A look at the bare statistics would seem to back up the Leicester player`s assertion that he is not the Premiership`s dirtiest player. He has committed only 27 fouls all season and earned just three yellow cards in the Premiership.
There are 50 players in the top flight who have committed more fouls and when it comes to averaging out the number of indiscretions per game, the Leicester man`s record is even better.
However, this appears to be a case of quality, not quantity. Many of the players who have committed more fouls are those who are involved in aerial challenges and are penalised for minor nudges, such as Niall Quinn. In fact, half of the 50 players above Savage are strikers, including the likes of Kevin Phillips and Thierry Henry who are hardly considered to be hard men.
Savage has been criticised for the type of challenge. His recklessness was what incensed Arsene Wenger and so upset the Spurs players in last season`s Worthington Cup final.
A classic example of why quality is as important as quantity is Frenchman Frank Leboeuf. The World Cup winner has been penalised for just 18 fouls in the Premiership this season. However, 11 of them have resulted in yellow cards and on two occasions Leboeuf has seen red for two of those yellows in the same game.
Savage`s assertion that he is more sinned against than sinner bears some consideration. The City midfielder has been fouled on 31 occasions and only 30 players have been brought down more often.
However, a more damning statistic is that only four players have been less successful in the tackle as often as Savage. In addition to his 27 fouls, he has failed to win 41 of the challenges he has contested, coming away with the ball on just 52% of occasions.
The question is whether this is due to poor timing or reckless behaviour, or the fact that he is a little weak in the challenge. The answer to that will determine whether his surname or his nickname "Lily" is a more apt moniker.
Rob Bateman
