Josh Acheampong

And there was more spotlight put on that defense having just conceded three goals.

Um, particularly the fact that Josh Acheampong got the start and the nod over Wesley Fofana.

We didn't see any of those individual errors that have plagued this team, uh, all season long.

And, um, not to go and defend them too much before we've even had a chance to discuss, but I will hasten to add that Bournemouth got over one XG for that goal they got, which does skew the stats somewhat.

I mean, it, it, it's kind of like getting a red card five minutes into the game i- in a way, you know? It changes the momentum, there's a shift in atmosphere and yeah.

I mean, to be honest, like M- Martinez was a particularly interesting one because there were moments where he would...

I, I don't know if you guys remember this, and Alex, if you were watching on TV, but there was a long ball that came in from a Bournemouth player and Josh Acheampong brought it down really nicely, killed the ball and just pa- passed it back to Martinez.

And before he controlled it, he just gave him a round of applause and then went to control the ball.

Since then there's been loads of great analysis done and average positions of players, and it very much was.

So you look at it, you had Chavarria playing as a, an old-fashioned orthodox left back, and Acheampong very much doing the same on the right-hand side.

So classic back four.

And actually the shape when Chelsea were out of, out of, uh, possession was much more a 4-4-2.

You have the huge benefit of Moises Caicedo obviously coming back to really make that work as well, as we talked about, but the balance just felt so much better.

And I think actually if I'm, um, if I'm Xabi Alonso and I'm looking at the squad, and we've talked a lot about liking the back three and whether, whether it su- suits certain players better, what that kind of 4-4-2 off the ball shape does for you, I think, it does give you a little bit more opportunity with one or two players that, that you could drop in.

So as I said, I think Josh Acheampong for me probably stays in the team for the game at Everton.

I think actually his height is really important going there, so having Acheampong there are gonna be so...

Everyone...

Bro, Josh Acheampong.

[laughs]

Guy's 20 years old.

Um, actually it's really interesting 'cause I think the word intent, I think really suits this player and his performance.

Um, Josh Acheampong.

I thought he had a really good game.

Um, I thought he was tenacious.

That's the, the bad news about this, uh, international break, that he picked an injury on his ankle, and he's, he's gonna be out for, for a few weeks.

Um, Josh Acheampong has been a big player for Lee Carsley's England under 21 side.

He recently scored his first England goal in the international break.

I just wonder with the, with the number of goals that Chelsea have been conceding, have you thought about him as a player who could step into that starting XI maybe tomorrow or in the coming weeks? Do you think he's ready to be able to-

But Malo Gusto doesn't help Chelsea out at all.

And in terms of minutes, like, if he's battling between giving minutes, Xabi Alonso to Malo Gusto or, or Josh Acheampong even as a right back this season, I'd be giving those minutes to Josh Acheampong, 'cause Gusto simply has not been good enough, and I don't think has l- long left, or shouldn't have long left at Chelsea given his current situation.

Uh, as I already mentioned, Dom Smith did an interview with Trev, um, obviously now at Como with Cesc Fabregas.

He says, "I'm really happy with what I achieved at Chelsea.

I think he is more of a center back, and maybe that is where he's gonna find himself in the long term.

But then there, there is subsequent questions about how does that impact the rest of Chelsea's defense, right? Are you leaving out Levi Colwill, who hasn't had a great start to the season? Maxence Lacroix, who's been playing in the center mainly of Chelsea's defense, especially when we've played a back three.

Is he moving over to the right? Then where does Josh Acheampong fit? So there are questions beyond that, um, but that's kind of my feeling on both.

But I think it's nice that we've got obviously two players there, both, uh, Stevo and Quansah.