10 Worst Tackles of the 2012-13 Premier League Season so Far

Every Premier League season has seen its share of horror tackles.

Whether they are the product of malicious intent or merely mistimed moments of madness, each of these poor challenges has the potential to seriously damage, or even end an opponent's career.

The issue has come to the fore over the past week, what with an especially dangerous tackle going completely unpunished both during a match between Wigan and Newcastle and upon the FA's retrospective analysis.

So what makes these tackles so terrible? And who have been the biggest culprits of these challenges so far this season?

Here are the 10 worst tackles of the 2012-13 Premier League season so far, in no particular order.

Fabriccio Coloccini (Newcastle) vs. Chelsea

One would expect that returning to play their former club would be a tough experience, but never has that been more true than in the case of Demba Ba's return to Newcastle.

After leaving for Chelsea in the January transfer window, the Senegalese striker returned to St. James' Park in early February to play a Premier League match.

About half an hour in, Ba raced in on goal with a chance to put the Blues into the lead. After his initial shot was saved by Newcastle keeper Tim Krul, Demba dove in with his head for the rebound to steer the ball past the helpless keeper.

However, Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini had also thrown a leg at the loose ball in order to clear the danger.

With Ba coming in with his head and Coloccini with his boot that high, Ba was caught square in the face and suffered a broken nose.

Incredibly, the referee did not punish the challenge, and Newcastle went on to score while Ba was off the pitch receiving stitches.

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) vs. Manchester City

Laurent Koscielny's tackle on Edin Dzeko early in Arsenal's home battle with Manchester City was not very dangerous.

However, it makes this list just for the laughable nature of the Frenchman's attempt to stop a goal.

With Dzeko just about to get onto a loose ball in the box, Koscielny turned and grabbed Dzeko around the waist and drove him to the ground NFL-style.

While Edin stepped up and missed the resulting penalty, Laurent's red card all but ensured the Gunners' inevitable loss.

Brede Hangeland (Fulham) vs. Sunderland

In a November clash between Fulham and Sunderland, Brede Hangeland put his side in an incredibly tough position when he got sent off half an hour in.

After a poor back-pass from teammate Giorgos Karagounis, the Norwegian defender dove in with both feet off the ground at a charging Lee Cattermole, wiping him out and leaving him strewn on the ground.

While Cattermole was able to avoid any damaging contact, the tackle was an ugly one.

To his credit, Hangeland apologized profusely after the match.

Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) vs. Fulham

Early in the season, before he disgraced himself by driving to QPR on deadline day of the January transfer window, Peter Odemwingie disgraced himself with an awful tackle at Craven Cottage.

With his side trailing 1-0 just about a half hour in, Odemwingie lost the ball on the sideline and seemed to lose control of his faculties.

The West Brom striker went to win the ball, but in doing so he went through the back of Fulham's Sascha Riether.

Upon closer look, one can see that Odemwingie stood on the German's foot and simultaneously unleashed a wild kick with his other leg.

Thankfully, the Nigerian saw the error in his ways and immediately apologized for the tackle.

Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) vs. Arsenal

Ryan Shawcross has made a habit of rough tackles on Arsenal players throughout his career.

One might remember the Stoke defender's awful tackle on Aaron Ramsey a few years back, which broke the Arsenal man's leg.

This season, Shawcross made another terrible challenge in a fixture with the Gunners, this time on Laurent Koscielny.

As the French defender slid in and won the ball, Ryan came in quite hard with an extended foot, which planted right into Laurent.

This one looks like it would have hurt.

Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) vs. Arsenal

The first North London derby of the season back in November was marred by one of the most ill-advised tackles one will see.

After Emmanuel Adebayor had put Tottenham up 10 minutes into the contest at the Emirates, the match looked well-poised to be a classic.

However, in the 18th minute, Adebayor made a jaw-dropping challenge on Arsenal's Santi Cazorla.

The tackle was two-footed, high and late, sending the Spanish midfielder to the ground for several moments and prompting the Togolese striker's sending off.

It was all downhill from there for Spurs, as the Gunners raced to a 5-2 victory.

Chico Flores (Swansea) vs. Sunderland

Swansea's Chico Flores put in a ridiculous challenge in an early-season match with Sunderland.

Late in the match with the score tied at two, Flores went flying in for a ball with his boot way off the ground.

What the Spaniard failed to notice, though, was that Sunderland's Louis Saha was racing down the sideline and near the ball.

As a result, Chico's high boot caught Saha on the top of the head.

While it was only a glancing blow, the kick came close to taking the Frenchman's head off.

Flores' subsequent red card was well-deserved, but Swansea was able to hold on for the draw.

Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) vs. Wigan

With Reading struggling and trailing 3-0 at home to fellow relegation-threatened club Wigan last month, one can imagine that frustration must have been setting in for the Reading players.

However, the despicable challenge Pavel Pogrebnyak put in on goalscorer Maynor Figueroa is still shocking.

At best, the Russian forward makes an insanely late play on the ball and was beyond reckless.

On the other hand, it is not out of the question that Pogrebnyak went in with malice and stood on the Honduran's ankle.

Pavel is just now getting back from suspension, while Figueroa was lucky to escape injury.

Stephane Mbia (QPR) vs. Arsenal

It's may be stretching it a bit to call this one a tackle, but it was certainly a dangerous moment of madness.

With QPR holding Arsenal to a scoreless draw for the first 78 minutes, Rangers looked on track to pick up a great point.

However, after a bit of jockeying off a poor corner, Stephane Mbia lost his head and cost his team dearly.

The Cameroonian went with Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen to chase down the loose ball and was shouldered to the ground by the Belgian.

Clearly feeling wronged for the challenge, which had been ruled a foul by the assistant, Mbia lashed out with a vicious kick to Vermaelen's leg.

There was clearly no attempt to play the ball, but only to harm the opponent.

Mbia was rightly sent off, and QPR were unable to hang on for the final few minutes as Arsenal found the winner.

That's just how it's gone for Rangers this season.

Callum McManaman (Wigan) vs. Newcastle

The latest sensation in the Premier League is Callum McManaman's tackle on Massadio Haidara in last week's fixture between Wigan and Newcastle.

The young Englishman went in with a very high boot, catching Haidara's standing leg with his studs.

Haidara, who's just 20 years old, suffered an injury on the play and had to be taken off. However, given the ridiculous attempt, it seemed he was lucky that it wasn't even worse.

While it may not have seemed like McManaman had much intent, it is incredible that the neither the referee nor any of his assistants thought enough of it to even issue a yellow card.

Even worse, the FA found it impossible to punish McManaman retrospectively, and Wigan chairman Dave Whelan actually defends the tackle.

This is quite some injustice, as probably the worst tackle of the season goes completely unpunished.