Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

[pineapple stu]

So - let's get underway!

A recap of the rules first. 88 goals to go through (let's say it's symbolic of our first finals) - so 8 groups of 6 and 8 groups of 5, with the top 2 going through to the last 32.

You can vote for one goal, all goals or somewhere in between. If you're voting for multiple goals, put in an order (1, 2, 3, etc). If you don't, I'll assume the order in your post is your order of preference. It's 6 points for a first preference, 5 for a second preference, 1 for a sixth preference, and 0 for no vote. In the event of a tie, I'll put in a casting vote.

Voting will be open for 24 hours. I'll post Group A now, Group B about 6pm this evening (at which time both Groups A and B will be open for voting), Group C tomorrow morning (at which time I'll announce the winner of Group A), etc.

The groups are roughly seeded just to avoid all the classics ending up in the one group. I've then listed the groups in alphabetical order of the opposition so as not to bias towards the "seeds". Still some tough decisions to be made though!

Some of the links are just the goal; others are of the whole highlights. I don't think you can embed a YouTube video to start at a set time (let me know if you can though!), so I'll list the time to jump to for those. I think you can put in a link that starts at the correct time, so I'll add that as well. If there's any better links for any of the goals (especially if it's the goal on its own), let me know and I'll use it if the goal progresses.

I think that's everything so. Let's see how it goes. Group A coming right up!

[pineapple stu]

Group A

We kick off with one of our newer groups - average year is 2007. Two of these to progress; four to go back to the archives. There's a one video per post limit - so I've to put up six different posts. Bear with me!

The group is -
1) Robbie Brady A v Bosnia, 2015
2) John O'Shea A v Germany, 2014
3) Glenn Whelan H v Italy, 2009
4) Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007
5) Liam Miller H v Sweden, 2006
6) Niall Quinn A v Wales, 1991

[pineapple stu]

1) Robbie Brady A v Bosnia, 2015
Is the best goal you ever saw the best goal you never saw? (Time is 8:53, or time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK_422cfVn4&t=8m53s))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK_422cfVn4&t=8m53s

[pineapple stu]

2) John O'Shea A v Germany, 2014
A last-minute equaliser away to the world champions is always fun - but is it any good? (Time is 10:09 - time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQjyxkq-LH8&t=10m9s))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQjyxkq-LH8&t=10m9s

[pineapple stu]

3) Glenn Whelan H v Italy, 2009
A Whelan rocket from outside the box is probably one of the favourites to win the tournament - but is it this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWV5omYkyQ

[pineapple stu]

4) Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007
I was right behind the goal for this one; can definitely testify that it deserves its nomination!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vVu9Q2EgHc

[pineapple stu]

5) Liam Miller H v Sweden, 2006
The late Liam Miller's first goal for Ireland got Stan's Ireland career off to a great start... (Time is 2:25 - time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcFyXKwQBnI&t=2m25s))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcFyXKwQBnI&t=2m25s

[pineapple stu]

6) Niall Quinn A v Wales, 1991
An outsider maybe, but try scoring this goal on what is effectively ice. (Time is 0:34 - time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InAxYNdnEB0&t=0m34s))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InAxYNdnEB0&t=0m34s

[Eirambler]

Thanks for putting this together, should be really interesting.

I take it we just vote by posting in the thread?

I would vote as follows:

1. Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007
2. Liam Miller H v Sweden, 2006
3. Glenn Whelan H v Italy, 2009
4. John O'Shea A v Germany, 2014
5. Robbie Brady A v Bosnia, 2015
6. Niall Quinn A v Wales, 1991

[tetsujin1979]

Poll added

[pineapple stu]

No poll tets - post your votes in thread.

The next group will follow in the same thread at 6pm (ish) - so the poll option will just get confused.

Eirambler has the idea - no need to vote for all six if you don't want to, but obviously you can if you want as well.

[nigel-harps1954]

1. Doyle
2. Whelan
3. Miller
4. O'Shea
5. Brady
6. Quinn

[passinginterest]

1. Doyle
2. Miller
3. Whelan
4. O'Shea
5. Brady
6. Quinn

[elatedscum]

1. whelan
2. doyle
3. miller
4. brady
5. o'shea
6 quinn

[NeverFeltBetter]

1. Doyle
2. Miller
3. Whelan
4. Brady
5. O'Shea
6. Quinn

[sidewayspasser]

1. Doyle
2. Whelan
3. Miller
4. Brady
5. O'Shea
6. Quinn

[pineapple stu]

Another group coming in an hour or so - but Group A will remain open, so do keep voting!

Maybe from the knock-out rounds, might introduce a rule of a reason for your vote. Just to get a bit of chat going and make it feel less like a céilí in here :)

I think it's a tight battle between Miller and Whelan for the second place at the moment?

[jbyrne]

1. doyle 2 whelan 3 brady 4 miller 5 quinn 6 JOS

[pineapple stu]

Right - Group A is still open for votes, but Group B is also open now.

Two of the following to go through; links to follow in a sec.

1) Ray Houghton N v England, 1988
2) Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014
3) Robbie Keane A v Holland, 2004
4) Robbie Keane N v Nigeria, 2009
5) Andy Townsend H v Northern Ireland, 1993
6) Steve Staunton H v USSR, 1990

[pineapple stu]

1) Ray Houghton N v England, 1988
Not exactly the best of goals - but can you really have an Irish list without it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJyo1nQU9oE

[pineapple stu]

2) Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014
You're judging the goal here, not the work of the guy videoing his TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHjf0nWN0_0

[pineapple stu]

3) Robbie Keane A v Holland, 2004
With surprisingly unimpressed Dutch commentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl9ukGgaXjw

[pineapple stu]

4) Robbie Keane N v Nigeria, 2009
10 passes and someone - I can't see who - who trapped the ball further than most of the passes in the middle of it all. Wouldn't really be an Ireland goal otherwise. Time is 7:07; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1use90E5_00&t=7m7s)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl9ukGgaXjw

[pineapple stu]

5) Andy Townsend H v Northern Ireland, 1993
The goal that was the lead-in for RTÉ's Ireland coverage for a couple of years afterwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ2qpdhI6BQ

[pineapple stu]

6) Steve Staunton H v USSR, 1990
A seven-man wall, the Nou Camp goalkeeper (actually Sevilla, but anyway), the European runners-up - and just one step to beat them all. Time is 0:35; time-stamped link here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reCcX0t31ro&t=0m35s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reCcX0t31ro

Over to ye!

[pineapple stu]

Kevin Doyle out in front in Group A, but just 3 points separating Glenn Whelan and Liam Miller. One of them will be exiting at the group stage.

[Martinho II]

I am surprised Ronnie Whelans goal from Euro 88 v USSR isnt included Stu?

[pineapple stu]

Still 14 more groups to go Marty!

[Real ale Madrid]

Group A

1) Liam Miller H v Sweden, 2006
2) Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007
3) Glenn Whelan H v Italy, 2009
4) Robbie Brady A v Bosnia, 2015
5) John O'Shea A v Germany, 2014
6) Niall Quinn A v Wales, 1991


Group B
1) Ray Houghton N v England, 1988
2) Robbie Keane A v Holland, 2004
3) Steve Staunton H v USSR, 1990
4) Andy Townsend H v Northern Ireland, 1993
5) Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014
6) Robbie Keane N v Nigeria, 2009

[pineapple stu]

Group B
1) Ray Houghton N v England, 1988
5) Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014
I'll be honest - that is a surprise

But this tournament will take all kinds, so it's a valid vote for sure!

[osarusan]

Group A Doyle v Slovakia (I already voted for this in the actuall poll at the top of the thread).
Group B - Staunton v Russia.

How are you going to manage the blend of votes just for the top goal (like my vote) and those who vote for all 6 in order?

[pineapple stu]

6 points for every first preference.

You've just not voted 5/4/3/2/1

I think it roughly works out ok

Edit - actually, maybe you do potentially stretch the top by just voting for your favourite. If you voted top 3 it'd probably be fine, but missing out 4/5 does mean 6 is very potent.

Maybe it's better to take two nominations per group from everyone instead?

Our tournament; we can do what we like really

[geysir]

It's too much work for me to select 12345, I'll pass on that.
Seeing as it's a group fest, a 1 2 at most. i could manage that

[Fixer82]

Group B

1) Robbie Keane A v Holland, 2004
2) Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014
3) Steve Staunton H v USSR, 1990
4) Ray Houghton N v England, 1988
5) Robbie Keane N v Nigeria, 2009
6) Andy Townsend H v Northern Ireland, 1993

[Fixer82]

GROUP A

1) Glenn Whelan
2) Kevin Doyle
3) John O'Shea
4) Liam Miller
5) Robbie Brady
6) Niall Quinn

[Real ale Madrid]

I'll be honest - that is a surprise

But this tournament will take all kinds, so it's a valid vote for sure!

you could have picked out any of the goals from 2-6 to be fair to make that point - just in terms of importance, that particular goal i make an exception.

[NeverFeltBetter]

1. Keane (Nigeria)
2. Keane (Netherlands)
3. Staunton
4. McGeady
5. Townsend
6. Houghton

[nigel-harps1954]

Group B: I don't like how difficult it was to choose 4-6..

1. Keane (vs Holland)
2. Staunton
3. McGeady
4. Townsend
5. Houghton
6. Keane (Nigeria)

[SkStu]

Group A
Doyle
Whelan
O’Shea
Brady
Miller
Quinn

[SkStu]

Group B
McGeady
Keane (vs Holland)
Keane (Nigeria)
Houghton
Staunton
Townsend

[SwanVsDalton]

Group A
1. Whelan
2. Doyle
3. Miller
4. O'Shea
5. Brady
6. Quinn

Group B
1. McGeady
2. Staunton
3. Keane (vs Holland)
4. Townsend
5. Houghton
6. Keane (vs Nigeria)

[pineapple stu]

It's too much work for me to select 12345, I'll pass on that.
Seeing as it's a group fest, a 1 2 at most. i could manage that
You can vote 1-2 if you want.

I'll see if it impacts the standings and might change to just counting 1-2 votes. I know it's changing the rules mid-race - but so what.

Obviously won't be an issue come the knock-outs.

Group C will be up in an hour or so - which means an hour or so left to vote in Group A!

[pineapple stu]

How are you going to manage the blend of votes just for the top goal (like my vote) and those who vote for all 6 in order?
Actually, maybe a fairer way to do this is to score up, not score down, so a single vote would be 1 point each. The absolute score doesn't matter; it's the relative score that counts - and so relatively speaking, giving 1/0 for the top two is the same as giving 6/5. (Well, not exactly the same because you don't give a 6/4 or 6/3 vote, but it's certainly closer than the other way)


you could have picked out any of the goals from 2-6 to be fair to make that point - just in terms of importance, that particular goal i make an exception.
True - though I was as surprised to see McGeady down at number 5 to be honest.

Not going to argue against it of course! Entirely your call.

Group A is now closed - fairly clear result in the end, with Kevin Doyle topping the group (63 points, counting osarusan's as 1) and Glenn Whelan (54) going through as runner-up. Liam Miller (45), Robbie Brady and John O'Shea (both 29) and Niall Quinn (12) saw the group out.

I'll post Group C now.

[pineapple stu]

Group C -

1) Kevin Sheedy N v England, 1990
2) Keith Andrews N v Italy, 2011
3) Kevin O'Callaghan H v Malta, 1983
4) Robbie Keane N v Saudi Arabia, 2002
5) Ronnie Whelan N v USSR, 1988
6) James McClean A v Wales, 2017

Videos on the way.

[pineapple stu]

1) Kevin Sheedy N v England, 1990
The second-best goal in the game, per Bobby Robson. Time is 0:20; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuUzu0ZWgXU&t=0m20s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuUzu0ZWgXU&t=0m20s

[pineapple stu]

2) Keith Andrews N v Italy, 2011
Our first hit of daft American commentary - Andrews laserbeaming the freebie in Liege. Time is 0:40; time-stamped link is here (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfb9lVQSMmw&t=0m40s).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfb9lVQSMmw&t=0m40s

[pineapple stu]

3) Kevin O'Callaghan H v Malta, 1983
Lots of goals in our record win, so I had to pick one. Some great passing moves in it actually, but I discounted some because Malta are plainly so ****e. (This was the same group that they famously lost 12-1 to Spain in, when Spain needed to win by 11 to pip Holland to qualification on goal difference). But a nice reverse-angle pass is the same regardless of the opposition. Time is 1:00, or time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wNWjsJulXY&t=1m0s). Bonus point if anyone can tell me why the commentator refers to Maradona at the very start of the video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wNWjsJulXY&t=1m0s

[pineapple stu]

4) Robbie Keane N v Saudi Arabia, 2002
Does Al-Deayea spoil this one? Your call. (That UEFA numpty of a commentator certainly does - I hate retrospective commentary like the "Bullseye!" comment)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmDSEHeMKTA

[pineapple stu]

5) Ronnie Whelan N v USSR, 1988
One of the tournament favourites makes its bow. Martinho will be delighted - but will he vote for it? :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3l5zUw8vGM

[pineapple stu]

6) James McClean A v Wales, 2017
I seem to remember this split opinions on here at the time - a chance well-generated and a goal well-worked, or careless Welsh defending? Now is the moment of truth I guess!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTHlk4SKzRA