Player Focus: All in the timing for Premier League's top tacklers

The best tacklers in the game are not only the ones that break up play with countless challenges in the midfield but those that do so with impeccable timing, conceding a limited number of fouls in the process.

Here we’ll look at those that stand out with regards to the latter, analysing the players that have the best and worse tackle to foul ratio in the Premier League thus far. To qualify we have only looked at the players that have made tackles on a regular basis, setting a minimum filter of 2.5 tackles per game and 6 league appearances this season.

Mapping a quad chart to show the players that make an above average number of tackles (27.3) and an above average tackle to foul ratio (0.45) of the 37 that qualify we can clearly see those whose tackling has shone this term. In contrast we can also highlight the individuals that have fared far worse, committing a high number of fouls in relation to the number of tackles they’ve made.

A look at the chart above shows a clear stand out performer when it comes to committing as few fouls as possible while maintaining a high tackle rate. Crystal Palace full-back Joel Ward has made 32 tackles for his team and the most per game for the Londoners but has committed just 2 fouls in the process. It’s a remarkable feat that’s been key to the 24-year old attaining an impressive WhoScored.com rating of 7.29.

Teammate and captain Mile Jedinak joins the defender in the most desirable top-right section of our chart. Only two players have won more tackles this season than the Australian (39), though the domineering midfielder has committed just 12 fouls. The aforementioned duo to have made more tackles is Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and Arsenal‘s Aaron Ramsey (both 40), with the Frenchman just edging out the latter with a superior tackle to foul ratio (0.35 to 0.43).

Elsewhere the appearance of Lucas Leiva may surprise some, with the Brazilian committing just 15 fouls compared to 38 tackles, while Fabian Delph and Cheik Tiote’s inclusion in this section will shock even more. The former in particular has become somewhat renowned for an apparent lack of timing in the challenge but it’s clearly something he’s been working on, committing just 12 fouls having completed 33 tackles.

The final four 4 players to have impressed the most are all full-backs, with City’s Pablo Zabaleta and Stoke’s Erik Pieters joined by Englishmen Kieran Gibbs and Leighton Baines. The latter is particularly impressive. While his tally of 28 tackles is only just above the average here, a tackle to foul ratio of 0.18 – committing just 5 fouls this season – is only bettered by Ward.

At the opposite end of the spectrum there is another player segregated from the majority in our quad chart. Indeed, Southampton’s Victor Wanyama is the only one of our analysed 37 to commit more fouls (27) than he has made tackles (25) this season. The Kenyan has been credited with a key role in the Saints hugely impressive start to the campaign but it’s clear that his midfield partner Schneiderlin is the more effective in the tackle.

Elsewhere in the lower-left section of our study another new signing is felling his opponents in the challenge more often than his manager may have liked. Fernandinho has been given the job that Gareth Barry filled in breaking up play alongside Yaya Toure and while a tally of 23 tackles is not to be sniffed at, conceding 20 fouls has meant that his ratio stands at a far less impressive 0.87.

Few will be too shocked to see that two Stoke players find themselves in the same section (Wilson and N’Zonzi), but the likes of Scott Parker and Mark Noble have been even guiltier in the challenge this season. The former is joined by teammate Pajtim Kasami here, who, for a predominantly attacking player, has been involved in his fair share of duels out wide for Fulham, a hefty committing 22 fouls.