No it's a stupid stat that belongs in basketball. So you're telling me those hit & hope crosses & 1 yard sideways passes are more valuable than the sitters Messi's constantly supplies Alba and Neymar in every game?
I just showed you evidence why that assist stat means nothing and that's your response?
Either you're one of those stat whores that doesn't watch games or you're a closet fanboy. If any stat is going to be used to judge creativity it should be the Through ball and chances created from open play stats. But, even those generally never tell the true story.
Assist don't always tell the whole story, true. But I wouldn't say its a meaningless stat. Obviously, not all assists are through balls, some are simple side-way passes. But they all lead to a goal nonetheless. Messi has also had his share of simple assists, or you thought he should 've taken a shot than pass to Iniesta SB '09.
As for your gifs, no one claimed 'em to be "world class" assists. Although I would say the cross to fellaini set-him up perfectly for the ensuing shot.
The hit & hope crosses that you speak of, I would agree if it was a different player, but crossin' is Ángel's forte. Yes, he can be wasteful at times. But the pace and spin he generates in his crosses are hard to defend, its not his fault the movement of ManU players in the opp box is slow and lethargic. In other words, even a good cross can go begging if players don't put an effort to get to it. And I've seen it happen so many times this season, whilst at madrid, he had better receivers in the box. I mean ask yourself, why does Valencia, and Young's crosses don't lead to goals as often? or have as many assists? I mean after all they 've to just make hit and hope crosses and make side-way passes. May be their decision making and their delivery isn't as good?
I remember he also picked up like 2/3 assists earlier on in the season from mishit shots as well. Stupid stat.
Do you also remember the chances he created during the same period, but were spurned by his teammates? I do. Some of them were through balls, some coming from his deep runs whilst skipping past players and laying it off to the forward who failed to convert.
If you don't rate the player (which is evident going by your posts), thats your prerogative, but if you're gonna dismiss assists entirely in order to make it look like Ángel is not a creative player (when stats and his gen play suggests otherwise), then you're coming across bitter, and letting your personal bias cloud your judgement.
