Maccabi Tel Aviv's James Tavernier Under Scrutiny Amidst Disappointing Performance
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Maccabi Tel Aviv's expensive right-back, James Tavernier, is facing criticism for his disappointing performance since joining the club. Statistical analysis shows he leads in some offensive actions but lags significantly in defensive metrics and dribbling success compared to other top league right-backs. His reported salary of 700,000 euros per season further intensifies scrutiny over his contributions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- James Tavernier's performance for Maccabi Tel Aviv has been disappointing since his summer arrival.
- Tavernier reportedly earns approximately 700,000 euros per season, raising expectations.
- Statistical comparisons show Tavernier leads in offensive actions like shots and crosses.
- However, his defensive statistics and successful dribble rate are among the lowest.
- The article questions whether the significant investment in Tavernier is currently justified.
James Tavernier, who joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer with high expectations, has had a disappointing start to his tenure with the club. The right-back, reportedly earning around 700,000 euros per season, is struggling to justify his salary and status. Following Maccabi Tel Aviv's 3-2 loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Toto Cup final on Thursday, criticism of Tavernier's performance resurfaced.
A comparison of Tavernier's league statistics against five other top-tier right-backs, Marcus Coco, Yila Betai, Nana Antwi, Guy Mizrahi, and Alon Azogui, reveals concerning trends. While Tavernier leads in offensive metrics like shots on goal (1.43 per 90 minutes) and crosses (6.59 per 90 minutes), indicating significant involvement in attack, his efficiency is questionable.
His successful dribble rate is notably low at 0.18 per 90 minutes, significantly less than his peers, suggesting difficulty in beating opponents one-on-one. Defensively, Tavernier also underperforms, ranking fifth in tackles (1.60 per 90 minutes) and last in successful tackles (1.07 per 90 minutes). His ball recovery rate of 3.74 per 90 minutes is the lowest among the six players examined.
While Tavernier's passing volume is high, his accuracy of 83.8% is lower than several other right-backs. The article concludes that despite his offensive contributions, Tavernier's defensive shortcomings and lack of individual effectiveness on the wing, especially considering his high salary, make his investment difficult to justify at this stage. The numbers provide further cause for concern following recent criticism.