Josh Earl - Fleetwood Town
Former #pnefc academy graduate and first-team defender, Josh Earl, has adapted well to life in League One with Fleetwood Town. #ftfc
Earl has been used as a centre-back and has amassed some impressive data this season, percentile rankings below.
As his data shows, Earl has extremely high success for progressive passing as well as, good numbers for offensive duels per 90 and progressive runs per 90.
Ball carrying
Having spent most of his career playing as a fullback/wingback, Earl has good composure and confidence on the ball.
Playing as a centre-back gives him more time to use his ball-carrying ability. Earl ranks impressively amongst other centre-backs in terms of dribbles per 90 and the success of those dribbles.
As a centre-back, Earl is able to exploit space in front of him by baiting the pressing attacker.
In the example below he holds the ball until the attacker has committed before bursting past with relative ease into the space ahead of him.
His stature and physicality enables him to hold off most attacking players who try to stop him.
A really useful tool for beating the first line of an opposition press.
Facing his own goal
When facing his own goal, Earl shows good composure to drop a shoulder and faint going inside before he turns and plays down the line.
His upbringing as a fullback will have benefited a lot due to the repetition of these situations.
Defensive timing
Earl was sometimes naive in his defensive ability at North End maybe down to age/inexperience. However, his defensive recovering is one of his strongest attributes.
In the example below he perfectly times his movement across the attacking player in order for him to block the attacker’s movement path and regain possession.
Defensive covering
Playing more centrally in the defensive unit adds more pressure in terms of reading the game.
Earl has a good understanding and anticipation of attacking scenarios. He is able to diffuse dangerous situations regularly.
On occasion, Earl does make a ‘rash’ decision which leaves his team in a difficult situation. For that reason, a LCB role in a back three could turn out to be his best position.
Overall
A player who’s build and attributes are much more suited to a central defender role is impressing in that position.
Earl was unfortunate not to get a chance as a centre-back for PNE, as his ball-playing ability would well suit him to the Andrew Hughes role.
His in possession based data is even more impressive when the league position of Fleetwood is considered (17th).
With his contract expiring in just over a year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Earl make a progressive career move in the next 18 months. #pnefc #ftfc