6 | Nathan Ake - 2022/23

[Keeper!]

I was a big critic of Ake and would happily have taken the 50m offered by Chelsea but have to say this season he has probably has been our best defender, even his little sub cameo he looked confident and very much part of the team.

 

[clarion]

Our best defender so far.

 

[sh249]

Very good again tonight

 

[Trojan1962]

Most improved player for me very reliable

 

[applejuice]

Perhaps my view will not be welcomed by the majority opinion here. But I feel that Ake as a left center back does not suit in City's way of building from the back. His outball was very slow tonight. Thus when it was received by the winger or midfielder in front of him the Dortmund players had them closed down.

Personally I prefer Dias or Laporte to be the left center back.

 

[ninjamonkey]

A very solid return. Reliable as ever, no doubts whatsoever about him. Huge asset to us and I trust he will eventually start to get the credit he deserves. Walked Akanji through the game very well too, noticeable he used to be Bournemouth captain.

 

[Craig]

Perhaps my view will not be welcomed by the majority opinion here. But I feel that Ake as a left center back does not suit in City's way of building from the back. His outball was very slow tonight. Thus when it was received by the winger or midfielder in front of him the Dortmund players had them closed down.

Personally I prefer Dias or Laporte to be the left center back.

Let us know who he was supposed to ping the ball to? Mahrez? Well that happened about 20 times from other players. Give it to Jack so he can fly at the fullback? Or Cancelo who’s stood about 5 yards from him? No disputing he can’t ping a pass like Laporte but there’s a good argument he’s defending equally as well or better. That performance tonight in terms of lack of fluidity had nothing to do with the 2 centre backs.

 

[Sergio<3]

Mr Reliable

 

[kupest]

Being strong in the air is a huge bonus with him. Kicked on really well.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Let us know who he was supposed to ping the ball to? Mahrez? Well that happened about 20 times from other players. Give it to Jack so he can fly at the fullback? Or Cancelo who’s stood about 5 yards from him? No disputing he can’t ping a pass like Laporte but there’s a good argument he’s defending equally as well or better. That performance tonight in terms of lack of fluidity had nothing to do with the 2 centre backs.

Agree - a bit of a make shift feel to the back 4 but each one indvidually played well.

The issue is lack of pace and width. We have great CBs now. We need cover at both Rb and LB. I like Cancelo but he suits the tucked in full back roll and typically you need other to play wide and we did not have that last night.

 

[youngbob]

Perhaps my view will not be welcomed by the majority opinion here. But I feel that Ake as a left center back does not suit in City's way of building from the back. His outball was very slow tonight. Thus when it was received by the winger or midfielder in front of him the Dortmund players had them closed down.

Personally I prefer Dias or Laporte to be the left center back.

Agreed. He's solid and his ball progression is getting better but he slows us down sometimes.

 

[freshie]

Perhaps my view will not be welcomed by the majority opinion here. But I feel that Ake as a left center back does not suit in City's way of building from the back. His outball was very slow tonight. Thus when it was received by the winger or midfielder in front of him the Dortmund players had them closed down.

Personally I prefer Dias or Laporte to be the left center back.

Yeh I thought this was an issue with both of our CBs yesterday. There is no doubt that our build up suffers when Stones or Laporte aren't playing CB

 

[supercity88]

Excellent defender but on the ball he's not as good as our other options. That much was clear in the way Liverpool targeted him in the Community Shield. For pure defending he's been one of our best though and we can find ways of still being a good attacking side despite his deficiencies there.

 

[applejuice]

Yeh I thought this was an issue with both of our CBs yesterday. There is no doubt that our build up suffers when Stones or Laporte aren't playing CB

Dias has improved his on ball skills a lot and his ball carrying skill also means he can offer a lot for the build up when playing as LCB.

When playing Ake, I feel that perhaps City needs to adapt the build from behind way and perhaps ask the midfielder/winger dropping deeper and carrying the ball more frequently (yes... like a mid-table team) to speed things up.

It is also worth to point out Ake + Cancelo pair meaning there is no quick left footer from that side to comfortable feed good balls along the touchline - not helping by the fact Bernado did not start as well. Definitely a wrong combination of Ake Cancelo Gundo and Grealish together on the left. If one of Gomez, Bernado or Foden was there, things may be much brighter.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I don't see that either Stones or Laporte are obvious choices ahead of Aké at present. Dias is out there in a class of his own.
Last night I felt he was being quick enough for what he was required to do. If anyone was slowing it, it was Jack once it got up to him.

 

[Jonsilfab]

 

[RACHACE]

Any news on Nathan Ake? He was substituted at half time in the Holland v Belgium game. Looked like he was injured towards end of 1st half.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Nothing whatsoever about it on the OS. I looked. I think they might have mentioned it, had it been bad. Perhaps they're waiting for Pep's presser.
Laporte can't be far off at this point, surely?

 

[jimharri]

You never see a bad word about him. He just seems to be a really genuine person. No airs and graces about him.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Every time i see this lad play he gets better , his first season was disrupted with injury and has taken a couple of seasons to come good , so glad we didnt sell him to Chelsea because £50m would have been a bargain buy for the Chavs.