Wayne Rooney's Continued Excellence and a New System for Evaluating Footballers

Last weekend, I watched Manchester United overcome a 2-0 halftime deficit against West Ham to win by a convincing score of 4-2.  Throughout the second half, Wayne Rooney was the hero, securing an impressive hat trick–including a superbly taken penalty–to move Man U ahead of their opposition with only ten minutes remaining. 

While acknowledging Rooney’s excellent form, ESPN broadcasters Ian Darke, Steve McManaman and Julie Foudy suggested that this first-class performance should grant him the confidence to salvage an otherwise poor season.  While Darke & Company are usually accurate and informative during their broadcasts, their evaluation of Wayne Rooney is dead wrong.

When arguing that Rooney has struggled during this club season, both ESPN’s broadcast crew and most casual soccer fans compare the 34 goals Rooney scored in 42 games during the 2009-2010 season to the 12 goals the forward has bagged in 31 games during the current campaign. 

However, evaluating a footballer by the number of goals he scores, even if he is a attacking player, is not a great indicator of a particular player’s performance. 

For instance, let us take the case of Barcelona stars Xavi and Andres Iniesta.  Largely regarded as the second and third best offensive players in the world behind only fellow Barcelona man Lionel Messi, the duo has started a combined total of 50 La Liga games this season, but has bagged only 10 goals. 

One might justify the Spanish teammates’ lack of goals by arguing that, unlike Rooney, who plays as a center forward, the Spanish teammates are deployed in midfield roles, where they are responsible for creating, not finishing opportunities. 

However, is Wayne Rooney not also a distinguished playmaker?  Does lining us as a forward subject require him to exclusively score goals? Does anyone even know that Rooney is tied with the second most assists in the Premier League?

In response to these questions, I propose we measure the success of offensive players by utilizing the NHL statistics system by combing goals and assists and counting them as “points."  So, when adding Rooney’s 2009-2010 total of 34 goals and six assists, he amassed a rather impressive 40 points in 42 games.  While not quite reaching that mark this season, Rooney’s 13 goals and 12 assists this season still amounts to a respectable 25 points in 33 games.

If we look solely at his Premier League performance, Rooney has an impressive 10 goals and 11 assists or 21 points, in only 22 matches. 

Despite his brilliance last season, Rooney actually recorded a lower number of points per game, as he earned only 29 points in 32 total appearances.  Considering his recent form, including five goals and an assist in his past six games, Rooney could feasibly record seven points in the remaining six games to finish with 28 points in 28 games.

Nevertheless, I must confess that even this improved scoring system is not entirely effective.  Earlier, I used Xavi and Iniesta as examples of players who do not score frequently but are still highly influential.  Yet, it is apparent that while they fail to score regularly, they generate even fewer assists. 

Somewhat surprisingly, I discovered that the Spanish duo has only recorded a paltry eight assists in 50 La Liga appearances this season.

So, I have decided to add a third statistic to more accurately measure offensive influence: the second assist.  Borrowing this term from my days as a college ultimate frisbee player, the second assist is awarded to the individual who passes to the player who ultimately assists the score.

For instance, let us say that Xavi (as he so often does) collects the ball deep in midfield.  He takes two touches, then beats three defenders with a perfectly weighted ball which travels directly to Messi’s feet.  The Argentinian collects and slides a simple ball directly into the path of a surging David Villa who finishes. 

Villa bags the goal and Messi collects the assist.  

Normally, Xavi would not receive statistical compensation for his brilliant pass, but under my proposed system, he would receive a second assist. 

Expanding beyond the current NHL system, total points would be calculated by adding a players’ total number of goals, assists, and second assists. 

In addition to Xavi and Iniesta, this system would also more adequately reflect the success of such world class players as Andrea Pirlo, Wesley Sneijder and Ryan Giggs. 

Though no system can perfectly reflect a player’s success, my proposed system will more empirically and objectively validate the success of some of the world’s top players.