With Peter Crouch's spectacular strike reigniting the debate, this blog decided it was a good time to look at some of the best volleys that the Premier League has witnessed. This list looks at what we will term "pure" volleys i.e. overhead kicks, scissor kicks and half volleys are not applicable.
Robin Van Persie vs Charlton, 2006
The Arsenal skipper is developing a hugely impressive portfolio of volleys but despite this seasons efforts against Everton and Liverpool, the goal that still stands out is this miraculous effort against Charlton back in 2006. Arriving onto an Emannuel Eboue cross the Dutchmen strikes the ball with both feet in the air and hits the ball at chest height. The degree of difficulty in this skill is what makes this effort so exceptional. Not discounting the skill involved in hitting a volley when it comes over your shoulder like Van Persie's two goals this season, but arriving onto a cross that is coming as fast and as high as Eboue's gives this effort the edge. Also note the common theme in all of these goals in that they all came late on in games and ended up being the match winning goal.
Wayne Rooney vs Newcastle, 2006
Like Van Persie, many of Rooney's most memorable strikes have come at crucial times in games, his debut goal for Everton against Arsenal, his bicycle kick against Manchester City, and of course this scorching strike against Newcastle in his debut season. In terms of difficulty this volley is probably a little below the level of Van Persie's in the sense that the ball is set up perfectly and comes at the perfect pace for Rooney to strike it. The true brilliance of Rooney's strike however is the swerve and sheer power that Rooney generates making it one of the premier league's most spectacular strikes.
Paul Scholes vs Bradford, 1999
A fantastic goal with two brilliant components. First the absolutely perfect "ping" provided by David Beckham from the corner which sets the ball for Scholes to arrow the ball into the bottom corner. Striking a ball that is coming across your body is a difficult skill at the best of times but the fact that the ball was in the air and traveling at pace makes it all the more impressive.
Tony Yeboah vs Liverpool, 1995
One of the Premier League's most famous goals from one if its most beloved players, although Yeboah's impact was not as long lasting as many of the other names on this list, during the 95/96 season Yeboah was unstoppable and this screamer against Liverpool is one that is still talked about by fans up and down the country. A perfect knockdown is followed by the purest of strikes.
Tugay vs Fulham, 2005
The cliche that "he never scores bad goals" could not be more appropriate for one of Blackburn's best premier league midfielders. He has a host a fabulous strikes but he saved his best strike for this game at Ewood Park against Fulham. Like Scholes against Bradford again this goal came direct from a corner and like Scholes' it could not have been hit any cleaner. This game was all the more memorable as it also included this rocket from Morten Gamst Pedersen. Has another game included two better volleys? You decide.
Paulo Di Canio vs Wimbledon, 1999
The current Swindon boss is certainly one of the games characters; whether he's pushing over officials, stopping the game when faced with an open goal so an opposing keeper can receive treatment or saluting fascist fans you'd be hard pushed to find someone who'd describe Di Canio as dull. A scorer of great goals rather than a great goalscorer, the Italian scored some absolute screamers. None better than this strike against Wimbledon in 1999. A cross field pass from Trevor Sinclair travels 50 yards before Di Canio, with both feet of the ground, smashes the ball back past Neil Sullivan. One of the truly great moments in Premier League history.
Here are some of the goals that were omitted and the reasoning behind their absences.
Danny Rose vs Arsenal: No doubt a good strike but I have always been adamant that had Manuel Almunia not been so slow in getting up he would still have been able to push the ball over the bar, given that the ball was hit hard but straight down his throat.
Thierry Henry vs Manchester United: One of the most memorable goals of recent times but the fact that it is Henry himself who flicks the ball up before sending it over Fabian Barthez. Undoubtedly a great strike but not in keeping with the "pure" nature of the strikes on the list above.
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