Post by Golden_Boy™ on May 9, 2008 14:13:17 GMT -1
1. Andy Hinchcliffe, MAN CITY v Man Utd, 23/9/1989
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsneXI9FYsw
It's a rare genre of goal that trembles the knees of both purist and pragmatist, but the sweeping move usually does just that, with its combination of incomparable efficiency, technical precision and a leadpipe cruelty that says to the opposition: look how easily we can tear you a new one. Terry McDermott scored a gem in Liverpool's 7-0 mangling of Spurs in 1978; the Scholes-Beckham-Yorke/Cole axis came up with a couple for Manchester United, both at Coventry. But it was when United were sent to purgatory that perhaps the best came: Andy Hinchcliffe's during Man City's famous 5-1 derby win in 1989.
It was the smallest morsel of comfort, but at 4-1 down United could at least console them with the fact that Mark Hughes's ludicrously good scissor-kick was by far the best goal of the day. Three of City's four had been grubby mingers, but the giddy scoreline empowered them to ascend unprecedented peaks of confidence and class, and they came up with this cracker. Ian Bishop clipped a pass out to David White, he crossed first-time on the half-volley and Hinchcliffe, careering forward at such speed that he would have given a brick wall a run for its money, thumped a header past Jim Leighton without breaking stride. As he shoved his head under the pillow upon arriving home, even the purist in Alex Ferguson must have grudgingly acknowledged its quality.
2. Robbie Fowler, LIVERPOOL v Aston Villa, 3/3/1996
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNYKbxJeRx0
For Robbie Fowler, the 1995-96 season was one big p*ss-take. He started the season by dying his hair peroxide (as did everyone in fairness, even Steve Stone) and spent the rest reddening the faces of opposing defenders. Fowler came across as a chippier, Toxteth take on Ferris Bueller, goading, embarrassing and humiliating his elders just because he fancied it, and because he could. He was the Anfield rapscallion.
Nothing encapsulated that better than this sizzling goal against Aston Villa; the backheel through his own legs might have made Steve Staunton doubt 10 years of good defensive practice - Staunton does nothing wrong and is made to look a total fool - and a nonchalant, what's-the-worst-that-can-happen sweep of his left foot pinged the ball past Mark Bosnich from 25 yards.
3. Emilio Butragueno, REAL MADRID v Cadiz, 11/2/1987
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEAGL-VsUZM
Talk about a culture Vulture: this was a goal of such wit and elegance that scientific studies show you can literally never get bored of watching it. It helped that Real were 5-1 up, so Butragueno had the contextual freedom to la-de-da along with the ball like a dad playing in the back garden with his bairns. Still, the sleight of foot is staggering.
It all starts so innocently. As the ball breaks towards the left side of the Cadiz box, Butragueno saunters towards it with the light-footed gait of a Jackass member about to do something hee-larious. Then he snaps into life. The Ronaldinho-style trick to beat the first man was years ahead of its time (after the second touch, it actually looks as if the video has been fast-forwarded), and the way he does the keeper shows that he could probably successfully play the game "It" in a phonebox.
4. Paul Scholes, MAN UTD v Panathinaikos, 21/11/2000
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnQad_ulgQ
Most outstanding goals fit into a single category: long-shot, chip/lob, volley, solo run, team goal, Le Tissier. This took in two. There were nearly 20 passes before Teddy Sheringham's dainty backflick freed Scholes to run to the edge of the box and kiss a delicious chip that goes over Antonis Nikopilidis before plopping like a raindrop. It arced so deliciously that, even though the keeper was inside his six-yard box, it still bounced before hitting the net. Imagine how good it would have been if it was preceded by 20 passes, eh?
5. Roy Wegerle, Leeds v QPR, 20/10/1990
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOUaDs_55E4
Humiliating Leeds on their own patch may not be the best idea if you value your calves and shins, but the only punishment Wegerle got for this was an appearance on Saint & Greavsie after winning their Goal of the Season competition. Beating six men and scoring from outside the box pretty much speaks for itself, but the most impressive thing is the variety of methods Wegerle uses to skin the cat. Quick feet do for Mike Whitlow (I think); standing still takes care of Gary Speed as he tracks his runner; then he nutmegs David Batty, beats Gary McAllister with a stepover, is too quick and strong for Carl Shutt, and finally shuffles to the side of Chris Fairclough before ramming his shot past John Lukic. And it was all done in 10 seconds flat.
6. Gianluca Vialli/Roberto Mancini, Napoli v SAMPDORIA, 18/11/1990
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTMY72Lj2Ic
In their 18th year, it's still difficult to distinguish between these identical twins, two volleys as rich and vivid as the colours on Pushing Daisies. They came in the same half of the same match, an astonishing smash-and-grab 4-1 win by the future champions, Sampdoria, over the incumbent champions, Napoli.
Both required supreme self-confidence to even consider the shot, given the awkwardness of the pass. Vialli's came from the heavens over his shoulder and was far too close to his body; Mancini's was almost behind him. Both required supreme technique. Vialli whirled his foot like an arthritic ninja to larrup it into the top corner; Mancini, running at 45 degrees away from goal and ball as he received Attilio Lombardo's cross, defied geometry by lashing it in off the near post, when most players would have shanked it back whence it came for a throw-in. And the best bit of all? Even though Vialli's thunder has been stolen, he can't catch up with Mancini to celebrate fast enough. You can't really imagine Thierry Henry or Cristiano Ronaldo doing the same, can you?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsneXI9FYsw
It's a rare genre of goal that trembles the knees of both purist and pragmatist, but the sweeping move usually does just that, with its combination of incomparable efficiency, technical precision and a leadpipe cruelty that says to the opposition: look how easily we can tear you a new one. Terry McDermott scored a gem in Liverpool's 7-0 mangling of Spurs in 1978; the Scholes-Beckham-Yorke/Cole axis came up with a couple for Manchester United, both at Coventry. But it was when United were sent to purgatory that perhaps the best came: Andy Hinchcliffe's during Man City's famous 5-1 derby win in 1989.
It was the smallest morsel of comfort, but at 4-1 down United could at least console them with the fact that Mark Hughes's ludicrously good scissor-kick was by far the best goal of the day. Three of City's four had been grubby mingers, but the giddy scoreline empowered them to ascend unprecedented peaks of confidence and class, and they came up with this cracker. Ian Bishop clipped a pass out to David White, he crossed first-time on the half-volley and Hinchcliffe, careering forward at such speed that he would have given a brick wall a run for its money, thumped a header past Jim Leighton without breaking stride. As he shoved his head under the pillow upon arriving home, even the purist in Alex Ferguson must have grudgingly acknowledged its quality.
2. Robbie Fowler, LIVERPOOL v Aston Villa, 3/3/1996
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNYKbxJeRx0
For Robbie Fowler, the 1995-96 season was one big p*ss-take. He started the season by dying his hair peroxide (as did everyone in fairness, even Steve Stone) and spent the rest reddening the faces of opposing defenders. Fowler came across as a chippier, Toxteth take on Ferris Bueller, goading, embarrassing and humiliating his elders just because he fancied it, and because he could. He was the Anfield rapscallion.
Nothing encapsulated that better than this sizzling goal against Aston Villa; the backheel through his own legs might have made Steve Staunton doubt 10 years of good defensive practice - Staunton does nothing wrong and is made to look a total fool - and a nonchalant, what's-the-worst-that-can-happen sweep of his left foot pinged the ball past Mark Bosnich from 25 yards.
3. Emilio Butragueno, REAL MADRID v Cadiz, 11/2/1987
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEAGL-VsUZM
Talk about a culture Vulture: this was a goal of such wit and elegance that scientific studies show you can literally never get bored of watching it. It helped that Real were 5-1 up, so Butragueno had the contextual freedom to la-de-da along with the ball like a dad playing in the back garden with his bairns. Still, the sleight of foot is staggering.
It all starts so innocently. As the ball breaks towards the left side of the Cadiz box, Butragueno saunters towards it with the light-footed gait of a Jackass member about to do something hee-larious. Then he snaps into life. The Ronaldinho-style trick to beat the first man was years ahead of its time (after the second touch, it actually looks as if the video has been fast-forwarded), and the way he does the keeper shows that he could probably successfully play the game "It" in a phonebox.
4. Paul Scholes, MAN UTD v Panathinaikos, 21/11/2000
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnQad_ulgQ
Most outstanding goals fit into a single category: long-shot, chip/lob, volley, solo run, team goal, Le Tissier. This took in two. There were nearly 20 passes before Teddy Sheringham's dainty backflick freed Scholes to run to the edge of the box and kiss a delicious chip that goes over Antonis Nikopilidis before plopping like a raindrop. It arced so deliciously that, even though the keeper was inside his six-yard box, it still bounced before hitting the net. Imagine how good it would have been if it was preceded by 20 passes, eh?
5. Roy Wegerle, Leeds v QPR, 20/10/1990
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOUaDs_55E4
Humiliating Leeds on their own patch may not be the best idea if you value your calves and shins, but the only punishment Wegerle got for this was an appearance on Saint & Greavsie after winning their Goal of the Season competition. Beating six men and scoring from outside the box pretty much speaks for itself, but the most impressive thing is the variety of methods Wegerle uses to skin the cat. Quick feet do for Mike Whitlow (I think); standing still takes care of Gary Speed as he tracks his runner; then he nutmegs David Batty, beats Gary McAllister with a stepover, is too quick and strong for Carl Shutt, and finally shuffles to the side of Chris Fairclough before ramming his shot past John Lukic. And it was all done in 10 seconds flat.
6. Gianluca Vialli/Roberto Mancini, Napoli v SAMPDORIA, 18/11/1990
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTMY72Lj2Ic
In their 18th year, it's still difficult to distinguish between these identical twins, two volleys as rich and vivid as the colours on Pushing Daisies. They came in the same half of the same match, an astonishing smash-and-grab 4-1 win by the future champions, Sampdoria, over the incumbent champions, Napoli.
Both required supreme self-confidence to even consider the shot, given the awkwardness of the pass. Vialli's came from the heavens over his shoulder and was far too close to his body; Mancini's was almost behind him. Both required supreme technique. Vialli whirled his foot like an arthritic ninja to larrup it into the top corner; Mancini, running at 45 degrees away from goal and ball as he received Attilio Lombardo's cross, defied geometry by lashing it in off the near post, when most players would have shanked it back whence it came for a throw-in. And the best bit of all? Even though Vialli's thunder has been stolen, he can't catch up with Mancini to celebrate fast enough. You can't really imagine Thierry Henry or Cristiano Ronaldo doing the same, can you?
