Nathan Ake

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Hopefully a bit of faith after the last week or so - this is the first signing of a few, and lets see where we are when we restart (and this season isn't over just yet)
 
Akpowell said:
Everyone keeps saying he's a backup player, wheres this come from, has the club actually come out and said we're buying him as a backup player
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You haven’t learned how to read the club’s intentions at a reasonable level during transfer windows have you?

Shoot me if we don’t sign a big name CB. I guarantee you we will. And I’m not ITK. It’s fucking obvious looking at the press and filtering through the BS.

Other reason why it’s obvious he is a backup is because he’s left footed and so is Laporte. Pep will surely want a backup left footed center back for his tactics.
 
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Akpowell said:
Everyone keeps saying he's a backup player, wheres this come from, has the club actually come out and said we're buying him as a backup player
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Ake and Garcia as backups, Laporte and Koulibaly as first choices. Simples...
 
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I think if we get Koulibaly or Laporte we'll almost always be playing one of them. Other than early cup games, I don't think Ake and Garcia will ever be a partnership we'll actually see. I'm fine with Laporte + Ake and Koulibaly + Garcia being used for rotation.
 
Akpowell said:
Well if I was Ake I'd say if I'm only going to be a backup player, forget it.
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I don’t know what this post contributed to the conversation we’re all having.

He wouldn’t have been told hey kid you’re gonna stay on the bench. He’ll get a shot at unseating Laporte for the left CBstarting spot. I don’t think he will do it, but Pep will give him a fair shake.
 
Well we have to remember how Stones looked at Everton , Mendy at Monaco, Cancelo at Juventus. (Bony at Swansea lol)
And we have to see how their current season is.

Lot of players cannot adapt, cannot bring their best at a much better team or in a different league, different setup.

Only a few can really improve.
 
Akpowell said:
Its about everyone saying he's only a backup player, it's a squad we don't have backups
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We need depth, people just realise that he offers quality whilst also allowing us room for another CB if Otamendi and Stones leave.

If we signed this Torres kid, with Sterling and Mahrez does he start every game? No.
 
Shaelumstash said:
Can you think of one who’s worked out?

Scott Sinclair, Jack Rodwell, Navas, Savic, Jovetic, Fernando...

Buying players who aren’t better than your first choice and who never will be better than your first choice never works out.

I’ve seen nothing of Ake to suggest he’s going to be better than what we have.
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3 of the first 4 signings were during a run of poor signings and under a completely different management. Rodwell and Sinclair? Do they truly belong on any list with how we are run now?

Savic turned out to be a very good player at one point at Atletico. We would have KILLED to have him when he came into his game.

Ake is a proven PL player who can play multiple positions for us.

CB, LB and CDM which are all three areas where we have questionable players, pace or depth so his versatility will be very useful.

I hear your point about signing backups, but none of those players were anywhere near proven at PL level.

Jovetic was the best of the lot but his attitude and injury record was poor.

I don't see these comparisons as apt in any real way, but I can see why you came to the conclusion.

Pep wanted Maguire. Is he THAT much or better at all than Ake?
 
ninjamonkey said:
We will have to wait and see how he shapes the rest of the defence before judging this. If as expected he’s Laporte deputy and we go ahead and bring in another right sided CB as a starter and natural left back too then it’s hard to think of anybody better than Ake for that role. He’ll be under no illusions about his role here and after playing every week for Bournemouth im surprised he’s interested in us, he could easily play every week elsewhere in the premier league for a very good side.

We have a free home grown slot after Delph left so this doesn’t necessarily mean the end for Stones either who plays on the opposite side. I’d say this signals the end of Otamendi. It won’t be a trophy winning signing on its own but it’s an important bit of shuffling the pack, managing the squad quota and getting the balance in defence. He’s not overly exciting but I’m happy for us to sign him, hopefully just part of the rebuild, I’m anticipating another 4
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I think the club wants to keep Carson for another loan year, so no, Aké only works if another association-trained HG player leaves. Raz, Walker, Carson or Stones.
 
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Too much pessimism in this thread. Ake is a much better option than Stones, Otamendi or Garcia (for now at least). At this stage, I'd be happy just to have a reliable premier league centre-back who isn't error-prone.

The number of mistakes made by Stones and Otamendi, this season in particular, is a bit of a joke. It can't just be down to the way we play - it's like a collective brainfart every time we face a counter attack.

Ake is a great player, and could mature into another leader at the back for us. Think we'll get him and maybe Alaba, who can also play CB. That should give us enough cover, with Garcia having some room to grow.
 
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