The fat lady is slowly warming up her vocal chords.

With the end of the 2008-09 European football season approaching it’s final few matches of the calender year, our monkeys are working overtime to assemble the definitive “101 Greatest Goals of the Season” list. The official list will be made public at the start of next week, but in the meantime a collection of the top 30 “Close but no Cigar” strikes have been carefully handpicked in order to get the juices flowing.

As is standard practice, it should be pointed out that this list has been put together not on an order of merit, but rather on a chronological basis.

We welcome your suggestions for what strikes you think should make the main list in the comments.

Enjoy!

***

1. Marcin Komorowski (Polonia B v Lechia Gdansk, Aug. 30, 2008)

2. Marius Stankevicius (Romania v Lithuania, September 6, 2008)

3. Mario Balotelli (Israel U21 v Italy U21, October 15, 2008)

4. Andrei Arshavin (Finland v Russia, October 15, 2008)

5. Juliano Belletti (Middlesbrough v Chelsea, October 18, 2008)

6. Diego (Werder Bremen v Hertha Berlin, November 1, 2008)

7. Danny Koevermans (PSV v Willem II, November 1, 2008)

8. Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal v Almeria, November 9, 2008)

9. Jose Bosingwa (West Brom v Chelsea, November 15, 2008)

10. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich v Energie Cottbus, November 22, 2008)

11. Emre (Denizlispor v Fenerbahce, December, 5, 2008)

12. Deco (Bolton v Chelsea, December 6, 2008)

13. Kris Commons (Derby v Manchester United, January 7, 2009)

14. Zdravko Popovic (OFI Crete v Panionios, January 18, 2009)

15. Nani (Manchester United v Derby, January 21, 2009)

16. Franck Berrier (Genk v Zulte Waregem, February 7, 2009)

17. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United v Blackburn, February 21, 2009)

18. Mike Terranova (Rot-Weiss Oberhausen v Greuther Furth, March 9, 2009)

19. Admir Aganovic (Westerlo v Dender, March 21, 2009)

20. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan v Reggina, March 22, 2009)

21. Dario Conca (Friburguense v Fluminense, March 23, 2009)

22. Danny Hylton (Aldershot v Dagenham & Redbridge, March 2009)

23. Ismail Matar (Saudi Arabia v UAE, April 1, 2009)

24. Michael Ballack (Wales v Germany, April 1, 2009)

25. Marcos Senna (Villarreal v Arsenal, April 7, 2009)

26. Eyal Meshumar (Maccabi Haifa v Hapoel Petah Tikva, April 11, 2009)

27. Emil Hallfredsson (Reggina v Juventus, April 26, 2009)

28. Alanzinho (Kocaelispor v Trabzonspor, May 9, 2009)

29. Marco Janko (Rapid Vienna v Salzburg, May 10, 2009)

30. Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid v Espanyol, May 10, 2009)