sullydnl
Ross Kemp's caf ID
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2012
- Messages
- 34,895
What is wrong about being a fouling machine if you don't get carded for it? Fernandinho did it, Caicedo was ridiculous yesterday, and Palhinha also fouled a lot. Ugarte doesn't do it more than them. It is a part of being a ball winner.
The only caveat I'd add is that where those fouls happens matters a lot.
Around 70% of Ugarte's challenges occur in the middle/attacking thirds. As long as he doesn't get sent off he can foul his heart out in those positions, as the opposition gain little in having their possession disrupted in those areas of the pitch and it typically gives us a chance to reset.
Whereas someone like Casemiro has made around 50% of his challenges in his own defensive third this season. If he was fouling as much as Ugarte, it would be a bigger problem.
Which matters in terms of what Ugarte does (persistent fouling is generally fine, but he needs to be smart around his own box) and is used. It's another reason he isn't the sort of DM you want sitting in front of the defence, you need to keep that tackle/foul volume higher up the pitch.