12 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Acheampong looks like he has been doing the work of 4 defenders so far this season. The others should be embarrassed with their performances.

Certainly fits the theme of Maresca's system.

Acheampong doing the work of 3 defenders.

Caicedo doing the work of 3 midfielders.

Palmer doing the work of 4 attackers.

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Certainly fits the theme of Maresca's system.

Acheampong doing the work of 3 defenders.

Caicedo doing the work of 3 midfielders.

Palmer doing the work of 4 attackers.

Jorgensen and Sanchez doing the role of 0 goalkeepers.

So what has happend to Josh, after a few excellent games and one real stand out display he has basically disappeared from matches, he cant have had more than 30 minutes game time the past 6 or 7 weeks. Was he too good, is Maresca upset that he was better than his mates he keeps picking?

3 hours ago, dkw said:

So what has happend to Josh, after a few excellent games and one real stand out display he has basically disappeared from matches, he cant have had more than 30 minutes game time the past 6 or 7 weeks. Was he too good, is Maresca upset that he was better than his mates he keeps picking?

Enzo Maresca on Josh Acheampong's lack of minutes: “He's very good. The only thing, I mean, it’s something nice for me, and it's something nice for the club, is that at the moment our central defenders are doing very well. Wes is doing well, Trev is doing well. Josh is doing well. This is what we need in terms of central defenders. It's just a matter to find the right moment when we give him the chance”.

Are they doing well? Not better than Josh in my opinion who has had the standout performances this season.

That's simply not true. Tosin started against Burnley for goodness knows why, so that makes Acheampong 4th choice.

Reckon Maresca would also start Badiashile over him given the opportunity.

56 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

That's simply not true. Tosin started against Burnley for goodness knows why, so that makes Acheampong 4th choice.

Reckon Maresca would also start Badiashile over him given the opportunity.

Probably also worth considering that we revert to a back three in possession; the full-backs we play and what they do on the ball will be a factor. A right-sided centre-back starting next to Gusto will move into the middle of the three in possession; next to James who is more likely to push into midfield he might be the guy on the right-hand side. The three consecutive league games that Acheampong started featured a back four of Cucurella - LCB - Acheampong - James. When he was dropped in the following game, Gusto started at right-back and James was an out-and-out midfielder.

I wouldn't read too much into what Maresca said, it was a total non-answer.

Edited December 3, 2025Dec 3 by PloKoon13

Probably Maresca bullsh*tting us again. Acheampong should be getting minutes ahead fo Tosin and Badiashille.

Maresca playing Tosin and Badiashille as CBs with Chalobah as RB, while having Josh on the bench, is the most idiotic thing he can do.

He should 100% force a transfer in January. Absolutely disgusting treatment of a generational talent by this bald fraud.

Seeing Tosin’s name on the team sheet ahead of his must make him question every life choice.

Levi, Fofana, Trev, Josh - they are the first choice four CBs. The others are last resort. How he does not get more game time is beyond me.

56 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

Levi, Fofana, Trev, Josh - they are the first choice four CBs. The others are last resort. How he does not get more game time is beyond me.

He is Marseca’s 4th RCB behind Fofana, Tosin and Chalobah, and 4th choice RB behind James, Gusto and Chalobah. Should have left last summer.

Should be starting every week without fail.

Just now, GarnachoCheese said:

Should be starting every week without fail.

He was assured and looked comfortable last night unlike some of the more experienced team members. Tosin and Badiashille are looking decidedly nervous and indecisive of late. At some point Maresca will have to reward Josh with a regular start. Josh was at one point sliding across with a block tackle while Badiashille stood idle on the edge of the danger zone. If i could see that surely that is visible to Maresca and his staff. It would be unkind for me to suggest they have sh*t for brains but it has crossed my mind.

Manchester City and Bayern Munich have registered an interest in Josh Acheampong.

Really wish one of them would test our resolve with a £40m+ bid.

On 19/12/2025 at 18:11, markpitts said:

Manchester City and Bayern Munich have registered an interest in Josh Acheampong.

Really wish one of them would test our resolve with a £40m+ bid.

CLOWNLAKE WILL TAKE THE MONEY

1 hour ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

  On 19/12/2025 at 18:11, markpitts said:

Manchester City and Bayern Munich have registered an interest in Josh Acheampong.

Sadly, I think you may be right ... hope not mind you !

Every team in the world would kill to have a talented defender like this come through their academy, what a player.

Thought he was a bit sloppy and got caught with the ball a couple of times. BUT he needs more minutes his quality is there for all to see and he just needs to get more experience playing Premier League. I'm more than happy for him to make occasional mistakes if it helps his development. Sitting on the bench and playing u21s is going to do nothing more for him. Get him on more.

Was really impressed with him today - not quite sure why he was subbed again?

Carries the ball well and although I know he originally lost the ball when Haarland broke away, but WHAT a great recovery tackle.

Needs to start more often than not.

5 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Was really impressed with him today - not quite sure why he was subbed again?

Carries the ball well and although I know he originally lost the ball when Haarland broke away, but WHAT a great recovery tackle.

Needs to start more often than not.

I agree. At the time I would have subbed Badiashile, although I will admit that Badiashile himself improved in the second half.

19 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Was really impressed with him today - not quite sure why he was subbed again?

Carries the ball well and although I know he originally lost the ball when Haarland broke away, but WHAT a great recovery tackle.

Needs to start more often than not.

Acheampong and Estevao are easy subs to make because people can use the lazy excuse and say they are young.

Always impresses me when he plays. Yes a couple of mistakes here and there but experience will iron those out. The quality is there.

To be honest if I was him, I’d be thinking about a move away next summer. He clearly has talent and the treatment he got so far is sh*t.

Hopefully with the managerial change he will see more minutes.

Another good outing. He seems to have all the attributes you'd want in a defender.