Re LOB’s 0 tackle count, I’m not sure I’d be basing too many arguments on published stats. What exactly is a tackle according to the statisticians? If it’s any tackle, including where the tackled player is able to dispose of it, then fair enough. If it’s only where the tackled player is caught holding the ball or a ball-up results, then that’s too restrictive in my book. Should a player who tackles once and forces a ball up be rated more highly than a player who tackles 10 times and forces rushed disposals?
Edit: According to Champion Data: “ Tackle: Using physical contact to prevent an opponent getting an effective disposal. Tackle Efficiency: Percentage of physical pressure acts that lead to an effective tackle.”
That seems much narrower than I think it should be. Presumably, a dribbled handball that is picked up by a team mate means no tackle stat is awarded. That’s an issue for wingers as they are mostly called on to attempt open field tackles on players who’ve been fed the ball. Pressuring them is a priority but usually the target will get the ball off in some fashion. On the other hand, inside mids and defenders are much more likely to be able to tackle a player before he’s had much chance to figure out what to do with it. An inside mid will try to make the play by bullocking through tackles while working in a phone box and the forward will risk being caught with the ball in an attempt to get a snap away.
Even small forwards are better placed to be awarded tackles as they’re able to run down defenders from behind as they’re trying to look for an open team mate, for example Durdin who was hardly tackled but the tackle forced the kick to go straight to an opponent who kicked a goal.
Strangely enough, the Champion Data definition seems to extend to a bump which results in an ineffective disposal even when there was no attempt to tackle.
Edit: According to Champion Data: “ Tackle: Using physical contact to prevent an opponent getting an effective disposal. Tackle Efficiency: Percentage of physical pressure acts that lead to an effective tackle.”
That seems much narrower than I think it should be. Presumably, a dribbled handball that is picked up by a team mate means no tackle stat is awarded. That’s an issue for wingers as they are mostly called on to attempt open field tackles on players who’ve been fed the ball. Pressuring them is a priority but usually the target will get the ball off in some fashion. On the other hand, inside mids and defenders are much more likely to be able to tackle a player before he’s had much chance to figure out what to do with it. An inside mid will try to make the play by bullocking through tackles while working in a phone box and the forward will risk being caught with the ball in an attempt to get a snap away.
Even small forwards are better placed to be awarded tackles as they’re able to run down defenders from behind as they’re trying to look for an open team mate, for example Durdin who was hardly tackled but the tackle forced the kick to go straight to an opponent who kicked a goal.
Strangely enough, the Champion Data definition seems to extend to a bump which results in an ineffective disposal even when there was no attempt to tackle.