Ethan Ampadu

[ja1 1,166]

I actually think he may have a bit of a dilemma. I know he's young but, technically, he's not showing enough to rate him as a future prospect for a top club in midfield. Potentially as an outright DM he could work but that's quite a limiting position, as in for example, it would mean he doesn't really fit in Chelsea's 3-4-3 unless we play 3-5-2. At youth level he plays CB, this position suits him more, but at only 5"9 (and as someone who so far plays middle CB in a 3-4-3) he just really needs a growth spurt to help him reach his potential at the highest level. Yes there have been short, successful defenders in past, but height will help increase his chances of not only being trusted but of just being a good CB, height helps. Within minutes against Huddersfield he was getting targeted aerially with his height.

[The Skipper 20,609]

55 minutes ago, ja1 said:

I actually think he may have a bit of a dilemma. I know he's young but, technically, he's not showing enough to rate him as a future prospect for a top club in midfield. Potentially as an outright DM he could work but that's quite a limiting position, as in for example, it would mean he doesn't really fit in Chelsea's 3-4-3 unless we play 3-5-2. At youth level he plays CB, this position suits him more, but at only 5"9 (and as someone who so far plays middle CB in a 3-4-3) he just really needs a growth spurt to help him reach his potential at the highest level. Yes there have been short, successful defenders in past, but height will help increase his chances of not only being trusted but of just being a good CB, height helps. Within minutes against Huddersfield he was getting targeted aerially with his height.

I thought he was a bit taller? Where did you get his height from if I may ask? 

[Leif 6,006]

Neither myself or anybody has said or even insinuated that Ampadu should be starting for Chelsea. Nobody's said he's good enough to play. All I've said, is he stands out head-and-shoulders above the rest of his age group when it comes to leadership qualities, and those qualities will ensure that he's always a capable, consistent player no matter where he ends up. Why are there so many posts on the contrary

[ja1 1,166]

36 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

I thought he was a bit taller? Where did you get his height from if I may ask? 

A lot of places say he's 6"0..I think it's a mistake that happens commonly with footballers, especially young ones, and he's listed as an incorrect height. When he first came to Chelsea the reports were that he's 5"9 and watching him play he looks about that tall. https://talksport.com/football/ethan-ampadu-profile-record-breaking-teenager-who-has-signed-premier-league-champions?amp

 

[ja1 1,166]

Fears alleviated, he looked fine at CB, yellow at the start aside. I think I'm wrong about his height, maybe 5"11? Not as short as 5"9, and didn't struggle aerially, though Bournemouth are a short side. Looks a good prospect as CB, much better than (I feel like I can say it now) pretty underwhelming performances as CM.

[Tomo 21,751]

7 minutes ago, ja1 said:

Fears alleviated, he looked fine at CB, yellow at the start aside. I think I'm wrong about his height, maybe 5"11? Not as short as 5"9, and didn't struggle aerially, though Bournemouth are a short side. Looks a good prospect as CB, much better than (I feel like I can say it now) pretty underwhelming performances as CM.

If im not mistaken now Luiz has been dropped we only really have 4 tall regular starters (im judging tall based on Mourinho's comments on needing about 6 players of a certain height) which are Alonso, Morata, Baka and whoever starts out of Cahill and Rudi. Despite that tho we are seldom caught cold on set pieces.

[Yeboii 1,844]

Hopefully this will shut the Ampadu haters up. At least for a while.

If Conte believes in him, why shouldn't you?

[The Skipper 20,609]

2 hours ago, Tomo said:

If im not mistaken now Luiz has been dropped we only really have 4 tall regular starters (im judging tall based on Mourinho's comments on needing about 6 players of a certain height) which are Alonso, Morata, Baka and whoever starts out of Cahill and Rudi. Despite that tho we are seldom caught cold on set pieces.

Christensen is tall, so that makes 5. 

[Pizy 18,852]

See a few people raving about him on Twitter. Am I the only one who wasn't that impressed with that game from him? Of course, he's only 17 (fuck me, I can't believe I'm 10 years older than a Chelsea player!) but it's not like he bossed the game or anything. His passes were almost exclusively sideways or backwards to Rüdiger, Cahill, and Caballero. His positioning and interceptions were decent I guess. 

I think it was pretty clear that he's not a trained CB. Didn't really look like he knew what he was doing which is why he kept it so simple. Doesn't look like a natural defender. Like RLC, hopefully Conte doesn't try to shoehorn him into the wrong position.

[Kieran. 6,317]

8 minutes ago, Pizy said:

See a few people raving about him on Twitter. Am I the only one who wasn't that impressed with that game from him? Of course, he's only 17 (fuck me, I can't believe I'm 10 years older than a Chelsea player!) but it's not like he bossed the game or anything. His passes were almost exclusively sideways or backwards to Rüdiger, Cahill, and Caballero. His positioning and interceptions were decent I guess. 

I think it was pretty clear that he's not a trained CB. Didn't really look like he knew what he was doing which is why he kept it so simple. Doesn't look like a natural defender. Like RLC, hopefully Conte doesn't try to shoehorn him into the wrong position.

Didn't put a wrong foot and didn't make any stupid mistakes. All you can really ask from a 17 year old.

[The Skipper 20,609]

42 minutes ago, Pizy said:

See a few people raving about him on Twitter. Am I the only one who wasn't that impressed with that game from him? Of course, he's only 17 (fuck me, I can't believe I'm 10 years older than a Chelsea player!) but it's not like he bossed the game or anything. His passes were almost exclusively sideways or backwards to Rüdiger, Cahill, and Caballero. His positioning and interceptions were decent I guess. 

I think it was pretty clear that he's not a trained CB. Didn't really look like he knew what he was doing which is why he kept it so simple. Doesn't look like a natural defender. Like RLC, hopefully Conte doesn't try to shoehorn him into the wrong position.

I’m sure he plays there for the Dev squad?

[Tomo 21,751]

1 hour ago, Pizy said:

See a few people raving about him on Twitter. Am I the only one who wasn't that impressed with that game from him? Of course, he's only 17 (fuck me, I can't believe I'm 10 years older than a Chelsea player!) but it's not like he bossed the game or anything. His passes were almost exclusively sideways or backwards to Rüdiger, Cahill, and Caballero. His positioning and interceptions were decent I guess. 

I think it was pretty clear that he's not a trained CB. Didn't really look like he knew what he was doing which is why he kept it so simple. Doesn't look like a natural defender. Like RLC, hopefully Conte doesn't try to shoehorn him into the wrong position.

In a way i think the way you and others assessed him shows how good he is, most times a 17 year old plays at senior level the tinest little thing has us doing butterfly's, for example McEachran was declared the 2nd coming of jesus christ for as little as a pass back to the keeper. Instead we are legit holding him to the standards of a senior pro already, he probably won't ever be one of the very, very best but his mental ability is unreal and thats why he has this chance at such a young age.

On a separate note he's from my area of England (Devon, south west) and there's very few full time footballers from our area let alone Chelsea level one's and he has been quite a hot topic of convo even from supporters of our rivals.

[nyikolajevics 2,690]

5 hours ago, Pizy said:

See a few people raving about him on Twitter. Am I the only one who wasn't that impressed with that game from him? Of course, he's only 17 (fuck me, I can't believe I'm 10 years older than a Chelsea player!) but it's not like he bossed the game or anything. His passes were almost exclusively sideways or backwards to Rüdiger, Cahill, and Caballero. His positioning and interceptions were decent I guess. 

I think it was pretty clear that he's not a trained CB. Didn't really look like he knew what he was doing which is why he kept it so simple. Doesn't look like a natural defender. Like RLC, hopefully Conte doesn't try to shoehorn him into the wrong position.

Conte clearly sees something special in this kid. He might not be good enough yet, maybe JCS or Tomori are even better right now but in the future these minutes might be benefitial. Also, we beat Everton and now Bournemouth with him on the pitch and conceded one goal, so it’s not like he is a disaster.

[El P. 1,354]

 I don't like the fact that we are playing him in the defense. We are in a need of quality midfielders, not center backs - if we can choose, and it seems to me that we can, it would be better to push him in midfielder positions.

[ja1 1,166]

7 hours ago, Pizy said:

See a few people raving about him on Twitter. Am I the only one who wasn't that impressed with that game from him? Of course, he's only 17 (fuck me, I can't believe I'm 10 years older than a Chelsea player!) but it's not like he bossed the game or anything. His passes were almost exclusively sideways or backwards to Rüdiger, Cahill, and Caballero. His positioning and interceptions were decent I guess. 

I think it was pretty clear that he's not a trained CB. Didn't really look like he knew what he was doing which is why he kept it so simple. Doesn't look like a natural defender. Like RLC, hopefully Conte doesn't try to shoehorn him into the wrong position.

He didn't do much impressive on the ball but allowances can be made. Wouldn't expect him to push up like Luiz/Christensen and be pinging balls at 17. (I think people say 'he's just 17' at anything other than praise for him too much but, as I said, I don't think anyone should expect that unless it's a once in generation talent). Defensively he was good. Literally no mistakes, second half when Swansea increased the pressure I was most impressed. Was winning balls defending from set pieces as well. Midfield performances hyped, but at CB (where he plays for youth team) I can see his potential.