Unless it’s scored against our team we all love an own goal.
Here’s a gem scored by Chris Brass for Darlington against his side Bury on April 22nd 2006. Chris really suffered for his perfection of ‘own goal art’ as he almost broke his nose in the process.
It was the opening goal of the game though (thankfully for Chris) Bury won 3-2.
Is this the best (or should it be worst) own goal of all time?
Football Thing’s one-line round-up of today’s news and speculation
Arsenal
Arsenal have completed the signing of Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen from Dutch club Ajax for an undisclosed fee.
Blackburn Rovers
Greek side Olympiakos have agreed a fee with Blackburn Rovers for striker Matt Derbyshire.
Norwich City
Norwich City have signed Hartlepool defender Michael Nelson on a two-year contract.
Bradford City
Bradford City have signed defender Zesh Rehman on a free transfer following his release by Queens Park Rangers.
Wigan Athletic
Fulham are close to signing Wigan Athletic’s midfielder Paul Scharner for £6m.
Swansea City
Despite former Spurs assistmant manager Gus Poyet appearing to have emerged as the front runner for the vacant manager’s role at Swansea City, the Swans have surprised everyone by offering the position to Paulo Sousa.
The former Portugal international has been out of work since being sacked by Queens Park Rangers back in April.
“He will provide Swansea City with a fantastic chance to continue developing and growing over the next few years,” said chairman Huw Jenkins.
Sousa has verbally accepted a three-year-deal.
Keegan back at Southampton?
Speculation is mounting over Kevin Keegan making a sensational return to Southampton.
He first came to Southampton in July 1980 when Lawrie McMenemy lured him back to English football for £400,000 following three years in Germany with SV Hamburg.
Keegan spent two years with the Saints, scoring 37 goals in 68 league games.
During that time, Southampton finished sixth and seventh in successive seasons in the English top flight before Keegan left in August 1982 to join Newcastle United.
BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore told Radio 5 Live: “We’ve seen photos this morning taken on a mobile seemingly showing Kevin Keegan with Matt Le Tissier and former chairman Leon Crouch, although none with the three of them together.
Le Tissier is expected to become Chairman of Southampton if the impending takeover of the club by the Pinnacle Group is successful.
Coyle extends contract at Burnley
Burnley manager Owen Coyle has signed a new contract which will keep him at Turf Moor until 2013.
The Scot guided the Lancashire Club into the Premier League through the play-offs, but had been linked with the vacant manager’s job at Celtic.
Carling Cup 1st round draw
The draw for the Carling Cup 1st round sees Football League new boys Burton Albion travel to Reading. Full draw here.
New Celtic Manager
Celtic have announced the appointment of West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray as their new manager.
Johnson to sign for the Reds
Liverpool look to have won the race to sign England defender Glen Johnson after agreeing a fee in the region of £17m with Portsmouth.
How times have changed for Michael Owen. The former undisputed golden boy of English football, feared by defenders throughout the World and lauded by Europe’s biggest clubs, is, if growing rumours are to be believed, about to announce his retirement.
Injuries
Owen’s injury-plagued stay at Newcastle has proved to be a nightmare, with the player a mere shadow of his former self even when officially ‘match fit’ and raring to go.
The striker’s searing pace is long gone, never to return, and his explosive arrival on the global stage at the 1998 World Cup, with that wonder goal against Argentina, now a distant memory.
So, the Ronaldo will-he, won’t-he join Real Madrid saga has finally come to a conclusion.
Hooray! I was getting bored with it.
Arrogance
I don’t like Ronaldo. Not entirely down to him playing for Manchester United (though that is a major factor). His arrogance really gets up my nose and I am jealous of his six pack.
Having said all that, and as much as I hate to admit it, he is without doubt, in my eyes at least, the best player in the World. All other contenders are just that. Contenders.
Teenager
The Portuguese international was only 18 when he joined United from Sporting Lisbon for £12.2m in 2003 and has played a pivotal part in their phenomenal successes over the last six years.
Ronaldo scored a staggering 42 goals for United in 2007/08 and was also the club’s top scorer last season with 26 goals, taking his total for United to 118 in 292 appearances.
United fans are mourning his passing (no pun intended) and fans at all other clubs are no doubt already celebrating. The Premiership as a spectacle will be worse off without him.
Bye Cristiano. Good luck in Madrid. We’ll miss you.
Ian Davies
Some things in life are inevitable; Politicians will never win popularity contests. You will always have a soft spot for your first love. Police officers will look more and more like 15-year-olds the older you get and football managers will be sacked.
The demand for instant success ensures most managers will be sacked several times, with only two or three of them escaping the experience.
Under the microscope
Premiership managers live in the spotlight almost 24/7 these days. Some take pressure in their stride whilst others constantly feel the strain.
Runners and riders
We take a look at which Premiership managers are safe and those who could be looking for work before the end of the 2009/10 season?
Tranmere have sacked manager Ronnie Moore following the club’s failure to reach the League One play-offs.
56-year-old Moore joined Rovers as boss in June 2006 but attendances at Prenton Park have crumbled by over 19% during the last three years.
He previously had two spells as a player with the club between 1971 and 1989, and was player-coach and then assistant manager under John King.
Play-off agony
Tranmere were within minutes of reaching the play-offs when they led 1-0 at Scunthorpe United on the final day of the season.
But the Iron scored an 88th-minute equaliser to clinch sixth place for Scunthorpe at the expense of Moore’s side instead.
Ian Davies
Queens Park Rangers are due to get the builders in to Loftus Road over the next few days.
Appointed yesterday, Jim Magilton is the latest in the ridiculously long line of managers at the club during the last 3 years, and it makes complete sense for Rangers to have a revolving door fitted. If Magilton can’t get them off to a flying start in the Championship (a very tough league this time round) he’s likely to be spinning back through it and onto the street very quickly.
Fifth Manager
The former Ipswich Town boss, sacked at the end of last season to make way for Roy Keane, is the fifth permanent manager appointed since the arrival of Flavio Briatore as owner in 2007. I’ve lost count how many temporary managers they’ve had during that same period. Briatore’s hire’em fire’em policy has seen his managers have an average run of 14 games in charge. It’s laughable.
The first week in June is traditionally a very quiet time in football with most managers and players away on holiday. At the majority of clubs players report back for pre-season training on July 1st.
Surprisingly, it’s far from quiet. Here’s a brief summary of what’s going on…
Roberto Martinez
Swansea have finally given Wigan Athletic permission to talk to the Swans manager Roberto Martinez about the vacancy at the JJB Stadium following Steve Bruce’s departure to Sunderland.
It’s becoming more and more likely Martinez will head north, with Gary Speed, the former Wales international currently at Sheffield United, tipped to replace him at Swansea.
Celtic’s apparent interest in the Spaniard has now evaporated and they’re looking elsewhere. Tony Adams is telling anyone willing to listen that he’ll be in charge of the Bhoys next season. Yeah right, Tone!
