In light of recent goalkeeping mistakes by Joe Hart and Heurelho Gomes, we examine the worst premier league blunders between the sticks since 1992.
5) Roy Carroll (Manchester United v Tottenham, 4 January 2005)
The departure of Peter Schmeichel ensued a long list of unreliable shot stoppers at Old Trafford – one of which being Roy Carroll. Luckily for the Northern Irishman, he only makes fifth on this list courtesy of the officials’ breath-taking inability to realise that Pedro Mendes’ 50 yard shot had actually crossed the white line. In an end to end match that finished 0-0, Carroll was out of position, scurrying back into his own goalmouth and managing to direct the ball over his own shoulder, only to recover by palming it back ‘into play’. Surprisingly, Sir Alex kept faith with the fortunate Northern Irishman and was rewarded with a clean sheet against Liverpool in the next game.
4) Massimo Taibi (Manchester United v Southampton, 25 September 1999)
Skip to 1:40
To be seen regularly on all goalkeeper gaffes programmes, Massimo Taibi’s howler when faced with Matt Le Tissier’s shot has gone down in history as a shocking example of goalkeeping technique. Instead of closing his legs as taught from the age of eight, Taibi succeeded in letting the ball through his gloves and then the rest of his body before it settled in the netting. His unsuccessful attempt to blame it on his boots by picking grass out of them subsequently did not get close to absolving him of blame. Having only played four games for United in total, Taibi departed Old Trafford at the end of the 1999/2000 season and has remained out of the spotlight ever since.
3) Jerzy Dudek (Liverpool v Manchester United, 1 December 2002)
Revered by Liverpool fans for his penalty saving prowess in Istanbul, Jerzy Dudek proved this to be an anomaly with some of his Premier League performances. One of particular note was versus rivals Manchester United in December 2002 when he impressively managed to mishandle a Jamie Carragher header letting it through his legs and thereby allowing Diego Forlan to score for the away side. Described as the ‘gaffe to end gaffes’, Dudek was fortunate to have only the hapless Chris Kirkland as under study and continued his Anfield career before eventually being replaced by Pepe Reina in 2005.
2) Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham v Chelsea 12 December 2010)
Skip to 1:00 for this particular blunder
Originally regarded as a very safe pair of hands between the sticks whilst at PSV Eindhoven, ever since arriving in England Heurelho Gomes has bounced from one goalkeeping disaster to another, making repeated mistakes at both Tottenham and now Watford. Initially signed by Spurs coach Juande Ramos for a reported £7.8 million, Gomes soon proved this to be a major misjudgement. In an all-London clash in December 2010, he succeeded in parrying a Didier Drogba shot over his own head which subsequently rolled over the line, throwing away Spurs’ lead in the process. Defended by Harry Redknapp in the post-match interview, Gomes survived another four years at White Hart Lane but in that time committed howlers against Villa and Fulham to name but a couple.
1) Jens Lehmann (Arsenal v Fulham, 12 August 2007)
This clip sums him up…
Known for his often erratic persona whilst keeping for the Gunners, Jens Lehmann arguably deserves greater credit within an Arsenal team that contained the likes of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, and yet perhaps not. In one notable incident in August 2007, Lehmann attempted to clear a tame Gael Clichy backpass only to fall over whilst striking the ball, inadvertently directing it at Cottager’s striker David Healy who had the easiest of tasks of slotting it into the net. Understandably Lehmann was described as the ‘happiest person’ in the dressing room after Arsenal recovered to win with two goals in the final 10 minutes. Having also managed to get himself sent off in the Champions League Final a year earlier, Lehmann will forever remain memorable to the Gunners faithful.
Unfortunately we couldn’t find this error in our archives, so you’ll have to take our word for it. Shocking.
Ben Marvell – Sport Team