Stats Analysis: Premier League's Biggest Losers - of Possession
Following on from yesterday’s Premier League piece focussing on the seven top passers in England’s top-flight, we take an entirely different approach for our next WhoScored analysis. We turn the idea on its head and analyse those players who have lost possession the most over the first half of the season. Taking a combination of each player’s average for both “Turnovers” (a poor touch which concedes possession etc.) and “Dispossessed” from the WhoScored stats, we list the six guiltiest parties:
6. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) - Lost Possession 4.8 times per game
As the furthest forward of the Arsenal midfield trio, Ramsey’s ability to keep possession and provide chances for the first-choice front three of Gervinho, Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott is an essential part of the Gunners’ game. The Welshman makes just 0.8 successful dribbles per game and has been dispossessed, on average, 3.2 times over his 19 appearances, the third highest in the Premier League. Given that he makes 65.9 passes per game - the fifth highest in the league - it’s perhaps understandable, though, due to the fact he is often on the ball. Ramsey has also lost control (turnovers) 1.6 times per game, for a total of 4.8. In return, he wins the ball back 2.4 times per game, with an average of 1.6 tackles and 0.8 interceptions.
5. Luis Suarez (Liverpool) - Lost Possession 4.9 times per game
The Uruguayan has more shots (4.5) and makes more successful dribbles (2.1) than any other Liverpool player and is also second for key passes, with 2 per game. It’s obvious, then, that Suarez plays a key part in the Merseysiders’ attacking ploys and is always looking to beat a man or create opportunities for himself or others, rather than play safe. This is further backed up by his 34.4 passes per game - given the amount of possession he has, Suarez would surely make more if he was less single-minded in his approach.
With this in mind, the fact that he commits 2.7 turnovers per game can be forgiven. Suarez is also dispossessed 2.2 times on average, for a total of 4.9. It’s also no coincidence that he is, by far, the most fouled (2.3) player of Kenny Dalglish’s side. Despite his rampaging role up front, Suarez still puts in a defensive shift, winning the ball back 1.6 times per game, making 1.2 tackles and 0.4 interceptions.
4. Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland) - Lost Possession 4.9 times per game
The Benin international has played in a variety of positions for the Black Cats this term, though he’s mainly been deployed in the hole behind a lone front man. As a result, Sessegnon has been involved in a third (9/27) of his side’s goals, picking up 4 goals and providing 5 assists. Similar to Suarez, the stats show he is a highly-skilled individual, with 2.9 shots, 2 key passes and 2.1 successful dribbles per game.
Again, with his role as the link between midfield and attack, it’s obvious Sessegnon will be targeted and closed down whenever possible and this is demonstrated by the fact he has been dispossessed 2.3 times, in addition to conceding 2.6 turnovers per game, for a total of 4.9. A strong work-rate and determination sees him win the ball back 1.7 times, though, with 1.2 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game.
3. Nicklas Bendtner (Sunderland) - Lost Possession 5 times per game
It says a lot about Sunderland’s season that their main two front players are in the top six here. Granted, the vast majority of these stats have come from the games prior to Martin O’Neill’s arrival and perhaps help explain just why they picked up a mere 11 points and scored 16 goals in their 14 games under Steve Bruce. Since O’Neill has taken charge, a total of 13 points and 11 goals from 6 games clearly shows how the Black Cats attack is beginning to fire again, following a dire start to the season.
It’s obvious Bendtner has been mainly used as a target man - his 36.7 passes per game is the third highest at Sunderland and, combined with 2.9 aerial duels per game, indicates the tactics were mainly to get the ball to him as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, when in possession, he hasn’t proved the greatest at holding on to it. The big Dane has been dispossessed 2.5 times and produced 2.5 turnarounds, for a total of 5 per game. Bendtner has made a mere 0.3 successful dribbles, indicating he’s not the best when it comes to taking on an opponent, and with just 0.8 tackles and 0.3 interceptions, a fairly low work-rate has seen him win the ball back just 1.1 times in comparison.
2. Cheik Tiote (Newcastle) - Lost Possession 5.3 times per game
The beating heart of the Newcastle midfield, Tiote makes more passes (60.9) than any other player for Alan Pardew’s side by a huge distance, with Yohan Cabaye next best on 40.6. It’s perhaps something of a surprise, given his tenacious tendency, that Tiote has been dispossessed more times (3.7) than any other player in the league - it’s clearly a tactic of opposition sides to close him down and prevent him from playing, given how often he receives the ball. Tiote also commits 1.6 turnovers per game, meaning he loses possession a total of 5.3 times on average. His ball-winning ability means Tiote more than atones for this, though; making 3.9 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game for the Magpies, he wins the ball back 5.8 times in return.
1. Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) - Lost Possession 7.4 times per game
There is no doubt his acquisition has proved hugely beneficial to Tottenham. Since Adebayor joined on loan at White Hart Lane at the end of August, Harry Redknapp’s side have lost just 1 game and drawn 3, dropping just 9 points over the subsequent 18 fixtures. His introduction to the first XI has seen him score 9 goals and provide 6 assists, averaging a fantastic 3.7 shots – the highest for the north London outfit - in addition to 2 key passes per game.
A WhoScored rating of 7.33 is the fourth best at the club but, in spite of all this, the Togo international has lost the ball way more than any other player in the Premier League. He is top when it comes to losing control of the ball, with 3.8 turnovers per game, and has been dispossessed 3.6 times on average, for a total of 7.4 per game. Playing on the shoulder of the last defender, he has also been caught offside (2 per game) the most in the Premier League. In a sense, it gives the impression of a frustrating player but, given his attacking output, Adebayor is clearly capable of the sublime too, and demonstrates the fact that, despite the obvious downside, the good outweighs the bad by a huge margin
It's really interesting to see that all 6 players are clearly some of the most important for their clubs. All the players in this list are vital members of their squads, with a lot of the plays being fed through them, or into them, expalining the high percentage of loss of possesiosion. It'd be a surprise to see a centre-back in the top six!
The numbers for "How many goals each game were scored per turnover" are wrong because the numbers I used only involved the top attackers, so they are incomplete. The calculations should have all the turnovers or only the goals scored by the players in the calculations.
3.5 is the average for top attackers in EPL teams with 10+ starts for teams with positive goal differentials (I had to choose a cut-off, my wife was giving me funnny looks.) Norwich, Bolton, and Blackburn have scored more goals than some of the teams with +GD, so they could be figured in as well. I saved this on a spreadsheet, with player names and averages, but I don't see a way to upload that data. I sometimes included CM ie Ramires because of attacking prowess. The combined averages per team: MC 3.16, MU 3.34, TH 3.68, CL 3.24, AR 4.125, LP 2.52, NC 4.06, SDL 3.97. This raised a questions: How many goals each game were scored per turnover. MC .89, MU .73, TH .52, CL .6, AR .44, LP .48, NC .31, SDL .34. Other questions: How many chances do these teams create vs lost possession? How efficient is their scoring in comparison? So many other things connected to this topic. All players in this art in bottom half of +GD teams. Connection?
It makes sense that attackers would lose the ball more, really, the closer you get to the opposition's goal, the more the ball will be turned over. Space becomes more precious as opposition CB close in. Those same center backs should also be the best at positioning to create turnovers and most skilled at dispossesing attackers. The attacker is also going to take more chances because they have to/can in order to score. I ran some numbers about this topic myself a couple of weeks ago for how this season's Champions league teams did LAST year in their respective leagues(EPL,SerieA,LaLiga). CBs give the ball away about .64 times per game, WB 1.63, DM 1.59, AM 3.11, F 3.94. I looked at most app to determine who started most and calculated those players. So I think article is missing some standard of comparison as well. Yes, 7.4 is a lot, but how bad compared to a general ave of starting attackers? And how productive are the lowest on the list?
As you've said, opposition tactics play a big part in these stats, it's no surprise that all the players on this list are the attacking hearbeat of the teams. Players like Ramsey and Suarez are always going to be closed down or double-teamed because they're such a threat. Also, these players will be counter-attacking and trying the killer pass, which quite often can be turned over.
With the possible exception of the Sunderland players (as mentioned, these stats include the Steve Bruce portion of the season!) all the players more than make up for their high loss of possession with either goals, assists or tackles and passes. The stats are high because they have the ball more than most.
Does lose it a lot though, eh!
I just think this is a sign of how often Ade gets on the ball for Spurs, and that is exactly what they had been lacking - a striker who could link play and create as well as score goals. Yes, he may well lose the ball a lot of the time, but how often does he get the ball down and bring other players into the game? His turnovers and dispossessions pale in significance!