25 | Manuel Akanji - 2024/25

[Delphinho]

It’s a shame because with Dias and Ake both returning, and also Khusanov getting up to speed, it would free Akanji up to play RB, which is his best position by far

 

[alexmcity]

It’s a shame because with Dias and Ake both returning, and also Khusanov getting up to speed, it would free Akanji up to play RB, which is his best position by far

That's optimistic.

It's a shame that Stones and Ake are likely to get injured soon and we won't have an experienced CB next to Dias, if Dias stays fit in the first place...

 

[Shazza458]

Don't know how many times it needs mentioning that Pep himself has said Txiki came to him in the summer saying a rebuild was needed, but Pep said he wanted to get one last season out of his trusted squad and said no.

Pep Guardiola has given us the best times of our lives but you can’t help feeling he is very, very responsible for the situation we are in.

Still wouldn’t want anyone else

That’s the thing with Pep, the great times are really great and the poor times can be really poor.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

I don’t think this is the disaster some think it is. Akanji has been woeful this season. It was improbable that his form was going to improve given what we have seen. If his form was down to being overplayed, as some think, this will allow him to rest fully and come back raring to go next season. If he was struggling with fitness now, the last thing he needed was another 4 months of domestic football, followed by the CWC and then straight into a new season.

 

[Bluesince1979]

I don’t think this is the disaster some think it is. Akanji has been woeful this season. It was improbable that his form was going to improve given what we have seen. If his form was down to being overplayed, as some think, this will allow him to rest fully and come back raring to go next season. If he was struggling with fitness now, the last thing he needed was another 4 months of domestic football, followed by the CWC and then straight into a new season.

I agree. Hes weak without much stronger players around him.

Bed khusanov in now

 

[Mr Partridge]

Lets be honest going out of the CL will be a blessing in disguise because there's no way we can cope with three games a week for the rest of the season.

Especially since the "reinforcements" we brought in in January seem to have been mainly players the manager doesn't trust to start in any meaningful game, we had enough of those lads in the squad already.

 

[Middedon]

Any idea on what the injury is? That’s a long time.

 

[Zabbasbeard]

Pep Guardiola has given us the best times of our lives but you can’t help feeling he is very, very responsible for the situation we are in.

Still wouldn’t want anyone else

That’s the thing with Pep, the great times are really great and the poor times can be really poor.

My thoughts entirely.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

I don’t think this is the disaster some think it is. Akanji has been woeful this season. It was improbable that his form was going to improve given what we have seen. If his form was down to being overplayed, as some think, this will allow him to rest fully and come back raring to go next season. If he was struggling with fitness now, the last thing he needed was another 4 months of domestic football, followed by the CWC and then straight into a new season.

I think it’s pretty disastrous mainly because Ake, Stones and to a lesser extent even Dias are regularly injured.

I agree that his form has been poor this season but we need bodies. And I’d still rather have him at right back than Lewis or Nunes.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Pep Guardiola has given us the best times of our lives but you can’t help feeling he is very, very responsible for the situation we are in.

Still wouldn’t want anyone else

That’s the thing with Pep, the great times are really great and the poor times can be really poor.

Just need him to run Dias and Ake into the ground (again) now

 

[Norman kneejerk]

Think Akanji was quite serviceable at full back much better tbere. If we get short handed I would like him to try Max Alleyne. Think he's a bit more versatile than JSP but was injured pre Xmas. With Reis and Kusanov didn't think its a disaster.

 

[pbueno16]

Just need him to run Dias and Ake into the ground (again) now

Like clockwork this season. Rough and pivotal run of games through the end of March, but Khusanov and Reis need to play to give Dias, Ake and Stones a chance to keep fit for the rest of the season.

 

[tackeds]

Season to suffer. And don’t our defence know it!!

Akanji’s taken a lot of shite from fans this season. He’s been up and down like all our players and seems to me he’s been playing through injury throughout and the chickens have come home to roost. I wish him the best, we need him and would probably have lost even more without him,

 

[ninjamonkey]

Huge loss. Lot of ungrateful people have been shitting on him recently but aside from Gvardiol, he's been our most reliable defender, came back early from injury twice and has played when clearly being unfit. If ake, stones and Dias remain fit, we'll cope, but when they pick up inevitable injuries once more, it's going to look ropey again.

 

[pbueno16]

Season to suffer. And don’t our defence know it!!

Akanji’s taken a lot of shite from fans this season. He’s been up and down like all our players and seems to me he’s been playing through injury throughout and the chickens have come home to roost. I wish him the best, we need him and would probably have lost even more without him,

Only way a defender can get a rest this season is a lengthy injury. Damn shame because his performance before the sub was like night and day in comparison to most of his performances this season.

 

[Thaksinssoldier]

I don’t think he’s a starter but have a lot of time for him. Clearly played injured this season and gave what he had.

We’ll suffer for not having him in the rotation.

 

[Shazza458]

Season to suffer. And don’t our defence know it!!

Akanji’s taken a lot of shite from fans this season. He’s been up and down like all our players and seems to me he’s been playing through injury throughout and the chickens have come home to roost. I wish him the best, we need him and would probably have lost even more without him,

The bloke has been completely run into the ground. Our defence would be infinitely more solid with him at RB.

Our current RB options will cost us points at some point

 

[Chak19]

The mistake was to rely on Stones and Ake to stay fit. Their injury problems led to overplaying Dias and Akanji, and thus to further injury problems.

Pep's main problem this season has been relying on favourites who are injury prone or oldish.

I agree with some people who have claimed the style of play, is a reason for all these defensive injuries, they have to constantly make sprints because the opposition keeps running at them or in behind due to this kamikaze style that isn't working with these players, it's even worse for injury prone players like Ake and Stones.

 

[alexmcity]

I agree with some people who have claimed the style of play, is a reason for all these defensive injuries, they have to constantly make sprints because the opposition keeps running at them or in behind due to this kamikaze style that isn't working with these players, it's even worse for injury prone players like Ake and Stones.

No, the style isn't the problem, but playing too many games in the previous 4 years and not having Rodri to protect the defence and secure stability in possession. Also, hard decisions have to be taken with respect to Stones and Ake: both crowd favourites but unreliable fitness wise.

 

[Chak19]

No, the style isn't the problem, but playing too many games in the previous 4 years and not having Rodri to protect the defence and secure stability in possession. Also, hard decisions have to be taken with respect to Stones and Ake: both crowd favourites but unreliable fitness wise.

I didn't say it was the main problem but I agree it's played a part, even Dias can't stay fit to save his life this season, the lads in the back need some protection that they are simply not getting it.