Season › 2018-19 › News
Bernard won't get credit for assist against Leicester
The Brazilian's jinking run to the byline and cross ended with his compatriot converting confidently from just outside the six-yard box, a combination that looks as though it could be a profitable outlet for Marco Silva's side this season.
The Premier League have ruled, however, that the small touch that goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel got on the ball that helped it on to Richarlison negates it as an official assist.
It was Bernard's second start for the Blues following his full debut against Southampton in the League Cup the previous Tuesday and the free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk is demonstrating what an important signing he could prove to be for Marco Silva.
Reader Comments (47)
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2 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:08:32
I'll take those all day long!
3 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:11:58
4 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:14:36
5 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:15:39
Everyone who was at the game on Saturday knows Bernard “tore Leicester apartâ€. Ask Leicester's right back, but I suspect he's still in a bit of a daze.
6 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:16:53
A bit of advice please, I'm heading over for the Palace match but the flight back to Ireland is from Manchester at 9... would a train from Lime Street be too tight or would it be best to taxi it?
7 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:23:38
8 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:23:58
9 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:32:00
18:14 Liverpool Lime Street arrives Manchester Airport at 19:30.
And you'd need to get from Goodison to Lime Street first. Too tight.
You might start asking on ToffeeWeb whether there any match-going fans who drive towards South Manchester after the match and who'd be prepared to give you a lift.
10 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:44:35
It was one of the best and most creative assists of the season!
11 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:49:31
12 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:50:19
I usually make it in about 30 odd minutes albeit I have to get round from Gwladys Street Upper and I never leave before the final whistle.
13 Posted 09/10/2018 at 21:03:17
14 Posted 09/10/2018 at 21:08:35
15 Posted 09/10/2018 at 23:26:31
16 Posted 09/10/2018 at 23:34:37
17 Posted 10/10/2018 at 00:17:48
18 Posted 10/10/2018 at 00:34:03
Many goals are created by someone other than the man who is credited with the assist; how many times have you seen a player be the main orchestrator of a goal before giving it to a man who makes a 3-yard pass to a forward who taps in?
Like Sam says in comment 5, we all know Bernard tore Leicester a new one. Saturday, a new star was born and we all bear witness to it; long may he flourish.
19 Posted 09/10/2018 at 00:49:24
Can't wait for the match, once this boring and nervy (injury wise) international break is over. Thanks again.
20 Posted 10/10/2018 at 01:17:34
Thanks again for the advice. Much appreciated.
21 Posted 10/10/2018 at 02:03:16
While it doesn't really matter, people do place quite a lot of significance on stats these days, and it does seem crazy that Bernard's contribution now doesn't get any recognition as an assist, yet Zouma's ball to Sigurdsson does. Kurt hardly laid it on a plate for him, did he?!
Loving the fact we've suddenly been given the pleasure of watching two top quality Brazilians, by the way.
Those painful memories of watching a team managed by Sam Allardyce are starting to fade...
22 Posted 10/10/2018 at 02:14:18
So an aimless long punt by a centre-back that Walcott chases down and scores would be counted as an assist? Meanwhile, a good cross won't result in an assist if the keeper gets a touch?
23 Posted 10/10/2018 at 05:21:05
I take it the ball he played to Sigurdsson in the Fulham game counts as an assist? One a game – he's on a roll, the little magician.
24 Posted 10/10/2018 at 06:22:51
OMG, these guys are fuck-wits!
25 Posted 10/10/2018 at 07:14:05
26 Posted 10/10/2018 at 07:20:06
Whether Schmeichel got a faint touch or not, that goal was totally crafted by Bernard, the fact that all Schmeichel could do was flick at it, shows how good a cross it was.
The guy is pure class and I couldn't believe it when I heard that we had signed him. The guy has natural talent & ability, even the red shite don't have anyone in their side that is as comfortable on the ball as he is!
Bollocks to the stats, we all know what he did on Saturday. I think I will enjoy watching the samba boys this season!
27 Posted 10/10/2018 at 07:35:42
28 Posted 10/10/2018 at 07:47:44
But I do feel there should be more flexibility in the "assist" stat. For example, I don't think Zouma deserves the assist for Sigurdsson's goal; with individual goals like that the goal scorer should also get the assist. And for Richalison's goal, there should be discretion to give two assists. Schmeichel's slight touch wouldn't have happened if Bernard hadn't crossed it.
On the flip side, I am pretty sure Schmeichel doesn't want the assist, which I assume he has now been given, so maybe he should be able to decline it and the assist is transferred to Bernard.
But, like I said, it doesn't really matter, the only stat that is important is 2-1.
29 Posted 10/10/2018 at 07:51:55
30 Posted 10/10/2018 at 08:42:32
Why on earth is the FA spending money paying people to look at all of these incidents and making decisions? Oh wait, I know. It is probably because people have placed a bet on it.
Are the betting industry paying for this utter waste of time from the FA? Better they spend the money on supporting the betting industry than running football at grass roots.
And did the FA get a call from a few of the big betting firms saying that there is 𧴜,000 riding on this as a lot of Evertonians have bet on Bernard getting an assist and so if you rule it out, there is 㾻,000 in it for you.
31 Posted 10/10/2018 at 09:57:01
I cannot believe that someone introduced "goals expected" – on Match of the Day, I think! Have they nothing better to do with their time?
32 Posted 10/10/2018 at 10:44:06
33 Posted 10/10/2018 at 11:21:30
If there is an assist bonus in his contract, I guess the club will give him that.
34 Posted 10/10/2018 at 13:08:19
Opta stats and dodgy bookies can suck my tube as long as we score goals and win games.
36 Posted 10/10/2018 at 16:39:00
If it doesn't matter that a large deflection of an ‘on-target' attempt on goal makes it less likely that the goalkeeper will save it, then a slight deflection on a cross shouldn't be a factor either.
I'm no longer surprised by the lack of consistency on these things but it is like an annoying itch you can't scratch.
37 Posted 10/10/2018 at 19:56:57
The Premier League fantasy football rules for assists rule if a player crosses in the box deflections don't discount the assist. Thankfully not retroactive points removal either.
In the real world, he assisted; great play. He could be one of the best signings we ever make, the quality the boy has is worth the entrance fee alone.
38 Posted 10/10/2018 at 20:48:11
39 Posted 10/10/2018 at 20:52:28
40 Posted 11/10/2018 at 07:12:14
41 Posted 11/10/2018 at 08:59:09
42 Posted 11/10/2018 at 11:57:28
I drive back to Wilmslow after the match but not from the match directly. I am only 15 mins from the airport but I think I would struggle to get you back in time anyway with delays getting to my car. I either park at my family and get a lift or park in the Priory Lane car park – the latter is quicker but it can still take ages to get out and that would be stressful!
You are best arranging a direct taxi but if really stuck let me know here or ask Michael/Lyndon to give you my email address.
ps: Even the drop-off at Manchester is ٢ now!
43 Posted 11/10/2018 at 12:32:33
Spurs appealed the decision and the Premier League then awarded the goal to Kane. Okay, Kane was in the running for the Golden Boot but that shouldn't deter the fact that the goal should have remained credited to Eriksen.
This is what the Premier League said following the review
The Premier League said in a statement: “The goal had originally been awarded to Christian Eriksen but after taking the player's testimony into account and reviewing the match footage, a three-person panel agreed the final touch on the ball belonged to Kane.â€
You could look at that video a thousand times and still not be convinced Kane touched the ball, yet it is clear to everyone that Bernard should get the assist for Richarlison's goal.
45 Posted 11/10/2018 at 14:29:28
I'm still fucked off we limped out of the League Cup again though... sigh.
46 Posted 11/10/2018 at 21:57:10
I said it at the time and from what I've seen so far, I think this guy will be the signing of the season. We signed a perennial Champions League Brazilian playmaker on a free transfer.
47 Posted 12/10/2018 at 10:56:21
On a separate and more positive note, if you have the highlight recorded from MotD, watch Sigurdsson's goal again and, if you have the facility, frame by frame advance the final replay of the celebration. I was loving watching the blues there go mental in slo-mo. It's the best thing about HDTV.
48 Posted 18/10/2018 at 13:15:03
49 Posted 18/10/2018 at 14:02:12
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1 Posted 09/10/2018 at 19:06:17
Will an assist be given for the pass to Sigurdsson?