TEAMtalk Soccers: Goal of the Season

Matt Briggs begins week two of the 2014 TEAMtalk Soccers ceremony by presenting the silverware for the Goal of the Season.

The last 12 months seems to have been the season of the volley, and three have made our top five goals - voted for by you, our loyal readers.

Surprisingly, Luis Suarez missed out, but in truth the Liverpool frontman, who scored 31 times, could have had his own Goal of the Season competition with three of his efforts against Norwich gaining numerous votes over the last couple of weeks.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure's nonchalant clipped effort in the cup final also grabbed plenty of attention, while Preston marksman Joe Garner can consider himself unlucky not to feature with his wonderful volleyed effort in the play-offs against Rotherham.

But all the votes have now been logged and here are the top five:

5. Alex Tettey - Norwich v Sunderland:

To 'thrash' is to hit something hard and repeatedly - and although Tettey only scored once all season and so the 'repeatedly' part is not relevant, I still think we can say his goal against Sunderland was 'thrashed' into the net.

Recorded at 65mph - so I'm told - we can safely conclude the ball was 'travelling', and despite Vito Mannone's spectacular dive there was no way he could have denied the Canaries midfielder - even from 32 yards.

It was a thumping volley which arrowed, without too much deviation, into the corner of the net and just inside Mannone's left-hand post. Even without the ball moving too much, to have expected Mannone to get a hand to it would have been optimistic to say the least.

It was a brilliant demonstration of volleying technique from a player who does have a tendency to shoot from long range - often without much reward.

It was also a goal that gave the Norwich faithful something to cheer from a pretty depressing season and our readers were equally impressed ranking it in the top five.

4. Wayne Rooney - West Ham v Manchester United:

It was fitting that United legend David Beckham was in the crowd at Upton Park, because Rooney's goal from the halfway line was reminiscent of Beckham's wonderful effort some 18 years earlier.

Personally, I think Beckham's goal against Wimbledon just shaded it, but Rooney's 54-yard half-volley was spectacular and worthy of any Goal of the Season short-list.

Forget the nudge on James Tomkins in the build-up and the suspect positioning by Hammers keeper Adrian, this was still a classy opportunistic strike.

Whether the half-volley made it easier or harder, and I have seen compelling arguments for both, this was a goal which demonstrated terrific vision and control. More of the same in Brazil please, Wayne.

3. Jonjo Shelvey - Swansea v Aston Villa:

Another goal from a ridiculous range. And even though it wasn't quite from the halfway line, where Rooney scored from, Shelvey's strike surpassed the England man's effort and in another season he would have surely taken the top honour.

Once again the goalkeeper's positioning could be called into question, because Brad Guzan was stood well outside his left-hand post when Shelvey made contact, but such was the accuracy of the strike, Guzan was left flapping.

Aston Villa skipper Ron Vlaar was punished before he could even apologise to his team-mates. It was his awful ball down the middle which was chested down instantly by Shelvey and then clattered on the half-volley towards the centre of the goal.

With a hint of slice, the ball moved from left to right and nestled in the top corner with both Guzan and Vlaar open-mouthed and catching flies, such was the speed of thought and execution.

2. Jack Wilshere - Arsenal v Norwich:

If ever a goal typified a club and a manager then it was Wilshere's effort against relegated Norwich.

The Gunners have often been accused of trying to walk the ball in the net and in October at The Emirates they did just that.

Wilshere finished a four-man move with a close-range, first-time finish which left Canaries keeper John Ruddy, hands on hips, stood like a plum debating whether to applaud or berate his defence - which had got so close together you could have covered them all with a picnic blanket.

It was a fabulous team goal and one usually confined to training, such was Norwich's inability to make an effective block or tackle. And that might well be the reason why Wilshere, who did enjoy some fortune with a fancy flick in the build-up, failed to come top of the shop with our readers.

Norwich, who conceded 44 goals on the road this term on the way down to the Championship, will not enjoy the re-runs of the England man's finish because as much as it was Arsenal brilliance, there was also an element of Norwich ineptitude. A case of "too many cooks spoil the broth" with five Norwich players all in close attendance.

In short, it could have been prevented, but it was still a brilliant end-to-end, sweeping move with a decisive finish and it comes in as a fine runner-up.

1. Pajtim Kasami - Crystal Palace v Fulham:

Another sublime volley that, put simply, was impossible to prevent.

A darting run from the halfway line towards the corner of the box, chest control worthy of ex-Manchester United ace Mark Hughes and an angled finish to better anything the 'King of the Volley' Hughes produced in his illustrious playing career. It was simply breathtaking and a goal no defender in the world would have stopped.

Poor old Palace centre-back Adrian Mariappa must have thought he had Kasami in his pocket when he shadowed him into the penalty area. He was breathing down his neck, but what the young Macedonian produced was a goal beyond the top drawer.

The volley, from a ball dropping over your shoulder, is often described as the most difficult skill in the game, but Kasami's execution was perfect.

To get the ball on target from such an acute angle was impressive; to find the far corner and evade Julian Speroni's clutches was out of this world.

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk