The material for the best football debates is always subjective: the fact that something can’t be definitively proven allows people to insert their own biases and set their own unique criteria to support their opinion. Greatest teams, players and goals are all classic subjects for pub discussion and the BBC has recently been collating evidence to try and gauge public opinion on just such matters.
Wayne Rooney’s bicycle kick against Manchester City was voted the best Premier League goal from the last twenty years. The result came in a BBC Sport poll-one of a number to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the present league set-up. Rooney’s effort received 26% of the votes-estimated to number hundreds of thousands- with Dennis Bergkamp’s goal against Newcastle from 2002 was in second place with 19%. In third, with 15%, was Thierry Henry’s goal at Highbury against Manchester United in 2000. David Beckham’s goal against Wimbledon, which won the ten year anniversary award, failed to make the top three-an indication that these polls are inevitably vulnerable to a whole range of factors, not the least of which is immediacy.
It was notable that Rooney’s was the most recent of the contenders shortlisted for the award. It is hard to prove definitively, but it is likely that this probably worked in his favour to some extent. The goal therefore retained an immediacy, some lingering sense of the impression it left on first viewing. The fact that the poll was open to a worldwide electorate probably aided Rooney because it would have allowed him to capitalise on the recent global popularity of the Premier League. Arguably Rooney would have been the best known of the contenders because he has been a prominent player at the very time when the Premier League has been at its commercial peak. How many north American or Asian fans of contemporary English football are in a position to appreciate the finer attributes of Matt Le Tissier?
To be clear, Rooney’s goal was a worthy winner. It was an example of wonderful technique, underappreciated athleticism and had that unquantifiable element that causes an intake of breath. Many ‘great’ goals are pleasing on the eye but often witnessed, the ‘top-bagger’ being a good example. Rooney’s goal was surprising and this is the hallmark of a truly memorable goal. This season we have seen two memorable goals, first from Peter Crouch and, on Wednesday night, from Papiss Cisse. On the surface, they are very different goals but all three share that surprise element: you couldn’t have reasonably expected the three players to score in the exquisite way that each did. When Nani crossed the ball into the Manchester City penalty box it seemed unlikely that anything productive would follow-he actually played the ball behind Rooney rather than putting it in front of him to run onto.
There are other factors that commend Rooney’s goal. His celebration-arms spread, back slightly arched-had a blissful, messianic quality that has made it iconic in its own right. The fact that it came in a derby match is also worthy of bonus points. All too often derbies fail to live up to the expectations placed upon them. Indeed these very expectations create a climate of nervousness that usually acts to stifle the best football instincts. Rooney wasn’t subdued by the occasion but instead rose to prominence. He was suitably humbled and appreciative to receive the accolade. Quoted on the BBC Sport website he said: ‘I grew up watching the Premier League so to be voted the best goal in the history of the Premier League is great.’ The Guardian quickly reignited those pub debates by asking visitors to its website if the goal was really the best in Premier League history.
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.