While playing as the centre-forward for the régi MTK, Alfréd Schaffer was a different type of football player than when he moved throughout the Continent. Schaffer was more energetic, constantly demonstrated vigorous individual breakthroughs. He was more of a individualist footballer who would rather finish off the chances which others created. Indeed, he was the goal-scorer type.

According to some specialists, what really changed Schaffer was the 'kgs' which he gained. He was far from being an athletic footballer and his body composition was the type to gain weight fast, too. Schaffer was slow, was not fit, and, thus, had to rely more on his technique and tactical knowledge than his physical attributes. Schaffer could not make runs and also was not the type of player that would put a physical game ahead of the artistic game. This led his game style to change. 



Already playing for 1. FC Nürnberg, Schaffer mentioned that he was not the same player that he used to be. He was not that great goal-scorer he once was, but more of a tactician, creative centre-forward who would drop deeper, drag the opponent's defence and send actions to his comrades. Schaffer would always seek the pass, he would not hesiste to send the ball to his players. His technique increased so did his game sense.

In the place of the centre-forward, Schaffer saw himself — according to the Orthodox English conception — as the mind and soul of the attack, whose task is not to score as many goals as possible himself, but to create as many goal situations as possible for his partners. His play was influenced by this idea, and, therefore, the attendance rarely saw any individual actions from him. Instead, with his wonderful ball technique, he could keep three or four defenders alone and pull the defense, serving the most beautiful, accurate balls to his free partners. His whole game was imbued with the greatest intelligence and self-awareness, and as a teacher, he was the master.