#6 | Nathan Aké - 2021/22 Performances

[alexmcity]

I thought he played very well.

Appears to be quicker than last season

My impression as well.

Wouldn't be surprised if Pep gave him another start tomorrow.

Ake is not the first player who needs time to get accustomed to Pep's City. May make vital contributions this season.

 

[Shaffer92]

Did he take a fall or what? Looked to be in a lot of pain.

 

[waspish]

Better than stones today.

 

[kun]

Better than stones today.

Stones had an absolute mare. So that isn't saying a lot.

Aké actually bailed him out more than once.

I feel for Aké, he often gets his appearances in either unbalanced mishmashes of teams or, like today, in seriously under-motivated sides, but I guess that is the life of a backup player.

I like him, he has pace and physicality while tidy on the ball. As far as 4th CBs go he's solid.

 

[samarasra]

Did he take a fall or what? Looked to be in a lot of pain.

Player dipped under him.

 

[Don Karleone]

Just watching the highlights again. Cracking header

 

[Damocles]

There was a corner a few minutes before Ake scored from the other side where I said to my brother, "have we just aimed a corner at Ake there?".

Then obviously the goal looked like a planned routine.

I'm not sure if this speaks to the respect that Ake is held in or the extreme preparation from Guardiola's coaching staff but at some point over the past few months, we have had the squad take time out and train movements of set pieces based on whether our fourth choice centre back is on the pitch. That's pretty impressive.

 

[Nethermoor]

He always plays well when I see him. Plus that's the second goal i've seen him score live, both fantastic headers.
Vs Leeds and Vs Leipzig

 

[Tugay One Cup]

There was a corner a few minutes before Ake scored from the other side where I said to my brother, "have we just aimed a corner at Ake there?".

Then obviously the goal looked like a planned routine.

I'm not sure if this speaks to the respect that Ake is held in or the extreme preparation from Guardiola's coaching staff but at some point over the past few months, we have had the squad take time out and train movements of set pieces based on whether our fourth choice centre back is on the pitch. That's pretty impressive.

He's been great at attacking the ball from set pieces for years. He's actually got really good instincts in the box in general and we usually aim for him when he's on the pitch.

Says a lot when there's usually two or three other teammates around him who are a few inches taller.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

He's been great at attacking the ball from set pieces for years. He's actually got really good instincts in the box in general and we usually aim for him when he's on the pitch.

Says a lot when there's usually two or three other teammates around him who are a few inches taller.

I'd play him as striker. 30 goals a season no problem.

 

[Kamaro011]

Him not playing much is also help his unexpected header goal, because many team will have a lack preparation against someone like him that didn't play much in our team.

If i were Pep, i will only play him in very specific circumstances and the right moment to unleashes him in set piece and creating a goal through header.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

He's been great at attacking the ball from set pieces for years. He's actually got really good instincts in the box in general and we usually aim for him when he's on the pitch.

Says a lot when there's usually two or three other teammates around him who are a few inches taller.

Big Fan of this about him, always seems to be in the mix for headers

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

He's been great at attacking the ball from set pieces for years. He's actually got really good instincts in the box in general and we usually aim for him when he's on the pitch.

Says a lot when there's usually two or three other teammates around him who are a few inches taller.

He’s an enigma as he’s great at attacking corners, but poor in defensive aerial duels.

 

[Dax777]

He’s an enigma as he’s great at attacking corners, but poor in defensive aerial duels.

Possibly because of the slightly different skills the 2 may emphasize. One highlights your athletism, quickness and springing ability. All strengths for Nathan. The other highlights your size, strength and height.

Attackers are trying to get free and take a running jump to a spot. Defenders are trying to restrict movement, put bodies on the opponent, and try to out jump them from a standing spot.

 

[eastmanc]

Him not playing much is also help his unexpected header goal, because many team will have a lack preparation against someone like him that didn't play much in our team.

If i were Pep, i will only play him in very specific circumstances and the right moment to unleashes him in set piece and creating a goal through header.

I thought he did well when he came on against Leeds.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Possibly because of the slightly different skills the 2 may emphasize. One highlights your athletism, quickness and springing ability. All strengths for Nathan. The other highlights your size, strength and height.

Attackers are trying to get free and take a running jump to a spot. Defenders are trying to restrict movement, put bodies on the opponent, and try to out jump them from a standing spot.

why not use his attacking technique whilst defending then?

 

[Dax777]

why not use his attacking technique whilst defending then?

Well as a defender on set pieces (corners and free kicks into the box) you have to defend a zone and try to put your body on an attacker. When you do that you don't have the freedom to run and jump. You are mostly body jousting and trying to win a header from a standing jump position.

This is generally disadvantageous to skinnier shorter defenders. Even the athletic ones.

If you've noticed, he is very good at winning punts and goalkicks too.And those are defensive Wins. However, they are defensive wins that don't require him to restrict the player he is defending. He can just run and jump for an ariel duel and he is superior at that.

It's when he has to defend a zone and try to restrict the movement of an attacker ( actions that degrade your ability to run snd jump) that he struggles. Coz he has a natural height disadvantage.

Normally he overcomes that height disadvantage with athletism in open spaces. But in closed spaces, it's tougher.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Well as a defender on set pieces (corners and free kicks into the box) you have to defend a zone and try to put your body on an attacker. When you do that you don't have the freedom to run and jump. You are mostly body jousting and trying to win a header from a standing position.

This is generally disadvantageous to skinnier shorter defenders. Even the athletic ones.

If you've noticed, he is very good at winning punts and goalkicks too.And those are defensive Wins. However, they are defensive wins that don't require him to restrict the player he is defending. He can just run and jump for an ariel duel and he is superior at that.

It's when he has to defend a zone and try to restrict the movement of an attacker ( actions that degrade your ability to run snd jump) that he struggles. Coz he has a natural height disadvantage.

Normally he overcomes that height disadvantage with athletism in open spaces. But in closed spaces, it's tougher.

I meant when dealing with a long ball from the other team. He’s not good at winning those aerial duels.

 

[Dax777]

I meant when dealing with a long ball from the other team. He’s not good at winning those aerial duels.

Oh no, he is very good on long balls. Almost violently so. It's my favorite aspect of his game. He attacks long balls with an unusual ferocity.

 

[kun]

I meant when dealing with a long ball from the other team. He’s not good at winning those aerial duels.

Yes he is. You're talking shite.