25 | Manuel Akanji - 2023/24

[Haaland94]

Poor 1st half, lost 2 duels with Saka, and 1 with Martinelli. Ortega saved us from 2 Arsenal goals. Great in the 2nd half, though. Overall, I much rather prefer him on the right.

 

[Tevez City]

Was weakest link in defense, can't blame him though he isn't a LB.

 

[decmancity]

Surprised there is no posts in here. Thought he was poor last night, gave the ball away and was fortunate really a few times I thought.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I watched the full Burnley game back last night and Akanji didn’t play well. He was pretty much the only player who didn’t.

Wrong side of and arms on the attacker that could have lead to a penalty that could have made it 1-1, diving in slide tackling and getting run past for a clear shot on goal that could have made it 1-1, gave some silly balls away, looked slow, doesn’t look fit…

I think he’ll lose his place in the team for the Newcastle game unless he plays against Sevilla and has a cracker.

 

[shemnel]

I watched the full Burnley game back last night and Akanji didn’t play well. He was pretty much the only player who didn’t.

Wrong side of and arms on the attacker that could have lead to a penalty that could have made it 1-1, diving in slide tackling and getting run past for a clear shot on goal that could have made it 1-1, gave some silly balls away, looked slow, doesn’t look fit…

I think he’ll lose his place in the team for the Newcastle game unless he plays against Sevilla and has a cracker.

being 'wrong-sided' is his biggest weakness, i've noted over time. Been a good acquisition overall, and finished last season very well, but didn't carry on that form against Burnley.

 

[CWMCFC]

Surprised there is no posts in here. Thought he was poor last night, gave the ball away and was fortunate really a few times I thought.

Not hugely surprising given how many changes were made. Take Dias and Stones out of that backline and I think one of our defenders will always have some mistakes in them.

I do think we'll see Akjani firmly become the back up option this season though. I like him and with the amount of games we have this season, there will still be plenty of minutes, but I see him as last in the pecking order behind Stones/Dias/Ake/Gvardiol/Walker - likely Walker's backup in the right sided role and probably starting as CB in the cup games.

 

[SebastianBlue]

 

[super_city_si]

I watched the full Burnley game back last night and Akanji didn’t play well. He was pretty much the only player who didn’t.

Wrong side of and arms on the attacker that could have lead to a penalty that could have made it 1-1, diving in slide tackling and getting run past for a clear shot on goal that could have made it 1-1, gave some silly balls away, looked slow, doesn’t look fit…

I think he’ll lose his place in the team for the Newcastle game unless he plays against Sevilla and has a cracker.

Hes a strange one. Can be superb but also has a tendency to rush in and commit. I think hes best when he plays right/left or stones and dias as a sort of third center back who covers stones when he pushes in to midfield. His performances v bayern and madrid last season were superb.

Whan he is used as a proper center back as part of a two he is poor more often than not. I think its because he is good at defending the ball on the ground but absolutely woeful when its in the air. Plus if hes rash in a wider position we have stones/dias to cover.

 

[TrentGrisham]

He's been a great signing and seems a great guy but I think my appreciation for how good Stones is went up tenfold tonight. It's a completely different ball game receiving the ball on the half-turn versus having everything in front of you as a traditional center back.

 

[ninjamonkey]

That experiment definitely didn't work. Not going to go in on him too hard, unfamiliar position for him but it's fair to say he's not an option in that role, not only is he not technical enough or quick enough in the mind it also negates his speed and covering ability.