04/08/2008

SPL Goal of the decade ..?

jim_hamilton header A judging panel that included former Celt John Hartson and Rangers captain Barry Ferguson, as well as Sunsport writer Robert Grieve plus representatives from Setanta Sports, the SPL and competition sponsors Mitre chose Jim Hamilton's goal against Celtic back in January of 2006 as the SPL Goal of the Decade. Following an online vote, over eighty different goals where nominated, which where eventually reduced down to the following 10; judging by the final entries, the panel clearly had a thing about long range volleys ...

  • Andrei Kanchelskis (Rangers vs Dunfermline)
  • Javier Artero  (Dundee vs Motherwell)
  • Henrik Larsson (Celtic vs Rangers)
  • Arthur Numan (Rangers vs Celtic)
  • Austin McCann (Hearts vs Celtic)
  • Tam McManus (Hibernian vs Rangers)
  • Craig Beattie (Celtic vs Dundee Utd)
  • Jim Hamilton (Motherwell vs Celtic)
  • Shaun Maloney (Celtic vs Dunfermline)
  • Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic vs Dundee Utd)

Hamilton, who is about to start his first season with St Mirren, scored his winning goal whilst playing for Motherwell. A cracking volley that flew past Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal from the edge of the area just before halftime won Hamilton the prize, if not the game, as Motherwell lost 3-1 on the day.

Inside Left  voted for Javier Artero's goal simply because he beat five players before he scored, whereas the rest of the entries where either volleys from the edge of the area (Austin McCann and Tam McManus' goals where very similar to Hamilton's) or delicate chips over crap keepers (Larsson vs Klos).  Still, who are we to say the distinguished and knowledgeable judges got it wrong and sure, doesn't Jim look right pleased with his prize, an expensive ball in a plastic tube?

The goals can be seen here. Do you think the panel got it right, or where there other candidates for the prize? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

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2 comments:

  1. Swanney7 August 2008 at 14:44

    It appears to be a trend that most of the better goals have been scored in matches involving Celtic. Does this mean we have had a higher quality of strikers, or opponents?

    I'm hoping the former, the latter doesnt bear thinking about.

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  2. Seb @ Inside Left8 August 2008 at 01:23

    That was my first thought as well - 60% of the entries are from the Old Firm. They're nice goals alright, but perhaps they should have picked one goal from every team. Like I said in the post, I prefer Javier Artero's goal simply because I like to see a player steam through a defence before tanning in past the keeper. Long range volleys, sure, on a good day anyone can do that

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