I think some of you are showing your football intelligence as ask yourself this question:
"how would the goalscorer be in a position to score if his team mates hadn't assisted him by putting him in the position?"
Now unless were talking about wonder goals, or moments of individual brilliance. I MAY PUT THIS PART IN CAPS SO PEOPLE READ IT as on forums people have a tendency to read only certain parts so please don'tt try and talk down assists by bringing up examples of individual brillance as the debate on assists is about how team mates create goals.
Ask all the great goal scorers, like Linekar for example, or the great partnerships we have seen such as the sas (shearer and sheringham) in fact look back to when jurgen was with us, who was his partner, sheringham and do you think for a second jurgen would have had such a great year without teddy? of course not!
Keane and berbatov, how many times did they assist each other? if they had other partners, would they have had as much success, no.
Now assists aren't always about the final ball, as of course the ball from the back, played to the midfield, who releases the winger and crosses for the striker to score......all players were vital to that goal BUT the killer pass and the finish are the two most difficult parts of that move, which is why the person that assists is so crucial.
Now if you don't understand this, or have been shaking your head then yes you're either immature or rather thick when it comes to grasping football.