6 | Nathan Ake - 2022/23

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OrigamiNinja said:
It’s not over the top because we are conceding goals for fun. We have gone from being historically rock-solid at the back to goals flying in against us every game. He is part of that problem and I am amazed that people keep coming on here, ignoring the facts that are in front of them and stating how good he is while Akanji gets all the stick.

He is an average PL defender (his own history tells you this) playing at the big boys level and to be fair to him, he’s giving it his absolute best. I’m not knocking his application or effort…he’s just not a top-class defender and our collective defensive performances show it as clear as day.
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So you seriously think that Ake is the main reason we are conceding so many goals? He has been one of our best defenders this season. What a load of utter shite you are spouting and thank god you are not our manager.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
It’s not over the top because we are conceding goals for fun. We have gone from being historically rock-solid at the back to goals flying in against us every game. He is part of that problem and I am amazed that people keep coming on here, ignoring the facts that are in front of them and stating how good he is while Akanji gets all the stick.

He is an average PL defender (his own history tells you this) playing at the big boys level and to be fair to him, he’s giving it his absolute best. I’m not knocking his application or effort…he’s just not a top-class defender and our collective defensive performances show it as clear as day.
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Totally disagree , Ake has been our best defender this season , mainly due to injuries to Stones & Dias who i think are better all round players , Ake is playing out of position and giving everything to the cause.
Our defence this season isnt poor because of Ake , its because Pep changes the back four in every single game.
 
Withnail said:
So you seriously think that Ake is the main reason we are conceding so many goals? He has been one of our best defenders this season. What a load of utter shite you are spouting and thank god you are not our manager.
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Where did I say he was the main reason?

I will put it a different way…

Stones - fantastic, he is in great form and we can all see it.
Rico - getting all the plaudits and rightly so.

It only leaves Akanji and Ake… are we really saying that Ake has been fantastic and therefore everything is the fault of Akanji? I just don’t buy it.

Just look at Ake in the build up on the big chance that Rico cleared off the line and then tell me how that scenario is any different from something Cancelo would get slaughtered for on here?

We are trying to win the league playing two CBs every week that wouldn’t get in any other top 4 side.
 
jimmygrimblesboots said:
Totally disagree , Ake has been our best defender this season , mainly due to injuries to Stones & Dias who i think are better all round players , Ake is playing out of position and giving everything to the cause.
Our defence this season isnt poor because of Ake , its because Pep changes the back four in every single game.
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Already said I wouldn’t knock his attitude and effort.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
Where did I say he was the main reason?

I will put it a different way…

Stones - fantastic, he is in great form and we can all see it.
Rico - getting all the plaudits and rightly so.

It only leaves Akanji and Ake… are we really saying that Ake has been fantastic and therefore everything is the fault of Akanji? I just don’t buy it.

Just look at Ake in the build up on the big chance that Rico cleared off the line and then tell me how that scenario is any different from something Cancelo would get slaughtered for on here?

We are trying to win the league playing two CBs every week that wouldn’t get in any other top 4 side.
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Akanji is a very good player , no doubt , but when everyone is fit he is 5th choice centre back.
 
jimmygrimblesboots said:
Akanji is a very good player , no doubt , but when everyone is fit he is 5th choice centre back.
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He and Ake have somewhat served a purpose while the likes of Dias and Laporte haven’t been fit. However, if these guys are fit again, we have to go back to the main men. It’s inconceivable that we try and fight for a title and CL with Ake and Akanji on the pitch and Dias and Laporte sat on the bench.
 
I'm not sure if it's him or something tactical but far too often he'd press and leave miles of space behind him that got exploited. I lean that it's the latter. We need a true LB desperately but they do seem few and far between these days for whatever reason.
 
I’m torn with Ake, I can’t lie. The issue with him is that he’s been one of our best performing defenders for a while now, so has fought his way into the team more regularly. How is that an issue I hear you ask? Because he is not suited to how we want to play. We’re trying to build up and have control with someone who cannot make incisive passes and isn’t very comfortable under pressure. So as good as he is as a defender, I personally don’t see how he suits our style. I don’t blame him, he can’t do much more than what he’s doing. But we are conceding goals regularly since we don’t actually have that much control in games any more. We get that control back with a reliable build up, involving players that are natural in possession and at breaking lines. That allows us to get up the pitch and pin opponents in their half and we can then press high and force errors. It helps both keeping clean sheets and creating chances. Such a defender isn’t Ake. Nor is it Akanji.
 
Brilliant again. Never gives less than everything for the cause. constantly being swapped around too which effects any player eventually but hasn't put a foot wrong yet at centre back or left back. A certain starter at present, carrying the defence.

I also don't get the criticism of him on the ball, he's more than competent, he's not stones or laporte levels granted but they're the best in the business, he's better than akanji on the ball and he's better than Dias on the ball too who is our weakest in that regard but it goes largely unsaid.

The reason why we are conceding more goals this season isn't as simple as one defender not being as good as another it is primarily down to a combination of an increase in individual errors, a complete lack of intensity in our now almost non-existent front press which allows sides to get out and at an exposed back line far far too easily, we've gone from having say a hard pressing jesus, sterling and foden front 3 to a token press from Haaland Grealish and mahrez. It's night and day and we no longer pin teams in unable to get up the pitch for 20 minute periods. Bernardo not being alongside Rodri is another big factor, the work he did was unreal. A constantly changing back 4 is probably a factor too.
 
I’ve been critical in the past - mainly of his decision making - but having him shoved out wide is fine and seems to be working.

He’s fine on the ball there and is always a willing outlet if the winger needs one without the reliance in centre half (arguably up there with Rodri as the most important position on the ball).

Defensively sound and pace to burn as well. Giving my Delph 17/18 vibes in the sense he’s not conventional and free flowing on the ball but he’s exactly what we need there IMO. Providing the rest of the team is showing some creativity.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
I’m torn with Ake, I can’t lie. The issue with him is that he’s been one of our best performing defenders for a while now, so has fought his way into the team more regularly. How is that an issue I hear you ask? Because he is not suited to how we want to play. We’re trying to build up and have control with someone who cannot make incisive passes and isn’t very comfortable under pressure. So as good as he is as a defender, I personally don’t see how he suits our style. I don’t blame him, he can’t do much more than what he’s doing. But we are conceding goals regularly since we don’t actually have that much control in games any more. We get that control back with a reliable build up, involving players that are natural in possession and at breaking lines. That allows us to get up the pitch and pin opponents in their half and we can then press high and force errors. It helps both keeping clean sheets and creating chances. Such a defender isn’t Ake. Nor is it Akanji.
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Agree, but the only alternative is Cancelo and he is shite.
 
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