Chuba.

I read that their sporting director is under some kind of investigation. Dare I say Garry Monkesk transfer dealings (for a deal that went through before the chuba one)
 
92 minutes of football and they are condemning him is ridiculous, there’s a long way to go and he needs time to build up a rapport with new teammates, thank goodness Boro fans are far more patient with our recent signings.
 
He'll settle down and do well there eventually, however if he doesn't I'd welcome him back with open arms
 
Zero chance of him coming back here, what is more likely is they offload him to a club who will play him as a no 10 for a similar price. That's not likely either, as they basically will want to keep him as a backup 10 for Berghuis, and also for Brobbey, and just fit him in elsewhere until they need that.

He's had 30 minutes up front (away) and 60 minutes on the right wing (away), considering the only season he's had real success (which was massive) was as a 10, then it kind of makes sense to expect him to only perform as a 10. You're not going to get much out of him elsewhere, certainly not initially. To write him off, like how El Ahmadi has is stupid.

They will gain absolutely zero form him going out on loan, to anyone, other than losing strength in depth, which they will be keen to avoid.
 
I watched their game with Twente on Sunday and he was completely anonymous. There’s little point saying he was poor because he literally touched the ball about six times before being withdrawn. Ajax were absolutely shocking, I was surprised at how bad they were. I didn’t realise how far they’ve fallen in recent years.

Akpom didn’t seem to know where he was playing. He was sort of drifting around behind the striker but never got a kick. He moved here and there but nobody passed him the ball.

Their coach will be gone very soon you would think, and their ‘keeper was absolutely appalling as well. They will probably improve with a new coach and finish 3rd.
 
Didn't Ajax sell their best 3 players in the summer, wouldn't that have something to their drop in form.

Speaking about Dutch league - PSV (Dutch Champions) taken apart by Arsenal last night - shows the gap between the two leagues.
 
Redwurzel said:
Didn't Ajax sell their best 3 players in the summer, wouldn't that have something to their drop in form.

Speaking about Dutch league - PSV (Dutch Champions) taken apart by Arsenal last night - shows the gap between the two leagues.
Click to expand...

They do that most seasons but last season was considered a poor season by their standards hence them changing the manager mid-season and again at the end of the season. And this start is even worse so he's already under pressure especially when he wasn't a popular appointment to begin with. Add in the fighting in the boardroom - it's not a very stable atmosphere there. With how used to success they are and how ruthless the club is - Akpom could easily find himself not given the time to find his feet. So these early weeks are important or he might find himself shipped out pretty quickly.
 
Maybe their manager did a Warnock and introduced Chuba to the Ajax players in a 'you were my 3rd choice signing' disparaging way . Who knows. He seems backup at the moment to what they have already. He started excelling for us once he got consecutive starts in a favoured position. Can't see any judgement is necessary until he has at least had 6 consecutive starts in the same position.
 
sambaDTR said:
soccernet.ng

"He doesn't know the Ajax game" - Ex-Aston Villa star rips into Chuba Akpom after Twente no-show - Soccernet NG

The Super Eagles hopeful have had a slow start to life in the Netherlands and was far from his best at the weekend Former Aston Villa and Feyenoord star, Karim El Ahmadi has expressed his disappointment with Ajax’s performance against FC Twente on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports. The Amsterdam...
soccernet.ng soccernet.ng
Click to expand...

“I have the feeling that Akpom does not know the Ajax game at all and does not know how to play between the lines. I saw him looking for the position of number 10: I don’t think he knew what to do.”
Click to expand...

What does this quote even mean? Colour me surprised that he "doesn't know the Ajax game" having only played 92 minutes for them, mostly out of position, so far. Baffling criticism.
 
Bit weird Ajax signing him when they already have a first choice no. 10. I wonder what position they told Chuba he would be playing. After all his issues in getting to play the role he craves, a bit surprising if he went somewhere where he would be second choice no. 10 and shunted out to the wing. That is definitely not his best position.
 
Maybe things got a bit lost in translation during negotiations and he said he would only sign to play as a number 10 and they just thought he meant have 10 on his shirt but they could play him anywhere. 🤷‍♂️.

Good to see not giving new signings a chance isn't exclusive to boro.
 
I don't see how anybody could look at him playing for us last season and think he would be an ideal winger or wide forward in the traditional Ajax style. I could see him doing ok as one of two deeper forwards either side of a central striker but if they're playing with a number 10 it has to be Akpom or what's the point buying him?
 
He'll do well to replace Berghuis in the 10 role, a better player (imo) and a bit of a Dutch legend (first player to transfer from Feyernoord to Ajax in years).

There's an outside chance they signed him as back up for Brobbey in the CF role?

I didn't see the match on Sunday but Ajax previously utilised incredibly attacking full backs, meaning the attacking three tucked in. I could see that working in the IF position, but not out wide.

Either way, I doubt we could afford to have him back, even on loan. I'm sure he'll be on considerably more than he was at Boro and Ajax would want it paid in full for a player they deem a failure.
 
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