Hope Akpan - Poll

[urz13]

A player that seemingly splits opinion down the middle. Many, myself included, don't rate him at all, whilst others argue that he does the simple things well and is important in our midfield defensive efforts when breaking up play. Thus I created this poll to see where the divide in opinion lies. I've only created 2 poll options for simplicity. The other question is - once Karacan, Guthrie and Williams are back, do we sell or keep Akpan?

[PistolPete]

A player that seemingly splits opinion down the middle. Many, myself included, don't rate him at all, whilst others argue that he does the simple things well and is important in our midfield defensive efforts when breaking up play. Thus I created this poll to see where the divide in opinion lies. I've only created 2 poll options for simplicity. The other question is - once Karacan, Guthrie and Williams are back, do we sell or keep Akpan?

Down the middle?

80% think he's useless, 20% think he's better than people give him credit for -but still not that great.

[Sutekh]

Nothing like a meaningful or good & positive thread is there ?

[winchester_royal]

He's a tidy enough footballer, but doesn't have the energy or stamina to fit our pressing game. Hence why he went missing after 25 mins yesterday. The fact that Adkins played Hector and Obita in there above Akpan says an awful lot about his performances in training too.

I imagine he'll boss League 1 when he eventually gets sent back there, as the games will be slower and his technical ability will stand out, but he's not right for what we're trying to do here. Once we get a couple of players back he'll be offski unless there's a remarkable improvement in the next few weeks.

Hope - if you're reading this - I'm very much looking forward to you proving me wrong (as has so often been done on this forum).

[sandman]

Good player hampered by the fact he arrived during the PL January transfer window. Unfortunately because of that he will never be given a fair chance by certain elements of our fan base.

People forget that he's still quite young as well.

[JordCot]

I've been fairly on the fence about Akpan for a while and leaning towards giving him the benefit of the doubt that he would come through but yesterday was disappointing. I appreciate that he hasn't played much football so far this season and that his main role is breaking the play up but I'm starting to think the guy probably just isn't good enough. His decision making was all over the place yesterday. Lumping it forward when he had a bit of time to control the ball, dallying on it for so long he got robbed, first touches getting away from him a few times, passes going astray or going near to man rather actually into feet. The bizarre moment when he preempted a interception but the pass never came so McGoldrick just ran straight at our defence.

In a team you can carry certain players and he did do a good job of breaking up play and holding his position centrally but for me moves broke down too often with him, something you can forgive a winger or a striker of but not a central player with plenty of options.

I like him, he seems level-headed and fairly intelligent and I hope he goes on and keeps improving but when players come back from injury/ new signings come in I'm not sure that he will make it here. If he isn't sold I think he will be behind at least one of Kuhl or Tish by the end of the season making him potentially 7th choice...

[LoyalRoyal22]

Hasn't improved as a player since he joined. Hope we can sell him ASAP.

[Martin41]

It's just possible he knows many don't rate him, so he is always a bit on edge concerned about making mistakes, which in turn causes him to do exactly this.
Just the current scapegoat I think.
I say give m some support and backing, he was not great yesterday, but others were also not brilliant, as I have said before, apart from the goal, I still struggle to see what Taylor actually offers.

[Avon Royal]

Not enough in the world for this thread.

[BonBoh]

don't forget that Hope Akpan was part of the Royals team last season that actually produced some stability and results.
Akpan needs a run of games and he gets the simple things done which keeps the play flowing. He does have some hairy moments but we need to play to his strengths and keep the ball on the deck. I don't think Jordan Obita is the right partner for him in central midfield. It may be better to have Kuhl there.

Give the lad the support he deserves and we'll see him shine.

[Schards#2]

Clearly Akpan is now the scapegoat of choice following Blackman scoring a few goals

Wasn't his best game yesterday but he's had very little game time this season and is playing alongside a player who is not a centre mid so was always going to be difficult but other than a couple of horrible touches, he did OK and did a lot of the dirty work well.

I believe Akpan will have a career at this level or higher either with us or for someone else. He has all of the attributes, he a good tackler, a good short passer, he's comfortable on the ball, a good header and can also play a beautifully weighted through ball on occassion. Unfortunately, he isn't bringing it all to the table all of the time but he's still young and could mature into a top player.

What he doesn't need is supporters jumping on every error he makes. Right now, whether you like him or not, he has to be pretty much the first name on the team sheet, so get off his back.

[Doolittle]

Nothing like a meaningful or good & positive thread is there ?

+1

The manager has been at pains to point out that we have a young group of players with a great spirit who need space to learn and develop.

Any chance we could offer our support for a while ?

[Man Friday]

Good player hampered by the fact he arrived during the PL January transfer window. Unfortunately because of that he will never be given a fair chance by certain elements of our fan base.

People forget that he's still quite young as well.

+1.

[North Somerset Royal]

I rate him but not very highly. Not good enough for championship.

[winchester_royal]

Clearly Akpan is now the scapegoat of choice following Blackman scoring a few goals

Wasn't his best game yesterday but he's had very little game time this season and is playing alongside a player who is not a centre mid so was always going to be difficult but other than a couple of horrible touches, he did OK and did a lot of the dirty work well.

I believe Akpan will have a career at this level or higher either with us or for someone else. He has all of the attributes, he a good tackler, a good short passer, he's comfortable on the ball, a good header and can also play a beautifully weighted through ball on occassion. Unfortunately, he isn't bringing it all to the table all of the time but he's still young and could mature into a top player.

What he doesn't need is supporters jumping on every error he makes. Right now, whether you like him or not, he has to be pretty much the first name on the team sheet, so get off his back.

Don't think there were any fans jumping on his back yesterday. As this is a discussion forum I think it's fair enough to discuss the relative merits of a player on here without being accused of 'scapegoating' or somehow abusing him.

[SCIAG]

Good player hampered by the fact he arrived during the PL January transfer window. Unfortunately because of that he will never be given a fair chance by certain elements of our fan base.

That's simply not true. After we were relegated most people were viewing him as a first teamer on the back of a few good performances.

Unfortunately as he's played more matches we've got a better idea of what he's like as a player, and he's not been playing well enough for this side.

OK, we've probably not used him in the role he'd like to be used in (attacking midfield), but to do that we'd need to build the team around him, and he's nowhere near the necessary standard for that.

Clearly Akpan is now the scapegoat of choice following Blackman scoring a few goals

I'm not sure the word "scapegoat" applies in this situation (i.e. after two wins and a draw).

Akpan's critics haven't just played eenie-meanie-miney-moe to pick someone else to criticise following Blackman's upturn in form. Generally, he's been criticised for the best part of a year, because he actually hasn't been playing well enough.

[loyalroyaldaz]

Not good enough imo.
Poor first touch, poor vision.
Okay for squad but not first team and deffo not good enough if we did somehow manage promotion.

[Handsome Man]

The tenacity with which scapegoats are pursued is one of the most saddening things about the team board. Akpan has had some poor games and he has had some very good ones (that spell where he took over from a struggling Guthrie at the beginning of this year, for example). He is young, so he could get better and become one our best prospects, or he could lose something and not quite make it. There is lots we cannot predict. The one thing we do know about him is that he doesn't deserve the constant, desperately unfunny, exaggerated slating he gets from some on here: they are as wrong about Akpan as they were about Long, Gunter, Leigertwood, Pearce and every other player who has been scapegoated in the past.

[Yellowcoat]

Well said. We really do get so sad manic depressives on here whose only pleasure is trying to find a target to attack.

[Royal Rother]

Not good enough imo.
Poor first touch, poor vision.
Okay for squad but not first team and deffo not good enough if we didnt somehow manage promotion.

What if we did manage promotion?