Right simple question this about who thought what goal was best. Personally I'm really on the fence for this one, I though Taylor's was great but then Essien's was equally memorable. If I had to pick it would be Taylor, just because the volley is harder, technically.
Essien for me. Taylor's was a superb goal, but had a huge element of luck attached, he hit it sweetly, he admitted he hadn't a clue where Howard was, and Howard was off the line. The way Essiens shot swerved back in at the last moment and beat a keeper of that quality from that distance was superb.
I must admit, Essien's goal was placed into the only part of the net that the goalkeeper couldn't reach. The way he hit the ball he must have anticipated it was going to swerve as he used the outside of the boot, hitting it wide of the goal initially.
two goal of the months in one weekend Essien for me. Top technique and confidence at such a tense time in the match.
Essien's. Personally, I find it a lot easier to cleanly hit volleys than it is to hit balls on the ground. Plus, it's a lot harder to generate so much power when the ball is on the ground as with Essien's shot, than when it's falling from the sky at a fast pace. Just think about how many volleyed defensive 'hoofs' there are in games to see that getting power and general direction on falling balls is not actually very difficult. Taylor's shot was a glorified hoof at goal.
You can generate a fair degree of power though if the ball is rolling towards you when you strike it. As in Essien's case. Taylor did well not to shin it when he struck it, i.e like Van Persie's goal. Plus to get the dip he did to drop it under the bar showed great technical ability. Still both goals were equally great I think.
Essiens was pure quality, hit with the outside of the foot, with the right amount of power, curling in the air into the goal- a really good goal. As with taylors, i think that it itself is definatley the better goal. Taylor new how and when to hit it, however i think ,it may have been a 'hit and hope' goal. He volleyed it sweetly, and took it perfectly. It was a super goal. So i'm going to say taylors goal shades it ;D;D;D;D;D
I don’t know if Taylor was trying to shoot, I think he was just trying to clear the ball! Both were very good, the swerve on Essien’s shots was unbelievable, I thought it was going well wide when he hit it. But for me it has to be Taylor’s goal. Normally a shot like that would end up in the crowd, but if you pull it off like he did…it’s just magic (with an element of luck).
Essien's. Taylor is an ex-scummer and I don't like to see ex-scummers do well. Except if they then join us.
taylor's will get goal of the month simply because you don't get goals like that every week. i'm not saying essiens weren't good it's just we seen alot of goals like that. there are usually 1 or 2 every few weeks wheras taylors goal (with the exception of v.persies) probably wont happen again this season. essiens was better for technique as it is harder to cleanly strike a ball along a bobbly pitch like stamford bridge without completely slicing it. both are in top drawer for accuracy and as for power, taylors didn't need but essiens was 64.5mph!!!!!!
World first here, something me and Jobby agree on ;D Essien's IMO was the better strike... as someone else said before, he took aim and banged it into the only part of the goal the keeper couldnt reach.. the swerve with the outside of the boot was something else!! Sure Taylor's isnt far behind but as Taylor himself admitted, more luck than judgement!!
Having just watched the Essien goal, (I previously hadn't seen it) I definately think that Essien's was better. The intent was there and it was a sublime finish. Taylor's had more of an element of luck although it was a great finish too.
Although I agree with you there Evasive, and I do feel the curl on Essiens shot was outstanding, I think Taylors' goal was better, as it was taken on the volley at that far a distance, may have been fluke, but it was an extraordinary goal.