is/will be a lucky boy to have a Dad aware of what letting your child down can do.
F365, congratulations on creating a community (sorry for the cliché) of what are mostly really, really good, smart and decent football fans. They say that you get the fans/followers you deserve and that is nowhere more true that with your site.
Carolyn, (slightly soggy now) South London Gooner
…Have to say the recent Mailbox letters have been inspirational. I always give my little boy a hug before I leave work and when I get home from work, but today he’s going to get a massive one. James, I’m truly sorry for your loss. You come across as a good dad and I hope that in time your pain lessens and you and your partner have another chance at having an awesome family (Assuming you don’t have any other kids or that you want to ultimately). The world needs more good dads.
Wes ( Can we please limit these emotional emails to international breaks as I don’t think my emotions can take a year long battering?) London
…to the editor for making a grown man cry in an office full of women with the morning mailbox.
Best wishes to everyone who wrote in. Especially James, reading, for making me absolutely determined to be the best dad possible to my 18 month old twins and showing them the joys of our game.
I now have to convince everyone I just have something in my eye.
Phil, Wrexham
…I don’t expect this to get published, just wondering if you could pass on my support to Paul who wrote in about his father on Thursday afternoon.
Paul, thank you for your touching and moving mail. Wishing you all the best and hoping and praying that you are comforted and find peace in this most difficult time.
Best wishes and blessings
Joel
…One of the many things to enjoy about this site is the mailbox, and in particular the community that exists around it. The way that it turns into group therapy in every international break is just brilliant – well done to everyone who shares a story and also to F365 for fostering such an environment.
Ed Quoththeraven
