25 | Manuel Akanji - 2024/25

Status
Not open for further replies.
Akanji never defends on the front foot always back tracking. Give me Khusanov/Reis/Simpson/Bah at CB and Nunes at RB. Even Nunes defense more aggressively.
 
Akanji's positioning for the goal conceded was ok for 80% of the counter - he had 5 yards on Eze and watched him constantly from the halfway line - but in the final 10 or 15 yards to the shot, his response to Eze's decent (but simple and straight) run toward the ball was dismal, he didn't change pace, barely changed direction. He did all the early stuff very well but completely muffed up the actual bit of getting the ball away.
 
shemnel said:
Akanji's positioning for the goal conceded was ok for 80% of the counter - he had 5 yards on Eze and watched him constantly from the halfway line - but in the final 10 or 15 yards to the shot, his response to Eze's decent (but simple and straight) run toward the ball was dismal, he didn't change pace, barely changed direction. He did all the early stuff very well but completely muffed up the actual bit of getting the ball away.
Click to expand...
He was wank throughout the match
 
shemnel said:
Akanji's positioning for the goal conceded was ok for 80% of the counter - he had 5 yards on Eze and watched him constantly from the halfway line - but in the final 10 or 15 yards to the shot, his response to Eze's decent (but simple and straight) run toward the ball was dismal, he didn't change pace, barely changed direction. He did all the early stuff very well but completely muffed up the actual bit of getting the ball away.
Click to expand...
That's always been a weakness of his, much as I like him.

Noticed something during the treble season, then it went away for a while, now it's back again as he gets a bit older - so many times during the treble season Akanji was the last man back, watching the ball go in the net instead of just sticking close to his man and putting the tackle in. He's always roughly in the right position but his awareness of danger is a bit 50/50. Thankfully he managed to get rid of this habit during the run to the treble which is why Pep picked him for the final, during which he basically set up the Rodri goal with the burst from defence, but it's crept back in again and now it's really noticeable once more.

The Brentford game at home in 2022, just before the World Cup, is the one I always come back to. For the first goal he's in the right place to win the initial header but he doesn't react quickly enough, then for the second goal he gets back into a good position to cover the cross but stops, allowing his man to slap away and put the ball over. A good defender who I'll remember fondly when he leaves - 2x PL titles, a European Cup, the FA Cup, all the international cups, the Community Shield winning penalty - but his awareness in marginal moments lets him down sometimes.

 
Dont mind him as a squad defender, but his passing game when we pin a team back like on sat is shown to be really poor,. Near enough rely on the CBs to be the Defensive mids at that point and his crossing and passing is lacking more than most for me. No risk.
 
Akanji was great for us when he first came and wasn't a guaranteed starter - when he was first establishing himself.

From about halfway through last season he is like a different player ( the one we were warned we were signing )

He made the most of his attributes when he first came (mainly pace) but now seems to think he can stroll about with ambitions to be the next Bobby Moore ( or John Stones)

I don't think he is good enough to be any more than a squad player but he is another one who when available will always be picked by Pep.
 
One of Pep's favourites, hence why he is usually shoehorned into the team. Not good enough IMO. Would be happy to see him playing less, should only be used if we have players at the back out.
 
He is a decent defender but his use of the ball in attacking areas is very risk-averse. If he is left as the spare man, his shooting and passing are not of the required standard. That's not on him, and the return of Rodri as the 'spare man' will be a massive upgrade.
 
We got away with it, but I was disappointed he didn't slide to make a challenge on the cross where Evanilson hit the post.

Possibly not quite trusting his body? Or just rank defending? Dunno
 
Solid at centre back again.

His fitness is better than the others so doubt he's going this summer.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
I would be letting him go now. He had a great season in the treble winning year but has been on the decline since. A bargain of a player but with Dias on the dip, we need better than this now.
Click to expand...

So, Dias is on the dip, Stones and Ake are injury prone, and you want Akanji out. Who's going to start at CB for us then? Gvardiol and Khusa whose average age is 21?

Doesn't make any sense.

Parts of our fan base are weirdly negative towards players Pep rates highly, Gundogan being a prime example.

Remember the consensus on here that Rodri and Gundo were too slow to win something big with them?
 
decmancity said:
What's the issue with this?
Do we have to wait till there 28 before they can play or something.
Click to expand...

Bags of potential, not enough experience to win something big.

Khusa can't make the squad these days. It's not because Pep is daft. He isn't ready, Akanji is a level or two above him as things stand. Some fans can't notice it but it's their problem.
 
alexmcity said:
Bags of potential, not enough experience to win something big.

Khusa can't make the squad these days. It's not because Pep is daft. He isn't ready, Akanji is a level or two above him as things stand. Some fans can't notice it but it's their problem.
Click to expand...
He will never be ready if Pep won't play him. After the season we have had, I am not so sure Pep is in the right frame of mind to be judging players.

Akanji isn't good enough, end of.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top