Midfield & Assists

This thread is my input on our midfielders and shows the assists the player(s) contributed throughout their careers and an analysis. If you deem this a half decent read than mission accomplished but should you wish you didn't even click the link then I hope you give me a little bit of a break as I was here for 45 minutes and my fingers feel like I've molested a camels ring for the past hour.

Mehdi Abied: Assists - 0

Analysis: A bit has been made about what sort of midfielder Mehdi is but he stated that he is of the "Xavi" mould which means he can put his hand into everything the midfield does from defending to creating, Abied is 18 and has probably not long popped his cherry and I'm pretty sure he will have a canny reputation five years from now.

Dan Gosling: Assists - 0

Analysis: Dan is 21 and has already had a few injury's and has showed glimpses of a box to box enforcer to come and has scored 8 competitive goals at 21 and looks like he can be somewhat of a Rob Lee in time.

Danny Guthrie: Assists - 16

Analysis: Apart from his time in the CCC we have rarely seen this lad start games but we know he has an engine and his final ball is impressive but only 4 of his assists have come in top flight competition and my view of him is that as a box to box midfielder he needs to show he can also interrupt play and show he deserves to be in The squad.

Alan Smith: Assists - 21

Analysis: Alan Smith has spent most of his career as a Striker and ended up with an almost career ending injury before being transitioned (in 2009) as a holding midfielder. He is a bit part player now days and is well behind his team mates and certainly needs a new challenge.

Ismael Cheik Tiote: Assists - 1

Analysis: Cheik's job is to protect the back four and is tenacious and gritty. It's quite rare he will get the chance to assist goals but despite that it's likely you will see him engineer an attack by feeding the ball to a more attack minded team mate... Top player.

Haris Vuckic: Assists - 0

Analysis: Haris looks like a traditional number 10 and despite just turning 19 carries expectation for club and country. The Slovenian is a big lad but can still move well and has an eye for a goal as he has shown for the Ressie's.

Gabrielle Obertan: Assists - 4

Analysis: Gab is as quick as a whippet and can dribble the ball well but can also be frustrating because his delivery is not there he goes for a low cross into the 6 yard box every time and it results to squat...

Jonas Gutierrez: Assists - 27

Analysis: At Majorca Jonas would play on the right, left and in the hole but at Newcastle he plays on the left where he usually cuts in and is confronted by more than 1 defender where we lose hard earned possession. Time for him to deliver them crosses if he's gonna stay in the 11.

Sylvain Marveaux: Assists - 12

Analysis: Marv looks like our best winger by a country mile but hasn't started much because his injury record shows why he hasn't been scooped up by a ECL team. He has great pace and can more than deliver a ball and I can't wait to see him week in week out.

Hatem Ben Arfa: Assists - 18

Analysis: Great vision, great passing, blistering pace and genuinely frightening dribbling not to mention a very good shot on him too. Will be key to us if we're to finish where about's we are lying now in the table.

Dreamboat: Assists - 26 <--- Phwoarr!

Analysis: How on god's green earth did we get this gem in? he can provide assists and goals as well as make good challenges, a steal for the 4 million we paid. I can foresee great things from this man pulling the strings in midfield.

All statistic are taken from soccernet.espn.go.com

 

Good read.

Don't really agree on Jonas though, we need players like him to cut in and commit defenders, hopefully someone can fit into that right slot (Marveux) and cover the crossing element of games.

 

Assists don't really mean that much, all that means is that the player got the 2nd last touch on the ball. The only true way to judge a player is to see him play and see his contribution to the team, and the chances he makes and the passes he makes to help the team create something.

 

I can imagine Marv delivering from the right but on the left he wouldn't need to position the ball before a cross but put one in instinctively.

 

You obviously prefer to watch a team of work ethic that bit more than guile and movement, Nothing wrong with that.

 

thanks for putting all of that in one place and your views are interesting as well good article

 

I think it's down to too much football manager

 

Great post. If i was Guthrie/Gosling I'd be worried about getting regular full games!

 

Tiote has 2 if I remember correctly. The Villa game this season and the game last season when he crossed for Nolan to score a header against Bolton.

 

That doesn't count as an official assist, Best scored the rebound from his own shot which was saved initially therefore it goes down as an unassisted goal.

 

Good post, disagree on Guti though I don't mind him cutting inside and dribbling. I'm shocked Gosling has no assists like.

 

Yeh I thought that until it clicked that Besty's rebounded

 

Personally I think that's a stupid rule.

 

Worth noting Obertan is about the same age as Gosling!

Still a young lad at only 22!

 

Cabaye got the Assist for Best's goal vs Fulham and so he should, his shot lead to the goal. It was too powerful for Schwarzer to get rid of properly and Best was like a typical striker, ready to pounce for a tap in.

 

I didn't even know that, still think he's an impact sub player though.

 

That also doesn't count as an official assist. The only EPL assist for us this season was Ba vs Fulham. It's a stupid rule like.

 

Alan Smith 21!!??

 

never would of guessed aye?

 

Which helps prove the silliness of looking at tracked assists as a sign of ability to create goals.