Thursday, 31 October 2013
Wilshere, Sturridge, Januzaj, Morrison, Kasami... and that's just for starters! Has October just produced the greatest Goals of the Month competition ever? No-one can complain about the volume of goals in the Barclays Premier League over the past month, or the quality. Standards have been high, as well as numbers, and deciding on the pick of a highly-impressive bunch is no easy task. Here, Sportsmail takes a look at the leading contenders. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal v Norwich, October 19) 'Simplicity itself' screamed the TV commentator as England midfielder Wilshere rounded off the slickest of passing moves with an assured finish. I'd have thought intricacy itself might have been more appropriate for a blinding succession of one-touch flicks and passes that would have unlocked the tightest of defences. Pajtim Kasami (Fulham v Crystal Palace, October 21) Comparisons to some of the volleys Marco van Basten used to execute in his prime are not misplaced. Kasami was already running away from goal when he dashed to meet a long through ball from Sascha Riether, and his instant chest control seemed to take him even further away. It hardly mattered, as the dropping ball was lashed across a diving Julian Speroni into the far top corner. Steve Sidwell (Fulham v Crystal Palace, October 21) It's little wonder Palace boss Ian Holloway decided enough was enough after this game, given the way Kasami's wonder strike was followed by another goal out of the top drawer before half-time. Bryan Ruiz's free-kick hit the wall and reared yards into the air. As it fell, Sidwell despatched a first-time volley into the same top corner as his team-mate had done. Luis Suarez (Liverpool v West Brom, October 26) There is nothing to strike dread into a defender more than the sight of Suarez picking up possession 40 yards out and making for goal. Here, he surged past one defender and then nutmegged Jonas Olsson before rifling a low shot into the bottom corner. Goal of the month contenders are often one-offs, but Suarez does this all the time. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool v West Brom, October 26) Brendan Rodgers has made few more inspired signings than Sturridge, as demonstrated by this brilliant piece of improvisation. He seemed to be drifting away to the left of goal, and there appeared to be little on, when, without even looking up, he floated a chip towards the far corner. Boaz Myhill scarcely seemed to be off his line but was powerless to prevent the deftest of chips from nestling in the corner of the net. Ravel Morrison (West Ham v Tottenham, October 6) A run that started well inside his own half finished with a goal delirious West Ham fans were talking about long into the night. The former Manchester United forward hardly even seemed to be sprinting, as he strode past Jan Vertonghen and skipped past Michael Dawson before dinking a shot over advancing keeper Hugo Lloris. It was the sort of individual brilliance that comes so easily to him, when his mind is on the job. Fabio Borini (Sunderland v Newcastle, October 22) Sunderland were pressing for a winner six minutes from time, and someone needed to take responsibility, with the ball bobbling round the edge of the Newcastle area. Step forward on-loan Liverpool forward Borini, who had only been on as substitute a few minutes but took on the mantle of matchwinner without a moment's hesitation, as he seized possession 25 yards out and hammered an unstoppable shot into the top right corner. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle v Liverpool, October 19) Cries of 'shoooot' ring round St James' Park now whenever Cabaye has the ball at his feet anywhere in opposition territory, and with good reason. Picking it upon the halfway line against Liverpool, he advanced a few paces before unleashing a fierce right-foot shot from fully 30 yards that bounced in front of Simon Mignolet's despairing dive and into the net for a spectacular goal. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City v West Ham, October 19) Aguero has scored his share of brilliant individual goals and just as many impressive team efforts, and this fell into the latter category. West Ham were torn apart by a passing move that ended with Alvaro Negredo allowing a Fernandinho ball to run through for Aguero to slot clinically past Jussi Jaaskelainen. Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United v Sunderland, October 5) The teenage winger had just hauled his side level with an assured side-foot finish when he put them in front with a volley that had those who saw it in raptures. A Nani cross from the right skimmed off a defender's head and looped beyond the far post, from where Januzaj met it with a first-time left foot volley that fairly flew into the bottom corner. Exceptional skill, brilliantly executed.
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