It was only by goal number 10 that the pace slackened. Robin van Persie's strike against Watford – a cut inside, followed by an Henry-esque curled finish into the bottom corner – was neat, but it lacked the punch of the previous nine. Because December 2006's goal of the month contest was powerful stuff, a 100%-proof cocktail of hollering commentators and screaming shots as semtex insteps hit the ball with gleeful abandon. Paul Scholes casually punts a dropping ball in off the Aston Villa crossbar. Didier Drogba swats a swerving hack of a volley past Tim Howard. Michael Essien rifles one down the barrel, only the net saving the faces of the Stamford Bridge front row. The goals came thick, fast and from outrageous distance. Even if you don't remember the selection, you have probably seen it. It regularly resurfaces, to acclaim, on social media. f all the shortlist, Matt Taylor's goal was longest. The Portsmouth midfielder was just beyond the centre circle when the ball drifted to him out of a tackle. His 55-yard volley sailed over Howard – who was having a bad December – and in. "It just popped up lovely," he says, nearly 18 years on. "And I thought, 'go on, why not hit it?'" But for modern players there seem to be plenty of reasons why not. The screamer is a species in stark decline.