Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Chelsea’s Fernando Torres’ miss against Manchester United at the weekend, was (if you didn’t know already) undoubtedly one of the worst Premier League misses in recent memory.
Here’s another look at it again. Wasn’t it something so beautiful to witness a former Liverpool man miss a sitter at Old Trafford at a pivotal moment in a game for arguably our biggest rivals over the last 5-6 years? Now don’t get me wrong, that miss by Chelsea’s £50m striker was a dreadful miss!
But, it got me thinking what have been the worst misses done by United players over the last 10-15 years. I asked some #MUFC fans on Twitter to give me some suggestions, to some that I’d already thought of myself to use for this article.
14/5/1995 – Andrew Cole v West Ham – Premier League
Andrew Cole would prove to be a fantastic forward for United scoring over 100 goals for the club. However his darkest day came on the final day of the 1994/95 Premier League against West Ham when he missed a late chance (go to 1.36 in the video) that would have seen United win the league.
Excuse for Missing: That Czech cretin Ludek ‘Bloody’ Miklosko.
27/1/1996 – Steve Bruce v Reading – FA Cup Fourth Round
Steve Bruce scored 51 goals for United (a fantastic tally for a defender) but somehow he couldn’t find the net against Reading.
Reason for Missing: Brucey wasn’t used to tapping the ball in, heading was his speciality.
9/11/2002 – John O’Shea v Manchester City – Premier League
In the 2006/07 season John O’Shea famously had the best shots/goals record when he scored four times. Back in his first full season as a regular John (as you’re see in this video at 5.04) missed a sitter in the closing stages of our last ever defeat to Manchester City
Reason for Missing: John’s defensive instincts took over!
28/11/2002 – Rio Ferdinand v Birmingham – Premier League
Despite being an elegant defender, Rio famously missed this sitter at home to Steve Bruce’s Birmingham City. You could say he ‘merked’ himself here.
Reason for Missing: United were already 2-0 up at the time and he waited to wait a good 3 more years until getting his first goal for the club.
15/2/2003 – Ryan Giggs v Arsenal – FA Cup Fifth Round
Ryan Giggs has scored some belters against Arsenal down the years, but 4 years on from THAT goal he scored in THAT FA Cup Semi-Final replay tie at Villa Park, Giggsy somehow managed to miss an absolute sitter against Arsenal.
Reason for Missing: Taking it on with his right foot!
31/7/2003 – Diego Forlan v Juventus – Pre-Season Friendly
Diego Forlan was often a figure of fun during his time at the club. Somehow United’s favourite (and only) Uruguayan managed to miss this sitter against Italian giants Juventus in America after a cock-up by Juve’s keeper and defender.
Reason for Miss: Lack of concentration, after all it was only a friendly.
18/11/2006 – Cristiano Ronaldo v Sheffield United – Premier League
The season after the 2006 World Cup saw Ronaldo really burst into life at Old Trafford, but that didn’t stop him missing this chance against Sheffield United after being brilliantly set up by Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.
Reason for Miss: Perhaps Ronny had other things (his next date or two) on his mind.
29/12/08 – Park Ji-Sung v Middlesborough – Premier League
Moments after Dimitar Berbatov had put United ahead in a scrappy encounter with Gareth Southgate’s side, the Bulgarian put a lovely ball across the face of goal, which somehow was missed by our hard-working Korean when it seemed impossible to miss.
Reason for Miss: Perhaps Park though he was offside so didn’t want a goal ruled out.
16/4/2011 – Dimitar Berbatov v Manchester City – FA Cup Semi-Final
This effort by Berba against City from last season has to get in the list. After he had missed a fairly easy chance moments beforehand which was saved by Joe Hart, our Bulgarian somehow (go to 0.46 in the video) missed an even easier chance from Nani’s cross moments later. City sadly went onto win the game.
Reason for Miss: Going to ground when he could’ve stayed up to tap the ball in.
So beating those misses in mind, which of those do you think is the worst?
