Final thread.....Ethan Ampadu!
No data profile from here due to lack of senior minutes BUT plenty of video to go into below......
So where will he play? Will he play? What's he good at?
My belief is EA covers RCB, DM & if needed CB.
RCB - Can he drive out of the defense ala Chris Basham?
This is in a back 4 for Wales in recent game vs Bulgaria. I love this clip for a whole lot of overlapping CB reasons.
Ampadu will immediately be the most 2 footed player in the Blades squad. He's right footed, but look at his ability, technique and range he has on his left foot.
His composure to lift his head and try chipped passes like this rather than just lofted longer passes is a key skill
He's everything Wilder will want in a Blades defender. He's mobile, quick across ground & very very aggressive as well as strong. This is no kid. He likes a challenge.
Further examples of the passing range and 2 footedness. Another excellent pickout progressing ball to his target man. Mcburnie's control would feed off this type of ball.
His composure under pressure could add a real dimension to our ability to play out from the back. Last season Blades would go direct from their own half and look to build in opposition half. EA has the ability to pick those longer passes very accurately.
We've seen that type of driven pass before! This clip whilst not an "accurate" pass is everything that's great about Norwood, awareness to drop and receive, technique to drive ball with speed to switch play. This is why i think Ampadu could push Oli hard at the base of the MF.
Another clear example of his passing range and again in similar mould to Norwood. Positionally and passing wise he's a great fit.
One more for the road, the technique is so similar to Oli, not seen many drive ball low with speed with like that, breaking lines and gaining distance and progressing his team up the pitch.
Love this clip. Shows him at DM. Strong in tackle, well positioned to shield defence then the skill, composure and resistance to break the challenge and drive away with the ball before picking the pass to release pressure.
In all he's such an exciting signing because he's versatile, has serious technical quality but has the size, physicality and aggression to match the ability. He knows he'll need to fight to start games but i wouldn't be surprised if he got minutes at DM!
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