By Chris Kirwan
May 20 2003

The Blues have had a surprising number of high quality goals this season. Whereas in recent years the goal of the season was any goal hit from outside the box, this year there have been plenty of great efforts.

Mark Pembridge v Tottenham at Goodison Park. 17/08/02.
Opening day, and a great goal from the ginger genius. The ball was expertly rolled into his path by Rooney (on his debut) and the Welshman smacked home a left-footed drive from just inside the box. Got the season off to a good start.

Thomas Gravesen v Fulham at Goodison Park. 28/09/02.
Pembridge fed the ball to Radzinski, who held the ball up well and laid it off to Gravesen. The defence failed to close him down and he unleashed a great shot low past Van der Sar in the Fulham goal. An all too rare strike for the Blues, especially when you see the gems he produces for Denmark.

Wayne Rooney v Arsenal at Goodison Park. 19/10/02.
No great description required, as ‘that goal’ has been shown countless times on telly, but it never becomes tiresome. The ball came over his shoulder, he controlled it superbly before caressing the ball past Seaman. In off the bar to add a touch of class.

Wayne Rooney v Leeds at Elland Road. 3/11/02.
The goal that broke the hoodoo. He picked up a Hibbert pass, spun sharply leaving Bakke on his arse, pushed the ball to the right of Radebe and shot through the South African’s legs into the net. It sparked an excellent mini-pitch invasion, thankfully with nowhere near the amount of Burberry that went on the pitch at the England game.

Steve Watson v Bolton at The Reebok Stadium. 28/01/03.
An overhead kick that was overshadowed by another overhead on the same night by Eidur Gudjohnson. The ball was lumped into the box by Unsworth, McBride nodded it on, and the makeshift right winger hooked it in as it dropped over his shoulder. I don’t know if he meant it, but if Zola had done it no-one would ask that.

Tomasz Radzinski v Southampton at Goodison Park. 22/02/03.
Southampton had been playing for the draw, keeping possession in the corner. Wright punted the ball into the Saints’ half and it ricocheted to Radzinski. He was offered the outside, and he promptly thumped the ball past the impressive Niemi from the corner of the area. The defending was poor but the finish was magnificent. A fantastic, rapid shot from the man who missed from a yard the previous season against Bolton!

You can vote for your favourite over to the right---------->

Other notable goals: Radzinski at Villa Park, Rooney’s first at Wrexham, McBride at White Hart Lane, Rooney’s volley against Villa, Rooney at Highbury, Carsley's header against West Ham.