There can be a huge amount of disparity in the amount of skill required to be credited with an assist. I think assists are quite a flawed stat, although it can be useful as a measure of a very creative player, if taken over an extended period of time. It is, however, an incredibly poor way of identifying what is the key piece of genius involved in creating a goal.

Case in point - I remember that Stoke game from a couple of years ago when Charlie Adam scored from near the halfway line; we won 2-1 and Willian was instrumental in both of our goals (I don't remember either particularly well except that one was a penalty), but was ultimately credited with nothing, whereas Jon Walters was credited with an assist for a two-yard sideways pass which Charlie Adam smashed in from distance. Who did the assist stats record as the more creative player that day? Who was, in fact, the more creative player that day?

 

Hazard deserves an assist for his wonder goal.

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

There can be a huge amount of disparity in the amount of skill required to be credited with an assist. I think assists are quite a flawed stat, although it can be useful as a measure of a very creative player, if taken over an extended period of time. It is, however, an incredibly poor way of identifying what is the key piece of genius involved in creating a goal.

Case in point - I remember that Stoke game from a couple of years ago when Charlie Adam scored from near the halfway line; we won 2-1 and Willian was instrumental in both of our goals (I don't remember either particularly well except that one was a penalty), but was ultimately credited with nothing, whereas Jon Walters was credited with an assist for a two-yard sideways pass which Charlie Adam smashed in from distance. Who did the assist stats record as the more creative player that day? Who was, in fact, the more creative player that day?

 

I guess Willian may be credited with a chance created or something.

But more seriously, I completely agree that such stats should be examined at larger time scales when patterns actually begin to emerge.

Only scored once since the turn of the year now. I don't think he is playing at the same intensity and ferocity that haunted defenders since the Stoke-game in late december.
Very unfortunate and i blame China, had a bad feeling that was going to impact his whole season afterwards.

Looked set for the golden-boot and maybe even POTS for a while but he will have a hard time getting eighter one of those now.

If there's one thing Diego does it's score goals.

He'll be back on the score sheet sooner rather than later don't you worry about that. 

On 10/02/2017 at 20:32, PloKoon13 said:

There can be a huge amount of disparity in the amount of skill required to be credited with an assist.

Too right ploks. Perhaps the 'assist' category should be twofold: 'assists' proper & 'assysts' being for, among things, imaginative use of the woodwork ala Costa.

34 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Only scored once since the turn of the year now. I don't think he is playing at the same intensity and ferocity that haunted defenders since the Stoke-game in late december.
Very unfortunate and i blame China, had a bad feeling that was going to impact his whole season afterwards.

Looked set for the golden-boot and maybe even POTS for a while but he will have a hard time getting eighter one of those now.

No striker goes through a whole season without some kind of drought, you can't blame China for Kane not scoring for a while, Sanxhez had gone a good few games, Lukaku deffinatly has streaks, it will be. 

well against the gooners DC played a part in all 3 goals - he has been unlucky to score - I know if he converted that PK vs lpoo we would be thinking a bit differently about DC right now

Well, suddenly £80m doesn't seem like such a bad deal, does it? 

18 minutes ago, PythonLu said:

Well, suddenly £80m doesn't seem like such a bad deal, does it? 

Well yes because there still isn't anyone available out there who can fill his shoes.

We could get 150 million and we'd still be struggling to replace him.

Who would we bring in given Greizmann looks United bound and Dortmund striker has his heart on Real Madrid?

I seem to remember Costa being off form since New Year in our title-winning season so it's not the first time that's happened to him. I just hope Conte finds the right approach to motivate him because he's a key player for us and we're going to need him down the road.

Quick stat update.

Bar last season where he was atrocious for the first half, the last four seasons he's scored far more in the first half of the season than the second. It seems he can't keep a high level of intensity for the whole season.

Im Diego's biggest fan and no doubt we would not be where we are without him but there's no denying he's been poor since the Hull game. Admittedly, they've been 3 very tough games but he was terrible against Arsenal, had lead boots on and yesterday his interchanging with Hazard who don't seem to have that much chemistry anyway was awful.

That being said, he's been instrumental for us this season. Without him, I think we'd be where United are currently. 

Next up Swansea who he loves a goal against, I trust him to net two goals in that.

 

He improved a bit last season after Jose went did he not?

The season before that he had those hamstring niggles which I though disrupted his great start.

Not many strikers will be on fire all the way through the season, he will score again soon of that I'm certain. What does annoy me a little though is not using Michy when he's not at it because with 5 minutes to play he's not getting a fair enough chance to show he can maybe be a good alternative to when Costa is off the boil.

So a player who has won us countless about of points is having mini dry spell and the pitch forks are out jeez. Do sometimes wonder if some of our fans who post on here started watching football recently and are in their teens early twenties 

Edited February 13, 20179 yr by Brutos

2 hours ago, Chelsbear said:

Well yes because there still isn't anyone available out there who can fill his shoes.

We could get 150 million and we'd still be struggling to replace him.

Who would we bring in given Greizmann looks United bound and Dortmund striker has his heart on Real Madrid?

It's Costa, you know. It would not come as a surprise if he'll go the second half of the season scoring less than Torres. 

I said it when the China offer arrived and I can only reiterate it at this point - Costa is notoriously unreliable as well as unprofessional, and if anyone is willing to offer an amount like £80m, then we have to sell. It's a common sense call.

14 minutes ago, Brutos said:

So a player who has won us countless about of points is having mini dry spell and the pitch forks are out jeez. Do sometimes wonder if some of our fans who post on here started watching football recently and are in their teens early twenties 

There does seem to a lack of perspective. Youtbe best of videos and edited highlights on TV seems to be creating expectations that are simply unsustainable in the face of everyday realities. Costa wan't hopeless, uninterested, not trying, burnt out, or thinking of a steaming plate of No.98 in A Beijing restaurant, he was frustrated by a very resolute defence.  It happens, but those days are evened out by the times when he walks on water. Can't help wondering what this forum would have looked like over the entire time that Didier was our man!

32 minutes ago, PythonLu said:

It's Costa, you know. It would not come as a surprise if he'll go the second half of the season scoring less than Torres. 

I said it when the China offer arrived and I can only reiterate it at this point - Costa is notoriously unreliable as well as unprofessional, and if anyone is willing to offer an amount like £80m, then we have to sell. It's a common sense call.

I dont think this means what you think it means

How is he notoriously unreliable exactly?

3 minutes ago, dkw said:

How is he notoriously unreliable exactly?

Doesn't score a brace every game

4 minutes ago, dkw said:

How is he notoriously unreliable exactly?

Just having a guess, but the poster is probably referring to his retrospective bans, his dummy spitting and his hamstrings.

There is enough of a case to at least ask the question.  I personally don't think he is unreliable and I think he's done really well to curb all the above this season, whilst being the best striker in the league.

36 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

Doesn't score a brace every game

That's not what I said, but alluding to this here's a funny quote by you:

On 1/23/2017 at 09:43, Chelsbear said:

Hardly bashing pointing out he's not been quite at it for a good few games now.

That's the problem on here, you can't say a players not playing to his best without some ridiculous comments like you are a Hazard basher'

 

You said this about Hazard and it stuck in my mind because it was not the first time that I have spotted inconsistencies in your comments. One day you have a go at our best player for having a poor game, the other day you complain that people do the same thing with a player you like - even when they don't. 

Anyway, I have too much respect for Costa's contribution in the first half of the season, so I won't bash him like you and other people bash Hazard. You like Costa a lot and will say anything to defend him, fine, but at least don't say the first thing that comes to your mind. That way you might remember your own opinion, even though it won't help you recall all that's happened with your favourite player, like the shirt-throwing at coaches, the tantrums on and off the pitch or the gross negligence over his fitness during holidays.

 

5 minutes ago, PythonLu said:

That's not what I said, but alluding to this here's a funny quote by you:

You said this about Hazard and it stuck in my mind because it was not the first time that I have spotted inconsistencies in your comments. One day you have a go at our best player for having a poor game, the other day you complain that people do the same thing with a player you like - even when they don't. 

Anyway, I have too much respect for Costa's contribution in the first half of the season, so I won't bash him like you and other people bash Hazard. You like Costa a lot and will say anything to defend him, fine, but at least don't say the first thing that comes to your mind. That way you might remember your own opinion, even though it won't help you recall all that's happened with your favourite player, like the shirt-throwing at coaches, the tantrums on and off the pitch or the gross negligence over his fitness during holidays.

 

Look at the match thread, I was heavily critical of Costa's performance yesterday and I have been a good few times.

You want him sold though that's the difference here. I don't want Hazard sold but rather just that he performs more consistently like he has shown before.

7 hours ago, Sindre said:

Only scored once since the turn of the year now. I don't think he is playing at the same intensity and ferocity that haunted defenders since the Stoke-game in late december.
Very unfortunate and i blame China, had a bad feeling that was going to impact his whole season afterwards.

Looked set for the golden-boot and maybe even POTS for a while but he will have a hard time getting eighter one of those now.

Right, it's China's fault that Diego can't focus and dedicate himself to the team.

2 hours ago, dkw said:

How is he notoriously unreliable exactly?

Because when you take away his goals, which has now happened, he offers the movement, build-up-play ability, hustle & drive that Torres had here. A reliable player has other qualities they can offer when they aren't banging in goals or performing to their usual standard, yet Diego doesn't even offer a target-man presence which he should, like Drogba could do on a goal-drought, often leading to him still being the best player on the pitch.

13 minutes ago, Katyusha said:

A reliable player has other qualities they can offer when they aren't banging in goals or performing to their usual standard, yet Diego doesn't

Which of the current Premier League top scorers consistently plays well they're not scoring?