++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++
I have always thought that the assist is more important than the goal. This is coming from a playmaker who does not score that many goals for his respective teams. I find that much of the work done by the assister is greater than the work input by the goalscorer, at least for about 80 percent of the goals.
If you have a team full of players who can pass with great aplomb, the goals will come eventually. If you have a front line full of goalscorers, and if the midfield is ineffective, where will the assists for the goals come from? Having players who can put the ball in the net are very useful, but if they are not able to create chances than they might become ineffective. So the ability to provide assists is more essential, because the goals will come. If no player is able to assist, then the goalscorer will look rather stranded.
