25 | Manuel Akanji - 2025/26

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Not enough rumours of him leaving for me if he starts more than 10 league games we are gonna be in a top 4 battle (or 5) and that’s a fact
 
Dawsenna said:
Not enough rumours of him leaving for me if he starts more than 10 league games we are gonna be in a top 4 battle (or 5) and that’s a fact
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Very good.
Of course, it isn't fact.
Manuel Akanji has been a very decent buy.
He may not be in most people's first eleven but is a decent back-up and has performed well, at times.
Rumours of people leaving doth butter no parsnips - take your eye off social media and look for confirmation of signings and departures on the OS, and the world will feel better for you.
Good luck for the season ahead.
 
oldius said:
He may not be in most people's first eleven but is a decent back-up and has performed well, at times.
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Akanji performed brilliantly in the Treble season across the entire defensive line. Pep benched Walker to make room for him, and he was right as we won everything. When Ake got injured, Akanji played at LB against Madrid, two top games plus a goal in the home game.

Next season, when we had to win the last 9 league games to make it 4 in a row, Pep started Akanji ahead of both Stones and Ake. He was right again.

Our fan base has a collective bias against Akanji: maybe because Pep plays him over fan favourites, and some just can't get why, to this day.
 
in my eyes he had one good year and two not so great ones. him and dias both lack areal ability and I really do not like the pairing of them.

like akanji more in the fb role than cb.
 
When we were a well oiled machine Manu looked good, seldom put under real pressure, general intelligence in positioning when given time, has pace etc etc. However last year particularly, our defence was put under a lot more stress mainly due to either high balls over the top or fast counter attacks - (and not having Rodri to protect them) this is where he suddenly looked more of a statue and not dominant in the air. I have no idea how this year will go as new players are bedded in, if we control the ball more and are more aggressive in closing fine - but I'm not sure that if as a defensive unit they continue to come under stress Akanji is your man.

It seems there are not many takers for our elder first team players so we may have to face facts that Pep trusts a certain group more than others. In an ideal world Pep gives the younger group more playing time than those who kind of let us down mid season last year.
 
Looked good in a great team…..his drop in form has mirrored the teams.

Ok as a squad player but should be nowhere near the starting 11…..but Pep will still play him when fit.

We definitely got value for money….but wouldn’t get into the other top premiership teams now.
 
For the fee paid he was a steal in his first season.

Now we are being tested at the back game in game out. He is showing what 15 million buys you.

Average.
 
I think you can want him moved on without slagging off his contribution, which has been immense. What I will say is that whilst I think it's probably time for him to move, if he stayed his best games for us have been covering both fullback spots in the treble run in. There are minutes there for him especially at right back. As long as he's not taking khusanov's minutes I'm ok with him in the squad.
 
mdj0520 said:
I think you can want him moved on without slagging off his contribution, which has been immense. What I will say is that whilst I think it's probably time for him to move, if he stayed his best games for us have been covering both fullback spots in the treble run in. There are minutes there for him especially at right back. As long as he's not taking khusanov's minutes I'm ok with him in the squad.
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Thinking about it I can't believe there aren't more offers for him. He's a very solid defender and would be a starter at most other sides.
 
linked to milan now, happy for him to go without a replacement really. we have a lot of centre backs.
 
K-Bo said:
linked to milan now, happy for him to go without a replacement really. we have a lot of centre backs.
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With how Dias's form has fallen off a cliff, Stones and Ake being as unavailable as often as they are and Khusanov seemingly nowhere to be found, I'm not as comfortable with him going now. He's not the best defender, but he's consistent and available which I'd rather have and not need than need and not have.
 
Bournemouth Blue said:
Personally, if we are forced to lose a foreign centre back, I would say goodbye and thanks to Akanji and keep Ake, who has more pace and a knack of clearing off the line. Also a good option for converting corners. Just my opinion.
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What? You think Ake is quicker than Akanji?

He really isn't.

I do think Ake has better positional awareness though.
 
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