25 | Manuel Akanji - 2025/26

[Calv_from_the_frog]

An extremely terrible footballer?
good at long multiplication?
dortmund let him go for next to nowt?

Yes, Yes & Yes. The only one of those that is even debatable - if you know about him - is my view of him as a footballer (which is, as with all opinions, subjective as that is the nature of opinions).

 

[blueparrot]

Thees and only thees. I support this team. I support the players when they are one pitch and want them to do the best job they can. However, I do think it is ok to criticise players if they deserve criticism. Some here don't. Some seem to think it makes them "a bigger blue" if all players are always above criticism.

Saying Akanji is an extemely terrible footballer isn't being critical or constructive criticism of a footballer it's just posting stupidty.

 

[Calv_from_the_frog]

do give over, what's happening to this forum - it's become infested with brickbrains?

The collected wisdom of a trio of chumps.

Yet, if we insulted you, you'd get all pearl clutchy & precious.

Behave.

 

[johnny crossan]

Thees and only thees. I support this team. I support the players when they are one pitch and want them to do the best job they can. However, I do think it is ok to criticise players if they deserve criticism. Some here don't. Some seem to think it makes them "a bigger blue" if all players are always above criticism.

Identifying rubbish comments on here does not require polished blue credentials merely a functioning brain.

 

[johnny crossan]

Yet, if we insulted you, you'd get all pearl clutchy & precious.

Behave.

I try but alas invincible rectitude is one of my gravest defects.

 

[halfcenturyup]

I try but alas invincible rectitude is one of my gravest defects.

That's nasty. But I think you can get tablets for it now.

 

[Centurions]

Akanji was is good enough as part of the squad. When we where at our best winning everything just before this year.

I still think we should move on just from a squad planning point of view if we can but your making out like Akanji is the sort of player we had as transition from say top 6 to title winning when we first got money and had to get rid of. Thats not the case

You've quoted yourself, are you going to answer yourself again?


(This could be a popcorn moment)

 

[johnny crossan]

You've quoted yourself, are you going to answer yourself again?


(This could be a popcorn moment)

it's a dialectical monologue

 

[Centurions]

it's a dialectical monologue

Don't know about that but it could be one for the 'Classic Threads' if he keeps answering himself.

 

[Mr HJ]

Just rewatched the Juve match and I think it's not his defensive positioning or mistakes that will be his downfall more the three times he played a long pass forward that went directly out of play. That infuriates Pep and if he doesn't improve that side of his game he will not be in the side. We have cover.

Overall though for 15m he has been one of the more value for money buys but as he ages he will be either sold or eased out of the side.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

You can tell the transfer window has gone quiet when people start whinging about how they're entitled to their opinions.

 

[IrishBloodEnglishHeart]

do give over, what's happening to this forum - it's become infested with brickbrains?

The collected wisdom of a trio of chumps.

You sound like a young Adolf. Let other people have views that are different to your own

 

[johnny crossan]

You sound like a young Adolf. Let other people have views that are different to your own

I didn't get where I am today by allowing that sort of nonsense.

 

[alexmcity]

he doesn't play line-breaking passes

Are there stats confirming he's worse than Dias or Ake in that regard?

I remember a PL game a season or two ago, thought it was against Brentford, where he completed the most passes by a defender in the final 3rd across the top 5 leagues in Europe.

It's obvious Pep rates him higher than our fans. It's one of those examples of the fan base thinking Pep has a blind spot. My guess is he hasn't.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

You sound like a young Adolf. Let other people have views that are different to your own

Godwin's Law still going strong amongst England's finest.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Over the last 2 seasons Akanji has become more clumsy and error prone. Decent and versatile but his passing is too negative. I think it's time we sold him and we'll probably get 20m for him.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Are there stats confirming he's worse than Dias or Ake in that regard?

I remember a PL game a season or two ago, thought it was against Brentford, where he completed the most passes by a defender in the final 3rd across the top 5 leagues in Europe.

It's obvious Pep rates him higher than our fans. It's one of those examples of the fan base thinking Pep has a blind spot. My guess is he hasn't.

I think he’s declined in this area, which to be fair has probably coincided with the degradation of our midfield and the lack of movement ahead of him

I would also rate him ahead of Dias and Aké, but I think we all saw far too many games last year where teams were happy for Akanji and Dias to knock the ball to each other 35 yards out from the opposition goal without ever troubling their defence with an incisive pass

 

[alexmcity]

I think he’s declined in this area, which to be fair has probably coincided with the degradation of our midfield and the lack of movement ahead of him

I would also rate him ahead of Dias and Aké, but I think we all saw far too many games last year where teams were happy for Akanji and Dias to knock the ball to each other 35 yards out from the opposition goal without ever troubling their defence with an incisive pass

No doubt his form dipped, thought that was partly to being overplayed (many injuries to the other defenders, and he played the most in the last 3 seasons) and partly to playing through injury.

His versatility and availability is important if Pep wants to work with a small squad. Time will tell. He isn't world class, but he is a great squad player to have.

 

[WRicko]

Yes.

Akanji was is good enough as part of the squad. When we where at our best winning everything just before this year.

I still think we should move on just from a squad planning point of view if we can but your making out like Akanji is the sort of player we had as transition from say top 6 to title winning when we first got money and had to get rid

 

[better dead than red]

Identifying rubbish comments on here does not require polished blue credentials merely a functioning brain.

Fair enough. My comment stands. You've been around here long enough to know I'm not wrong. There are people here who refuse to criticise or accept any criticism of the club or players. I do, however, understand what you are saying.