Stats Analysis: Dominated Defenders - Worst Aerial Success
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The towering centre-half has been a tradition synonymous with the English game for many years, with a number of Premier League players still very much fitting that mould. However, WhoScored has decided to take a look at those who perhaps haven't been as dominant as they should be in the air and, in turn, related this to the number of headed and set piece goals that their sides have conceded this season.
A top-flight team will generally have at least one centre-back who is ordered to deal with the opponent's aerial threat, though unlike the little and large strike partnership that many have adopted over the years, it is more of a large and a little bit larger duo when it comes to defenders. With this in mind we have whittled our shortlist of centre-backs down to 23 by factoring out any players to have challenged in fewer than 50 aerial duels this season.
From these 23 we have ascertained the guiltiest culprits when it comes to success rate, with just 3 of the qualifying individuals currently possessing an aerial success rate below 50%. We take a closer look at those players in comparison to the league's best defenders in the air, studying their WhoScored player characteristics in the process.
Anton Ferdinand (QPR): Aerial Success Rate - 41.3%
QPR's summer signing couldn't have expected that his first season with the newly promoted side would be so filled with drama, albeit off the pitch as much as it has been on it. It would be harsh to suggest that the centre-back's head is elsewhere when it should have been meeting the ball this season under the circumstances, but his statistics do not make for great reading in this regard.
The former West Ham and Sunderland man has won just 26 of 63 aerial duels this season (41.3%) which, hardly needs explaining, is way below par for a player in his position. Unfortunately for QPR, Ferdinand's main partner in defence this season Danny Gabbidon has the 4th worst success rate of those analysed at 51.3%, with Mark Hughes inheriting a side that has conceded 7 headed goals this season (only 5 teams have let in more) as well as 8 goals from set piece situations thus far (the league's joint second worst record).
When it comes to the centre-back with the best aerial success rate of the aforementioned 23, one can't write this sort of thing. You guessed it; John Terry comes out on top of our central defenders here having won 42 of his 54 duels thus far (77.8%). The now former England captain has therefore come out on top in an aerial battle 16 more times than Ferdinand despite challenging in 9 fewer duels. While the Chelsea skipper tries to keep his head down off the pitch he is certainly getting it up high enough when called upon on it.
Ashley Williams (Swansea): Aerial Success Rate - 43.7%
It is fair to say that heading is not Swansea's strong suit. The Premier League newcomers have won just 5.6 duels per game this season - a full 2.2 fewer than any other side - with Brendan Rodgers instead encouraging his troops to play the possession, passing football for which they have been widely praised so far. The style is one that is present throughout the side and doesn't stop with mainstay centre-back Ashley Williams, although the Wales international has attempted and, in turn, completed more long balls than any other outfielder in the league (195/285 - 68.4% accuracy).
The 27-year-old's WhoScored player characteristics show that he often looks to play the long ball but also highlight his weakness in the air, despite a robust frame, having won just 31 of 71 aerial duels this season (43.7%). Unlike Ferdinand, Williams' most frequent partner at the back - on-loan Tottenham youngster Steven Caulker - has gone some way to atone for his apparent flaw, winning just 7 fewer duels this season despite making 11 fewer appearances. The centre-back’s weakness has therefore been far less of an issue for his side when it comes to conceding headed goals this season, with only Everton and Liverpool conceding fewer than Swansea's 4.
Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle): Aerial Success Rate - 44.8%
Newcastle's newest captain and unmistakable Argentine Fabriccio Coloccini has, without doubt, been a key part of Alan Pardew's side’s success this season, building victories from a strong defence, particularly early on in the campaign. The team has looked a little more fragile since the loss of Coloccini's partner Steven Taylor, but coped with the long-term injury of the local boy well and remain well and truly in the hunt for a place in Europe next season.
While their South American centre-half has been impressive when it comes to tackles and interceptions per game thus far (with 2.1 for each regard), his player characters show that his aerial prowess could certainly do with some work. Having won a fairly meagre 1.1 aerial duel per game this season, Coloccini has come out on top in a direct battle with on opponent on just 26 of 58 occasions (44.8%). When comparing this to the likes of Younes Kaboul, who has won a massive 4.2 aerial duels per game and still manages to win the ball 74.8% of the time having competed for more headers than any other defender in the league (119), the experienced 30-year-old clearly has room for improvement.
Only Blackburn have conceded more headed goals than Newcastle this season (11 - 8) so stand-in centre-back Mike Williamson's height has certainly come in handy, winning 2.5 aerial duels per game. However, there is still a weakness to pinpoint there for opponents, while getting the better of Kaboul's Tottenham or Terry's Chelsea in the air has proven to be far more difficult.
at the end of the day its all about the partnerships in football. you look at man utd for example Rio and Vidic are two completely diferent footballers. vidic wins the ball a nd rio sits off and picks up anything stray. if one defender isnt good in the air the other one takes over. simple
kaboul has been amazing this year. doesnt surprise me to see him making mor eheaders than anyone else this year as hes fearless
Can these headed goals stats be a bit misleading? As @Britton86 already pointed out, Williams aerial sucess rate is way down, but Swansea rarely concede? On the other hand, Blackburn concede many headers, yet I'm sure Christopher Samba loses too many headers?
Can you blame Coloccini for having poor headed stats? Hes tiny!!! Id like to see Puyols stats actually.....
It's interesting to see that Williams is allowed to play so many long balls from the centre of defence. It shows how much faith Rodgers has in his teams passing ability that he allows them the freedom to play the long pass.
Erm... I feel sorry for Mark Hughes! Thast's not a defence i'd like to inherit!
Is the way Swansea City play football responsible for the lack of headers conceded? I mean, they play reaslly good possesion football, so does this affect the amount of free-kicks and corners they concede? (which must directly affect the amount of headers you let in surely?)
Of course it had to JT and Anton... Magic
When Coloccini is partnered with Taylor his lack of heading ability isn't such a problem. As you say, quite often one player is told to win the headers and the other sweep. But with Taylor sidelined, this trait could become quite exposed for Newcastle.
Great article. As an avid Swansea City fan it was quite intriguing reading the stats on Ashley Williams. Robust is a good description of his physical stature, but he's not that tall (not as tall as Huth, Hangeeland, Rio Ferdinand etc) so it doesn't surprise me that he's not the most effective in winning aerial duels (31 in 71). Despite this (as noted in your article), Swansea have conceded only 4 headed goals this season so it doesn't seem a problem. It would be interesting to see an article on Fabio Cannavaro - surely one of the best modern day centre backs to have played the game, despite being only 5'9' - and how many aerial duels he won on average in a season (and consequently how many headed goals his side conceded). Ashley Williams has been one of our outstanding performers this season (along with Michel Vorm and Leon Britton) but his 'Style' may be misleading as his 'long balls' are often long crossfield balls to right winger Nathan Dyer. Also, he is 27 years old, not 24.