Scout report: James Tarkowski - A stalwart defender for Everton in the 2023-2024 Premier League season, the 31-year-old heart of defense has shown a consistent and commendable performance. Dominating in his ball recovery, chance creation and specifically in his interceptions, his prowess outshines most of the fellow center backs in the league, all safely ranking him high in percentile figures.
His proficiency in the aerial duels is extraordinary as well, rendering him a dominant force during set pieces. However, his style of play isn't flawless. Though not necessarily known for being goal-scoring defenders, even within this parameter, his scoring efficiency is lamentably low. Pass accuracy and ball retention are other areas that call for some serious improvement.
But perhaps the most concerning of Tarkowski's player stats is his tendency to commit fouls and draw yellow cards, indicating an aggressive and high-risk playing style. Despite these pointed weaknesses, his remarkable talent in chance creation (at par with many midfield maestros) proves his importance in initiating attacks from the back.
Most of his possession is seen in the defensive third aligning perfectly with his position, but he also displays a significant presence in the midfield third, highlighting his propensity for venturing out to support the midfield and advance the game. His contribution in the attacking third is decent for a defender, but there's room for diversification of his inputs there.
In all, Tarkowski’s performance underlines the importance of a seasoned center back, equally adept at halting opponents' advances as in starting his team's attack with his progressive passes. His somewhat unpolished edges can likely be smoothened with tactical refinement and disciplined play, making him a solid backbone in any defensive lineup.
James Tarkowski Key stats
James Tarkowski Career Trend
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James Tarkowski Shot Summary
In the 2024-2025 season, James Tarkowski took 5 shots, scoring 0 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 0.36, averaging 0.07 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 0 goals from 0 shots. A 0% conversion rate. 0 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 0 goals from 0 shots. A 0% conversion rate. 0 xG per shot.
Headers: 0 goals from 5 headed attempts. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.07 xG per shot.
