So what makes a great goal? I know it seems a easy question but honestly, what makes a goal truly great? Is it the goal that keeps a side up or a lob from the half way line? The goal that drags a side back in to a game when they’re 2-0 or a last minute winner in injury time? Everyone has a different variation on what they judge to be a great goal or what the ingredients are that makes some goals stand out above all others.

Well, I’m going to give you my ten goals of the decade, which you may agree with, but probably won’t. Yet that’s one of the great things about football, we all have different opinions and views of the same incident. Hopefully you can view these goals without blinkers of your favourite team and simply judge them on the goal itself. OK, ready? Then we’ll begin.

Goal Number Ten: Thierry Henry v Spurs November 2002

Another North London derby, another Arsenal win but this for me is one of the best goals that this decade saw in the continuing battle between Arsenal and Tottenham. A wonderful solo run and finish saw Henry begin to show the form that was to torment defenders the length and breadth of Europe for the remainder of the decade. A truly great individual goal.

Goal Number Nine: Dietmar Hamann v Portsmouth March 2004

There looked nothing on when Michael Owen swung the ball back in from the left wing but Didi Hamann was running in to hit this strike beautifully from the edge of the box. One of those wonderful volleys that occur every now and again, I doubt Hamann has ever scored a goal better than this in his life.

Goal Number Eight: Shaun Bartlett v Leicester April 2001

What a strike this was for Charlton Athletic. A wonderful cross field pass from Graeme Stuart that the South African Shaun Bartlett hit first time to fire it past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. A fabulous hit, set up by a fantastic pass.

Goal Number Seven: Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle March 2002

What a wonderful piece of skill this is. From Pires’ crossfield pass, Bergkamp flicks the ball one way and rolls around the defender the other and then slides it past Shay Given. A delightful bit of skill from the Dutch master.

Goal Number Six: Xabi Alonso v Newcastle November 2006

Alonso seemed to be one of those players that could try and score from inside his own half more than most. This strike against Newcastle left Steve Harper scrambling to get back, but to no avail. Perhaps more impressive than the similar goal he scored against Luton Town in the F.A. Cup, it will live long in the memory for its precision from distance.

Goal Number Five: David Bentley v Arsenal October 2008

Probably Bentley’s high point during his difficult spell at Tottenham, this wonderful hit saw him control the ball on his chest and volley the ball in to the Arsenal net from 50 yards out. A sublime strike that shows the quality he has, but he simply hasn’t delivered at White Hart Lane. The only benefit to Spurs would seem to be the consistent quality that Aaron Lennon now shows week in, week out since Bentley joined.

Goal Number Four: Wayne Rooney v Newcastle April 2005

Everyone knows the power of Wayne Rooney but this goal shows it for me like no other. Like something from a video game, Rooney spanked the ball in midair at what seems 100mph. The only thing that surprised me was that it didn’t burst the net. A wonder goal from a player that on his day is unplayable.

Goal Number Three: Glen Johnson v Hull City October 2008

Well, it is always special when a full back scores a screamer, Stuart Pearce built a career on smashing the ball in the back of the net, but this was a fantastic strike from Johnson. It impressed me, because he runs on to the ball, controls it with two defenders closing in and smashes it home with his left foot. An outstanding goal.

Goal Number Two: Paolo Di Canio v Wimbledon April 2000

Now this goal summed up the genius of Di Canio in one swift moment. A flying volley that saw him use his left leg to propel him upward for a smashing volley with the right foot past Neil Sullivan, it was a divine finish from one of the Premiership’s most enigmatic players. A truly great goal.

Goal Number One: Robin van Persie v Charlton September 2007

This for me, is one of the best goals I’ve ever seen. A simply breathtaking goal that showed fantastic technique, athleticism and an eye for goal that Marco Van Basten would have been proud of. Everyone knows the qualities that van Persie offers the Gunners, but niggly injuries have held him back from showing the Arsenal faithful his full potency.

So there you have it, my favourite ten goals from the last decade of Premiership football. Leave me some comments, or memories of your favourite goals over the last ten years.

With all of the attention focused on Manchester City’s latest acquisition, defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong — signed from Hamburger SV for a fee believed to be around £18 million — spare a thought for the latest forgotten man at Eastlands, Dietmar Hamann.

Just as left back Wayne Bridge pushed Javier Garrido and Michael Ball to the bench, while the arrival of Craig Bellamy means that forwards Daniel Sturridge and Felipe Caicedo will get very little playing time, the signing of Dutch international de Jong is bad news for Hamann. Sure, Hamann is injured and is likely to be out for three months. But even if he was fit, it’s doubtful the German midfielder would play much of a part in the second half of the 2008/2009 season.

At 35, it’s probable that this season will Hamann’s last in England and top flight football. His contract is due to expire at the end of this season.

Hamann’s career in England began in 1998 when Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish signed the German international from Bayern Munich for £5.5 million. At Newcastle, Hamann made 23 appearances before signing for Liverpool in 1999 for a transfer fee of £8 million.

It was at Liverpool where Hamann came to prominence playing 191 times for the Merseyside club over a seven year period. While at Liverpool, Hamann scored the last goal at the old Wembley Stadium when Germany beat England 1-0 on October 7, 2000. And he played a key role in one of the greatest football matches ever — Liverpool’s historic Champions League victory against AC Milan in 2005.

In 2006, Hamann joined Manchester City where he has made 54 appearances for the club.

Unfortunately, Hamann has failed to make much of an impression lately under the management of Mark Hughes. In November, Hamann was one of two players who refused to warm up in the 2-2 draw against Hull City. After ignoring to come on as a substitute, Hamann was demoted to play in a reserves match a few days later.

In the 2008/2009 season, Hamann has only had five league appearances for City. In his last game for the Citizens, Hamann came on as a substitute in the January 3rd loss against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. Hamann’s last contribution was a poor one when his throw-in went straight into the City defence and to the feet of Forest player Joe Garner who scored past Joe Hart to make the final result 3-0 to Forest.

De Jong will bring a much needed boost to Manchester City’s defensive frailities. In Euro 2008, de Jong partnered with Dutch midfielder Orlando Engelaar. The duo were particularly effective during Holland’s shock 3-0 win against Italy.

The Forgotten Men is a new series from EPL Talk which shines a light on the players who are often overlooked and forgotten about when so much of the media focus is on a club’s big new signing. Follow ‘The Forgotten Men‘ series today.

After plenty of speculation, it’s finally happened. Just hours after AC Milan said that Kaka wasn’t for sale, the newswires went crazy over the fact Manchester City has indeed opened talks to purchase the star player, and the figures are simply staggering. The 100 million euro purchase price, yes it’s there. Kaka’s salary, well enough to make everyone in football blush. That number, two hundred eighty thousand pounds a week.

I’ve been waiting for this moment the second Robinho was purchased under the wire back in early September. This was the type of transfer we were promised, and now it looks like they are going after fulfilling that obligation. While it’s hard for me, or anyone for that fact, to put their head around that amount of money,  I think this signal of intent gives us all one big message; get ready, we ain’t seen nothing yet.

Just like what happened after Roman starting splashing the cash after buying Chelsea, Manchester City are looking to raise the stakes in the transfer market. With the economy the way it is today, even teams of worldwide regard would have a difficult time saying no to having 100 million euros in their back pocket. How many different players could they buy with that money? How much of their debt could they help clear up with that money? These are all questions that clubs have to start looking at more closely.

From all I can gather, it’s up to AC Milan to say no. Kaka isn’t a fool and would sign up for that kinda cash. The only thing I think stopping AC Milan saying no to this move, is their thinking about the Pandora’s box this would open up.

Other Stories
The injury list starts to grow ahead of this weekend’s matches. Dietmar Hamann will be out for 3 months with a ruptured ligament in his toe (umm wow that’s a long time to be out for a toe ligament). And on the same day Patrice Evra dedicated Manchester United’s win over Chelsea to the FA, we find out he’ll be out three weeks with a foot injury. Rio Ferdinand will more than likely be out another week due to his back.

Speaking of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson just needs to let this one go. Who cares that there was an Arsenal fan on the panel looking over the Patrice Evra case.

I wonder how much Jose Mourinho loved seeing Chelsea’s performance after his damning verdict of them Tuesday.

I don’t know if Carlos Tevez should be taking career advice from Diego Maradona. He thinks it would be wise for Tevez to get away from Manchester United.

Rafa is denying reports that he and the ownership is again at odds, this time over signing a new contract.  He’s saying the final details are being worked out.

The police are to be commended after finding 11 classless morons who were busted for the racial chants towards Sol Campbell earlier in the year. I hope they never see the inside of a football ground again. What’s even sadder is the age of some of these people.