In pretty much all departments according to this study: http://www.eplindex.com/16892/ledley-king-tottenhams-rock-opta-stats-comparison.html Guess that's why Roy took one of the defenders of the tournament to Eastern Europe!!! More seriously, surprised that his pass completion is better; although stats can be misleading.
Actually it proves exactly the opposite. If you look at the stats in detail, they show that Terry attempted far more tackles and duels, but Rio was much more successful. Probably a reflection of how much better Utd have been compared to Chelsea over the last few years - Rio simply didn't have as much defending to do! Over the minutes they played, Rio attempted a tackle every 70 minutes, for a total of 107 tackles, of which 86 were successful, with a successful tackle percentage of 80.4%. Terry attempted a tackle every 46 minutes, for a total of 263 tackles, of which only 198 were successful, a successful tackle percentage of 75.4%. Using the same calculation, Rio had a 70.8% ground duel success percentage, whereas Terry had only a 66.7% success percentage. When you add that to Rio's far superior rate of making interceptions, almost 20% higher than Terry's, it shows what we've all known for many years - Rio is a superior defender on the floor. Terry does have marginally more success in the air - a 69.2% aerial duel success rate versus 67.9% for Rio. Which again, confirms what we've all known for many years - Terry is at his best in the air. He also, as you say, has a higher pass completion rate of 88.9%, versus 85.7% for Rio. But then that's probably due to Terry only ever making short passes to the holding midfielder, whereas Rio often tries to spray it out to the wings. Also interesting to note that these stats cover the last four years, during which Terry was between 27 and 31, and hence in the prime of his career, whereas Rio was between 29 and 33, and in the last couple of years has obviously been in a bit of a decline fitness wise. So I think even if Roy had seen these stats, which I guess he probably did, he still wouldn't have gambled on the fitness of Rio for an intensive tournament environment. Good to see that Rio is still technically superior even as he reaches the twilight of his career. Thanks for this
Terry's passing is actually a lot better than people think tbf; but obviously Rio is more technical. JT does spray it out to the wings too, and your point about why Rio's pass completion is worse than JT's is mere conjecture. Rio is a good passer of the ball but maybe not as good as people think; and maybe JT is not as bad as people think
This is true. I only speak from my own experience of watching the two of them. Besides which, there's nothing wrong with playing short passes to the midfield from defence - when you're playing in a team like Chelsea that's better in the CM than on the wings that's probably the best option. Whereas obviously with Utd if Rio sees Nani or Valencia has a chance to break then it's better to try the long pass and potentially create a goal scoring option, rather than give it straight to the CM where we aren't particularly strong.
Be interesting to see the stats next season, if you get a new CM and Terry hits it longer to Hazard/Marin etc
Agreed, I'm ****ing sick of it all now. Slap camel lips across his hoof, Ban Terry (which I'd imagine would please 99.9% on the forum and lead to some interesting "mass debate") and move forward.
IIRC not. Stats say slightly better at tackling than Terry, and makes more interceptions, but worse than both of them in the air, in passing and in ground duels. Probably worse in ground duels because he's made of glass...
