Josh Acheampong

[bluelightening]

His acceleration on the ball is very impressive. Several times, he takes the ball out of his stride and completely bursts past his opponent. It helps due to his size also. What a performance he put on Saturday and it his place to lose.

Wait until he starts adding goals and assists to his game, will become a FPL first teamer. doubt it'll be long given the positions he can get into up the pitch. Anyhow, prefer he defends first, but he's an absolute Gem of a player emerging here.

 

[Zeta]

I did think he was quite dodgy when he was first brought into the team and didn't see what the fuss was about, but he's really growing this season. Probably the first name from the defence on the teamsheet at the moment. He'll have wobbles, I'm sure. But hopefully he continues the steady grwoth trajectory.

Interestingly, he seems to be mostly playing as a RB, which means what do we do longterm with our other fullbacks? As we've got Palestra for the right side who was a big signing, and Chav and Hato for the left side. Not to mention James, who probably won't play there much, but is an option.

 

[Nibs]

I did think he was quite dodgy when he was first brought into the team and didn't see what the fuss was about, but he's really growing this season. Probably the first name from the defence on the teamsheet at the moment. He'll have wobbles, I'm sure. But hopefully he continues the steady grwoth trajectory.

Interestingly, he seems to be mostly playing as a RB, which means what do we do longterm with our other fullbacks? As we've got Palestra for the right side who was a big signing, and Chav and Hato for the left side. Not to mention James, who probably won't play there much, but is an option.

I think I would still rather see Josh as one of the CB's. I am happy he is now a regular in the starting 11, but think he would really excel at CB. He carries the ball out really well and reminds me a little of classic Alan Hansen.

 

[All Barco no bite]

I did think he was quite dodgy when he was first brought into the team and didn't see what the fuss was about, but he's really growing this season. Probably the first name from the defence on the teamsheet at the moment. He'll have wobbles, I'm sure. But hopefully he continues the steady grwoth trajectory.

Interestingly, he seems to be mostly playing as a RB, which means what do we do longterm with our other fullbacks? As we've got Palestra for the right side who was a big signing, and Chav and Hato for the left side. Not to mention James, who probably won't play there much, but is an option.

I don't think Reece will feature at RB again for us.
If its a back 4 Josh and Palestra share the RB position and Gusto needs to find a new employer.
If we go back 3 then Josh shares the RCB role with Reece. Fofana to find a new employer also.

 

[Sconnie Blue]

I think I would still rather see Josh as one of the CB's. I am happy he is now a regular in the starting 11, but think he would really excel at CB. He carries the ball out really well and reminds me a little of classic Alan Hansen.

I think he's perfect as a RB. Can get forward very well when needed and as mentioned it will be no time he will add assists/goals to his game.

 

[19seventyone]

Not many RCB’s can win the ball at left back and end up almost left wing when he plays the attacker in.
If he’s playing regularly for us for the rest of the season then he’ll be playing for England.
Absolute must to get him on a long contract. The worrying thing is that no matter the wage we offer he will have more lucrative offers elsewhere.

 

[Bob stark]

I did think he was quite dodgy when he was first brought into the team and didn't see what the fuss was about, but he's really growing this season. Probably the first name from the defence on the teamsheet at the moment. He'll have wobbles, I'm sure. But hopefully he continues the steady grwoth trajectory.

Interestingly, he seems to be mostly playing as a RB, which means what do we do longterm with our other fullbacks? As we've got Palestra for the right side who was a big signing, and Chav and Hato for the left side. Not to mention James, who probably won't play there much, but is an option.

I guarantee you that he will have bad game this season and this is fine. The most important thing for any defensive line is what happen in front of them (not just midfielder). If you expose them, it is very difficult to play defender because you simply have 0 margin error.

If you remember back in TT days, TT could play almost any defender and all of them looked good.

 

[dkw]

If you remember back in TT days, TT could play almost any defender and all of them looked good.

Thats because he had 8 of them on the pitch.

 

[Clearlake Cartel]

Glad Josh has cemented his place, keeps the Cobham vibes positive in the squad.
RJ isn’t available enough to fully get behind anymore and Colwill just isn’t very likeable.
Josh has the ability and the attitude to go right to the top.

 

[aindro]

I think Acheampong plays right centre backs in Xabi Alonso's 3-4-3. And it's good to see him marauding forward to help Pedro Neto. For sure he will have bad games and Estevao will have bad games too. But if Xabi doesn't play young players, how can they improve? How can they gel within the team? I think Acheampong and Estevao both should play regularly as they showed to have deserved to be in the starting 11.

 

[All Barco no bite]

I think Acheampong plays right centre backs in Xabi Alonso's 3-4-3. And it's good to see him marauding forward to help Pedro Neto. For sure he will have bad games and Estevao will have bad games too. But if Xabi doesn't play young players, how can they improve? How can they gel within the team? I think Acheampong and Estevao both should play regularly as they showed to have deserved to be in the starting 11.

XA seems to have moved away from the back 3 in recent weeks. Josh certainly been playing more as a traditional RB

 

[forbzy]

XA seems to have moved away from the back 3 in recent weeks. Josh certainly been playing more as a traditional RB

Part of that may have been down to availability of wing backs. With Pep Chavarria available again, I wonder if he will revert to back 3. Or he may stick with back 4 and play Pep/Josh as the full backs.

 

[aindro]

I still think that it is 3-4-3. With Neto as right wing back. Despite Neto not tracking back that much. I don't think that Alonso will be swayed easily to play pure back 4 as 3-4-3 won him the Bundesliga. Remember Amorim with United who sticked with 3-4-3 until he was fired. With Pep Chavarria and Marco Palestra fit, let's see where Acheampong or Neto will fit in the system. Acheampong has to start though wherever he will play. He is superior than Wes Fofana or even Maxence Lacroix, whom I started to rate less and less as he has been poor.

 

[Sconnie Blue]

I don't think it's injuries. We started playing with a back 4 after the International Break, and results have looked much better.

Chelsea’s first 5 PL games before the international break:
• 2 wins
• 2 losses
• 1 draw
• 10 goals scored
• 12 goals conceded

Chelsea’s 4 PL games after the international break:
• 3 wins
• 1 loss
• 9 goals scored
• 3 goals conceded

Caicedo coming back was a huge bonus, but it's evident we simply move the ball and find space better in a back 4.

 

[Bob stark]

I still think that it is 3-4-3. With Neto as right wing back. Despite Neto not tracking back that much. I don't think that Alonso will be swayed easily to play pure back 4 as 3-4-3 won him the Bundesliga. Remember Amorim with United who sticked with 3-4-3 until he was fired. With Pep Chavarria and Marco Palestra fit, let's see where Acheampong or Neto will fit in the system. Acheampong has to start though wherever he will play. He is superior than Wes Fofana or even Maxence Lacroix, whom I started to rate less and less as he has been poor.

It is cleary back 4, but it is really not that important.

 

[SydneyChelsea]

It is cleary back 4, but it is really not that important.

We could play a Back 10 and it wouldn't matter as all our players are okay at defending man v man, but have no idea how to defend space.

The game isn't like it was 20 years ago where you could have a couple of loud defenders calling marking plays like an NFL coach, PL is much too fast. The average technical level of players is also much higher than it was 20 years ago meaning you can't just do pure zonal marking and hope to stifle teams. You have to be able to defend both the man and the space and know how to make that judgement yourself in the heat of the moment.

Alonso has to work on both the midfielders and the wide players in anticipating when to track back and where to track back to. I don't think it is laziness as much as they react way too slowly.