Mukwelle Akale at Villarreal

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by Mario Balotelli, Apr 25, 2014.

  1. felloveranddidanadu

    Plymouth Argyle FC
    Dec 12, 2009
    Club:
    San Jose Frogs
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    BBC's Dynasties is an excellent show. They have an episode on painted wolves that will probably scratch that itch for you
     
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  2. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Would like to see the kid land some place where he can play.

    Sebastian Lletget seems like a good role model. Never got a first-team shot after years in Europe, came home, found a good club situation and got good minutes and now is a regular (when healthy) with the national team (and dating a hottie pop-star) while making decent money.

    It would also be interesting to see him as a case study comparison for Europe vs. domestic development. Compared him to someone like, say, Jackson Yueill. Different positions, but same age, grew up in the same town. One went to college then MLS; the other to Europe from HS.
     
  3. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    #2153 Dave Marino-Nachison, Jul 1, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020
    I figure a lot of guys would like to be the next Lletget and a lot of clubs would like to find the next Lletget and there's probably a reason it doesn't happen very frequently. It would be more or less found money for U.S. Soccer if Akale gets into a club situation next season where he's instantly in, say, the top 30-50 guys in the MNT pool on merit/form, especially given he's so young.
     
  4. Thundering165

    Thundering165 Member+

    North Carolina FC
    United States
    May 1, 2017
    Raleigh
    There will be teams willing to give Akale a chance and I think he will surprise people. It’s not a zelalem situation where he’s been devastated by injuries; the talent is there he was just never in a good position club wise. Minnesota United should give him a look.

    He and Jackson Yueill were club teammates and it’s interesting to see the different paths their careers have taken
     
  5. bshredder

    bshredder BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 23, 1999
    Club:
    Millwall FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Zelalem was already struggling big time before the injuries. The loans to Rangers (then in the 2nd tier) and VVV (also in the second tier) were both quite poor. That was before his first injury.
     
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  6. Thundering165

    Thundering165 Member+

    North Carolina FC
    United States
    May 1, 2017
    Raleigh
    This was such a long time ago but I recall the Rangers stint being inconsistent but not awful, and Venlo wasn’t a great fit, but he was still quite young and had time to improve. Zelalem was never going to be physically ready at 18-19, but it was good experience. The injury took what was left of his moderate athleticism. Akale too has major physical limitations but is still U23 eligible, and it’s too early to shut the door on his career.
     
  7. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Zelalem has never been good. Akale is totally unknown, might be MLS level.
     
  8. Eighteen Alpha

    Eighteen Alpha Member+

    Aug 17, 2016
    Club:
    Stoke City FC
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  9. Golazo69

    Golazo69 Member+

    Aug 2, 2017
    Truer words were never spoken lol

    I hope he continues to stick it out in Spain, but if a move to the US is what is needed for him to get minutes, so be it
     
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  10. justinpaul10

    justinpaul10 Member+

    Sep 2, 2013
    Man there were some real turd comments in this this thread, found a couple of mine (Discussing for instance the shrimpiest midfield in the history of the sport with Pulisic, Akale and Zelalem). Hindsight is a real bitch but giggsy was doing his worst in 15/16. Some real bad takes in there.
     
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  11. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    Las Vegas Lights!
     
  12. Dirt McGirt

    Dirt McGirt Member+

    Jun 20, 2005
    Phoenix, AZ
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He hated MLS so much it was comical.
     
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  13. justinpaul10

    justinpaul10 Member+

    Sep 2, 2013
    He had some real
    The final sentence typified his views in MLS.
     
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  14. frankburgers

    frankburgers Member+

    May 31, 2016
    Love this thread. I’ll miss it. What a message board career akale had! Enjoy retirement.

    miss u giggsy
     
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  15. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    remains the most confusing active thread on big soccer
     
  16. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I guess he decided to not tough it out in Europe/Spain anymore. Should have went to an independent club in the Tercera. That's a higher level than MLS let alone USL (where he probably ends up) and key for his ongoing development in his mid 20's.
     
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  17. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
    wait you really think the spanish 4th division is better than mls?
     
  18. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thank you! Mukwelle Akale YA thread never die!
     
  19. dougtee

    dougtee Member+

    Feb 7, 2007
     
  20. Eighteen Alpha

    Eighteen Alpha Member+

    Aug 17, 2016
    Club:
    Stoke City FC
    “Ongoing development in his mid-20s” should have tipped you off to the sarcasm
     
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  21. Dirt McGirt

    Dirt McGirt Member+

    Jun 20, 2005
    Phoenix, AZ
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I do hope the kid ends up playing first team football somewhere. He has sacrificed a lot to even get this far, I'd hate for him to give up now.
     
  22. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I hope for the best for Akale in his next stop. I feel like some people view him a bit more negatively than necessary, and view his struggles to make it at Villarreal with a hint of smug satisfaction, simply because one individual poster (Giggsy) sucked in just about every way.
     
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  23. Dirt McGirt

    Dirt McGirt Member+

    Jun 20, 2005
    Phoenix, AZ
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Giggsy might have been family to be honest. I don't blame him one bit if that's the case.
     
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  24. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    I wish him well.

    I admire him for rolling the dice for the road less traveled. Sure, he should've bailed a few years ago when it was obvious it wasn't gonna work out at Villareal but he kept grinding, which I respect.

    Here's hoping he lands some place where he can get a shot at first-team minutes, even if it's not the most glamorous destination.
     
  25. Balerion

    Balerion Member+

    Aug 5, 2006
    Roslindale, MA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He's not family. I honestly forget his name, but I used to know his Twitter account. All I remember is that he was a white dude from Minnesota.

    As best as I could tell, he was a combo of a superfan of a local kid + a sanctimonious Eurosnob dogmatist. (And I say this as someone with a narrow definition of "Eurosnob".)
     
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