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The very best midfielders are those who can make passing look effortless, and can provide consistency in delivery; a precise passer can make average strikers look very good, one example being Sessegnon’s 8 assists for Sunderland which have helped Fletcher notch an inexplicably high 11 goals this season.
Here is a list of 5 instances where the act of goal-scoring was just as important of the phase leading up to it:
5) Gabriel Obertan to Papiss Cisse (Manchester United)
At number 5, we have Gabriel Obertan’s assist for Papiss Cisse against Manchester United on Boxing Day. Having just come on as a second half substitute against his former side, Obertan showed great presence of mind to cut the ball back to Cisse who slammed home to put Newcastle into lead. Unfortunately as things would have it, the Toon would eventually go on to lose the game 4-3.
4) Sylvain Marveaux to Papiss Cisse (Stoke City)
At number four we have Sylvain Marveaux’s pass to Papiss Cisse to score an injury time winner against Stoke City. It was what you would call an eye of a needle pass by Sylvain, who, in spite of spending most of his time on the bench, provided most assists of any Newcastle player this season (4… yes 4). Given how the season went, everyone knows how important those 2 points were for the Magpies.
3) Hatem Ben Arfa to Demba Ba (Norwich City)
At number 3 we have Demba Ba’s goal against the Canaries. The assist came courtesy of Newcastle’s most dynamic player, Hatem Ben Arfa, who picked up the ball close to the half way line and played in Demba Ba who finished off with a first time finish. It was a nervy game and could have gone either way, but eventually the Magpies won 1-0.
2) Shola Ameobi to Demba Ba (Everton)
I am not a big Shola Ameobi fan but what he did on that Monday night deserves respect. Shola Ameobi chested a long ball down from Mike Williamson and flicked it on for Demba Ba, who slotted the ball under the oncoming keeper Tim Howard. The Magpies secured a somewhat undeserved 2-2 draw and Shola’s skill was an undoubted highlight of the match (I am still shocked).
1) Sylvain Marveaux to Demba Ba (Arsenal)
It was one of the biggest ever defeats for Newcastle at Arsenal in December, but the undoubted moment of the match for the away side came from the boot of Sylvain Marveaux who, from the right side of Arsenal’s penalty box, found Ba on the far post with the outside of his left boot to make it 3-3. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Newcastle on that night, which will always be painstakingly remembered for the wrong reasons.
At this point, I would also like to mention Newcastle’s two goalkeepers, Tim Krul and Rob Elliot, who have also been credited with 1 assist each – Krul against Everton at St. James’s park and Elliot against Southampton, also at home.
