#6 | Nathan Aké - 2021/22 Performances

[Mr HJ]

He's a decent centre back but the reality is when we don't have either John or Laporte partnering Dias the drop off is huge. As a team we rely on quick passing allowing our midfielders time and space to do their thing. Watching us with Ake in we play completely differently. Nathan is a good back up but he needs to find some confidence to stop taking four or five touches before passing - maybe he will do that, I hope so because as yesterday showed without having Rodri dropping deep to take the ball (something not many on here appreciate about his game) we look slow and static - when the balls were played to Bernardo, Jack etc they had no time or space, that is a fact. Of course there were others yesterday who didn't help the team - Ferna looked his age for once and Raheem was very poor, offering no threat whatsoever.

He also seems a popular member of the team and I really hope he can improve his distribution because it's plain to see there is a great footballer in there.

 

[VOOMER]

Usually we don't win when he plays.

 

[Musampa 209]

Pretty noticeable he’s awful (in comparison to our other CBs) at passing through the lines into midfield.

Feels like all he can do is pass it to Dias or Ederson.

 

[samarasra]

He was goo today…defensively but that’s not enough in this team. You see the passing range and ability on the ball that Stones and Laporte bring and they’re in a completely different universe.

The majority, if not all, of our attacks start with the centre halves and when one of those isn’t brave or good enough on the ball then it shows unfortunately. We had the same with Garcia who was slow on the ball.

Not a slight on Ake at all, just an observation.

Pep's latest comments concur.

 

[decmancity]

One of the main reasons we bought him was because at Bournemouth he had at least showed some ambition to pass the ball and play decent football. He seems very tentative with his decisions, perhaps just frightened of making a mistake whereas Laporte just goes for it.

 

[skillman]

One of the main reasons we bought him was because at Bournemouth he had at least showed some ambition to pass the ball and play decent football. He seems very tentative with his decisions, perhaps just frightened of making a mistake whereas Laporte just goes for it.

He just feels, for want of a better word, chaotic in everything he does. There's no element of calm in his play which is only elevated when we've been used to Laporte and Stones who are absolute Rolls Royce defenders.

 

[cityboy1]

He just feels, for want of a better word, chaotic in everything he does. There's no element of calm in his play which is only elevated when we've been used to Laporte and Stones who are absolute Rolls Royce defenders.

Bit harsh comparing him to the two best cbs in the world when it comes to passing? Hes never going to be as good as them.

 

[skillman]

Bit harsh comparing him to the two best cbs in the world when it comes to passing? Hes never going to be as good as them.

Yeah, it wasn't so much of a comparison - more just highlighting just how big the gap between them is when he's the one who's tasked with coming in when they're both not there. It's too much of a gap in quality for my liking and it shows when he plays unfortunately. Not his fault.

 

[VOOMER]

Bit harsh comparing him to the two best cbs in the world when it comes to passing? Hes never going to be as good as them.

Then why did we spend £41 million on him?

 

[VOOMER]

Last season the loss percentages were as follows.
Ruben Dias 12%
Aymeric Laporte 12%
John Stones 13%
MENDY 23%
AKE30%!

We never should have signed him.