ASSISTKINGS QUARTERLY: VOL 2

ASSISTKINGS QUARTERLY VOL. 2

WE BEGIN AGAIN WITH VOLUME II:

WE BRING TO YOU, AS WE ALWAYS DO

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL, 

THE MOST ESSENTIAL

AND THE SIMPLY REVERENTIAL 

10.
ROBERTO FIRMINO (Liverpool)

-2 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 6
 -AVG: 1.3
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 1 

              The Brazilian #9 wasn't at his best for most of the Liverpool v Arsenal match, though it was his deliciously cushioned pass into Mohamed Salah, following a Trent Alexander-Arnold punt into the box, which created the penalty for Liverpool's 2nd goal.
             Firmino's volleyed pass was so irresistible and had set Salah free in such clear space, the ball forced Arsenal's new signing David Luiz to halt a tap-in by ripping his former Chelsea teammate's kit off his back, taking the yellow card and forcing the Egyptian to earn the goal at the penalty spot (a cynical, though thoroughly tactical perspective Arsenal will be better served by attaining).
            But...was Leno ever going to save that Salah penalty? 
            Not in a million years, and the Egyptian's top left corner blast gave Firmino his 1st uncredited direct goal contribution of the season to go alongside his 2 assists on the campaign. 
             Firmino will be annoyed to have not followed up his hat trick heroics last season vs Arsenal or his cosmic antics in beatdowns of the Gunners in years previous, but he was nevertheless decisive in his movement, his touch in the final third (as proven by the penalty earning pass, Luiz's tug stealing an assist from Firmino) and his consistent orchestration on the ball kept Unai Emery's men guessing.
           Firmino has had an under the radar start to proceedings in 19/20, but with 2 assists, 1 UDGC and a shot off the post already, Bobby takes his place on the list. 

9. & 8.
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN (Barca)
&
SERGI ROBERTO (Barca)

GRIEZMANN
-1 assist
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 3
 -AVG: 1.5
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 0
ROBERTO:
-2 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 3
 -AVG: 1.5
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 0

               For all the hatred aimed his way, for all the ill-will and shortsighted criticism, Sergi Roberto continues to lay on the assists and provide moments of transcendence for Barcelona.
              After a shameful team performance to start the season vs Bilbao, a match where Valverde started with Busquets on the bench (De Jong at CDM instead) and of course, with Valverde being too easy a target, Roberto came under intense fire once again, just as he did in the aftermath of the 2nd leg vs Liverpool.
            It's as if no matter who was at fault for our defeat, Valverde included, Sergi Roberto would always be the scapegoat...and he knows that, too.
             Sergi Roberto is a player who is cursed by his own versatility, wasted on the wings for nearly three full seasons, managers Enrique and Valverde hampering his development.
            Somehow, some way, like most world class footballers, Sergi has taken his failures and criticism at right back and turned them into lessons learned, adding new skill sets he gained out wide and adapting them to his midfield game.

Griezz diving for Sergi's assist

   And because of his usage at fullback for so long, Sergi has become a viciously combative and creative midfielder, as we witnessed on Sunday vs Real Betis and a highly energetic, influential presser of the ball that Barcelona simply need. 
          The La Masia product produced the goods to stake his claim to a place in the middle of the park, just as I had called for the last three seasons. 
           I believe we owed the player a spell in midfield, especially now with Rakitic and Vidal both older and incapable of playing in a center three with Busquets (due to their lack of pace being exposed, as we saw vs Liverpool among many others).  
              In a midfield three of Roberto, Busquets and Frenkie De Jong, the bland side to side cynicism and profligate play of last week became instant tiki-taka-esque combination play between Roberto, Rafinha, Busquets, Carlos Perez and Antoine Griezmann, with the Frenchman instigating one-two combination play at all costs in and around the box.
             Griezmann's movement and Roberto's feverish press began to free space for Alba's surging runs down the wing, with the inspired play from the duo directly contributing to all 3 key passes from Jordi on the left.
            The Frenchman was at the hub of the passing fantasia Barca fans have been dying for, and Griezmann's slick fluidity on the ball was just as wondrous and as fast as I'd expected from the World Cup winner.            
             Roberto's bevy of attacking qualities were unleashed due to the unfathomable talents and overall speed of Antoine Griezmann, the reintroduction of Sergi Busquets at the base of midfield and the joint aggression within the entire unit to win the ball back as quickly as possible.
            Sergi set up 3 chances on the night, spearheading the blistering performance vs Betis and grabbing 2 assists from this otherworldly tempo...a passing speed of the likes which we haven't seen as Barca fans in some time. 
           Roberto finally unleashed Griezmann in the box, identifying a fantastic run from the World Cup winner when he chipped in an alien off-the-ground through ball that dropped right at the diving Griezmann's feet, the ball being tapped in through Betis keeper Martin's hands and into the net, providing the former Atletico man with his 1st official Barca goal...and from such a disgusting, filthy assist from the under-fire Sergi Roberto.
             It was only 5 minutes into the 2nd half when Roberto and Griezmann both hounded the Betis defenders again and ripped the ball back just outside of the Seville club's box before connecting with quick one touch passing. 
            Griezmann first supplied Roberto then the unfairly-criticized midfielder watched Griezmann about to run into the box, a defender on his hip...(this is where Roberto does something special):
           Instead of delivering the pass right then to a running Griezmann, Roberto realizes he'd only be passing the Frenchman directly into a defender and instead slips a pass slightly behind Antoine, one the high-IQ forward quickly understands and steps back to collect. He hauls the pass in with one touch and thanks to Roberto passing him "backwards into space", Griezmann was fully able to step into the shot, curling a wondrous effort into the corner of the goal from his dream spot on the pitch.
            The Camp Nou...and even you at home went insane...the football...the majesty...football is being born again here on this pitch...in front of our own Voldemort.
              To follow this orgasmic combustion of attacking prowess, Roberto was skipping over challenges and sprawling tackles to deliver a ball for Perez, the Camp Nou debutante looking for his 2nd goal, though his touch made the angle significantly tighter and he fired into the side netting, Perez wasting the fine opportunity. 
              With 70 out of 77 accurate passes (44 of them forward passes, 9 passes into the box), 3 chances created, 2 interceptions, a repetitive plethora of high tempo one-touch passes outside of the opposition box, unceasing energy coupled with a profound commitment to high pressing and providing an extra dribbling threat from midfield (2 dribbles from 2 attempts), Sergi Roberto did more than seal his own spot in midfield for the time being: 
he set an example of how every Barcelona midfielder can affect the game...all beginning with hard work, an intangible we've seen many big time footballers, young and old, fail to grasp, though a rule Sergi has always mastered.
            Most of the Barca players have heard the fans saying how "boring Valverde's Barca were" or how "slow and impotently dull" they'd become and they've answered the call. 
           Griezmann showed a ton of leadership with his role in leading the press and attacking impetus, but it was the creative panache of Sergi Roberto and his irresistible final ball that gave the Frenchman an unbelievable start to life at Barcelona...which is why both had to make this list with their complete and utter teamwork.

7.
MARCEL SABITZER (Leipzig)

-3 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 10
 -AVG: 3.3
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 1 

            Sabitzer followed up his hat trick of assists from last week with an uncredited direct goal contribution, though it was all in good fun: setting up another huge Leipzig victory in 19/20.
           The mercurial Sabitzer took an accurate corner that swung to the head of Youssef Poulsen, the Danish World Cup goalscorer getting his pony-tailed dome to the ball, flicking it directly to Timo Werner for the one touch finish on the bounce. Sabitzer and Poulsen's combination befuddled Frankfurt into a slow reaction on the Werner finish, directly creating what would turn out to be the defining goal of the 2-1 victory for Nagelsmann's Leipzig.
           On 18 minutes, after Leipzig won and took a quick free kick, Sabitzer was found with his back to goal just beyond the center circle and on his first touch, he curled in a ball for Klostermann on the turn that played the fullback into a perfect crossing position, a phenomenal, breathtaking piece of footballing IQ from the Austrian. 
           The fullback smashed a low ball that went untouched and was hit into the air by an off-balance Timo Werner, though once again, Sabitzer was at the hub of it all, providing the spark and the great passes into space for his athletically superior wide-men to run on to.
          He was calm and assured in possession, however  the Leipzig talisman was hassled, harassed and harried, forced into a few blocked shots, two chances and the aforementioned UDGC, though little else.
            The Austrian international drops a few spots due to his more subdued performance than the perfect, 5 star showing last week, though he was an incredibly effective soldier in the midfield for Nagelsmann's Bundesliga-contending Leipzig. 

6.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (Liverpool)

-2 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 12
 -AVG: 2.4
-Key Passes Off Post: 2
-UDGC: 1

            TAA has only continued to improve and expand his "arsenal" of devastating final third passing. His range has only deepened, just as his dead-ball deliveries have become almost untouchable.
           Once again, the 20 year old's corners into the big men have proven decisive. 
           Having already created two chances in which Virgil Van Dijk and Roberto Firmino have hit the post in 19/20, Trent was unlucky not to have more than the token assist to begin the season, but he would get his rewards even as Liverpool looked shaky early on vs Arsenal.
           Auba nearly chipped Adrian and new signing Nicolas Pepe dribbled past VVD (1st time Virgil has been dribbled past in 11 months), but it was a delectable TAA corner: bending and dipping right on to the forehead of Joel Matip, that broke the deadlock, giving Klopp's Reds the early 1-0 lead that they so rarely ever give up. 
             But It was from the marauding play of Andrew Robertson on the left (with 3 key passes himself and 4 overall chances created) that unbalanced the Arsenal back four. 
             Robbo's early danger caused the back line to slide slightly to the right to help Maitland-Niles at right back. This realignment caused by the dual  bombadier fullbacks, created an avenue for Trent blitzing down the right.
            TAA launched in 6 key passes
 (7 chances overall) that forced Arsenal deep all game; Alexander-Arnold lashed in a litany of dangerous crosses (13) that forced unceasing interventions from the Arsenal defense (13 blocked shots and 9 blocked crosses and 27 clearances!!!!).   
            The Englishman continues to be a near constant threat down the right, while also remaining available for the perfect outlet ball when a good front press traps Liverpool's back line into uncomfortable scenarios.
           As far as fullbacks, he's as divine a player as you could dream of, though he hasn't finished developing. 
          Who knows what position TAA will end up playing when his career is finished...but if it aint broke, why "fix it"?
                
5. 
DAVID SILVA (City)

-3 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 6
 -AVG: 1.5 
-Key Passes Off Post: 1
-UDGC: 0 

              David Silva hasn't been in the spotlight the beginning of the season, though he has now arrived with a bang.
              Taking off after his 1 assist performance vs Liverpool in the Community Shield, Silva grabs 2 assists on Saturday vs Bournemouth in a shift that shows the stunning feet of the Spaniard in all their glory.
             City appeared shaky, with goalkeeper Ederson nearly sent off for a foul outside of the box and looking out of his depth whenever the ball bounced inside the Citizens' box; however it only took two pieces of quality from David Silva to end the match.
            After a Kevin De Bruyne assist to Sergio Aguero, it was down to the only key passes David Silva had in the match to finish the Cherries off.
            First, David Silva was found in space after a delectable ball from Bernardo into the Spaniard on the cusp of the box. The former Valencia man turned away from pressure and shot the ball into the path of Sterling's run, a shot / pass that Sterling somehow caressed into a toe-poke finish, the 2nd goal Silva has assisted to Raheem Sterling in 19/20.
             For his 2nd assist, David Silva performed a frenetic, tap-dance routine on the ball to set it up for Sergio Aguero. Silva went running through the Bournemouth box, being pulled back and blocked off by defenders, all while twisting and turning on the ball with nonstop rushing feet before...suddenly, getting the ball out from his feet and stopping on it, leaving the ball in Aguero's trail, with only the finishing push into the net left. 
             Silva's clinical touches sustain the runs of De Bruyne, Bernardo and Sterling; this filthy play coupled with his distribution from deep is what defines his infinite value to Guardiola's City. 
He dished 53 accurate passes from 59 total, 3 dribbles, 2 shots on target, 2 clearances, 2 tackles completed from 2 attempts and provided a monumental pair of on the ball magic that edged out Bournemouth. 
             Without his panache, comfort on the ball and incisive through balls and diagonals from deep, City aren't as penetrative or as direct as they are at the moment. 
             But with City like this, they can get the best game out of anyone and still win 5-0. 
             And with Silva's 2 assists today, City now have had a different player with multiple assists in each Premier League match this season (Mahrez with 2 vs West Ham, De Bruyne with 2 vs Tottenham and now Silva). 

4.
DONNY VAN DE BEEK (Ajax)

-4 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 17
 -AVG: 2.4
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 0 
     
             Ajax enjoyed a break this weekend as they prepare for the 2nd leg of Champions League qualifiers against APOEL after a bizarre 0-0 1st leg draw that depicts last year's semifinalists up against the wall. 
             They've enjoyed some time off here, though DVB needs to get his game going after a slow start and a lazy finish to the dangerous 0-0 1st leg encounter vs APOEL. He created two chances on goal, though neither were dangerous, allowed plenty of attacks from Nicosia to flow directly through his area on the pitch, and his final ball went MIA for 75-80 minutes.
            And it nearly cost Ajax a place in the Champions League, or, judging by their last second loss in the semifinal 2nd leg to Spurs last season, a bad performance from Donny and Tadic feasibly could've cost them the Champions League itself...such is their talent.
            Look for the Dutchman to go off in the 2nd leg in Amsterdam...
             
3.
JADON SANCHO (Dortmund)

-3 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 9
 -AVG: 2.3
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 1

             Dortmund were in big trouble on Friday against Koln, staring down a 1-0 deficit, their goalkeeper Roman Burki becoming a near homicidal lunatic on the ball at the back, Manuel Akanji was nursing an injury and giving away free headers in the box and Sancho, Reus and Alcacer had little more than scraps to feed off of going into the final 20 minutes. 
             Though you can always count on Lucien Favre to make inspired substitutions and tactical changes to take command of a match before he loses control, throwing on Achraf Hakimi (who scored the winner with a perfect header) to storm up and down the left wing and create space for his front three.
            When Witsel was joined by Julian Brandt in midfield (Brandt coming on for Julian Weigl) and Nico Schulz was pulled off for Hakimi in the 62nd minute, everything became different for Dortumund, who were now gaining the rewards from their manager's brilliant changes.
            Reus was in the box finally, pushing and pulling defenders with his movement and vision, but it was right and left winger / midfielder Jadon Sancho being freed up in the attacking third that finally paid dividends, as it always has for Lucien Favre's Dortmund.
            It was a mere short corner kick routine between Thorgan Hazard (who was very good) and Jadon Sancho upon 70 minutes that broke the deadlock, and it was Sancho's venomous blast from younger Hazard's return pass that equalized for BVB. Sancho laced the effort with a strong left footed pile driver into the bottom corner, around and through defenders and Cologne's Horn as if they were statues. 
            After the Hakimi header from a Lukasz Piszczek cross made it 2-1, Sancho set off to the races on a fast break counter to finish it off with another assist.  It began when he received a filthy pass up the right wing from the Polish right back, Piszczek rifling a ball up the wing to Sancho ater BVB cleared a Koln corner from their own box. Once that ball cleared the pressing FC Cologne players, Sancho had the simple formality of making the clear and obvious ground in front of him before making the right final choice.
            Once again, he could've easily screwed this up but he made the sublimely difficult look devastatingly simple. He had the goalkeeper and center halves at his mercy as he dribbled onto them and before simply spraying a pass to the wide open and waiting Alcacer, Sancho touched the ball and seemed to fake both a pass and shot before sublimely slicing a dagger ball into the space his hesitating touch had just created, Alcacer smashing the ball into the goal with the poaching attributes of a henchman for Dick Cheney. 
           Yet again, Jadon Sancho wasn't at his creative best against Cologne (2 key passes), yet he's beginning to show he has the qualities to finish off opposition in both the Bundesliga and Champions League when in the final third.
           The former City man's uncanny finishing abilities (with both feet) and propensity to slow down tough split second decisions in the last moments of attack, coupled with his disgusting vision for someone only a teenager, Sancho's precision passing accuracy in nearly every phase of the game and his agile ease of dribbling through opponents without having to absorb too many fouls... 
all of these world class attributes make Jadon Sancho the best English player outside of Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, Borussia Dortmund's infinitely valuable asset and one of the most impactful modern teenagers we've had the pleasure to view. He's only going to get better...


2.
HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax)


-2 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 25
 -AVG: 3.6
-Key Passes Off Post: 2
-UDGC: 3

              Ziyech nearly unlocked the rigid defense of APOEL in the Champions League qualifiers last Tuesday, creating a few chances in the final stages of the match, setting up a beautiful 88th minute combination sequence that featured Donny Van De Beek, Klaas-Jan Huuntelaar and Ziyech flicking and tricking before Ziyech flicked the ball through the legs of an APOEL defender for Huuntelaar to latch on to on the other side. The ageless Dutch striker latched on to it and poked it over the goalkeeper, though an APOEL defender cleared the shot off of the line with a fantastic goal-line clearance, swiping a Ziyech assist and Ajax 1-0 first leg victory from history.
              APOEL were fantastic against Ajax, punishing the Dutch team for most of the match and suckering full back Nassaour Masrouai into a stupid challenge from behind, earning his second yellow card and a sending off, infuriating Hakim Ziyech who slammed the ball into the ground.
             Ajax need a big performance after the 0-0 1st leg result and so they've been granted time off from the Eredivisie until September 1st, in hopes it'll help the Amsterdam club qualify for the Champions League once again. This rest will hopefully give the Ajax players a breather for the 2nd leg, in which we'll hopefully see a fire-breathing performance from last year's semifinalists and near-finalists. 


1.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE (City)

-4 assists
-CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 14
 -AVG: 3.5
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 0

             His mis-hit shot vs Bournemouth was ugly, yet like much of what De Bruyne touches, it turned to gold. 
             De Bruyne grabbed his 4th assist on the campaign after an embarrassing missed shot attempt popped up right for Sergio Aguero to scythe home into the far left corner. 
             It was incredibly lucky, but for a guy who created 9 chances last week and only received 2 assists, we'll give him this one. 
             Hey, it still looked cool, Kevin.
             And now, this lucky assist has given De Bruyne his 50th EPL assist and making him the quickest player to 50 assists in Premier League history, in just 123 appearances, besting Ozil's 141.


BEST OF THE REST

JOAO FELIX (Atletico)

- 1 assist
- CHANCES CREATED
 -TOTAL: 1
 -AVG: 0.5
-Key Passes Off Post: 0
-UDGC: 0
 (Earned 1 penalty)

             Despite ESPNFC and BEINSports reporting that the Portuguese teenager has 5 assists already in his young Atletico Madrid career, this statistic is erroneous. 
             Yes he did have 4 assists in pre-season, including a pair to Diego Costa and a goal vs Real Madrid in the atomic 7-3 evisceration of Zidane's side, but we're only tallying stats earned in official league and domestic / European cup competitions.
              With that in mind, Joao Felix only has 1, a pearly-gates-opening through ball into the path of Vitolo, the Spaniard burying his shot to give Atletico their second straight 1-0 victory to start the 19/20 campaign.
             And everyone thought this Godin-less Atletico 2.0 would bury 5 or 6 goals a match and prove incapable of keeping clean sheets, but here they are, executing the same Simeone ethos as ever before.
            Felix, their teenage sensation, found himself on the periphery these first two La Liga outings, grabbing only 19 total passes vs Leganes, the lone chance conjured into an assist and a single shot on target. 
           He's simply too valuable to miss out on the ball this much in a single match, especially one in which Leganes pushed Atletico to the brink, nearly grabbing an equalizer in the last 10 minutes.
           We expect the Portugal international to grow in stature and confidence in his new talismanic role for Simeone's Atletico Madrid and should be demanding more of the ball. Joao Felix has scary intangibles on the ball, namely his propensity to force goals from nowhere and the more he can get on the ball...BANG! 
           A bare 37 passes in 2 matches is actually quite common for attacking teenagers, although Felix has much more to offer and for someone with his illustrious talents, being a peripheral figure is simply isn't good enough.

         Joao Felix needs to study Jadon Sancho game-film, and learn to emulate the brilliant possession skills from the Dortmund teenager, though the Portuguese teen has his own showstopping, jaw dropping qualities that invited one of the thriftiest clubs in world football to break their transfer record on him...

          
MOST ASSISTS
1a. KEVIN DE BRUYNE  (CITY): 4
1b. DONNY VAN DE BEEK (AJAX): 4
2a. MARCEL SABITZER  (LEIPZIG): 3
2b. THIAGO MENDES (LYON): 3
2c. DAVID SILVA (CITY): 32d.JADON SANCHO (BVB): 3
3a.HOUSSEM AOUAR (LYON): 2 
3b.DANI CEBALLOS (ARSEN): 2
3c.ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIV): 2
3d.TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIV): 2
4a. MOHAMED SALAH (LIVER): 1
4b. SADIO MANE (LIVER): 1
4c. MEMPHIS DEPAY (LYON): 1 
4d. SANTI CAZORLA (VILLA): 1

MOST CHANCES CREATED
1. HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX): 25
2. DONNY VAN DE BEEK  (AJAX): 17
3. THORGAN HAZARD (DORT): 15
4. KEVIN DE BRUYNE (CITY): 14
5. DUSAN TADIC (AJAX): 13
6. SADIO MANE (LIVERPOOL): 11

MOST UDGC
(Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions)
1. HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX): 3
2a. JOSHUA KIMMICH (BAYERN): 2
2b. RIYAD MAHREZ (CITY): 2 
2c. DUSAN TADIC (AJAX): 2
3a. PABLO SARABIA (PSG): 1
3b. KINGSLEY COMAN (BAY): 1
3c. THIAGO MENDES (LYON): 1
4d. JADON SANCHO (DORT): 1
5. PIERRE AUBAMEYANG (ARSEN): 1

MOST CHANCES ON POST
1a. TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIVER): 2
1b. HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX): 2
2a. DAVID SILVA (CITY): 1
2b. ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIV): 1
2c. PABLO SARABIA (PSG): 1
2d. JORDAN HENDERSON (LIV): 1
3a. DUSAN TADIC (AJAX): 1
3b. ANGEL DI MARIA (PSG): 1
4. EMIL FORSBERG (LEIPZ): 1
5. TIMO WERNER (LEIPZ): 1