New formation

[marcus50bucks]

The focus tends to be on goal scorers but a matchwinner imo is someone who has the ability and special skills to turn a game on a consistent basis whether it be thru scoring goals, shutting down a midfield, defending goal, or creating goals. Pepe's efforts in the CL semi-final and the FA cup for example ought to put him in that category surely?

Good post mate.

[Joe King]

The focus tends to be on goal scorers but a matchwinner imo is someone who has the ability and special skills to turn a game on a consistent basis whether it be thru scoring goals, shutting down a midfield, defending goal, or creating goals. Pepe's efforts in the CL semi-final and the FA cup for example ought to put him in that category surely?

Mascherano

[lfc1394]

I see your point, however the point I am trying to make is you cannot just base a matchwinner soley on the number of goals he has scored. For me a matchwinner is someone who can can turn a game in an instance on a regular basis whether by scoring, creating chances.etc. Rooney has the ability to do both and has done this in the past. I wouldn't just class Gerrard as a matchwinner based soley on the number of goals he's scored, as again he offers more than just that.

I agree you cannot call it on simply number of goals. For example a player might only score 8 goals in a season, but each of them are the winning goal in a game (Tevez against us hurts quite bad). As has been said it's the impact they have on a game as opposed to how may goals they score!

[marcus50bucks]

I agree you cannot call it on simply number of goals. For example a player might only score 8 goals in a season, but each of them are the winning goal in a game (Tevez against us hurts quite bad). As has been said it's the impact they have on a game as opposed to how may goals they score!

[flyboy]

i believe the system gets the best of out the players.....defensively we look the best with this and we have improved significantly going fwd.my only worry is injuries . we just dont have enough quality sitting on the bench...games are gonna come thick and fast from here on and rafa doesnt have the luxury to rotate anymore

[rudedog]

Oh. on a side note, Ronaldo the "winger" has 3 assists in the league, thought he would have more.

He can be an extremely selfish player at times, but it would be difficult to condemn him for that considering the goals he has scored.

I don't think you can really call him a winger either.

[Svennis]

Where do you see those assists stats? Does anyone know how many assists Gerrard has in the league?

[dww]

Where do you see those assists stats? Does anyone know how many assists Gerrard has in the league?

They are correct by the fantasy.premierleague site. Gerrard has 10 (for comparison Fabregas has 14, Ashley Young 15, Berbatov, Petrov and Kalou 10, Rooney 9).

[Svennis]

Thanks!

So, Gerrard has 10 goals and 10 assists. Quite impressive.

[Mattshark]

Thanks!

So, Gerrard has 10 goals and 10 assists. Quite impressive.

He also has 19 goals in all competitions.

[El Jefecito]

I think he has been better overall than previous years this season actually and United's record is considerably better with him in the team this year. As such statistically the term is well earned.

I think his match winning performances are recent enough to mean even if you discount this season they are not dismissable.

Simple question. Is a player who scored 8 goals THIS SEASON. To be considered a matchwinner THIS SEASON?

[El Jefecito]

I think it's easy to sum up by saying Rooney is a very good player who is wildly overrated by the masses and the media mainly because he is English. On his day he is undoubtedly a match-winner, but for me he is inconsistent, misses far, far too many chances and simply doesn't score enough goals.

Imagine if Torres were English?!?!?!?

Damn, if Shaggy can get it

[dww]

Simple question. Is a player who scored 8 goals THIS SEASON. To be considered a matchwinner THIS SEASON?

Yes.

I have a slightly different definition of the term to you with yours requiring goals as near to the sole metric. For me Gerrard with 10 goals is statistically no different to Rooney in that regard and as such you would have to discount him as a match winner too, but I think overall change to the teams performance and potential to change a game play a part in being a matchwinner.

[Red Chilli]

Same can be said of the mancs without Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.

Chelsea have the most matchwinners of the big four IMO, you can count Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Cole...and you could argue a case for SWP, Malouda, Ballack too.

Anelka has done jack all for them so far, same for Malouda-waste of money

[Fiddy]

Yes.

I have a slightly different definition of the term to you with yours requiring goals as near to the sole metric. For me Gerrard with 10 goals is statistically no different to Rooney in that regard and as such you would have to discount him as a match winner too, but I think overall change to the teams performance and potential to change a game play a part in being a matchwinner.

I think you can end this by adding 'potential' to the matchwinner tag...on current form Rooney and Tevez may not be doing it (you're only as good as your last game etc), but due to their skills they are undoubtedly 'potential matchwinners' whenever they're on the pitch

Fernando on the other hand is just an all round beast right now