Akpan Off?

[SPARTA]

Just putting 2 and 2 together and all, but Hope posted this image yesterday (writing is on the wall?)



and today:

“@HopeAkpan: To make space for the new, you've got to let go and let the universe do it's thing”

If Dean Hammond does come in, a former Adkins captain, and Guthrie and Karacan are ahead of him too, it could well be curtains for the Akpan. Nice guy, but never good enough at this level.

[fedders1871]

and williams and it seems j taylor might have some part to play this season, hector is also better on the ball....

BYE

[sandman]

Hector is way overrated on here certainly as a midfield option. Just because he came out of the academy and had a few good months in the SPL, a league that is regularly derided even within the game (see the secret Dave Kitson's book), doesn't mean he's up to this level yet. There were a few instances against Wigan and 'boro where he was dreadful on the ball btw.

As for Taylor, we gave him a contract is because he was cheap when we were struggling for money. He wasn't even deemed good enough to play against Bournemouth when we had no fit midfielders but one decent cross against the mighty (and now relegated) Donny and hey presto he's good enough.

We have better players, especially in midfield, coming up through the academy now than those two. Hopefully Hector can turn into a decent defender but he so far he has no business being a midfield player.

[Nameless]

They are both useful sqaud players because they can play in a variety of positions. Agree Hector is not yet there as a midfielder, but he's played a handful of games. I recall Adie Williams looked a complete numpty when he first played and he turned out OK.

Agree that both may get over taken by the next crop, but they may also train on and turn into decent players. No one rated Shane Long for several seasons !!

[RoyalBlue]

Hector is way overrated on here certainly as a midfield option. Just because he came out of the academy and had a few good months in the SPL, a league that is regularly derided even within the game (see the secret Dave Kitson's book), doesn't mean he's up to this level yet. There were a few instances against Wigan and 'boro where he was dreadful on the ball btw.

As for Taylor, we gave him a contract is because he was cheap when we were struggling for money. He wasn't even deemed good enough to play against Bournemouth when we had no fit midfielders but one decent cross against the mighty (and now relegated) Donny and hey presto he's good enough.

We have better players, especially in midfield, coming up through the academy now than those two. Hopefully Hector can turn into a decent defender but he so far he has no business being a midfield player.

Fully agree about Hector and Taylor. Also, we don't know when Guthrie and Williams will be fully fit. Akpan really isn't as bad as some like to make out and I would be very disappointed to see him go, unless we are bringing in another much better midfielder.

Hope Hope stays.

[SydenhamRoyal]

When Guthrie got injured last Xmas and Adkins was forced to start Akpan, I think our midfield improved. Guthrie liked to stop, do a 360 degree turn, look around, slow it down, and then finally pass, sometimes managing to get it to one of our players. Akpan kept things simple and moving, stroking it out to the wing immediately he got hold of it

[Simon's Church]

I don't mind him tbh.

I do think it'd be fun to go into the season with a cb as our only fit midfielder though, so I say get rid

[Handsome Man]

When Guthrie got injured last Xmas and Adkins was forced to start Akpan, I think our midfield improved. Guthrie liked to stop, do a 360 degree turn, look around, slow it down, and then finally pass, sometimes managing to get it to one of our players. Akpan kept things simple and moving, stroking it out to the wing immediately he got hold of it

I don't see how anybody could disagree with you. The thing is though that Akpan is the official scapegoat and you have to pretend he is shit.

[Ian Royal]

Hector is way overrated on here certainly as a midfield option. Just because he came out of the academy and had a few good months in the SPL, a league that is regularly derided even within the game (see the secret Dave Kitson's book), doesn't mean he's up to this level yet. There were a few instances against Wigan and 'boro where he was dreadful on the ball btw.

As for Taylor, we gave him a contract is because he was cheap when we were struggling for money. He wasn't even deemed good enough to play against Bournemouth when we had no fit midfielders but one decent cross against the mighty (and now relegated) Donny and hey presto he's good enough.

We have better players, especially in midfield, coming up through the academy now than those two. Hopefully Hector can turn into a decent defender but he so far he has no business being a midfield player.

Hector being overrated as a midfield option suggests people favour him there, which simply isn't the case. Hector is a CB who can fill in at CM in an emergency. Under which circumstances he is perfectly acceptable. Such as having one or fewer senior midfielders available for selection.

It might help if you watched a few games Sandy, because it comes across like you've never seen him.

[SydenhamRoyal]

When Guthrie got injured last Xmas and Adkins was forced to start Akpan, I think our midfield improved. Guthrie liked to stop, do a 360 degree turn, look around, slow it down, and then finally pass, sometimes managing to get it to one of our players. Akpan kept things simple and moving, stroking it out to the wing immediately he got hold of it

I don't see how anybody could disagree with you. The thing is though that Akpan is the official scapegoat and you have to pretend he is shit.

oxf*rd. I forgot. Sorry all.

[Basingstoke Royal]

Hopefully

[Pepe the Horseman]

Just putting 2 and 2 together and all, but Hope posted this image yesterday (writing is on the wall?)



and today:

“@HopeAkpan: To make space for the new, you've got to let go and let the universe do it's thing"

Think you might be giving him a little too much credit there.

[urz13]

When Guthrie got injured last Xmas and Adkins was forced to start Akpan, I think our midfield improved. Guthrie liked to stop, do a 360 degree turn, look around, slow it down, and then finally pass, sometimes managing to get it to one of our players. Akpan kept things simple and moving, stroking it out to the wing immediately he got hold of it

Unfortunately stroking it out to the wing more often than not means stroking it straight out of play

[SydenhamRoyal]

When Guthrie got injured last Xmas and Adkins was forced to start Akpan, I think our midfield improved. Guthrie liked to stop, do a 360 degree turn, look around, slow it down, and then finally pass, sometimes managing to get it to one of our players. Akpan kept things simple and moving, stroking it out to the wing immediately he got hold of it

Unfortunately stroking it out to the wing more often than not means stroking it straight out of play

Except in Akpan's case it did not mean that

[maffff]

I've always seen Akpan as more of an attacking midfielder than anything else. I remember a particularly insipid match shortly after we first signed him when he burst through from midfield past the defence and had possibly our only shot of the game on goal, he had two or three bits there where he looked like he could be our only creative outlet - wasn't scared to shoot either.

Definitely a confidence player, but he seems somewhat negated when he has to sit a bit deeper, or actually do midfield work.

[LoyalRoyal22]

When Guthrie got injured last Xmas and Adkins was forced to start Akpan, I think our midfield improved. Guthrie liked to stop, do a 360 degree turn, look around, slow it down, and then finally pass, sometimes managing to get it to one of our players. Akpan kept things simple and moving, stroking it out to the wing immediately he got hold of it

Unfortunately stroking it out to the wing more often than not means stroking it straight out of play

Except in Akpan's case it did not mean that

Are you seriously suggesting Akpan is a better player than Guthrie ?

[SCIAG]

Hector is way overrated on here certainly as a midfield option. Just because he came out of the academy and had a few good months in the SPL, a league that is regularly derided even within the game (see the secret Dave Kitson's book), doesn't mean he's up to this level yet. There were a few instances against Wigan and 'boro where he was dreadful on the ball btw.

As for Taylor, we gave him a contract is because he was cheap when we were struggling for money. He wasn't even deemed good enough to play against Bournemouth when we had no fit midfielders but one decent cross against the mighty (and now relegated) Donny and hey presto he's good enough.

We have better players, especially in midfield, coming up through the academy now than those two. Hopefully Hector can turn into a decent defender but he so far he has no business being a midfield player.

Agreed about Hector, he should be playing in defence. Taylor has been treated quite badly by the club but tbh I think he's more deserving of a proper chance than Akpan. In the long run I agree that Kuhl/Tshibola/Tanner are the ones who should be playing.

When Guthrie got injured last Xmas and Adkins was forced to start Akpan, I think our midfield improved. Guthrie liked to stop, do a 360 degree turn, look around, slow it down, and then finally pass, sometimes managing to get it to one of our players. Akpan kept things simple and moving, stroking it out to the wing immediately he got hold of it

Akpan was passable in those matches, but we also improved a lot when Guthrie returned to fitness and were less dependent on McCleary. Akpan simply doesn't have Guthrie's ability. IMO the upturn in our fortunes following Guthrie's first injury was a coincidence, it just happened to coincide with Williams stepping his game up a notch. Though maybe that was because Akpan complimented him better.

I've always seen Akpan as more of an attacking midfielder than anything else. I remember a particularly insipid match shortly after we first signed him when he burst through from midfield past the defence and had possibly our only shot of the game on goal, he had two or three bits there where he looked like he could be our only creative outlet - wasn't scared to shoot either.

Definitely a confidence player, but he seems somewhat negated when he has to sit a bit deeper, or actually do midfield work.

This. He played really well against Sunderland, which was arguably our best performance of the season. From memory, Guthrie and Leigertwood sat deeper while Akpan pushed on more. He made some bold forward passes to the McAnuff/Kebe/Pog and we won.

In the Championship, I think that attacking instinct has got him shown up a few times when he's positioned himself too high up the pitch during a defensive play. Really, he needs to be playing as the most advanced player in a midfield three, but we have better options there...

Akpan was a bizarre signing at the time and he's never looked like holding down a regular spot. I don't really see a future for him at the club, right now he's a long way behind Guthrie/Karacan/Williams and the likes of Kuhl are going to overtake him very soon (it seems Hector already has, in the wrong position). Selling him now, when he has a season of semi-regular football just behind him, seems like a reasonable idea.

[Nameless]

Not only has Hector over taken him but we've played Obita out of position ahead of him, and arguably Jake Taylor as well.

[SPARTA]

Not only has Hector over taken him but we've played Obita out of position ahead of him, and arguably Jake Taylor as well.

Agreed, and Hector was impressive against Wigan too. Defo time up for Akpan with the options ahead of him, and to come back.

[PieEater]

Hector seems to be growing into a Viera type player, gets stuck in tackling and makes nice simple lay offs. He uses his size quite well, skillfull and decent place. He's going to be some player.