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BBC Sport. The slow death of the screamer

kafkakafka
in General Charlton
Obviously The Valley not included in this study. 

The slow death of the screamer

It was only by goal number 10 that the pace slackened.

Robin van Persie's strike against Watford – a cut inside, followed by an Henry-esque curled finish into the bottom corner – was neat, but it lacked the punch of the previous nine.

Because December 2006's goal of the month contest was powerful stuff, a 100%-proof cocktail of hollering commentators and screaming shots as semtex insteps hit the ball with gleeful abandon.

Paul Scholes casually punts a dropping ball in off the Aston Villa crossbar. Didier Drogba swats a swerving hack of a volley past Tim Howard. Michael Essien rifles one down the barrel, only the net saving the faces of the Stamford Bridge front row.

The goals came thick, fast and from outrageous distance. Even if you don't remember the selection, you have probably seen it. It regularly resurfaces, to acclaim, on social media.

Of all the shortlist, Matt Taylor's goal was longest. The Portsmouth midfielder was just beyond the centre circle when the ball drifted to him out of a tackle. His 55-yard volley sailed over Howard – who was having a bad December – and in.

"It just popped up lovely," he says, nearly 18 years on. "And I thought, 'go on, why not hit it?'"

But for modern players there seem to be plenty of reasons why not.

The screamer is a species in stark decline.

Comments

  • CallumcafcCallumcafc
    Game’s gone… Stats nerds are ruining our game…
  • OrpingtonyOrpingtony
    The commentators don't know if the goal stands until VAR  has checked.
  • killerandflashkillerandflash
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/7ruba7shs4/the-slow-death-of-the-screamer

    Interesting. It does seem that football stats and the "experts" are going against what the fans want, considering the cries of "shooooot" when the ball is vaguely within shooting distance!

    One thing I wonder is how many long shots indirectly lead to a goal, via a deflection to another player or a corner? Low xG perhaps, but higher than passing sideways or intricate passing movements into the box.
  • Karim_myBagheriKarim_myBagheri
    I wonder if this could also be said for long range cross field passing? Also for taking a man on rather than choosing the safer option of passing it back or sideways. 

    Scotland's Andy Robertson had a chance to run down the wing v Portugal as he only had one player in front of him and a fair amount of space to run into. He passed it back instead. Within a minute they were a goal down and I look back at that moment and believe if he was more adventurous Scotland probably wouldn't of conceded that goal. 
  • golfaddickgolfaddick
    Karim_myBagheri said:
    I wonder if this could also be said for long range cross field passing? Also for taking a man on rather than choosing the safer option of passing it back or sideways. 

    Scotland's Andy Robertson had a chance to run down the wing v Portugal as he only had one player in front of him and a fair amount of space to run into. He passed it back instead. Within a minute they were a goal down and I look back at that moment and believe if he was more adventurous Scotland probably wouldn't of conceded that goal. 
    As they say.........your opponents can't score if you have the ball in their half of the pitch. Or even if they have it in their half of the pitch (barring a miracle 50 yarder). 
  • Siv_in_NorfolkSiv_in_Norfolk
    kafka said:
    Obviously The Valley not included in this study. 

    The slow death of the screamer

    It was only by goal number 10 that the pace slackened.

    Robin van Persie's strike against Watford – a cut inside, followed by an Henry-esque curled finish into the bottom corner – was neat, but it lacked the punch of the previous nine.

    Because December 2006's goal of the month contest was powerful stuff, a 100%-proof cocktail of hollering commentators and screaming shots as semtex insteps hit the ball with gleeful abandon.

    Paul Scholes casually punts a dropping ball in off the Aston Villa crossbar. Didier Drogba swats a swerving hack of a volley past Tim Howard. Michael Essien rifles one down the barrel, only the net saving the faces of the Stamford Bridge front row.

    The goals came thick, fast and from outrageous distance. Even if you don't remember the selection, you have probably seen it. It regularly resurfaces, to acclaim, on social media.

    Of all the shortlist, Matt Taylor's goal was longest. The Portsmouth midfielder was just beyond the centre circle when the ball drifted to him out of a tackle. His 55-yard volley sailed over Howard – who was having a bad December – and in.

    "It just popped up lovely," he says, nearly 18 years on. "And I thought, 'go on, why not hit it?'"

    But for modern players there seem to be plenty of reasons why not.

    The screamer is a species in stark decline.

    Wait... did you write that?
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  • letthegoodtimesrollletthegoodtimesroll
    Why is it players that regularly seem to be able to hit a 40+ yard pass from one side of the pitch to a player on the other side of the pitch isn’t able to make a similarly accurate pass into the back of the net ?
  • letthegoodtimesrollletthegoodtimesroll
    ValleyGary said:
    letthegoodtimesroll said:
    Why is it players that regularly seem to be able to hit a 40+ yard pass from one side of the pitch to a player on the other side of the pitch isn’t able to make a similarly accurate pass into the back of the net ?
    Probably a thing called a goalkeeper mate...
    From distance, there’s probably a better chance of the goal being more exposed and the goalkeeper caught out
  • ValleyGaryValleyGary
    letthegoodtimesroll said:
    ValleyGary said:
    letthegoodtimesroll said:
    Why is it players that regularly seem to be able to hit a 40+ yard pass from one side of the pitch to a player on the other side of the pitch isn’t able to make a similarly accurate pass into the back of the net ?
    Probably a thing called a goalkeeper mate...
    From distance, there’s probably a better chance of the goal being more exposed and the goalkeeper caught out
    Well the ball also has to travel further, so unless they've got a foot like a traction engine, its rarely gonna happen.

    40+ yard cross field passes are not struck like shots on goal.
  • Karim_myBagheriKarim_myBagheri
    letthegoodtimesroll said:
    Why is it players that regularly seem to be able to hit a 40+ yard pass from one side of the pitch to a player on the other side of the pitch isn’t able to make a similarly accurate pass into the back of the net ?
    used to think this of Albie Morgan. He could pull off some fabulous accurate mid to long range passes but was next to hopeless shooting at goal. 
  • Off_itOff_it
    edited September 12
    Karim_myBagheri said:
    letthegoodtimesroll said:
    Why is it players that regularly seem to be able to hit a 40+ yard pass from one side of the pitch to a player on the other side of the pitch isn’t able to make a similarly accurate pass into the back of the net ?
    used to think this of Albie Morgan. He could pull off some fabulous accurate mid to long range passes but was next to hopeless shooting at goal. 
    Leave it @Dazzler21 ......... 
  • Briston_AddickBriston_Addick
    The 'screamer' is dead?

    Villa's Jhon Duran has just asked someone to hold his beer for a moment ...
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