101 Great Goals - Steven Gerrard

Remember the premise behind the 101 Great Goals series?

What constitutes a Great Goal? As this is The History of Goal Nets, simply any goal can be considered Great if we enjoyed the aesthetics of ball striking net so much that we are moved to nominate that goal.

With this in mind, the next goal I'd like to study in terms of a greatness perceived immediately by the commentary and sold into folklore is Steven Gerrard's against Olympiakos.



In terms of technique and ball placement, the Gerrard goal is remarkably similar to the vastly underrated Graeme Souness goal v Manchester City (at 6.04) below.



The difference is, though scored in the Champions League, Gerrard's goal is pure EPL in terms of hyperbole.

Two things have conspired to transform a good Gerrard goal into a wonder strike.

Firstly, the aesthetics of the goal. Most pertinent for us who understand how the aesthetics of ball striking net can affect how a goal is rated, Gerrard's shot rebounded ridiculously off the software like a ball in pinball machine.

That's right - off the software - as there wasn't an atom of aluminium within a metre of the corner of the net.

Rebounds off the hardware can be ridiculously spectacular.


But as always argued that rebounds off 21st century box-nets pulled taut and made of trampoline are simply ridiculous and are ruining the aesthetics of the game.

Then there's the commentary from Andy Gray, which has become almost as famous as the goal itself.  Though it must be remembered he was there to sell "product," it must rate as highly doubtful that the Souness goal - which rebounded normally off the A-frame - would elicit such an immediate response from the commentator.

If you think it unlikely that the legend of Stevie G is down to poor ball retention at Anfield, ask yourself, does anyone remember the Graeme Souness shot which was the exact same goal without the rebound?

Norwich City FC

Not a good look...

In 2005,  the majority shareholder was wondering where the Canaries fans were....




And the Carrow Road goal nets looked like this....




A good look....

In 1993 Norwich beat the mighty Bayern Munich with bright yellow software and classy Continental D's...



And in 1980, about the time of Justin Fashanu's goal of the season, the hardware looked like this...

West Ham Utd

The hardware at the Boleyn Ground wasn't always synonymous with poor ball retention.

In the 1930's, a pair of Sunderland-style square-o's stood at either end of the field.


You get a better, albeit brief, glimpse of them here, in 1935.


By the 1960's, the Hammers had installed a classic set of A-frames.



The skinny curved stanchions of yore were installed in the 1967/68 season.


And so commenced the glory years of spectacular rebounds out of the Boleyn goal nets, till the appearance of box nets in the aftermath of the Spain 1982 World Cup.

A-list A-frames - Crystal Palace FC

Involved as they were in one of football's greatest 'ghost goals' (which many erroneously credit with the box nets of today) the Eagles have a special place in the history of goal nets.




Selhurst Park - like those at Coventry's Highfield Road at the time of Clive Allen and the blind referee - was a long time home to classic English-style A-frames.

1972

1989

Then 1995, Eric Cantona and all that...

Leicester City FC

In their 111 years at Filbert Street, the Foxes switched from Continental D's (1960), to off-the-shoulder A-frames (till 1977) then back to Continental D's again (till Filbert Street closed in 2002).

1960

1976

2000

Stoke City FC

The Potters boast a proud history of goal nets at their old Victoria Ground.

Pre-war, Stoke and a very young Stanley Matthews were A-frames adherents.



30 years later, the Potters and a 46-year old Stanley Matthews were shooting into Continental D's.


Continental D's then supported the nets at the Victoria Ground until the move to the new Britannia Stadium (and box nets) in 1997.

1976 (and "the boy Crooks")

1983

1993

Burnley FC

Burnley are one of only three teams to have won all top four professional divisions in English football, the others being Wolverhampton Wanderers and Preston North End.

In 2014 The Clarets are back in the Premier League with generic box nets at either end of Turf Moor.

But Burnley's History of Goal Nets is dominated by Continental D's.

1961

1975

1983

1992

1996 - the last year before box nets were installed

A haunting last look at Turf Moor in the 1970's

A-list A-frames - Cardiff City

Congratulations to the Bluebirds on their promotion to the Premier League. When Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and the like come calling next season to Cardiff City Stadium, they'll be greeted by the sight of familiar looking box-nets.

When Real Madrid visited the old Ninian Park in 1971they were greeted by - and sent packing via - a classic set of A-frames.

A-list A-frames - Blackburn Rovers FC

Labore

As late as 1995, when Blackburn, Kenny Dalglish and the SAS won the Premier League, Rovers hadn't yet embraced the standard box net and were instead shooting into a fairly standard pair of Continental D's.




Arte

Prior to the Continental D's, the regular on-field architecture at Ewood Park was a classic pair of A-frames.

A-list A-frames - Hibernian FC

On the other side of Edinburgh, Hibs' recent history offers up not one but two great examples of A-frame architecture.

(It's worth noting that the goals in both clips below were scored into the same goal at the same end of the stadium. The shifting viewpoint is caused by Easter Road stadium reconstruction, which moved the TV gantry from the old East terrace to the Main Stand).

The stanchions George Best scores into are as languid and laid back as the terrace behind the goals.

 

While 10 years later the A-frames in the 80's are more upright, like the stand which has replaced the terrace.

Square-o's: Tottenham Hotspur

Who's squarer than Glenda, and the old goalnets at White Hart Lane?

Square-o's: Sunderland AFC

The goalnets at the Stadium of Light might be big and boxy -



but those at the old Roker Park were even boxier

Greenock Morton FC

In the late 70's, Greenock Morton were a force to be reckoned with in the Scottish Premier League. With Andy Ritchie - the original idle idol - they were briefly table-toppers, late in 1978.

The glamour's all there in this clip - the South American bendy free-kick; the World Cup adidas Tango football; the Scottish goalkeeper, Alan Rough, wearing what looks like an International shirt he swapped for at the end of a Scotland game (and getting beaten by a free-kick at the same post, just like Peru's 3rd goal at the World Cup, and 'reacting' just like Peru's 2nd goal!)

Only the sad, creaking stanchions suggest where Morton came from, and to where they'd soon return.