After Boruc and Almunia's bizarre keeping catastrophes, Sportsmail recalls some classic goalie howlers

By Paul Collins

PUBLISHED: 08:30 EST, 24 November 2013 | UPDATED: 09:35 EST, 24 November 2013


You've probably seen Artur Boruc's goalkeeping howler for Southampton against Arsenal on Saturday, but if you haven't, here's what happened.

The Polish keeper tried to dribble the ball away from Olivier Giroud in the box, turning and twisting and eventually falling over, leaving the Frenchman to tuck it home.

Meanwhile, a few miles away at Watford, former Arsenal stopper Manuel Almunia was also guilty of a poor mistake.

Sad times: Southampton Artur Boruc (left) shows his dejection after the horrible mistake he made

Sad times: Southampton Artur Boruc (left) shows his dejection after the horrible mistake he made

Dropped a clanger: Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia sees the ball slip from his grasp against Bolton

Dropped a clanger: Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia sees the ball slip from his grasp against Bolton

The Spaniard went down to collect a cross, but failed to collect the ball. It trickled through his legs and was fired home by Bolton gleefully.

So, in their honour, here are some other fine goalkeeping howlers...

 

RENE HIGUITA (Colombia) v Cameroon in 1990

This incident involved two football legends and was quite similar to Boruc's mistake on Saturday. The eccentric Higuita tried a drag-back to escape Roger Milla's attentions, but it was not slick enough and the Cameroon striker gleefully dispossessed him and scored.


MASSIMO TAIBI (Manchester United) v Southampton in 1999

Massimo Taibi cost £4.5m when Alex Ferguson signed him from Reggina in 1999 but the Italian never got over allowing in the simplest of daisy cutters from Matt Le Tissier and after a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea wasn't seen for United again.


PAUL ROBINSON (England) v Croatia in 2006

England fell to ignominious defeat to Croatia in Zagreb, a result that gave a serious knock to their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008, and Paul Robinson's outrageous air-kick aimed at a Gary Neville backpass summed up the performance.


TIM FLOWERS (Blackburn) v Liverpool in 1996

Slightly unfairly but entirely of his own making, Tim Flowers was the victim when Stan Collymore's long range effort hit a divot, made by Flowers to tell him where the middle of his goal was, and looped over the kneeling stopper into the net.


PETER ENCKELMAN (Aston Villa) v Birmingham in 2002

While it shouldn't have been allowed if he hadn't touched it Peter Enckelman was left with serious egg on his face after allowing an Olof Mellberg throw-in to dribble under his lifted boot. And Enckelman couldn't have chosen a less sympathetic crowd to commit the error in front of. Villa were playing at arch-rivals Birmingham.


FABIEN BARTHEZ (Manchester United) v Arsenal in 2001

Frenchman Barthez was always a little on the unpredictable side but he made two glaring errors in United's 3-1 defeat at Highbury with the first a poor kick straight to Henry, and the second dropping the ball at the feet of the Arsenal striker.


DAVID SEAMAN (Arsenal) v Real Zaragoza in 1995

While we could have gone for Ronaldinho's free-kick against England, which looped over Seaman's head, or the corner kick from Macedonia's Artim Sakiri, we chose the winning goal from the Cup Winners' Cup final scored by former Tottenham player Nayim from 45-yards out.


JOE HART (Man City) v Southampton in 2013

Hart tracks Rickie Lambert’s 18-yard shot but it squirms out of his grasp and between his legs, allowing Steven Davis to prod in an easy finish from close range. One of many mistakes from the England keeper.



 

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what about ray clemence letting dalglish's shot between his legs in 76

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Nayim lobbing Seaman from 45 yards - classic

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boruc has always thought of himself as a better player than he is...

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Interesting about Southampton, who have turned out to be a very impressive side, always entertaining. They'd have drawn last weekend if the goalie hadn't tried to show off his football skills, and an attacker's shirt hadn't been pulled in the penalty area. Great pity. Regarding the goalie, comment on Match of the Day was that goalies like to think they're great footballers as well. In this case he wasn't!

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The best of all time was Gary Sprake for Leeds at Anfield where he threw the ball over his shoulder and back into the net. He came out for the second half as red as a beetroot after the scousers played Des OConnors record "careless hands".

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Some of these are hilarious. Could've included a couple of Pepe Reina ones mind; dropping the ball on Andy Johnson's head by accident, and also throwing the ball into the net against Arsenal are just two. Shows that even the best of keepers (as Reina was at the time of those two incidents; a great keeper) can make mistakes. Worth remembering that keepers can make 100 saves in a match and be remembered for 1 mistake, whilst strikers can make 100 mistakes and be remembered for 1 goal. Being a goalkeeper must be a very tough job.

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The Roly Poly Holy Goalie was always good for a howler or two !...........basically a decent keeper though ! .

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When goalkeepers get blamed for a 'howler' it is usually cover up for a rubbish team performance.

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This gets trotted out everytime a keeper makes a mistake and everytime someone has to remind you that Paul Robinson air kicked because the ball took a bobble, inches before he kicked it resulting in it going over his foot - nothing he could do about it and as much blame should have gone toward Neville who broke the age old rule of always back pass wide of the goal... bt he wa a Man Utd and Robinson at Spurs so no wonder he never got an blame. The witch hunt aimed toward Robinson after the game pretty much wrecked his career - he was never the same keeper afterwards.

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The Robinson incident was unfair. Surprised not to see a few more Joe Hart moments in here though.

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