Goal of the season?

[Terminal Boardom]

Which is why football fans in this country are so thick. If there hasn't been at least one hoof in 30 seconds they get restless. That second goal by Utd was quality. Accurate control and passing and when the option to inject pace was there, done so to sublime effect. I would much rather see goals of that nature rather than some 30 yard punt which could so easily end up in row Z.

Take into context the state of the game at the time. Utd had taken the lead, Blackburn desperate for points and time running out. Extremely professional play by Utd to keep possession.

[Big Foot]

Shame they couldn't work a proper opening and had to rely on Young hitting it in off the post through a crowd of players. Also you have to agree with earlier observations that all the passing was between Carrick and the back five and to be fair Blackburn were leaving them to it.

Nice gif though.

Young didn't hit the post though m8. Nice post though.

[Ian Royal]

Im with Slammed on this - they were just simply passing it around amongst themselves with about 1 or 2 Blackburn players closing down. Blackburn were simply allowing them to do it in the hope they will fcuk up and they'd counter attack. IF the passing was done all in the Blackburn half then i would give it credit, but the majority of its in Utd's

Agree. Impressive keep ball, but it's only late on when Blackburn slip up and give a bit of space for Utd to run into on the right wing that the damage is done. Until then Utd look handy but are going no where with very little threat. They're not even pulling Blackburn all over the shop until that mistake and barely cross the halfway line before then.

[Man Friday]

Anyone know how that compares to Robin Friday's famous goal?

Friday volleyed it up, walked on his hands, did the hokey cokey then volleyed it in from utside the Spread Eagle. 140,000 fans in Elm Park roared as the ref claimed it was better than his wedding night while running around with his shirt off. Anyone who had even a passing interest in football at the time was definitely there

fair enough on the sarcasm, but I was there, behind the goal. Have current nobbers as witnesses

tbh Friday's was not as good, more central to the goal and not as far out. Fourth division goalie too. The swivel and shot were similar though.

Friday's goal was far, far better. Crouch's was easy in comparison.
"With the score 2–0 to Reading, goalkeeper Steve Death threw the ball to right back Gary Peters, who spotted Friday standing near the left-hand corner of the opposing penalty area. Peters passed high and diagonally across the pitch towards his forward, who jumped into the air and used his chest to cushion the ball and knock it into the air with his back to goal, about 25 yards away from the net. As Friday landed, he ferociously powered the ball towards goal, kicking over his shoulder and turning after the ball had gone. The shot flew straight into the top-right-hand corner of the net, stunning the crowd, players and referee Thomas, who put his hands over his head in disbelief. "I'll never forget it," Thomas recalled, "It was the sheer ferocity of the shot on the volley ... over his shoulder. ... If it hadn't gone into the top corner of the net it would have broken the goalpost. Even up against the likes of Pelé and Cruyff, that rates as the best goal I have ever seen." Reading went on to win the game 5–0.[C] When Thomas told Friday after the game that he had never seen a better goal, the Londoner replied, "Really? You should come down here more often, I do that every week."

[1871 Royal]

This is goal of the season for me.

This is better than his goal v Liverpool anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okltbBh2JR4

[soggy biscuit]

Centre of goal or left hand corner of the box for Fridays goal?

[From Despair To Where?]

Thing is about Friday's goal, I keep on reading how it was from the corner of the area and he hit it with his back to goal.

However, all the photographic evidence I've seen of it suggests that a) he didn't strike it with his back to goal, although I can believe that he chest trapped it with his back to goal then turned and hit it, and b) he was just to the left of the "D", so fairly central.

I don't know though, I wasn't there.

[cmonurz]

Likewise can only go on descriptions of Friday's goal but surely if he struck it 'with his back to goal', it would have to have been an overhead kick, which I don't think it was?

[SLAMMED]

I don't know though, I wasn't there.

You must have been the only one in Reading not there then!

I was there even though I was born 14 years after it happened.

[From Despair To Where?]

Sorry, I mistyped that, I was there but I was only 5 at the time and my view was blocked by the 127,000 who were there as well.

[soggy biscuit]

English 4th division football in the mid 70's must be equivalent to 7th or 8th tier football now.

[Man Friday]

Thing is about Friday's goal, I keep on reading how it was from the corner of the area and he hit it with his back to goal.

However, all the photographic evidence I've seen of it suggests that a) he didn't strike it with his back to goal, although I can believe that he chest trapped it with his back to goal then turned and hit it, and b) he was just to the left of the "D", so fairly central.

I don't know though, I wasn't there.

On chest, back to goal and then swivelled. Doesn't matter what division he was playing in and against. Never seen another player do that. If you never saw him you can't understand. Not for nothing was he voted Reading's and Cardiff's players of the millenium, after 2.5 and 0.5 seasons respectively.

[SLAMMED]

Sorry, I mistyped that, I was there but I was only 5 at the time and my view was blocked by the 127,000 who were there as well.

Much better

[From Despair To Where?]

Thing is about Friday's goal, I keep on reading how it was from the corner of the area and he hit it with his back to goal.

However, all the photographic evidence I've seen of it suggests that a) he didn't strike it with his back to goal, although I can believe that he chest trapped it with his back to goal then turned and hit it, and b) he was just to the left of the "D", so fairly central.

I don't know though, I wasn't there.

On chest, back to goal and then swivelled. Doesn't matter what division he was playing in and against. Never seen another player do that. If you never saw him you can't understand. Not for nothing was he voted Reading's and Cardiff's players of the millenium, after 2.5 and 0.5 seasons respectively.

Not doubting that for one moment. It's more a comment on some descriptions of the goal that place him at anything between 20 and 40 yds out and anywhere between the corner of the box and half way up the South Bank. I don't doubt the technical merits of the goal. The clearest photo I've seen of the goal shows the edge of the penalty box and the "D" in which to my mind places him fairly central and about 20yds out. As for technical execution, the only goal I've seen from a Reading player that possibly comes close to it is a Dean Horrix shoulder high volley against Gillingham in 85/86 which was scored from near the penalty spot.

[Ginger Ninjas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey8WZJ9PiHs

Hatem Ben Arfa, today vs Bolton

[Platypuss]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey8WZJ9PiHs

Hatem Ben Arfa, today vs Bolton

Challenges = 0

[Big Foot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey8WZJ9PiHs

Hatem Ben Arfa, today vs Bolton

Wow

[Ian Royal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey8WZJ9PiHs

Hatem Ben Arfa, today vs Bolton

Challenges = 0

And the Moses' Red Sea award goes to.....


Bolton!

[RockheadRumple]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey8WZJ9PiHs

Hatem Ben Arfa, today vs Bolton

Challenges = 0

And the Moses' Red Sea award goes to.....


Bolton!

If you look at it again it's his pace that beats them. The first two Bolton players attempt slides but can't make them in time. His first touch was incredible too.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Ronaldo's freekick the other night was pretty decent. At the beginning of these highlights, although they do appear to be playing with a 99p plastic ball from a garage judging by how many times it changes direction.