Former Middlesbrough and Hull City centre-forward Chuba Akpom has failed to hit the ground running since joining Ajax in the summer and has already been hit with criticism in the media.
During his time in Greece with PAOK, Akpom bagged 10 goals in 43 appearances, including eight in the Greek Super League. This was the Arsenal academy product’s best return in professional football.
That was until last season when Manchester United legend Michael Carrick took over at the Riverside Stadium. Boro reached the playoff semifinals and Akpom was influential behind this, scoring 28 goals in the Championship, 20 more than his second-best-ever league return.
The 27-year-old earned the Golden Boot for his goal tally, beating Coventry City’s Viktor Gyokeres who scored 21 times for the Sky Blues as they also made it to the playoffs.
During the summer transfer window, Ajax came calling for Akpom’s signature and offered £12 million to Middlesbrough for his services. The Teesside club duly accepted and Akpom was on his way to Amsterdam.
However, there were concerns over the deal, particularly from Akpom’s former boss Neil Warnock who fired shots at the man he once managed at Middlesbrough [quotes via The Sun]:
“To get £12.2million for Chuba [Akpom] is a bloody miracle. So well done to him.
“I hope Ajax haven’t bought him to play up front because he’ll be back in England or somewhere else next year.”
Akpom was certainly hoping to prove his old boss wrong but things haven’t been going well so far and Ajax are currently sitting 15th in the Eredivisie, coming off the back of a 4-0 trouncing at the hands of rivals Feyenoord.
Speaking to ESPN after the derby, ex-Ajax midfielder Marciano Vink admitted that Akpom’s technique is poor [quotes via HITC]:
“He has poor technique. That is not just his fault. The rest of Ajax is also severely lacking.”
Former Feyenoord skipper Karim El Ahmadi added insult to injury by saying:
“I’ve got the feeling that he doesn’t know the Ajax game at all or how to play between the lines. I saw him looking for the number 10 position. I don’t think he even knew what to do.”
Writer’s View
Akpom was excellent in front of goal last season but Michael Carrick is the only manager in his career so far that has helped the attacker reach his full potential.
It seemed peculiar for Ajax to come in for him in the summer, without seeing whether or not Akpom was essentially a ‘one-season wonder’ but hopefully he can turn a corner and find his form again.
