Milan, Juve and Inter well represented at ‘worst player’ ceremony

Serie A’s least coveted award has revealed its ten player shortlist.The Bidone d’Oro (Golden Bin) award annually recognises the terrible efforts of some of Italy’s worst performers. Past winners include Christian Vieri, Adriano and Rivaldo.

Most of the 2009 list will read like a who’s who of dodged bullets for Premier League clubs.

Last year’s winner, Inter Milan and Chelsea reject Ricardo Quaresma, is back in contention, along with Arsenal’s summer target Felipe Melo. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who Spurs are currently eying up, continues to have the worst year of his life and there’s a customary appearance from the world’s biggest disappointment, Ronaldinho.

See the full shortlist after the jump…

Who do we turn to in our hour of need? Steve McClaren!

It’s been a horrible few days. Firstly, Man United flopped when all the long shots in our Champions League accumulator delivered and then Lyon once again mugged Liverpool in injury time yesterday.

When your luck is down, you probably don’t want to be relying on a Goodison Park goalfest, Spanish strugglers finding form and Steve McClaren. The Spoiler loves a long shot though…

Over 2.5 goals in Everton/Benfica
Six of Everton’s last seven European games have produced three goals or more. Benfica are the most prolific team in Portugal by miles and thumped five

Beckham isn’t the only one who’s unhappy with Diego Simeone

Earlier this year, 34-year-old model Carolina Baldini confirmed that she had separated from former Lazio midfielder and current San Lorenzo manager Diego Simeone. “We have not ceased to love each other, but we could not overcome the crisis,” she told an Argentinean newspaper. The “crisis” in question may have been Simeone’s decision to cheat on his wife with a 21-year-old Argentinean lingerie model named Julieta Spina.

Italian ladies man steals the show at Old Trafford

After seeing his side steal a last minute winner against Fulham on Saturday, Rafa Benitez was enjoying his Sunday evening a little more more than usual, thanks to Manchester Utd’s imminent slip-up against Aston Villa. But just when the Spaniard thought he had gained two points on his bitter rivals, a 17-year-old reserve team striker whipped in a fantastic curling winner. “Who is this guy?” asked Benitez, nearly choking on his paella. Here’s The Spoiler’s guide to Manchester Utd’s latest sensation, Federico Macheda:

• Macheda was born in Rome on 22 August, 1991, which makes us feel incredibly old.

• He started his career playing for Lazio, but signed for Utd shortly after his sixteenth birthday.

• After joining the Red Devils in 2007, he became the Under-18 side’s top scorer, with 12 goals in 21 appearances.

• He may use more hair gel than Cristiano Ronaldo.

• On his seventeenth birthday, he signed his first professional contract, and made his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s reserve team.

• Ferguson recently said of him: “The young boy Macheda is progressing

  

Italian Official gets smacked upside the head

During yesterday’s 1-1 draw between Lazio and Torni, brilliantly-named referee Massimiliano Saccani found was given an excellent reason to avoid standing between a shooting player and the goal in future. The ref was knocked out by the strike, but after a quick dab with the magic sponge, was able to continue in the game.

Lazio’s left back Aleksandar Kolarov should be grateful that his shot struck the ref’s temple - it looks like it was heading into row Z.

Note: Does anyone know why the ref is dressed in black, and not the day-glo yellow outfits the officials sported in the Milan derby last night?

[Video: Off The Post]

Is the Swede about to get involved in the relegation dogfight?

Yesterday Sven-Goran Eriksson was one of the favourites for the Chelsea job but this morning he has leapfrogged Avram Grant and Alan Curbishley to emerge as the frontrunner to succeed Tony Adams at Portsmouth.

The former England boss is currently in charge of Mexico, who face the USA in a World Cup qualifier tomorrow night, and while you would expect him to walk if Chelsea came calling, the Portsmouth link remains unconvincing.

Some groin grabbing action from the UEFA Cup

We’re going to turn today’s Sporno submission into a mini Friday quiz (ooh fun!) - the first person to tell us the name of the lanky Middlesbrough man and the Lazio player attached to his wang wins a DVD copy of Real, the Real Madrid movie…

Click here to see the full Sporno gallery

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Arsenal fans: Were you saying “boo” or “boo-urns”? Either way, the Professor didn’t like it

The most phallic sports team logo you’re likely to see
[WithLeather]

Champions League preview: Why Arsenal will send out a message by winning tonight
[chickendinner]

Has (fat) Ronaldo’s latest move ended his European career?
[The Offside]

Liverpool target a Hamburg striker
[Caught Offside]

Lazio and Spurs are after Elano
[Footy Latest]

F1 WAG Nicole Scherzinger looked good while doing some miming at the weekend
[WWTDD]