Was Papiss Cisse's strike for Newcastle against Chelsea the goal of the season?

Sensational effort at Stamford Bridge won praise aplenty but Crouch, Suarez, Ben Arfa and more have scored better, say our writers...

Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

1. Peter Crouch v Manchester City 24 March 2012

The best goal of the season by a distance. If it was Van Persie or Rooney who had scored it, their genius would have been heralded. Because it was Crouch, people asked if he meant it or not. Of course he did. What else was he trying to do?

2. Bryan Ruiz v Everton 23 October 2011

The goals that are blasted in from 30 yards look the most spectacular but it is the technique that really counts. Ruiz struck this one like he was chipping out of a bunker. To have that presence of mind in the penalty area is a great quality.

3. Robin van Persie v Everton 10 December 2011

Beautiful technique to set his body and volley home, from just inside the area, Alex Song's pass. He makes it looks easy – but it's not and the margin for error is so fine. Everything had to be right for it to go in.

Glenn Moore, Football Editor

1. Thomas Vermaelen v Newcastle 12 March 2012

With every match televised, and the balls so light, 30-yard wonder strikes are now commonplace. Less prevalent is the courage, energy and desire of Vermaelen to leave his defensive station and gallop the best part of 100 yards in added time on the off-chance a textbook counter-attack would end in a cross to the far post just as he arrived to score a winner. A few weeks later Gary Caldwell did the same, but he missed and Chelsea took advantage of his absence to defeat Wigan.

2. Ramires v Barcelona 24 April 2012

Because of the occasion, the situation, the fact he knew he was suspended from the final, and the quality of both the lobbed finish and Frank Lampard's pass.

3. Peter Crouch v Manchester City 24 March 2012

Narrowly better than Papiss Cissé's in midweek because of the chest control and, perhaps, a greater degree of intent.

Ian Herbert, Northern Football Correspondent

1. Nani v Chelsea 18 September 2011

Almost forgotten in a manic game but Nani's 20-yarder was, given the intensity of the occasion, arguably his best for United.

2. Luis Suarez's third v Norwich City 28 April 2012

An extraordinary 45-yard lob which makes Cissé's effort look like a poke-in. Part of the finest Liverpool hat-trick since Ian Rush's against Aston Villa in 1984.

3. Peter Crouch v Manchester City 24 March 2012

"I practise volleys in training and I've always been good at them," he told us that night. Flicked up a header from Jermaine Pennant and his right foot did the rest.

James Lawton, Chief Sports Writer

1. Gareth Bale's second v Norwich City 27 December 2011

With this goal Bale defined the reasons why he has moved on to the most-desired shopping lists drawn up by the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. When Emmanuel Adebayor stretched Norwich wide, Bale tore through them with blistering pace – and then produced a heart-stopping chip.

2. Peter Crouch v Manchester City 24 March 2012

There are sublime goals that are perfectly crafted – and there are others which seem to be more in debt to a certain alliance of the planets. This one is hard to shift from near the top of a list to which the effort of Newcastle's Papiss Cissé this week surely made its way.

3. Wayne Rooney's second v Everton 22 April 2012

Rooney has scored more spectacular goals but this one perfectly illustrated his ability to measure time and space. He inter-changed beautifully with Danny Welbeck, then slipped home the shot with assurance. It was mesmerising in its authority.

Jack Pitt-Brooke, Football Writer

1. Luis Suarez's third v Norwich City 28 April 2012

The climax of a brilliant hat-trick: Suarez beat a defender on the half-way line, then chipped the ball perfectly, from 45 yards, over John Ruddy but underneath the cross-bar. The imagination was something but the execution something else.

2. Edin Dzeko's second v Manchester United 23 October 2011

The finish was good enough, but the beauty was in the pass, the best of the season: David Silva, deep inside his own half, flicked the ball up in the air, swivelled, and volleyed it across the pitch, between two defenders, straight into Dzeko's path.

3. Robin van Persie's second v Liverpool 3 March 2012

Like his goal against Everton, Robin van Persie received Alex Song's pass over his right shoulder and volleyed it with his left boot. This time he chose the near post, but it beat Pepe Reina and won the match.

Martin Hardy, Football Writer

1. Hatem Ben Arfa v Bolton Wanderers 9 April 2012

Ben Arfa displayed such an incredible range of technique that there are very few players in the world who could have matched this effort. He beat four players with touch, balance, vision and a sublime finish to score a goal that he started in his own half.

2. Luis Suarez's third v Norwich City 28 April 2012

His first touch came after poor defending from Elliott Ward, then there was a brief second to set it up and what followed was absolutely glorious as Suarez floated a shot from 45 yards over the head of John Ruddy.

3. Papiss Cissé's second v Chelsea 2 May 2012

Two days on this goal still does not make sense. The control, the power and the swerve were South American. Petr Cech looked like the reluctant goalkeeper in a school playground.