I couldn't find a forum any better than this for this post. Actually I have reasons why Robin Van Persie or James Rodriguez shouldn't win. I have my doubts about why James Rodriguez's goal even made the top ten let alone the final three. Yes, good control, yes power and direction, but I've seen many similar, a chest trap and long range volley. The keeper has two defenders directly in his way yet still gets incredibly close to it. The ball twists down in a half spiral in the last yard hits the bottom of the crossbar and goes in. For me that has more to do with the ball designers than James Rodriguez. Yes you slice your foot as you volley which is a tricky thing to learn, even so I think he had a 50/50 chance of scoring as that final twist could of been upwards. He just happened to be the right distance away, he had no idea how the spiral would end up. In essence he made his own luck by having the shot, but it could of all ended differently. I think the manic comentator has more to do with this one making the shortlist. Robin Van Persie's header has a real chance to win. At the time I thought it was a winner. Spectacular and graceful. There are just two little niggles for me. First is the keeper is about 3 yards off his line. When you are one on one with a striker baring down you come out, you have to come out. If though the ball is in the air and still a fair way out but you can't get there, stay on the line. The keeper did neither. This takes nothing away from Van Persie. His intent was clear and his execution perfect. The defence played the offside way too high. Not Van Persie's fault he took advantage properly so. Against any other goal This would of been my winner. BUT well all you can criticise about Stephanie Roche's goal is maybe the standard of the league she was playing in. Saying that the defence was set right, no keeper could of got the shot. No woodwork or special ball involved. No one else or pass involved to set the chance up, unlike the Van P's goal.
Why she probably won't win. FIFA need good publicity badly. She'll be seen as a good news story and a token candidate.
Really can't see how the RVP header can be considered one of the best three goals of the entire year. None of them are team goals which is a shame.
She gets my vote anyway. Seemingly the match was being recorded by someone on the opposition side, among a crowd of 95 souls. She got a professional contract with a French club on the back of scoring that cracker. She has, regardless of the outcome, a great night ahead of her, mixing with football's elite. Good on ya Gal ! P.S. And she's Irish..... so i am slightly bias !
such a shame no one caught my 50 yard overhead kick on a camera, maybe I would be in with a chance, my kid didn't even get close to saving it, although to be fair to him he is only 5
My only reservation is the level of competition, profile of the match etc. The other 2 goals happened in world cup finals where as this was a two bob game 90 people went to. One of the things that makes a lot of the truly greatest goals so great is they happened in high profile games where the pressure is highest and the level of opposition is unquestionable. Think Maradona 86, Brazil 70, Van Bastan 88, Bergkamp 98 (?) etc. Can you compare some goal scored in a park to one scored in a world cup quarter final?? Appears great technique from the distant one angle shot we get granted and I won't be disappointed if she wins.
I will be, it's yet another attempt to promote womens football which nobody but the families and players care about. There are far more sports watched by paying customers that never get a sniff of going on prime time BBC tv.
