You can’t use goal and assist stats as the basis for your argument while also saying “I know they’re different types of player” really.
But they also can’t definitively say Thiago is in a different league to James for the same reason.
I don’t watch much outside of the prem so I don’t have much of a view either way on a comparison, but they’re both class players. You don’t have their resumes unless you are.
I expect both will have their struggles at times, likely in the busy winter period, but from what I’ve seen of them both, James is more likely to play a pass for an assist and get into the box on the end of something, while Thiago is more likely to play the pass that leads to an assist.
Are there stats for assists of assists. I bet some virgins somewhere record that, and I wonder if they do if that makes more comparative reading.
Given they score more from assists by their fullbacks than anyone else, I can see him doing well in that regard over here, but the reality is their midfield over the last two years has been workmanlike but effective. It’s led to them being tight at the back until recently when suddenly Keita has played more and they’ve started to look more exposed.
It’ll be interesting to see.
Personally, I’m not going to enjoy looking forward to them having to rebuild in 2 or 3 years time if they’re successful on the way. When that time comes, yeah, but in the meantime they look just as strong as anyone and this signing makes their squad better. Whether it makes the team better is anyone’s guess.
