‘Tis the season for goalies to get their name on the scoresheet. Like these special chaps… 1 Anonymous dude with a foot like a traction engineThis incredible goal makes me grin like an idiot every time I watch it. Undoubtedly the best ever goal scored by a ‘keeper.

Soccer Fiesta proudly celebrates ‘The Wonderful of Soccer’, which is a beautiful sentiment – whether it’s meant to be the ‘Wonderful World of Soccer’ or simply the ‘Wonder of Soccer’, we’re not sure. Either way, we agree with them that, yes, soccer/football (delete where applicable) is bloody wonderful. Like Pies, Fiesta features news, videos, scurrilous [...]

Welcome back to the tranquil haven that is Haiku Corner. Take off your shoes and let us sit a while, to contemplate the more spiritual side of the beautiful game. This week, our Zen-like focus is on Steven Gerrard, the bestest midfielder in the whole wide world ever, who collected his MBE medal on Wednesday. [...]

Nothing with the word ‘Unibond’ in the title can ever be sexy – unless, say, I discovered that Scarlett Johansson’s middle name was Unibond. [Via Deadspin]

Zinedine Zidane to un-retire himself? [Soccer Fiesta]Dimitar Berbatov to stay at Spurs next season. Yay! [Soccer Fiesta]Luke Young called up to England squad. [Addick's Prem Diary]Rafa Benitez not going to Real Madrid, says his agent. [BBC]Dean Ashton out for rest of season. Like, duh. [F365]Oliver Kahn says sorry to doctor for doping outburst [SI]

This is our favourite story of the week, no question: An 11-foot bronze statue of Southampton legend Ted Bates, erected last week outside St Mary’s stadium will now be taken down after fans branded it a ‘joke’. Saints’ supporters are livid that the statue of Bates, who played for, coached and served on the board [...]

A message to Frank Lampard and indeed any player who is physically threatened by a fan invading the pitch: take a leaf out of Keith Richards’ rock ‘n’ roll tome and come out swinging…

Name Alessia MerzNationality ItalianWAG of… Sampdoria star striker Fabio Bazzani. Alessia gave birth to their son last year.Fame ranking 7/10 – Very famous in Italy, thanks to her work as a model, TV presenter and actress who prefers to hang around wearing not very many clothes. She also starred in the Italian version of ‘I’m [...]

Fergie blasted Sky Sports’ reporter Geoff Shreeves after Man Utd’s 1-0 win against Boro in the FA Cup on Monday night. The Man Yoo boss reportedly called poor Geoff a ‘f***ing bastard’ and told him to ‘f**k off’ after the reporter questioned Cristiano Ronaldo over the incident that earned United the match-winning penalty. Upon learning [...]

Steve Anthrobus, a former striker who has played for Millwall, Wimbledon and Shrewsbury Town, has been fined for having alfresco sex on a picnic blanket in Brownhills, Staffordshire. At least he had the decency to do it on a blanket, like a proper gentleman. ‘Saucy Striker Steve’, as the tabloids will doubtless dub him, admitted [...]

Why waste your money on dull, cliché-ridden, ghost-written autobiographies by the likes of Fat Frank & Stevie G, when you could invest in a proper football book. Like this brilliant lot (in no particular order): Fever Pitch, by Nick HornbyI’m no Arsenal fan, but I still remember the first time I read Hornby’s brilliant and [...]

As requested, here’s James Morrison’s cynical hack on Cronaldo, which rightly earned the Boro substitute a straight red card. And watch Ronaldo’s post-match interview below: ‘Of course it was a penalty…’ His English is coming on nicely.

Boro seem to think that Ronaldo dived to win Man Utd’s game-winning penalty, and no doubt Ronaldo-haters will think he went down to easily. Bollocks. It’s not a dive and the ref was right to award a penalty. Woodgate clearly caught him, end of story. I also think there’s an element of truth in Fergie’s [...]

David Beckham said recently of Stevie Mac’s England: ‘They will be fine, they have got too many good players to not qualify [for Euro '08] … I’ve spent a lot of time playing and training with these players and they are some of the best players in the world.’ Everyone else said recently: ‘Carragher and [...]

Sheva’s back! And he’s wearing magic gloves… 55′ [0 - 1]  A. ShevchenkoUploaded by tzonner Great goal to help Chelsea reach the FA Cup semis – looks like the FA will get the Chelsea v Man Utd final they crave for the new Wembley.

Not a vintage weekend for Prem goals. Here are the five best… 1 Wayne Rooney, Man Utd v Bolton WanderersWonderful interplay between Messrs Ronaldo & Rooney, with a cheeky finish to boot. ManUtd_Bolton_2-0_768K_StreamUploaded by zamalektv

West Ham defender Lucas Neill has complained about the ‘disgusting’ treatment he received on his return to Ewood Park: ‘Five-and-a-half years at the club, 100 per cent commitment, I’ve never gone to the papers, never complained about anything and then, when I want to further myself for my own personal benefit, whether it be backwards, [...]

SATURDAYMan Utd v BoltonLawro: 2-0Pies: 1-1Actual: 4-1 Chelsea v Sheffield Utd Lawro: 2-0 Pies: 3-0Actual: 3-0 Middlesbrough v Man City Lawro: 1-1 Pies: 1-0Actual: 0-2

‘Dot Cotton have more chance score than Shevchenko…’ Top-quality Jose impression…

The Premier League plans to use goalline technology to settle disputes over whether balls have crossed the line from the 2008-09 season. England’s top 20 clubs are expected to have their system of goalline sensors, a version of the HawkEye technology already used in tennis and cricket, in place by then at a cost per [...]

In one of the biggest shocks of the weekend, Ajax cut PSV’s lead at the top of the Eredivisie to five points after battering them 5-1 away from home. With five games remaining, things look to be hotting up. Pick of the goals from the game is this ripsnorter for Sneijder. Pick that out! Goal [...]

All is evidently not well at Manchester City. Despite getting a decent result at the weekend, trouble is still brewing. The latest in the Citeh saga is surrounding the contraversial attack by Richard Dunne on his team mates last week. Now, former skipper Sylvain Distin has revealed the depth of discontent within the Blues camp [...]

Every footballphobic geek’s worst nightmare…

Hard… to type… through… the tears… (sniff)… his hair is so lovely…

1 ‘Taking me from behind is something that is not worthy behaviour of a man.’ Inter Milan’s Nicolas Burdisso after having his nose busted by David Navarro of Valencia. 2 ‘I don’t like Ben Foster because he’s just ended my dream.’ Ian Holloway on Man Utd’s on-loan keeper, who performed heroics for Watford against Plymouth [...]