So what's with the inconsistency on assists stats and where and how can a more reliable way be found to record these. Will the league ever get to accurately recording them? Generally ESPN seems to be more reliable to me in that they show a game log where statistics are derived from and accurately display them, whereas the actual league site seems to be kinda sketchy on it. They do not even keep statistics leaders besides the top few goalscorers anymore either. I am just curious because using Mata as an example it is tough to find out what's reliable and if anyone has more ideas.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/103025/juan-mata?cc=5901

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/profile.statistics.html/juan-mata

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/mata/profil/spieler_44068.html

So what gives?

They all have their own ideas on what consists of an assist rather than actually following the proper definition.

Didn't Torres get an assist after hitting the crossbar and Lamps put in the rebound? Call me a grumpy old man but assist stats should be left stateside. What next, who gained the most yardage?

I don't see what's wrong with that, rebounds count. I find assist stats really interesting myself so it's annoying when there are so many sites (even the well respected ones) that fail to adhere to the definition of an assist.

Either do it properly or don't bother at all.

Ya I like the assist thing too, there is a reason why certain players get more than others, a la a Mata and that tells you something about their game. I just wish their was a some consistency on it, the PremierLeague.co.uk site used to have accurate statistics for goals and assists but there is not even a bulk link to goals anymore, only the top 5 or so goal scorers, seems pretty slack to me.

Didn't Torres get an assist after hitting the crossbar and Lamps put in the rebound? Call me a grumpy old man but assist stats should be left stateside. What next, who gained the most yardage?

Yes, but if you remember that was a BRILLIANT overhead bicycle kick. Would've been the goal of the season had it bounced in.

Didn't Torres get an assist after hitting the crossbar and Lamps put in the rebound? Call me a grumpy old man but assist stats should be left stateside. What next, who gained the most yardage?

Actually Grumpy, there already is such a statistic; possession in opposition half.

I grew up with cricket so I like statistics in sport. But you always have to remember that 99% of statistics are correlative. Only one is causative: goals