What's the best KIND of goal?

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Inspired solo missions? One-two set pieces? Perfect cross and header? What's it to be?

Nominations:

The dazzling solo run followed by finish (e.g. George Weah from one end to the other for Milan, Van Nistelrooy against Villa(?) a few seasons back, Maradona '86. Best '68, Owen '98...)

The impossible angle strike (Marco Van Basten '88) from a cross

The thundering header from a perfect cross (Larsson against Bulgaria, Euro 2004)

The long range shot from far out (Le Tissier generally)

The 'receive ball, do a couple of tricks then fire' (Le Tissier;s against Newcastle, Gazza v Scotland '96)

The 40-pass build up then slot in (Jairzinho '70)

Overhead/bicycle kick from a cross (e.g. Trevor Sinclair)

The wrong-footed volley (Di Canio's most famous goal, Alan Smith last Sunday)

The long range lob (Suker '96)

Any others?

Which type of goal do you enjoy seeing the most? Or which one do you think is technically the most impressive to do?

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:01 (twenty-one years ago)

The long range shot from far out.

― MarkH (MarkH), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:06 (twenty-one years ago)

The cheeky one:

Denis Law backheeling Man Utd into the second division.

― Mikee G, Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Outside-of-the-box volley that's either still rising when it hits the net or else just dips under the bar after evading the keeper's flailing hand. John Sheridan at Sheff Weds in the early 90s was good at the latter, whilst David Hirst was good at the former.

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:10 (twenty-one years ago)

People generally regard the dazzling solo run as the most impressive don't they? Maradona's '86 goal v England usually topping the polls, tho 'impossible' goals (the Van Basten) also fare well

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I never really know what's the hardest to do, being useless at football, but solo dribbling runs beating all defenders, a la Giggs a few years ago, and Michael Laudrup and Maradona in 1986 are always the ones that thrill me most.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm always taken aback by long shots that wave and curve in the air, and fucker can dribble and slide, I've seen Carlton Palmer do that, but it takes a special kidn of lunatic with pneumatic legs (Ronaldinho, David Hirst, Francesco Totti, Dennis Law) to really fucking HAMMER it.

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:13 (twenty-one years ago)

No messing 'take that' volleys are pretty fun too.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm a big fan of the aerial bender.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

But what I like best is the MUDDY GOALMOUTH SCRAMBLE, now sadly off the menu.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It's clearly the embarrasingly wayward cross that accidentally ends up in the net to the scorer's utter amazement (Jesper Gronkjaer - 2004)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The Dramatic: Usually deep into injury time, ball ping ponging around the six yard box, keeper in the area. Eventually the ball hits the back of the net. Everyone raises their arms in the air, the opposition run to the referee, the crowd spill onto the pitch.

Jimmy Glass springs to mind

― Mikee G, Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice one-twos followed by audacious and gentle finishes are great too.

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Serious answer - volley from the edge of the box, after some decent passing movement possibly including a cheeky layoff somewheree along the line.

Overhead kicks = fannydangle.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I am rebelling against the anti-FD mob

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm still waiting for the ultimate goal. Remember when Higuita (was that his name? the Colombian keeper) did that flying backheel clearance against England? If only someone could score a goal like that....

I'd have to go for the 'receive ball, do a couple of tricks then fire' for the meanwhile. The dazzling solo run can be great but also dependant on bad defending. Would Owen have scored that goal if it wasnt for such lame tackling? The 40-pass build up then slot in is great too. You dont see enough of them. I think that's my favorite aspect of football. There's just so many ways you can score!

― Michael B, Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Overhead kicks are always the thing that most impresses/baffles me, in the sense of not understanding how they go in so often, when the same players seem so regularly to miss the goal with their underhead kicks.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

That Rivaldo goal for Barca v Valencia to get his hat trick and put Barca in the Cahamps league was pretty near perfect

although Cheeky Cruff goals are always special too.

― Porkpie (porkpie), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

The best kind of goal is one scored at the very last minute in the last game of a long series against communists:

http://www.theleadershipgroup.ca/images/p1.jpg
Based on sheer drama, it was the greatest hockey series of all-time - Canada vs. Russia, The Summit Series 1972. The greatest rivalry in hockey, played out over the month of September, four games in Canada, four in Moscow. At the end of this greatest series came the greatest goal - Paul Henderson's game-winner with less than a minute to play. It is a legendary moment in hockey history, and an image that every Canadian recognizes with pride instantly. What was once called "The Goal of the Century" is now simply known as "The Goal".

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Oi this is about proper sports

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Like Darts

― Gribowitz (Lynskey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, sorry. You carry on then with your talk of aerobics. What is it you call it again? "Football", I think?

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:40 (twenty-one years ago)

The dazzling solo run followed by finish = Archie Gemmill, v. Holland, '78

The more I think about Larsson's goal against Bulgaria the more impossible it seems that he scored it - in terms of physics, aerodynamic, whatever. Has there ever been a better headed goal?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't quite get what makes it better than the header that Greece beat France with, or Lechkov's sublime header that knocked out Germany in '94 myself - all excellent excellent goals.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

What about the goalkeeper coming up for a last minute corner and heading in a relegation-avoiding winner?

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I get all moist at the 35 yard plus ones that just keep rising like a John Daly drive. Vasily Rats pwns this kind of goal.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Jerry that's good only in context, unless the header is technically brilliant (as opposed to bumbled in after confusion in the box)

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:30 (twenty-one years ago)

John Harkes for Sheffield Wednesday vs Derby in about 1991, Shilton's last season - the PERFECT 30+yard drive, still rising, straight into the corner. I remember David Hirst saying to him on some Wednesday video "you're american - you're not ALLOWED to do that against Peter Shilton!"

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:30 (twenty-one years ago)

The Vasily Rats goal is criminally overlooked every time there's a best-goals-of-the-ever type lists.

― Gribowitz (Lynskey), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:50 (twenty-one years ago)

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

In the free kick event, Roberto Carlos in Le Tournoi. Long and bendy.

― Mikey Gee, Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm a fan of audacious set-up flicks/acts of ball control prior to strike, eg Gascoigne vs Scotland and Marcelo Salas backheeling a 40 yard long ball onto his other foot to volley in againt England.

― Fergal (Ferg), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

possibly the most spectacular and the one likely to get a great roar is the lay off at the edge of the box into the path of a midfielder running at top speed, he connects perfectly and the ball is barely seen as it crashes into the net. Everyone knows that it's going to get belted, they can all see said midfielder steaming in, and so the noise rises and rises. marvellous stuff

― Porkpie (porkpie), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:09 (twenty-one years ago)

The Greek goal against Arsenal, sorry France, was indeed a thing of beauty

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

yes i wasn't really thinking about the factor of crowd anticipation - good one

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure about crowd anticipation. Maybe it's just my twisted personality, but I like the goal out of nowhere (esp. with a volley and *not* followed by mad celebration on the part of the scorer, but instead by 'yeah, I can do that' ice coolness and maybe even a scowl).

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Best celebration = Cantona vs [Wimbledon?] when he just stood still after dribbling it past everyone and rolling it home, and allowed the other United players to come and worship him.

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:25 (twenty-one years ago)

for that one, see Andy Morris after scoring the first goal v Middlesbrough in the Cup semi final in 97.

(If Boyler were reading and not in Embra he'd be blubbing by now)

― Porkpie (porkpie), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The lob: keeper stranded in no-man's land spinning round like an idiot and just *knowing* the ball's going to drop into the net (Larsson vs Rangers in 6-2 game).

Big boomers from miles out that go in off the underside of the bar look fantastic as well, I recall Tony Yeboah scoring two of these in the same month when he was at Leeds.

Solo runs beating umpteen defenders a la Giggs vs Arsenal always get into the GOTS running but as the defending manager you'd crucify your team for not chopping the cheeky wee cnut's legs off while he was still 40 yards out. I remember screaming "FUCKING FOUL HIM" at the Celtic defence when MacManaman scored the crucial away goal against us in '97. Four fucking chances missed to pull him back by his daft curly hairdo, take a booking, and secure a win. Stephane "Officially Mad" Mahe of all people was the last defender to shirk the tackle. But I'm not bitter.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Why did you have to remind me of that Onimo, I was having a good day

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure I believe in Steve's Platonic contextless foopball.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Otherwise known as The Gerrard.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

a ball lifted 40 feet high and then perfectly volleyed into the top corner at the final of the UEFA champions league.

i.e. zidane's goal vs leverkusen 2002.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe that's why I like it so.

Teddy used to do it very occasionally from corners too

x-post to mr dc

― Porkpie (porkpie), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

that was wrong footed as well! from the edge of the penalty box.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

and that one where beckham crossed the ball from a corner for scholes to belt in in a similar fashion.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:56 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost - I am reading in Embra.

xpost 2 - Jorg fucking Albertz had that vibe - he'd start running with the ball and I'd be screaming for anyone to kill him, but he'd advance to the edge of the box and then score a low drive into the bottom right hand corner. Again and a-fucking-gain. I knew he'd do it. The crowd knew he'd do it. Everyone except the Celtic midfield.

It has to have moves - the crowd's building sense of anticipation whetting your appetite - that's why good long rangers (can't belive no one's mentioned Arie Haan yet-for shame) don't quite do it. Carlos Alberto's goal against Italy in WC70 always gets me going here, but I think the sense of antipcation is heightended by the TV; it's clear the Italians have left the entirety of their left flank exposed, and in the stadium, you'd have seen Carlos Alberto steaming in for ages. On telly, it looks like Pele hgas gone mad and played a pass to no-one, then he arrives like a train.

I like good tricksy skills in the build up; maybe a left back shows a turn of pace and skill you didn't know he possessed. He plays a pass to a midefielder, who lays it off first time, then gatheres the return, before moving on, beating man, then laying it off to a winger. Big looping cross to the far post, and hit on the full with the outside of the boot so they swerve into the top corner. I have only seen this happen in Roy of the Rovers.

Best goal of all - a headed winner in injury time in front of the goal where you're standing - you're pressing forward, so you're expectant. You know you'll win if you can score. A cross from the byeline - all eyes follow the path of the ball, and suddenly, it's that moment in Escape to Victory and you're Max von Sydow standing up feeling that something about to happen. Your player rises - you see he's going to win it, so can he get it on target - he can! Can the keeper save it? He can't! You've won. Everyone goes fucking mental behind the goal, and the scorer of the header if close to the terraces to come and celebrate; the crosser has fallen over as he's crossed it and like you has been watching on the touchline, and now he too can turnaround and feel some terrace love.

This is what happened last year when Matty Everard scored the winner in the FA Vase Second Round in the 97th minute away for the Wombles at Herne Bay. It was perfect in every way.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 12 August 2004 11:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Best celebration ever - Cantona scored for Man Yoo against Sunderland in his final season; it was a winter game, so the floodlights were on. He dribbled forward, then chipped it from the edge of the box from an angle, and it went in the one place where Perez couldn't get it.

He just stood on his own, hands on hips, head thrust up and slowly rotated offering his profile to all foure sides of the ground. Arrogant, and perfect - no-one has had the sense of drama, theatre and occasion that he had. There have been better players, but none have an ounce of the charisma he had.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps that's the one I meant?

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

It's got to be the 40-pass move.

Crisp one touch football, immaculate off the ball movement and glacial finish as the scorer taps the ball from 2 yards out in acres of space with the opposition defence tripping over themselves unable to read the opposition.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:11 (twenty-one years ago)

that's the japanese national team's every goal

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Best celebration ever:

Ketsbaia going mad and kicking the advertising hoardings, madness on his face, shrugging off his teammates.

― Mikey Gee, Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

robbie fowler snorting the touchline.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

lol

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

where is Ketsbaia now?

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Playing in the Cypriot 1st Division, apparently.

The Ghanaian bloke on my university corridor used to repeatedly sing "Ketsbaia, my lord, Ketsbaia" so much that I could never work out whether it was a proper Toon chant or not.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The scrappy goal against the run of play that dumps a big team out of the cup.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 12 August 2004 15:32 (twenty-one years ago)

just put it in the net, ok.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 12 August 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.caasportsmarketing.com/orr001a.jpg

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

the best kind of goal = the goal you score yrself.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

http://maves.com/mikeboondotcom/images/barilko/barilko.gif

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know how to hotlink a movie...

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/6451/sounds/yzerman.mov

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)

...and it's always nice when the muckers go apeshit

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/6451/sounds/mccarty.mov

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

If you football guys could do the Americuns the service of finding similar movies it wold be appreciated...

― Jimmy Mod, Man About Towne (ModJ), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

GET THIS FILTH OFF OUR SWEETS THREAD

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got an MPEG of the Greece goal v France if anyone wants it g-mail me (pretty shit quality but you'll get the idea)

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Ooh, was in Glasto for that.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:52 (twenty-one years ago)

oh yeah! cozen otm!!! best kind of goals are the ones you score vs people who have been on TV obv!!!!

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

fair enough but my question was concerning the technical aspects of a goal itself, not the context in which it was scored or the consequences.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I have scored in at: justin currie, stuart murdoch, gary lightbody, science-fiction steven, mark the bass player from snow patrol, also their keyboard player, chris "beans" geddes, and maybe even some other celebrity.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

post about it on that thread!!!

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

yay! nice one

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

If I remember correctly, in '98 or '99, Leeds vs Spurs at White Hart Lane for F.A. cup draw, Ginola and Anderton both hit stunning volleys and as much as I hated them for it, I was (new to the game) duly impressed with the beautiful theatricality of their goals. Di Canio's volley was one of the most astounding goals I've ever seen.

― Michael White (Hereward), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

What thread, Ken? Am I missing something entertaining?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

probably not, but here it is! people who've been on TV whom you've pwned

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

The famous Van Basten strike also had the second quality of being volleyed out of the air, right? So glorious.

― Dickerson Pike (Dickerson Pike), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

The reason those WHAM long range volley shots don't really do it for me is that SO MANY of those shots go over the bar, giving the ones that go in a whiff of "yeah, statistically some of those HAVE to go in and then they necessarily look brilliant". I know I'm a bit negative now, but.

― OleM (OleM), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

but think the amount of times when people try to weave through 6 players in a crazy run and fall over after the 3rd!

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

My favourite goal is the Carlos Alberto goal Dave mentions upthread, but it barely qualifies as a type - I've seen nothing else with a centre-back beating three men in his own half, some dazzling dribbling at the edge of the box, and that unique moment when Pele stops, waiting for Alberto to get into position, apparently without looking, just knowing where he is, and obviously the defenders can't abandon Pele 20 yards out, then he lays off the perfect ball in an extraordinarily casual way, and Alberto smashes in an unstoppable shot. I know we aren't talking context here, but this was the first World Cup Final I watched, and it was laid on by the best player the world has ever seen on the biggest possible stage. For me, it's untouchable.

I think otherwise it's the goals that you couldn't even have made up or imagined - Weah dribbling from 8 yards from his own goal, Bergkamp flicking it behind him one way with spin and going the other way, and meeting the ball the other side of the defender, Roberto Mancini scoring with a 10 yard backheel flick volley from a corner. It's hard to claim those as a type, though.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 12 August 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

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