I assume that you saw this name and immediately got gassed (and if you didn’t, I’m afraid that this sport probably isn’t for you). In today’s episode, we head to Rottweil in Germany to check out arguably the best Deep lying Midfielder in world football today, the technically brilliant and gifted, Joshua Walter Kimmich.
Joshua started his professional career at RB Leipzig where from the age of 18 he was touted as the very next best thing to come out of German football. He started his career as a bombarding DM(R) who had exceptional technical ability. He was then signed by Bayern Munich in 2015 where he was granted the opportunity to work under the genius that will forever change his game for one full season. It was this genius (if you don’t know who I’m talking about by now, then do your own research…..) who saw the versatile brilliance within him that would have Joshua playing various different positions throughout the 15/16 season, as well as the seasons following until he finally made the DM(C) position his home within the 18/19 season. He still plays as a DM(R) at times for the German national team, but it’s in the middle of the park where we truly get to see his star shine.
PLAYER BIO
Standing at a measly 5’9″, Joshua is a diminutive baller who makes it look effortless whenever he’s in possession. He is not the most technically skillfully player, but he rarely gives the ball away and at 28 years old he is in his prime, and with the likes of Toni Kroos (who we will be talking about in a future episode) and Ilkay Gundogan well into their 30’s, we can expect to see Joshua being the mainstay in the heart of the German Midfield (alongside the beast of a man, Leon Goretzka)
BEST ATTRIBUTES WITHIN SM23
For the first time within this season, there are some attributes for a specific player that I believe are too high and should be lowered. First of all, Kimmich is a solid defensive player who can play as a single pivot but he isn’t the best defender in his position with the likes of Casemiro, Partey, Declan Rice all being better ball winners than him. What makes Joshua effective as a DM(C) from a defensive point of view is his amazing ‘Positioning’ which, by the way, should actually be between ’95-100′. Additionally, back when Joshua was a Fullback, he was never the quickest player so his pace within SM23 is quite wrong. Everything else is pretty spot on based on where he likes to operate on the pitch
BEST ROLES
In this position, Joshua trumps all others as his ability to control the match from deeper regions on the pitch using his incredible technique is what has allowed him to become the best ‘Deep-lying Playmaker’ in world football at the moment (some might be in the Rodri camp, but I think he has some way to go to be in the same sentence as Joshua…)Joshua is still capable of playing as a Fullback and whenever he does, he operates more as either a ‘Traditional Fullback’ (because he can actually defend), or more likely as an ‘Inverted Fullback’ in a similar role to Trent Alexander-ArnoldIf you choose to play a back 3 or 5, I advise that you do not play him out wide since he is no longer an asset when playing out there (with the only exception being if there is no available player in the position like what happened to Germany at Euro 2020). That means he should stay in the center of the park and given his preferred role as your DLP
HOW TO BEST USE HIM
The bread and butter… Laying Joshua here will ensure that the entire game will be played through him. And based on my experience using him (I actually have him within my Borussia Dortmund team as we speak), it will allow you to absolutely run the game with him orchestrating almost every play. Joshua will become so important that whenever he does not play due to suspensions or injuries, you will see the difference within how your team performs, especially in big matches (he’s just so good). Additionally, it is mandatory that you ALWAYS use him as your designated playmaker because he will not perform well without being the metronome
WHO ARE THE BEST TEAMATES?
Now, I know that I’ve been actively mentioning how important having the best players around your world class star is, and you must’ve been rolling your eyes at me from your screen, but now that we’re into the midfielders you literally have no other choice but to now focus on getting the best from these because we’re heading into the ‘goals and assists territory (which most of you will only be thinking of that aspect of SMW).
He’s that one player within your team that once you get him ticking, the rest of your players will perform better regardless of what their ratings are. In order for us to do this, we will have to get the right players around him, and since Joshua isn’t the most mobile player (despite what his attributes say) he will need a ‘Box to Box Midfielder’ next to him who will do most of the leg work while Kimmich controls the game. If choosing to play him within a back 4 formation, then both Fullbacks should be ‘Wingbacks’ that like to attack and can take advantage of Joshua’s word class passing. While upfront, Joshua is the man who can find a ball between the tightest of spaces as well as produce world class through balls, so having a ‘Wide Forward’ will be beneficial in order to always have that threat in behind. Of course, you should play him as your designated playmaker by ticking the ‘Use Playmaker’ box In a back 3 or 5 formation, the same thing will occur as he will need to have a ‘Box to Box’ Midfield partner, the wide players should either be ‘Wingbacks’ or ‘Wide Midfielders’, and there will be a need for a forward that has good off the ball movement to get unto Joshua’s passes since he is being played as the one and only playmaker within the X1 One of the biggest difference between Kimmich and Trent is that Kimmich is actually a very capable defender. So, if you decide to play Joshua as your DM(R), then you have the option of either playing him as a ‘Traditional Fullback’ or spicing things up by using him as your ‘Inverted Fullback’. Just remember that if you choose to use him as your Inverted Fullback then you will have to use him as your playmaker. As for his teammates, Kimmich will need a ‘Box to Box’ Midfielder in the midfield since having a BWM may get in his way of actually being able to operate at his best in the Fullback position; the other Fullback has to be a ‘Wingback’ who is attack minded and allows for a bit more tactical flexibility, while, yet again, you will need to have a ‘Wide Forward’ or a different attacker who has exceptional off the ball movement. One last thing to mention pertaining playing Joshua as your Fullback is the fact that he should not be used as a ‘Wingback’ simply because that will negate his best qualities. So, we shouldn’t point is arrow to ‘attacking’
With the knowledge and tactical bombs that we provide here, you’re a sure fire to get your main men playing at their absolute best. Thanks to my continuous education, as well as my 14 years of playing this game, these are the types of elements that will be of the most crucial in order to get Joshua (and every other world class player we’ll be discussing throughout this season) purring and using their ego for the best of your team.
Tomorrow, we’re heading to São Jose to check in on a player that is the exact opposite to Joshua in every way, but can be considered the absolute best in his specific role. VAMOS! 🇧🇷
The Soccermanager Experience 