Match Day Thread Liverpool Vs Man City - worst matchday thread ever

No Premier League player has won more tackles than Lucas this season, according to Opta.

 

He also has the best collection of chunks of opposing players.

 

Such a poor stat which offers little context for defensive midfielders. It doesn't show how many tackles he's failed to win, how many fouls he's given away for starters.

Look at top class DM's like Matic, Busquets, Neves, Carvalho and they wouldn't be in this list - reason being is because they're good at their jobs and don't require to make that many tackles.

Lucas has improved - no doubt - but he's not the answer. He needs upgrading.

 

In addition - look at the top 5 tacklers across Europe and I guarantee nobody would sign these players. Example - Erik Peters is in that list.

 

The Premier League’s most successful tackler of 2015 revealed

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Claudio Yacob (West Brom) – 54.8 per cent tackle success rate – Click right to find out who is 2015’s best tackler in the Premier League

 

And how many of us would want us to sign Yacob? My guess would be Not many.

So much more to the DM role than tackling.

 

Jimmy's obsessed with tackle

 

Yeah I mean fancy having a DM that wins tackles... much rather have one like Gerrard that is beaten far too easily and makes no tackles a game

His stats this year compare well to those you mentioned above, only one he's poor on is fouls given away however not always a bad thing depending on context.


Lucas
Tackles per game 5.3 (1st)
Interceptions 2.2 (3rd)
Fouls 2.7 (5th)
Blocks 0.4 (1st)

Matic
Tackles 3.5 pg
Interception 1.9
Fouls 1.8
Block 0.1

Busquets
Tackles 2.4
Inter 3.2
Fouls 1.2
Blocks 0

Neves
Tackles 2.6
Inter 2.6
Fouls 1
Blocks 0

Carvalho - only CL data
Tackles 1.5
Inter 0.5
Fouls 1
Blocks 0

 

Yes because Gerrard is such a good comparison to make.

And like I said - winning tackles tells me nothing. It doesn't tell you how many tackles he's lost as well. Would you rather have a DM who wins most of his tackles rather than just make a large number of them? And the foul stat is relevant because it highlights that he's not that great at tackling - he's massively ahead in terms of fouls conceded. You may want to think that it's because of tactical fouls - no, it's because he's easily beaten.

And the most important qualities for defenders and defensive midfielders are not measurable - things like positioning, organisation, discipline. You think Busquets has to make that many tackles? Disregard the fact that Barca retain so much possession, his positioning allows him not to have to make tackles in the first place

So Lucas makes more tackles than those in your list - does that make him better?

As mentioned, look at the list of top 5 tacklers and tell me if you would sign any of them for LFC.