#6 | Nathan Aké - 2021/22 Performances

[City_Sean]

As @Gabriel says above, he's a reactive player. He's been used to playing in a struggling team and having to make last second decisions.
In my view, he needs to get used to having to concentrate 100% and take time to read the game when we're not under pressure.

As I said though, I find it hard to criticise anyone who has to play alongside Mendy.

If he's a reactive player he should at least react to Son shooting. He's another ridiculously expensive purchase we've made who isn't good enough. We've massively overspent on him.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

He's a steady defender but has no idea how to start moves from the back just plays the safe ball all the time , but any player who has Mendy playing alongside him is going to look under pressure , he's not good enough for our first team but will be a good cup player and give some respite to Stones,Dias & Laporte.

 

[Thaksinssoldier]

He was hung out to dry by Pep today. I feel sorry for anyone who has to play alongside Mendy.

Ake is a far more reliable player than many on here like to make out.

go on, tell me how that goal was mendy’s fault.
Was it mendy who went to step up and then shit himself so dropped and dropped?

Was it mendy who allowed son to cut in one on one, the only thing he could have done to cause any trouble?

was it mendy fouled iheanacho last week to cost us a chance at the shield?

Mendy has plenty of his own flaws.

None of them excuse Ake.

 

[Lavinda Past]

go on, tell me how that goal was mendy’s fault.
Was it mendy who went to step up and then shit himself so dropped and dropped?

Was it mendy who allowed son to cut in one on one, the only thing he could have done to cause any trouble?

was it mendy fouled iheanacho last week to cost us a chance at the shield?

Mendy has plenty of his own flaws.

None of them excuse Ake.

I didn't say the goal was Mendy's fault. Cancelo could have supported Ake but didn't. A simple error.

The Leicester penalty was in part down to Rodri a crap ball to Ake despite Ake indicating that he didn't want it back. Obviously, Ake wasn't switched on enough to deal with it and gave away the foul, but Rodri could have done better.

As for Mendy... anyone who plays alongside him ends up with two jobs. He's a liability who quite obviously cannot defend. Pep does the team no favours by playing him.

 

[Gabriel]

I keep reading posts about how Pep improves players. Give him time, he might get round to Ake after he's sorted out the other 10 players from today.
;-)

He came through the ADO and Feyenoord systems and has always been a more dogged defender, rather than the progressive defenders you tend to get from the Ajax academy. That doesn’t mean he cannot play football, just that his attributes will shine more when we are under the cosh in games.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

He had to cover two positions today, he is a decent player and we need him as cover, especially if Laporte leaves. Mendy is a lot of fun, a great guy, but not good enough at left back, sadly.

 

[Stelea]

He hasn’t got a clue in distributing the ball out from the back. Too slow and gives it was to Dias each time. Also never seems to head the ball in the right direction or strongly

 

[Blu3m00n91]

He should be used at left back only

 

[Saddleworth2]

Maybe Pep can work some magic on him but my view is he isn’t good enough as our 4th CB. Too many mistakes made too regularly, doesn’t really seem to read a game and his distribution is lacking.

 

[Craig]

go on, tell me how that goal was mendy’s fault.
Was it mendy who went to step up and then shit himself so dropped and dropped?

Was it mendy who allowed son to cut in one on one, the only thing he could have done to cause any trouble?

was it mendy fouled iheanacho last week to cost us a chance at the shield?

Mendy has plenty of his own flaws.

None of them excuse Ake.

Spot on. We all know Mandy is crap but that goal was definitely not on him. Don’t get it at all with Ake. We’re stretched and he’s exposed against Son and was shitting it. Why not do what Vinnie would have done? Straight to him as soon Son turned with the ball, body check and reorganise the defence for the free kick.