6 | Nathan Ake - 2024/25

[normskih]

We've got two CB's who are extremely injury prone and a 34 year old past past it RB, the defence constantly changing and no Rodri to protect it has really fucked things up.

What a damn shame, he's a great player.

 

[ninjamonkey]

I've no doubt these injuries are happening so often because we decided 6 defenders was enough. we are seeing players come back and they're thrown straight in and pushed to breaking point immediately out of neccesity because there's nobody else. If we had a full set of defenders we wouldn't have to lean so heavily on less than 100% fit players and it wouldn't keep happening as often as it is. It's not a coincidence they're all breaking down.

 

[Delphinho]

Time to recall Callum Doyle? Can play both CB and LB like Ake. On his 4th loan of mens football currently

 

[decmancity]

Time to recall Callum Doyle? Can play both CB and LB like Ake. On his 4th loan of mens football currently

I highly doubt it's possible now but he has to come into the first team squad next season.

 

[decmancity]

I've no doubt these injuries are happening so often because we decided 6 defenders was enough. we are seeing players come back and they're thrown straight in and pushed to breaking point immediately out of neccesity because there's nobody else. If we had a full set of defenders we wouldn't have to lean so heavily on less than 100% fit players and it wouldn't keep happening as often as it is. It's not a coincidence they're all breaking down.

Ake has had injury issues his whole career.

 

[Goldust]

Lovely player and chap, but the same for Stones you can’t keep them too long unfortunately.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Ake has had injury issues his whole career.

With us. He barely missed a game at Bournemouth, one of his best attributes was his consistency and being an ever present.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Just like Stonesy way too injury prone

 

[Tier2Blue]

As other have said him and stones are just too injury prone. Appears likely to continue as they age. Exposes us even more as Pep wants a small 16/17 man squad but in essence Ake and Stones are one player given their absence. Leaves us light. Imagine one or both are replaced in the summer. Wouldn’t THB be a good option now….

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Time to recall Callum Doyle? Can play both CB and LB like Ake. On his 4th loan of mens football currently

How do you propose we do that?

 

[paulchapo]

With us. He barely missed a game at Bournemouth, one of his best attributes was his consistency and being an ever present.

Well Bournemouth didn't play many extra games in the cups or Europe.

 

[Delphinho]

How do you propose we do that?

No idea how that stuff works, would suppose we’d have to pay some kind of fee to cancel the loan. Wilson-Esbrand or Simpson-Pusey on loan to replace him possibly?

 

[ninjamonkey]

Well Bournemouth didn't play many extra games in the cups or Europe.

Which lends to my original point of the injuries being a result of overuse because of a stupidly small number of defenders in the squad.

 

[Tico Warrior]

I've no doubt these injuries are happening so often because we decided 6 defenders was enough. we are seeing players come back and they're thrown straight in and pushed to breaking point immediately out of neccesity because there's nobody else. If we had a full set of defenders we wouldn't have to lean so heavily on less than 100% fit players and it wouldn't keep happening as often as it is. It's not a coincidence they're all breaking down.

Next season we need more players in the squad, and we have to use them. We have five subs now, we should easily be able to find someone who can come and do a job for the last 20 minutes of a match. We need to rest players in the cups as well, no first teamers against Salford for example.

 

[sh249]

Such a shame. With Dias, he’s probably our best defender and we invariably look more solid whenever he plays. He’ll be a big miss.

 

[kaz7]

The players have been playing with injuries to cover those who cant play , i love them for that

 

[OB1]

It's a blow for all concerned that Nathan is injured again. We are stronger defensively when he plays.

 

[Bluewars II]

It's a players duty to understand their body, consistently having hamstring injuries says the root cause is not being addressed. With all the S&C info and equipment these elite athletes have access to these injuries shouldn't be recurring.

In defence of Ake, I can't understand why our squad is so small. 5 competitions included an expanded UCL and Club world Cup + nonsense Internationals and we act surprised when players breakdown. Pep complains about injuries and at the same time doesn't want a big squad, someone needs to tell baldy it's 2024 buy players ffs!

 

[kaz7]

It's a players duty to understand their body, consistently having hamstring injuries says the root cause is not being addressed. With all the S&C info and equipment these elite athletes have access to these injuries shouldn't be recurring.

In defence of Ake, I can't understand why our squad is so small. 5 competitions included an expanded UCL and Club world Cup + nonsense Internationals and we act surprised when players breakdown. Pep complains about injuries and at the same time doesn't want a big squad, someone needs to tell baldy it's 2024 buy players ffs!

Having a small squad has served us well for nine years ! You cant have very good players warming the benches just in case

 

[WallyA]

Yeah I don't really agree with those that our squad has been too small the whole time Pep was here, I would only argue recently that is the case.

In Pep's earlier years here we had more defenders, and still had a relatively small squad.

And the problem with just over buying, is you have all these players constantly not playing, moaning and being upset.

Pep has had to deal with that here, even with the smallish squads he has managed.

That being said, as someone pointed out, we have 2 30+ injury prone defenders, and a 34 year old RB with brain farts.

We need 3 defenders in the next year or so to mix with Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, and Lewis (he is a backup).