ASSISTKINGS QUARTERLY: THE BEST OF 2018/19

ASSISTKINGS QUARTERLY:
THE 10 BEST CREATORS OF 2018/19

ALL PLAYERS CONSIDERED
WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE ACTION FOR THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN,
IT WAS HARD TO GRAFT THIS LIST
BUT WE SLING IT TO YOU WITH AN IRON FIST
AND THE PASS-MASTERS 
AND FILTHIFIERS OF OUR GAME COLLIDE
WITH THE HELP OF OUR TRUSTY 2018/19 ALMANAC, WE GO DEEP INSIDE
SLOWLY YOU KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO RHYME
BUY THE TICKET, TAKE THE RIDE FOR ONE LAST TIME


THE LIST

10
MEMPHIS DEPAY (Lyon)

46 appearances 
-16 assists overall
-UDGC: 5
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 148
-overall avg: 3.2
 -PER 90: 3.8 (UCL), 3.7 (LIGUE1)
-Key Passes on to post: 4
(Ferland Mendy, Fekir, Cornet, Denayer)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: his slippery through ball for Cornet to easily slot home past Man City's reeling defense to lead 2-1 in the 80th before City responded with a last second equalizer 

            This cat has to be included considering he's rebounded from being a high profile bust at a major club and has exceeded expectations on all fronts, pushing himself to levels we didn't know were possible for the young Dutchman.
            His journey into the public's consciousness began as quickly (with those two goals & assist in the 2014 FIFA World Cup) as it faded away (his abject horror at United: 7 goals and 6 assists in 53 appearances in two seasons and those piss-poor / TV dinner-statistics were only achieved against such stellar competition as Ipswich, Midtjylland, Club Brugge and his former club PSV).
           We wondered aloud if Memphis could even compete against top clubs before he was sent packing to Ligue 1. But now, we're debating if Memphis Depay can sustain this recent success against top opposition.
           Not only has Memphis destroyed Germany in international play with the Netherlands (always leading them as the talisman) he pulled Guardiola's Manchester City apart in two group stage matches: pulling the strings, hitting the post, setting up Cornet in hitting the bar and orchestrating chances left and right, grabbing 3 assists over the 2 matches, one being a Lyon victory at the Etihad on the first match day.
           He was continuous in his chance creation and maintained his status in the top 5 for overall assists and key passes throughout the season, enjoying a long run at 1st place for the first 3 or 4 months of the season until Messi returned from his broken arm.
           Memphis also scored some crucial goals for Lyon's late Champions League qualification, though his production in the assists department did begin to fade as Lyon's over-reliance on Depay's creation muddied the waters while Fekir was hurt.
           Though it must be said: we saw Depay pull off an incredible amount of dribbles and stunning attacking play, showing he can filth it up with the best of them.
           Is he good enough to start for a major club and maintain his success against the best? 
           Could he ride out the pressure and expectation once again under the major spotlight? 
           It's one thing when you're playing for Lyon and you're surprising everyone by usurping Man City and going toe to toe with Barcelona, but it's another  matter altogether when you're playing for a club like Man Cityday, Barcelona,  Liverpool and its not a surprise, it's an expectation, it's a demand. 
            
9
JADON SANCHO (Dortmund)

46 appearances 
-16 assists overall
-UDGC: 6
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 77
-overall avg: 1.8
 -PER 90: 2.3 (BUND), 2.1 (UCL)
-Key Passes On to the Post: 2
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: either of the Englishman's 2 assists in the monumental come from behind 2-4 victory over Leverkeusen,  the first firmly establishing his partnership with Reus, the second a cross that bamboozles defenders into comedy.

             If you weren't surprised by the season Sancho just had you are either one of his mates, are in his family, or a liar. 
             I knew he was good, I felt he could be amazing...however 13 goals and 16 assists for an 18 year old is outrageous.
             Sancho proved his pedigree with one man of the match performance after another, combining with Dortmund captain Marco Reus for 9 goals across all competitions, only just behind Neymar-Mbappe on 13, Messi & Suarez / Auba-Laca / Kimmich-Lew on 11 and 
Sterling-Sane / Ziyech-Tadic with 10 for most dangerous partnership in all European competitions since August, putting them amongst the most esteemed company in all of football.
            Quite an achievement for a club captain (Reus) who's missed years of matches and a teenager playing his first full top flight season and at a foreign club.
            Sancho showed a devastating final ball throughout, yet it was his all-around maturity and the accuracy of his passing game that shocked fans, analysts, pundits and highlight video-only non-purists alike.
             He shows massive versatility on the wing, being capable of cutting inside and recycling possession decisively (his passing is almost always accurate and perfectly weighted) while also shielding the ball incredibly well for a teenager, only being dispossessed 1.7 and 1.6 times per 90 in the Bundesliga and Champions League respectively. 
             For a young winger barely over 18, this is frankly stunning.
            Who knows how long Jadon Sancho will last at the top, who knows what the future holds, but what we've seen already has startled us into near universal, cinematic praise for the young Englishman. 
            His arrival on the scene is  potentially ushering in an even more successful era for the English national team (building on their young squad's 4th place finish at the World Cup) alongside fellow teenaged lightning rods such as Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Hudson-Odoi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to name a few.
           Keeping in mind his promise with the national team, it only took England manager Gareth Southgate supplying four caps to the teenager to reap the benefits of this kid's talents: in his first start, Sancho assisted fellow young gun Alexander-Arnold for his only England goal, then began to establish a riveting balls-to-the-wall partnership with Raheem Sterling as he assisted the City talisman's goal vs Czech Republic. 
           In total (in his debut season internationally), Sancho provided 6 chances total in his 4 appearances, 1 uncredited direct goal contribution to a Hudson-Odoi forced own goal and set up Wayne Rooney for what was nearly his final England goal, but what was definitely his final England contribution, showing a passing of the torch in vivid clarity.
            Sancho has a huge future, especially if he doesn't rush any transfer decisions and calmly ruminates on the best future for himself and no one else. 
            He should be preparing himself to resume his world-beating, club and international title hoisting, record-shattering career if he wants it.
           Hopefully the young Sancho can navigate around the jackals and parasites that attach themselves to young teenaged football stars and pursue the greatness he's already previewed for us this year.
            
8
LEROY SANE  (City)

47 appearances 
-17 assists overall
-UDGC: 6
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 73
-overall avg: 1.55 
 -PER 90: 3.0 (UCL), 1.9 (EPL),
 2.5 (CC/FA cups), 
-Key Passes On to Post: 2 (Jesus, Foden)
-combined with Sterling for 10 goals 
(4 assisted by Sane)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: all 3 vs Schalke in the 2nd leg 

            In the final months of the season, Leroy Sane was ostracized by Guardiola as if he were Dave Mustaine trying to get back into Metallica, even while the young German scored the title winner against Liverpool, saved a potential disastrous 1st leg result vs Schalke with a late match-tying free kick, and sank United among many other notable contributions. 
         Leroy's dramatic descent from XI mainstay to the outskirts of the squad (Pep not even letting him play in the EPL title clincher, the 6-0 execution of Sarri's Chelsea, or more than a few minutes in both legs vs Tottenham and the FA Cup final). 
        All of this disassociation was a crucial error on Pep's part that cost City a place in this year's Champions League final. Sane is a young player...he's shown he will listen and he will give everything when respected, look at what he's become for Joachim Lowe someone who once ousted him from the World Cup only a year ago and someone who he's now thriving under.
         Guardiola should be manager enough to know how to solve Sane's "flaws" whatever they may be.
         And so, while lighting it up on 95% of his appearances, he finished playing a slight 2,694 minutes in all competitions and appearing on 47 occasions, often times for only brief cameos (to compare, Riyad Mahrez nearly equals Sane for minutes played with 2,551 while appearing in considerably less matches.
         Yes, there have been situations where Leroy Sane went anonymous for stretches, he's a young player: that's bound to happen. But there wasn't any mercy from Guardiola and no forgiveness for the most minute laziness and misplaced passing, which was usually the curse of his playing time being so inconsistent.
         On the whole, by the numbers and the eye test, the City #19 had his most explosive campaign yet, becoming a player who's value is nearly priceless in the final third.
        The winger had his most prolific season, snatching 17 official assists in all competitions, conjuring 6 more (UDGC), assisting 2 teammates in hitting the post, scoring 16 goals himself (and hitting the post 5 times with his own shots)...most of those are career highs (14 goals, 19 assists all comps. last year).
         Sane was ruthless when in the flow, posting 4 multi-assist matches, including the big one: his 1 goal and 3 assist hurricane that left his former club Schalke in his wake (during the Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg).     
        The young German (with his iconic 'fro) was wondrous in this match and even had another goal wrongfully ruled out for offside. In one 45 minute period, Leroy produced everything that makes him one of the best attacking threats in the game: his crossing is devastating, his through balls are mercenary (look at that Foden goal) and his finishing has become a reliable piece of his overall puzzle.
         If Guardiola allows the German to depart in the summer to either (the highly rumored) Bayern or wherever else, City will never win a European title under the current manager and with the current squad, such is his profound importance in dissecting the most robust and complex back-lines. 
        Many would disagree, but I ask you: they were without De Bruyne against Liverpool, against United, etc...do City win the EPL without Sane's assists or goals in those matches that helped them fight tooth and nail with Liverpool, defeating them in the head to head tilt thanks to Sane-Sterling's ebullient partnership?
         Without his 39 goals contributed, City don't even win a title this campaign...a stunning, yet completely realistic statement.

7
EDEN HAZARD  (Chelsea)

52 appearances 
-17 assists overall
-UDGC: 3
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 143
-overall avg: 3.5
 -PER 90: 4.5 (EUROPA), 3.0 (EPL)
-Key Passes on to Post: 7 
(most of any player)
(assisted Marcos Alonso (x3), Ross Barkley (x2), Willian & Pedro)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: His rolled ball for Kante to smash home in the 2-0 win vs City or his ball to Jorginho, take your pick, both master class artistry. 

           Believe it or not: when talking about his efforts on the pitch, Hazard has been a forgotten man this campaign...it's only when Real Madrid enters the discussion that he's been given airtime. 
          But for those who've risked infinite boredom and frustration when watching Chelsea, they've seen Eden Hazard have his greatest calendar year yet. 
          There was no World Cup hangover for the Belgium captain, seeing himself adequately rested at the beginning of the season while still registering assists from the bench; then when he began appearing every match, he assumed his dominance. 
           No other match may point to what made Eden Hazard so exhilarating in the passing game than his 2 assists in the 2-0 win over Manchester City: his brilliant cutback across the edge of the box to a waiting Ngolo Kante to thrash into the net was one of the sickest assists of the Premier League, putting Guardiola's men to the sword.
          And so the Belgian master rides out into the sunset after delivering the second Europa League title of his time in London and  doing it in sophisticated style in the final itself, dropping 2 goals and a smart assist to Pedro, needling the ball through the box and easily trolling the scattered Arsenal defense. 
           He cut inside looking for the shot, then slashed a pass at the exact moment the space cleared up and the precise time that Sokratis and Koscislny were 6's and 7's (maybe even 8's or 9's) they were left in the dust so badly, leaving themselves as spectators watching Pedro arrow his shot past Petr Cech in his final professional match.
           Hazard finished the season with 17 overall assists, 3 uncredited direct goal contributions, assisting 7 chances that cracked off of the post (the most of any player in 2018/19) and ended the season on a tear with 5 assists in his last 7 matches, 6 multi-goal matches, 2 braces of assists, a hat trick vs Cardiff and 21 goals total: all in a remarkably efficient 3,878 minutes.

6
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD  
(Liverpool)

38 appearances 
-15 assists overall
-UDGC: 5
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 75
-overall avg: 1.9
 -PER 90: 2.1 (UCL), 1.8 (EPL)
-Key Passes on to Post: 4 
(Mane x2, VVD, Firmino)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: his cunning and fiercely quick (UCL-winning) on the ground corner to Origi vs Barcelona that made it 4-3 on aggregate, completing the comeback.

             Alexander-Arnold did everything you wouldn't expect from a 20 year old in the final vs Tottenham. He nearly scored for the second final running and despite creating only one chance, he was solid in defense except for a few big open gaps that Spurs failed to exploit.
         He kept it steady and saw Liverpool through to their 6th European crown with  measured and almost boringly effective play. They literally rode the Tottenham waves of attack and, in the second half, completely left it up to Alisson to make 8 saves, including a few fantastic denials from Eriksen and Son.
         Though when you consider the season as a whole, there is no better pure right back in the game. Scoot aside, Joao Cancelo! You're not a natural right back, Joshua Kimmich! You're always hurt Carvajal! 
          For my money, I would spend every dime I had to for this guy.
          The effect he has on a match is unparalleled from fullback in 2018/19, and yes, while Joshua Kimmich posted 18 assists and 10 UDGC, Alexander-Arnold with 3 less assists, half the UDGC, plays in a tougher league and is shackled with more defensive responsibility than Kimmich, thus dipping into his attacking energy reserve.
           He changes games for Klopp's Liverpool and while not appearing in 6 matches all season, it's quite shocking when you find out Liverpool's record in those matches, some of them crucial fixtures that Klopp wrongfully prohibited TAA from playing in: they had two victories against Huddersfield and West Ham without TAA, but then lost to PSG, Red Star Belgrade (subbed off at half), a toothless 0-0 draw vs United, the 3-0 first leg defeat at Camp Nou and a 2-1 FA Cup loss to Wolverhampton, while Liverpool only lost twice with TAA in the lineup in 18/19: the 1-0 to Napoli and the 2-1 EPL title decider vs City.
          Not only that, Trent Alexander-Arnold didn't receive a yellow card since August, being booked the first three matches of the season and then never again, showing ultimate defensive restraint and control in big moments. Look no further than his defensive prowess against a spirited, energetic Franck Ribery in the 1st leg vs Bayern, and his performances vs Eden Hazard, Leroy Sane, Jordi Alba, Neymar and Mbappe were all second to none.
          As for creation, there was only the front men of Liverpool, City, Spurs and Chelsea's Eden Hazard who were better than Trent Alexander-Arnold. 
     Yes, Hazard had the most assists in the EPL with 15, but when you factor in TAA being a fullback into the equation and how he broke the record for "assists by a defender in a Premier League season" when he grabbed his 13th on the final day (just edging out his partner-in-crime on the left, Andy Robertson at 12), he must be pushed ahead of the stack due to difficulty.
         This record-breaking mastermind is already the youngest player to ever play in consecutive Champions League finals, he was the youngest Liverpool player to start a Champions League final, he's the youngest player to ever register 3 assists in a single match in top tier European competition, became only the 4th English teen to start a World Cup match and all before the lad can legally down a pint in America.
         

5
RAHEEM STERLING (City)

51 appearances 
-15 assists overall
-UDGC: 8
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 105
-overall avg: 2.05
 -PER 90: 2.7 (UCL), 2.1 (EPL)
-Key Passes on to Post: 2 (Walker, Aguero)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: when he drew the Liverpool defense in and then released a simple, astute ball to Leroy Sane to drive through TAA's sprawling legs, around Alisson's left hand, off the inside of the post and into the net: a piece of play so devastating in its simplicity that it was unstoppable against the best defense around, and this assist won City the EPL title.
             
            With his unreal contributions for club and country in 18/19, Raheem Sterling has exceeded the lofty expectations shackled upon him when he was only 17 at Liverpool. 
            Seriously....(dood's been nuts)...as much as his obvious boundless potential was clear in 2013/14, the route in which he has arrived at this current juncture was far from it, in fact his path has usually been distorted and perverted by conscious racism in the English media.
           He was starting the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 whilst often being used as the scapegoat for an all-around shameful England display and somewhere along the negative line he had to stride, Raheem began absorbing the unfair (or fair) pressures and aligning them with his unbridled, unparalleled movement and finally, with some encouragement and freedom from both Pep Guardiola and Gareth Southgate, Sterling has put it all together in a vicious package.
           His subtle movement can pave the way for his teammates (as we saw him expertly do at the 2018 World Cup for Harry Kane, and for Aguero and Sane with City) or his direct bursts down the wings or the center has ripped a plethora of opponents' entire defensive setup to shreds with a slight turn (Watford FA Cup final for example).
           His finishing in front of goal has been the biggest improvement of his entire career, and one that was especially necessary when Sterling continuously found himself in the perfect positions and In acres of space, only to shank point blank chances (vs Russia in Euro 2016 for a huge example).
         Now, he's banished the demons of his youth in favor of accurately passing the ball into the net, translating into buried goal after goal in this new poaching mindset, Raheem routinely hovering at the far post after a lung-bursting run through the teeth of the defense, usually finishing off the moves he started with an incisive pass or blistering run.
          Yes: Sterling's goalscoring brilliance has raised his level and overall status as a world class player, yet it's his final ball and key passing that has seen his influence dominate the play of Manchester City (and England) and has me excited about the Englishman's upcoming prime years.
           We only need to quantify his amount of key passes (105, tied with David Silva) to find out how much Sterling has meant for the creation of goals. 
          He's earned 6 penalties, forced 8 uncredited direct goal contributions, assisted two teammates who hit the post, combined for 10 goals with Leroy Sane and set career highs in assists and goals (14 assists in 2016/17 his previous high).
           Sterling was constantly attracting a bevy of defensive attention and spilling it wide left for Sane, the Englishman's much improved passing gave his German counterpart two immediate options: pass in space or shoot in space, with Guardiola's squad always profiting from this gorgeous patience-instilled play granting others avenues toward goal.
           Sterling's creative high points depicting his ascent to this new highly evolved elite stature: his all-action, truly obliterating showing vs Watford in the FA Cup final where he headed an assist to David Silva and set up 2 more goals with deceiving turns of pace and riotous through balls out to De Bruyne and Jesus on the break. Also, his brace of assists and all-encompassing destruction of Arsenal in the final third in a 3-1 beatdown, both final balls a profound statement of his merits as a footballer.
           Raheem has long been a valuable asset and a highly regarded player, but his 2018/19 form sees him usurp many as the most important cog in the 2nd best team in England. He used to be one of the most incredibly wasteful players in the final third, going back to his days under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, but now he's one of the safest bets to finish off any move with a killer pass or decisive finish.
            Who knows what he's got up his sleeve for 2019/20.

4
JOSHUA KIMMICH (Bayern)

47 appearances 
-18 assists overall
(3 in his last 4)
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 117
-overall avg: 2.5
 -PER 90: 2.4 (BUND), 2.3 (UCL)
-Key Passes On to Post: 4
 (Lew (×2), Goretzka, Thiago)
-combined with Lewandowski for 11 goals
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: His rocketed cross to Leon Goretzka for him to volley against Mainz showed Kimmich's abnormally unreal touch, passing ability and vision to pick Goretzka out in the only way that the German could've feasibly uncorked a shot in that crowded Mainz penalty area. 
Absolutely brilliant viewing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-TJ40zmuAc

              Bayern Munich have had a bizarre season of transition as they say goodbye to Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, say hello to new stars like Serge Gnabry (and possibly Leroy Sane) and their manager Niko Kovac barely has the confidence of Bayern luminaries Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Ruminegge to keep the job.
              But for all the topsy turvy behind the scenes action and uncertainty, Joshua Kimmich has been a consistent gem for the Bavarians, posting career highs in chances created (117) and assists (18).
              Kimmich's litany of chances (sprayed from out wide) provided 28 goals directly in 18/19, putting the right back in 3rd place for total assists (behind only Messi, Dusan Tadic and Hakim Ziyech) and is tied for the most uncredited direct goal contributions (10) with the aforementioned Ziyech and Mo Salah, doing it all for the German giants and receiving very little notoriety for his outrageous efforts.
            Sure...we get it....Kimmich isn't even playing in his natural position and Bayern Munich had a pretty shitty season for their standards. 
            However, the exponential growth of Joshua Kimmich's attacking prowess is nearly atrocious in its speedy progress. 
           The kid has every ball in his locker: he's capable of Alexander-Arnold-esque crosses, whipped in with accuracy, pace and danger that always seems to beat the line of heads attempting to clear; he can slip runners in behind with filthified and expertly weighted through balls; he produces clever chips over the back line, deceptive diagonal balls that bend and dip over the shoulders of opposition wingers and fullbacks, setting speedster teammates like Gnabry or Coman on their way into the box (instead of fluffing balls out wide that keep the wingers static).
             I really don't know if stuffing such a force like Kimmich into the engine room of the midfield gets the best out of him. Right now at fullback, Kimmich is already stationed as an auxiliary midfielder who has more time and space from which to launch any and all attacks, while also being able to utilize his energy and finesse on the ball to establish the Bayern build-up (leading the Bundesliga in touches per 90, key passes, assists and key passes on to the post).
              It may just be his lack of time in the position over the last few years or the conservatism of manager Niko Kovac but he seems stifled when playing in midfield, participating in some beautiful build-up play (he assisted Ribery's final Bayern goal from center mid) but also getting bogged down and finding it difficult to unleash his qualities.
              Although his supposed natural position is in midfield, we think it would be foolish for Bayern to go without the young German's exuberant and feisty play out wide that not only created the most chances for Bayern Munich, but in the entire Bundesliga. 
              Until Bayern sign a big time right back capable of filling those shoes and ironing down that role (Benjamin Pavard, perhaps?), Kimmich has to stay at right back. 

3
HAKIM ZIYECH  (Ajax)

49 appearances 
-19 assists overall
-UDGC: 10
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 159
-overall avg: 3.2 
 -PER 90: 4.0 (ERED), 2.2 (UCL) 
-Key Passes on to Post: 2 
(Van De Beek, Neres)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: a pass that he literally shot through the Juve back line to Van De Beek to score beyond Sczyzesny

                Hakim Ziyech's rise has been an unnoticed meteoric surge up the creators table, the Moroccan devastating all comers in all competitions with aggression and charisma alongside his Ajax teammates, the lot of them smashing down the fortress doors and burning the castle to the ground in the process, taking the scalps of 3x defending European champion Real Madrid, Ronaldo's Juventus and battling Bayern over two draws in the group stage.
           Ziyech was a gigantic part of the greatest Ajax season since they went to back to back finals in 96-97. This current batch is continuing the evolution of the legendary Dutch club that gave us the likes of Kluivert, Seedorf, Overmars, Rijkaard and the godfather of the two most entertaining and successful clubs in world football, Johan Cruyff...a long line of succession that Ziyech, Tadic, De Jong, De Ligt and Van De Beek can proudly set their names alongside in the annals of Ajax's illustrious history.
           Because as a player, Hakim Ziyech could be revolutionary, if not for his own exploits then the influence it has had on the aggressive, high-pressing and avid tackling we've seen from young attackers across world football (Nabil Fekir, Jadon Sancho in the 3-2 win vs Bayern, teammate Donny Van De Beek and Bayern's own cold hearted assassin, Serge Gnabry). 
           Throughout the Ajax fixtures (especially in the Champions League) the Moroccan was forceful and commanding, creating a large portion of the Ajax goals from his filthy dead ball deliveries, or his rasping shots providing rebounds, or (another sign of a true world class talent) driving opponents into comical own goals and mistakes with the deceptive bend on his crosses, through balls or shots.
           The complete authority of his mature attributes influenced the rampant Ajax attack as much as Frenkie De Jong's panache on the ball or Van De Beek's blitzing runs from midfield or Tadic's calm in recycling possession in the final third: Ziyech posted a ridiculous number of tackles attempted and completed, going in for 2.7 and 1.8 per 90 in the Champions League and Eredivisie respectively, very high numbers of aggressive engagement (for any attacker, let alone midfielder) that created many chances from this brutal pressing from the front, winning possession 52 times total in the Eredivisie alone.
           This is a guy who SHOULD be bought by any club that has access to a brain. He did everything you could imagine or demand from a footballer... he's a pure jack-of-all-trades who drove Ajax on in a variety of positions and roles, from a more defensive and mature structure on the wing, to his favored left center mid spot, or in the #10 role it didn't matter: he affected the game in all areas, filling up the stat box while turning his effectiveness and individual accolades into victories for his club, his goal and shot off of the post nearly taking Ajax through to the final vs Liverpool, ending in a disturbing turn of events to say the least.
          At the final whistle, with Ajax fans and players' tears falling, it was still evident that no player felt that loss harder than the Moroccan World Cup sensation. 
          Over 2018/19, Ziyech was posting 3.2 key passes per 90 in all comps, 5.2 shots (he struck the post 10 times himself, only 1 less than Messi), 46.8 passes completed at a 75% completion rate, 1.1 interceptions (1.3 in the UCL) and a whopping 4-7 tackles completed per match in every knockout stage match of the Champions League.
          And with 21 goals,19 assists (2nd in Europe), 10 uncredited direct goal contributions, creating the most chances in all of Europe with 159 chances, assisting 2 teammates in hitting the post and only going one match without a goal or an assist in the entire campaign, Ziyech had to be extremely high on our list...in fact, completely undroppable (when Ajax weren't on an off week) such was his infinite production.
        With a heavily rumored release clause of only €25 million, we should see a wild rat race of suitors piling up to sign the Moroccan, for we know whoever does will improve their club markedly. 
        
2
DUSAN TADIC (Ajax)

55 appearances 
-21 assists overall
-UDGC: 5
-CHANCES CREATED
-overall avg: 2.6
 -TOTAL: 147
 -PER 90: 3.1 (UCL), 2.8 (ERED)
-Key Passes on to Post: 3 
(Neres x2, Ziyech) (UCL only)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: the turning kiss off of the feet to Ziyech to usher in the vanquishing of Real Madrid was immense.

    
             Dusan Tadic had his greatest season as a professional in his first year at Ajax, coming back to the Eredivisie after years away at Southampton in the Premier League, at the age of 30 and in a post-World Cup year, you'd forgive him for not lightning every pitch up.
           Instead, he never stopped, he was never dropped and he ran the great and fabled 2019 Ajax show.
           In the EPL, he had flashes of majestic magic against the likes of Manchester City, Sunderland and Chelsea, however the Serbian never really settled into the English club who's managerial and personnel carousel didn't benefit the self-ordained "Assist King" whatsoever.
           After returning to the scene of his greatest crimes (the Eredivisie), Tadic fell right into place with the myriad of attacking manifest destiny in all phases for Ajax: combining routinely with Hakim Ziyech (the two combined for 10 goals, immediately putting to bed any doubt about a "spat" between the two over the former Groningen & Southampton man taking the Moroccan's #10 shirt due to Ajax believing Ziyech was on his way out last summer). 
           Under Erik Ten Hag, Tadic played a 
center forward / center attacking mid hybrid position that can't completely be called a "false 9" considering he rarely stayed too deep in midfield, though it was through the earnest, positive and hungry management by the young Dutch manager to anchor the entire attack around his #10...and my my my did it pay dividends.
          Under this new formation, the Serb operated in the box like a midfielder, probing defenses with calm, slick and dizzying one-touch triangle passing, working the opposition side to side and front to back as if this was still masturbatory build-up play, however herein lies the secret to Ajax's European success story: with willing, vibrant and dynamic runners flocking all around Dusan Tadic at the base of operations around the tip, or inside of the box, there were never enough defenders and tracking midfielders to shut down the raging runs and precise final third passing while trying to remain glued to a guy who's scored 34 goals on the season, with every single option running into the box more than capable of swinging play back to the Serbian for a finish or taking it on themselves, offering Ajax almost too many intricate options and giving the defense none.
             To aid in these attacks, his vicious front-press won possession 9 more occasions than that of Frenkie De Jong  (38 to Frenkie's 29, acc. To whoscored.com) and second only to his partner up in attack, Hakim Ziyech, displaying yet another attribute Tadic has brought to his game, eschewing the former tag of "luxury player" down the sink.
          Who knows how much the 30 year old has left in the tank, or if this is the end for his miracle run at a season up there with the greats of the game, though maybe he's just getting started.


1
LIONEL MESSI  (Barca)

50 appearances 
-19 assists overall
-UDGC: 9
-CHANCES CREATED
-overall avg: 2.8
 -TOTAL: 139
 -PER 90: 2.9 (UCL), 3.1 (LALIGA)
-Key Passes On to Post: 5
(Suarez x2, Roberto, Dembele, Alba)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: 
His otherworldly cross / pass through, above and around the desperate Lyon defense to Gerard Pique for a sliding finish. The more angles you watch of this assist...the better it gets. But really ALL 19 were unbelievable.

          Though he went a good portion of the final stretch without an assist, Lionel Messi is not only the greatest goalscorer in the game (winning the European Shoe once again, scoring more goals than appearances), he's the best creator, too.
           No club has, had (or should've had) more success from one player's creativity in 18/19, such was his absolutely crucial presence in the final third for Barcelona. He brought the overwhelmed Coutinho together for a few goals, he combined with Luis Suarez for 11 altogether, propped new boy Ousmane Dembele up for a mammoth 9 goals, assisting 7 of them himself as he helped Dembele along to a fabulous second season at Camp Nou (albeit a campaign cruelly abbreviated by injury and woefully mismanaged by Valverde).
         He's also dished 3 assists to both Suarez and Pique and 2 to Coutinho, displaying how anxious Messi is to get something going between his teammates in this post-MSN / Iniesta-Xavi era..and also how wasteful Suarez and Coutinho were.
         Proving the premise that stats are always misleading in this game, some of Messi's overall uncredited direct goal contributions were slightly deflected assists (own goal vs United, first Dembele goal vs Levante), with the two examples given equaling him on par with Tadic's 21.
         Many will wonder why he's #1 when Ziyech has as many assists and Dusan Tadic has 2 more than the Argentine, but to hell with stats, this is about the eye test. 
        Messi has played against top opponents every second of every match, often having to will the Catalan giants to victory through his own means. 
       He's been under a microscope no other player has ever had to deal with: Messi only grabs 2 goals and an assist in a 3-1 Barca win and there's no applause, just "ok...that's what he should do"; then when Barca still win with Messi grabbing an assist, creating 6 chances and dribbling through 10 players everyone wonders "where was Messi today?" 
         Lionel Messi has a "gun" (called social media) pointed at his head every time he touches or doesn't touch a ball. When the impossible bests expectation, impossibility becomes expectation. 
       We have become so desensitized to the dancing madness of Lionel Messi that we fail to realize that he's committing a supernatural act on the ball nearly every touch, proving his G.O.A.T pedigree more than anyone cares to fathom. 
       And to illustrate why Messi belongs as the #1 creator in world football look no further than the first 50 minutes at Anfield. 
       Though Barca would succumb to a 4-3 comeback victory from Liverpool, the tie would've been well and truly over had just one of the expert 3 chances Messi created for Suarez, Coutinho and Alba been put away.
       He played three through balls for each teammate, sending them into space and on their favored foot with only the keeper to beat and each time we saw Alisson make three mostly comfortable saves.
       Do we even need to mention his brilliant cutback to Dembele in the last second of the 1st leg?
       Based on his creation alone, Barcelona should be hoisting their 6th European cup with Messi lifting it for the first time as captain. 
      Instead, the whole planet (blinded by Messi's light) sits and wonders "where was Messi?"
      The truth is always there for those who'll see it.

     
THE BEST OF THE REST/
 REST OF THE BEST


KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG)

-15 assists overall
-UDGC: 6
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 72
 -PER 90: 2.1 (UCL), 1.8 (LIGUE1)
-Key Passes on to Post: 1


JULIAN BRANDT (LEVERKEUSEN)

-13 assists overall
-UDGC: 7
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 99
 -PER 90: 2.9 (EUROPA), 2.2 (BUND)
-Key Passes On to Post: 2

ANDREW ROBERTSON  (LIVERPOOL)



-13 assists overall
-UDGC: 2
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 61
 -PER 90: 1.4 (EPL), 1.0 (UCL) 

RYAN FRASER  (BOURNEMOUTH)

-15 assists overall
-UDGC: 2
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 93
 -PER 90: 2.6 (EPL)
Key Passes On to Post: 1 (Gosling)

DAVID SILVA (City)

-12 assists overall
-UDGC: 6
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 105
 -PER 90: 2.7 (EPL), 2.4 (UCL)
- Key Passes Off Post: 3
 (Sane, De Bruyne, Aguero)

              This will be remembered as the season David Silva went bald.


CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (Spurs)
-17 assists overall 
-UDGC:
-CHANCES CREATED 
 -TOTAL: 105
 -PER 90: 2.5 (UCL), 2.4 (EPL)
-Key Passes Off Post: 2 
(Moura, Alderweireld)
-ASSIST OF THE SEASON: His swept fake shot / no look kiss-pass to Dele Alli for the tap-in after sweet build-up play by Spurs' Harry Kane showing off his long ball abilities. 

MOST CHANCES CREATED 
(all comps)
1. HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax): 159

2. MEMPHIS DEPAY (Lyon): 148

3. DUSAN TADIC (Ajax): 147
4. EDEN HAZARD (Chelsea): 143
5. LIONEL MESSI (Barca): 139

6a. WILLIAN (Chelsea): 133

6b. MARTIN ODEGAARD (Vitesse): 133

MOST UDGC (all comps)

1a.HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax): 10
1b.MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool): 10

1c.JOSHUA KIMMICH (Mun): 10

2a. LIONEL MESSI (Barca): 9
2b.ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (Mun): 9
2c.ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (ARS): 9

3a. LUIS SUAREZ (Barca): 8 

3b. BERNARDO SILVA (City): 8
3c. RAHEEM STERLING (City): 8

4a. SERGE GNABRY (Mun): 7

4b. JULIAN BRANDT (Bayer): 7
4c. SADIO MANE (Liverpool): 7

5a. LEROY SANE (City): 6 

5b. KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG): 6

MOST ASSISTS (all comps):
1. DUSAN TADIC (Ajax):        21
2a. LIONEL MESSI (Barca):      19

2b.HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax):         19

3.JOSHUA KIMMICH (Bayern):  18
4a.LEROY SANE (City):          17
4b.CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (Spurs):17
4c. EDEN HAZARD (Chelsea): 17

5a. MEMPHIS DEPAY (Lyon):        16

5b.JADON SANCHO (Dortmund):16
5c.ANGEL DI MARIA (PSG): 16
6a.KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG):         15
6b.RYAN FRASER (Bournemouth): 15
6c.RAHEEM STERLING (City): 15

7. TEJI SAVANIER (Nimes): 14

MOST GOAL COMBINATIONS:
1. MBAPPE-NEYMAR  (PSG): 13
2a.MESSI-SUAREZ (BARCA): 11
2b.AUBA-LACA (ARSENAL): 11
2c.KIMMICH-LEWANDOWSKI: 11
3a. STERLING-SANE (CITY): 10
3b.ZIYECH-TADIC (AJAX): 10
4. REUS-SANCHO (BVB): 9
5. SALAH-MANE (LIVERPOOL): 7

Interesting stats:

-FIRMINO AND SALAH WERE INVOLVED IN 18 GOALS COMBINED IN 17/18, YET ONLY MANAGED 3 TOGETHER IN 18/19.