Joseph Paintsil signed for KRC Genk in the summer of 2018, joining Tema Youth in his native Ghana after a successful loan spell with Hungarian champions Ferencváros in the 2017/18 season. After a couple of average seasons in the first team, along with a loan spell in Turkey with Ankaragücü, where the Ghanaian had 11 goals in 33 appearances, he returned to Belgium and has really kicked on to start this campaign.

In 11 appearances in the Belgian Pro League so far this season, Paintsil has 5 goals and 3 assists and has done well to replace Junya Ito, after the Japanese international left in the summer to join Ligue 1 side Reims. This tactical analysis and scout report will take a look at the Ghanaian’s strengths, and show why he has been a vital contributor to Wouter Vrancken and top-of-the-table Genk this season.

Player profile

As mentioned in the introduction of this scout report, Paintsil has now made the right-sided midfielder spot his own since the departure of Junya Ito. However, last season, under John van den Brom and then Bernd Storck, Paintsil was primarily used on the left-hand side, as the data viz below shows.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The above image shows the Ghana international’s heat map from the 2021/22 season in both the league and the Europa League. In the preferred 4-3-3 formation of both the Dutchman and then the German manager Storck, Paintsil was used more as a left winger.

He also tracked back defensively often, as shown by the involvement in his own defensive third. This was partially due to Genk being on the back foot at times last season, with the club having a rather poor season last campaign, with them just getting into the European playoffs on the last day of the season. This also hampered Paintsil’s attacking involvement, with the Ghanaian not able to be as prevalent in attacking phases of play.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The heat map above shows Paintsil’s areas of high intensity from this season, and the differences are noticeable straight away. It is essentially the complete opposite of the last campaign, with the Ghana winger now operating on the right-hand side of the attack since Ito’s departure in the summer. Under Wouter Vrancken’s tactics, Genk have also altered formations, with the Belgian club switching to a 4-2-3-1. Paintsil is deployed as the right attacking midfielder in this system, but he turns more into a winger with the freedom he is allowed to get forward down the right-hand flank.

This freedom allows him to take defenders on 1v1, with the winger able to use his dribbling ability to get to the byline and send crosses into the box. With eight goal contributions already this season, Paintsil already has had his most prolific attacking season in a Genk shirt since arriving, and there is still about two-thirds of the season left to go.

Range of passing and vision

When discussing the strengths that Joseph Paintsil possesses, one that stands out is the range of passing that he possesses, to go along with his excellent vision while on the ball at times. To that point when discussing the Ghana international’s passing ability, so far this season in the Belgian Pro League, the winger is averaging 28.08 passes per 90 minutes, with a success rate of 81.8%.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The data viz above shows Paintsil’s pass map from this season, and we can see that a vast majority of his successful passes have occurred in and around the final third of the pitch. However, this data viz also illustrates that some of his passes have occurred in the defensive third of the field, showing his tendency to at times, drop back and receive the ball in deeper positions.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The image above shows an example of Paintsil’s passing ability, as well as vision, in the final third. Preceding this, Paintsil had received possession in the attacking half and was able to drive at the opposition fullback in a 1v1 situation. After driving and entering the penalty box, the Ghanaian notices the run of the striker moving towards the near post area.

After spotting the run, the winger was able to play a perfectly weighted pass through the fullback’s legs and into the striker’s path, with the chance being converted and Genk scoring. This phase of play is able to perfectly illustrate the vision that Paintsil possesses, as well as the ability to play a perfectly weighted pass in these advanced attacking areas.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The image above is once again able to show the vision of the Ghana winger, along with the ability to play these types of passes in tight spaces. In the phase of play above, Paintsil had possession and cut inside after coming towards the edge of the penalty box. The Genk fullback made an overlapping run, with Paintsil checking his shoulder before making this inside movement, so he knew this runner was coming and moving past him into the box.

Because of him checking his shoulder, after cutting inside, Paintsil played a one-time backheel pass into the path of the fullback. With the defenders being caught ball-watching, the pass is able to find its way to the runner. Unfortunately, the ensuing shot hits the side netting, but it still illustrates Paintsil’s passing and vision well.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

Paintsil also has the ability to play great switch-of-field passes, which the example above is able to illustrate. After driving inside, the Ghanaian plays a perfectly weighted crossfield ball into the path of the fullback for Genk on the opposite side, who has made a run into this advanced position from deep. The fullback is able to get onto the ball and create an attacking chance, all as a result of Paintsil playing this pass to release the pressure and attack the weak side.

As this section has shown, even though he plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder, Joseph Paintsil has a very good range of passing, as well as superb vision on the ball to spot runners. This allows the Ghana attacker to be more unpredictable in the final third area, with defenders not able to tell whether he may pass to a teammate, or attempt a dribble and take the defender on in a 1v1 situation.

Progressive runs and dribbling

The other strength that we will look at in regard to Joseph Paintsil is his off-the-ball movements and progressive runs. So far in the Belgian Pro League this season, the Ghana international is averaging 4.99 progressive runs per 90 minutes. This is actually the most per 90 minutes out of all players in the Belgian Pro League this season, with Paintsil having 45 progressive runs total, the third highest.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The data viz above shows the progressive runs that Paintsil has made so far this season, with most of his successful ones occurring in the right half space on the edge of the penalty box and just inside of it. What is interesting is that Paintsil does not have the greatest dribbling success rate, with it sitting at about 53%. Though not bad, this number could definitely be higher for someone in Paintsil’s position.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The image above shows an example of Joseph Paintsil’s dribbling ability. What is not shown here is the progressive run that the winger made preceding this image. After driving into the penalty box with the ball at his feet, Paintsil had two options: either get to the byline and cross it into the box or try and cut back into the space centrally. The Ghana international chose the latter, with the winger using his close control and dribbling ability to cut back centrally, leaving the defender behind and making space for himself for a shot.

Unfortunately, the ensuing shot from Paintsil is blocked by the defender, with his touch inside being a bit too heavy. This allowed the defenders more time to get into position for an attempted block.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The image above shows an example of why Joseph Paintsil has attempted the most progressive runs per 90 minutes in the Belgian Pro League this season. As the image above shows, Paintsil is a very good outlet ball for Genk, with his pace and close control ability while moving at full speed demonstrating why he excels at progressive runs. The image above does not show this, but in this specific phase of play, the Ghanain received possession all the way deep inside his own half, before taking the ball and driving forward with the ball at his feet. He was able to make it all the way to the Westerlo penalty area before having to play the ball back into midfield, as the opposition defenders had closed him down.

Joseph Paintsil at KRC Genk 2022/23: The Ghana international having a breakthrough season - scout report tactical analysis tactics

The image above again shows a mixture of Joseph Paintsil’s dribbling ability and progressive running, which turns into a chance for Genk as a result. As the Ghanaian receives possession on the wing, the Westerlo defender looks to quickly close him down, attempting to cut off his angle as a result. Paintsil is able to take a touch around the defender, putting the ball into the space in behind the defence and using a burst of acceleration to get past the defender and to the byline.

As a result of being able to do this, Paintsil is able to then send a cross towards the back post area and into the path of the on-rushing Genk attacker. Unfortunately, while the cross was put into the perfect place by Paintsil, the Genk attacker scuffed his shot, resulting in a missed opportunity for Genk.

As this section has shown, Joseph Paintsil can be a prolific dribbler at times, and along with his progressive runs, is a threat down the wing. While some refining may still need to be done, Paintsil has the capability to be a threat when dribbling down the flanks.

Conclusion

As this tactical analysis and scout report has shown, Joseph Paintsil has the makings of being a very clinical attacker, something that he has shown during the early part of the season so far with Genk. Paintsil is also a full Ghana international, with him playing alongside players like former Atletico Madrid and current Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, and Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus. Whether or not he moves to a top five European side in the future is yet to be seen, but he is for sure a good fit in Wouter Vrancken’s tactics at Genk.