Player Focus: Where Does Liam Ridgewell Rank Among MLS' Best Defenders?

In MLS circles, Merritt Paulson is well-known as a must follow on Twitter. The Portland Timbers owner is just as vociferous about the club as any of its fans, with Paulson a regular spark of social media debate. Last week, true to form, he boldly claimed Liam Ridgewell to be the best centre-back in the league. So does Paulson have a point? 

The former Birmingham City, Aston Villa and West Brom player has indeed made an impression in MLS since joining the Portland Timbers last summer. The Pacific North-west team’s defence was one of the worst in the league upon his arrival in June 2014, with Ridgewell since leading what has been a remarkable improvement at the back for the Timbers. 

Caleb Porter’s side are on a three-game winning streak, and having conceded just once over the course of that run; Portland’s defence - marshalled by Ridgewell - must take a significant share of the credit. 

In fact, since Ridgewell signed for the club last year, the Timbers have kept 13 clean sheets in games that the former Premier League defender has featured. On the face of it, Paulson might have a case. Certainly on importance to their respective teams, Ridgewell ranks pretty highly in MLS terms. 

But how does such an argument stand up on the basis of statistics? Of course, numbers and figures don’t tell you everything about a player’s performance or quality - particularly in defence where positioning and nous is so important - but does Paulson’s point have a grounding in sound logic? 

The New York Red Bulls’ Matt Miazga is the most prolific tackler among MLS’s central defensive ranks, averaging 2.9 tackles per game from 9 appearances this season. The LA Galaxy’s Leonardo also fares well, making 2.7 tackles per game - compared to Ridgewell’s measly average of just 0.6 tacklers per game. 

In terms of interceptions, Laurent Ciman of the Montreal Impact is the league’s best, averaging a lofty 5.3 interceptions per game. Nobody comes close to the Belgian, with Orlando City’s Aurelien Collin the next best central defensive interceptor with an average of 4.2 per game this season. By comparison, Ridgewell averages 1.2 interceptions per match. 

Going on stats, Ridgewell isn’t even the best defender on the Portland Timbers roster. Nat Borchers averages more tackles (0.7 per game compared to 0.6) and more interceptions (1.7 per game compared to 1.2) than Ridgewell, although the Englishman does make more clearances - 7.4 per game compared to 5.5 by his teammates. 

Borchers is also the best blocker in the league, blocking an average of 1.4 shots per game he has played this season. If the Portland Timbers’ recent surge is down to their improved defensive form, then Borchers - an experienced MLS operator with Real Salt Lake previously - certainly deserves as much acclaim as Ridgewell. 

Last season Ridgewell was paired with Pa Modou Kah. While that partnership did show some signs of success for the Portland Timbers, the decision to move for Borchers from RSL has paid off for Porter and the Timbers. The duo are now arguably the best centre-back pairing in the North American top-flight. 

"I think Liam is one of the most underrated central defenders in the league," Caleb Porter said, reinforcing Paulson’s Twitter comments. "I don’t know what other coaches think or what other people think, but I know what I think. And I think he’s proven that in his time here, and the results speak for themselves in terms of the wins and clean sheets. Since he’s arrived we’ve really stabilised out the backline, and he’s a big part of that. He’s a quality central defender.” 

It took some time for Ridgewell to adjust to MLS and North American soccer - as is the case for many foreign Designated Players - but the former Aston Villa defender seems to be improving with each passing week alongside his central defensive partner at the Timbers, Borchers. 

Portland has also had a set back four this season, with Borchers and Ridgewell flanked by Jorge Villafana on the left and Alvas Powell on the right. That sort of familiarity has surely helped Ridgewell reach the kind of performance levels he has managed to maintain in 2015. 

It would be perhaps unfair to criticise Ridgewell on his modest statistics this season, given the degree of stability he has given the Timbers in defence. "A good central defender oftentimes doesn’t get noticed because they don’t make mistakes, and he’s one of those guys," explained Porter, who believes the Englishman is truly one of the league’s best. 

Armed with a dossier of numbers and figures, Paulson would surely back down over Ridgewell’s status as MLS’s best central defender, but the Timbers owner is also a passionate fan of his team - and a fan, who has watched every game this season, might stick to their argument on the basis of qualitative - rather than quantitative - evidence.

How impressed have you been with Liam Ridgewell for Portland Timbers this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below