Since there’s nothing else going on today…

With the MLS season drawing to a close, the league have released their candidates for 2009’s goal of the season. Although it might look like they’ve sort of missed the point and just documented every shot that went in, trust us, there are some pearlers in there (Brian McBride@ 1:35, for instance.)

Darren Huckerby bows out of professional football

Darren Huckerby has told BBC Radio Norfolk that he will retire due to a hip injury, which seems as good a reason as any to re-post this classic interview.

Just watch the former ‘Norfolk Team’ player’s puzzled expression as he is called a ‘legend’ three times in his introduction.

Josh Wick’s boots were made for stomping

Congratulations to Seattle Sounders FC, who last night proved to the world that a competition called the US Open Cup exists by winning it. The 2-1 victory over DC United was a bitter pill to swallow for losing goalkeeper keeper Josh Wicks, who reacted to the first goal with a hearty stomp on Colombian striker Fredy Montero.

Not cool, Josh. Not cool.

Insult this man’s wife and he WILL shake your hand

David Beckham Utd visited the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday, and despite clicking his heels three times, the England star could not escape more abuse from American soccerball fans.

While waiting to take a throw-in during the live televised match, Beckham turned and approached a fan wearing an England shirt, and was heard asking: “Is that an England shirt?” Shortly after this shrewd line of inquisition, the midfielder shook the fan’s hand. Normally, such gesture signifies a friendly greeting, but as we learnt last week, Mr B only shakes hands when he’s in a fightin’ mood.

After the game, he revealed the angry nature of the confrontation:

“He shouldn’t be wearing that shirt because what he was saying about my wife was a disgrace.”

The Spoiler is a little confused by Beckham’s sudden need to rise to this kind of abuse. Football fans - many of whom own England shirts - have been throwing ungentlemanly Posh Spice jibes at him for ten years, why the sudden needs to lash out and shake hands in anger?

Spoiler bonus: The game finished 1-1. Check out some piss-poor MLS-style defending and a very cheeky 60-yard lob after the jump…

Ukrainian flop is back on the scene, complete with dodgy haircut

When Chelsea beat the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, a vaguely familiar gentleman took to the pitch in a blue number seven shirt. The snazzy new blonde haircut had us fooled for a little while, but when The Spoiler saw him fluff all three of his goalscoring chances we soon realised the mystery man was Andriy Shevchenko, who is set to spend the final twelve months of his four-year contract back at the Bridge.

When Jose Mourinho lost interest in putting Shevchenko in the Chelsea team - the Portuguese manager became increasingly suspicious that the Wentworth resident had moved to England to satiate his love of golf - the Ukrainian was shipped back to AC Milan, the club where he enjoyed the kind of form that warrants a £31m transfer fee. On his return to the San Siro, however, Sheva failed to live up to his reputation, netting a grand total of zero league goals.

His appearance in Washington on Saturday may suggest Carlo Ancelotti intends to put the out-of-form hitman back into rotation at Chelsea, or at the very least, give him the kind of fleeting appearances he enjoyed endured in Milan last season.

So, should the former Ballon D’or winner be given the chance to earn some of his hefty wages on the pitch in 2009/10, or will the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Franco Di Santo keep him fixed firmly to the fringes of the Chelsea squad? Perhaps they should try and cash in on him this summer before he walks away as an expensive white elephant in 2010 (if anyone will take him, that is)?

Let us know your thoughts below…

Americans show their (lack of) appreciation for want-away star

New York Red Bulls 1/ LA Galaxy 3
When David Beckham first played at New York’s Giants Stadium in 2007, an impressive 66,237 soccerball lovers turned up to see what the fuss was all about. Two years on, and just 23,238 turned up at the huge arena to welcome the England star on his return to the MLS.

As expected, large portions of the dwindled home crowd booed the returning star (well, either that or they were saying “BOOOOECKHAM!” in some sort of bizarre New Jersey accent), and it is quite audible in the video above during his 70th minute substitution.

Aside from a couple of good long range goals and some piss poor defending MLS-style defending, our favourite part of this video is the commentator’s reaction to Landon Donovan’s strike - skip to [1.53] to hear a completely non ironic “EEAAAYYEEEEEESSSS!”

[Video: 101GG]

Writer attempts to make audio recording with a notepad

David Beckham makes his long-awaited return to US soccerball this Thursday, and has took an interview with local journalists as an opportunity to hit back at bitchy colleagues made by LA Galaxy colleague Landon Donovan.

We know this isn’t breaking news (in fact, it’s been the top story on the BBC football homepage since yesterday morning!), but the clip is well worth a look for the intrepid actions of the journalist standing right in front of the England star. While others use Dictaphones, this chap simply holds out a notepad in the hope that it will somehow record Beckham’s words. Bless.

[101GG]

American star launches an attack on his LA Galaxy teammate

David Beckham has already been warned to expect an angry reaction from MLS fans when he returns in a fortnight but it looks like the reception from his teammates will be even frostier.

LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan has heavily criticised his captain in Sports Illustrated journalist Grant Wahl’s new book The Beckham Experiment.

Some of the 27-year-old’s gripes - that as captain Beckham should have supported his teammates more, got back from England duty quicker and