In The Stands » 2009 Awards

Goal of 2009…

Ash (online) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:28:15 +0000

There were many goals of 2009 that were truly awesome. Here is my pick of the best three…

Goal 1 – Fernando Torres vs Blackburn

This truly ridiculous effort by Liverpool’s golden boy as he chests the ball away from his defender, before swivelling and volleying it home is breathtaking…

Goal 2 – Emmanuel Adebayor vs Villarreal

skip to 45 seconds in

A chest before a ridiculous overhead from this naughty boy couldn’t not make this list…

Goal 3 – Cristiano Ronaldo vs Porto

This 40-yard wonder goal from the greatest footballer around won him the Ferenc Puskas award and rightly so…

I thought I would force a bit more of my opinion down your throat and show you my favourite goal of 2009, purely because it is counter attack football at its very finest. Proper jump out of your seat stuff… especially if you are a Man Utd fan.

Worst signing of the year…

Ash (online) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:49:15 +0000

He may have won a record breaking six trophies in his first season as Barcelona boss, but Pep Guardiola got mugged in what was hands down the worst deal of the year…

Despite Man City’s signings of Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott being an abomination, easily the worst signing of the year was the deal which saw £40 million and Samuel Eto’o (£20 million rated) go to Inter Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic go to Barcelona.

Why is it the worst deal?
Samuel Eto’o despite being a great big enormous pain in the arse to deal with in a dressing room is still an absolutely top striker. He possesses the best raw skills out there to be the best striker around, he is a great finisher, quick, strong, two good feet and can get his head onto the end of things.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn’t too bad either but he is the same age as Eto’o. His marketability is perhaps the same as the Cameroon international and is arguably more skilful. Despite this he is also a very temperamental player, doesn’t score as much as Eto’o and can sometimes hide in the big matches. Yes he has started his Barca career by getting in amongst the goals, but was it worth bringing him in for what was effectively £60 million.

The simple answer is a big fat no. Barca were mugged, end of…

Here is a video of the £60 million man at his finest:

Save of the decade…

Ash (online) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:14:56 +0000

He may have played 34 times for his national team and for French giants Lyon for 11 years, but this save is easily the highlight of Grégory Coupet’s career…

Against Barcelona in the Champions League in late 2001, Coupet had to negotiate a passback-lob from Cacapa which he then headed onto his crossbar, before having to get straight back up and save from Rivaldo.

Easily the best save you will see in an long long time…

Tackle of the decade…

Ash (online) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:01:56 +0000

I know I am going a bit off the idea of “Best of 2009…” but I thought with us entering a new decade I would show you what I truly believe is the best tackle of the decade. Taken from a charity match between Germany and England Legends in May 2006, I give you Boris Johnson…

This man is the Mayor of London and more importantly he is our winner of the Tackle of the Decade…