Ballon D’Oh Nominations 2011: Leeds United’s Paul Rachubka

By Jon Howe

Posted: 8 November 2011
Tags: ballon d'oh, football, leeds united

Paul Rachubka sat on the Leeds United bench for countless hours, waiting like a cobra, coiled and ready to strike. Unfortunately, when that opportunity arose, he was awful.

Paul Rachubka sat on the Leeds United bench for countless hours, waiting like a cobra, coiled and ready to strike. Unfortunately, when that opportunity arose, he was awful.

‘The loneliness of the reserve goalkeeper’, is a book waiting to be written. Hours spent during the week making sure your ‘mate’ is in tip top condition for Saturday, secretly hoping he trips awkwardly on the cone you mischievously moved into his path. You get changed and go home after training, mentally challenging yourself to find the motivation to sit on the bench for another game; unused, unloved, unseen. No hope, no fulfilment, no appearance bonus.

But then it all changes; the weeks of perpetual non-actualisation are forgotten when Andy Lonergan fractures his finger. This is it, six weeks minimum in the first team; a chance to shine on the biggest stage of your career, a chance to justify Simon Grayson’s faith in you.

At 8.30pm on Wednesday November 2^nd 2011 Paul Rachubka’s brief reign of terror was brought to an abrupt end after three calamitous errors lead to a crushing home defeat and the public humiliation of being substituted at half time.

Against Coventry on your full league debut, you have no saves to make but in the 93^rd minute you bundle a harmless cross into the path of a starved opponent and Leeds concede a debilitating equaliser. Against Peterborough you are hesitant and unconvincing but the two goals you meekly concede are papered over by an injury time winner. Against Birmingham you palm a catchable cross straight to another striker to dispatch the games only goal. Against Cardiff you repeatedly spill crosses and kick directly into touch, and against Blackpool………..

At 8.30pm on Wednesday November 2^nd 2011 Paul Rachubka’s brief reign of terror was brought to an abrupt end after three calamitous errors lead to a crushing home defeat and the public humiliation of being substituted at half time. Scared and confused Paul is now recovering in a land far, far away, and Leeds United are safe again with a loanee keeper.

The Ballon D’Oh is Sabotage Times’ annual award for the world’s daftest footballer. To vote for this player leave a comment below. The player with the most comments/votes by November 25 will be presented with this prestigious award.

Click here for more Ballon D’Oh Nominations

Other stories about Leeds United:

Leeds United: Was a 5-0 Thumping the Watershed We Needed?

The Curious Case of Leeds United’s Vanishing Midfield

Leeds United: Cut Out the Errors and Promotion is Ours

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4:46 pm, 9-Nov-2011Adam

Super Mario Ballotelli. Pure bonkers.

5:24 pm, 9-Nov-2011milesy

Never a truer word spoken And subsituted for a 5'10" 18 year old who had never played a senior game before

5:48 pm, 9-Nov-2011Jon

I feel for poor poor Paul Rachubka. Wherever he is, whatever he's doing I pray it isn't reading this article! Yes, he f###ed up in a big way, but I'm sure no one could possibly, or would wish to, punish him more than himself and his cruel memories of his stint in the first team. I sincerely hope you get back playing as soon as possible Paul, for the right club, and show everyone what you can really do. Good luck

6:38 pm, 9-Nov-2011padjo

Agree with Jon. He won't be back for Leeds. He is finished here, but I feel dreadfully sorry for him. It is an awfully public way to end your career with a club. I really hope he rebuilds his confidence elsewhere and can come back there stronger. But in the most exposed position in a team game where mistakes are really punished, it is just the nature of the business. Heat. Kitchen.

9:13 pm, 9-Nov-2011Killinghall1

Bad job that against Blackpool, I'm still washing spit out of my hair from the enraged chaps sitting behind me. You have to feel for Rachubka though not only has he gaffed in the worst way possible but if you squint he bears a passing resemblance to James Blunt.

3:52 am, 10-Nov-2011john

old chubby was the worst keeper i have ever seen at Leeds and in some ways I'm glad about what happened against blackpool. If if had just had his usual 1 or 2 gaffs he may have still been in net for us now!

8:58 am, 10-Nov-2011dave

perpetual non-actualisation????? That is one of the worst phrases of have ever seen in print! Other than that enjoyed the article.