Yes, that is a serious question. Two players who ‘offer more than just goals’ as strikers. But how much more? Who would you rather have? Fortunately a member of the Football365 Forum (lol tb x) has done the analysis for us. Read on to see who comes out on top…

A comparison of their goals and assists since Tevez came here:

This is obviously an area where Tevez should win by a margin having played with some of the best players in the world. Davies has played in a poor Bolton team for the last 4 years. Tevez only scores slightly more goals than Davies and Davies gets slightly more assists than Tevez.

Neither of these strikers are ‘out-and-out goal scorers’ and are both praised for their work rate. This would suggest that the amount of tackles they make is similar.

Tackles by Davies this season: 60 (more than any other striker)
Tackles by Tevez this season: 15

Davies makes four times as many tackles as Tevez.

But surely Manchester City are a much better passing team than the long ball merchants at Bolton. Tevez will probably have attempted four times as many passes as Davies? He hasn’t.

Successful passes by Davies this season: 691 (61 leading to a shot at goal)
Successful passes by Tevez this season: 671 (30 leading to a shot at goal)

Davies comes out on top by a distance.

Maybe Tevez isn’t contributing because he is being fouled to often by the opposition. This would mean that he wins lots of free kicks for his team. He doesn’t.

Free kicks won by Davies this season: 105
Free kicks won by Tevez this season: 29

Again there is a massive gulf between the two.

These stats can only go so far as to compare the two players. They can’t prove the fact that Davies is much better in the air than Tevez, they can’t prove that Davies is much more influential to his teammates than Tevez and they can’t highlight Davies’ superior attitude. All of these things are almost certainly true.

In conclusion. Kevin Davies >>>>>>>>>>>> Carlos Tevez.

So there we go. Thanks to lol tb x for the analysis – the original thread can be read here (you will need to sign up).