Nathan Ake

[BringBackSwales]

I always knew Jamie spitter was unbalanced. Apparently 2 right footed CB’s can work together ok but 2 left footed CB’s can’t. How does that work then Jamie?

 

[blueparrot]

We still need a proper left back. Mendy is a woeful footballer and not the answer. I expect Ake to play LB until we can find a replacement.

Don't think we are looking for a left back if we get Ake, Mendy as long as he stys fit will play in at least half our games with Ake rotating.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Thanks, how long ago did those lists have to be submitted?

Jan 20 I think, maybe early Feb

 

[King Jay]

I don‘t know why people say we don’t need a LB anymore because CANCELO and AKE CAN play there. It‘s not their best position. I rather have someone who can do something on the position and feels comfortable. Ake would be more or less the defensive options - don’t see him going forward like Mendy.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

The fee seems a little high but if it means Stones and Otamendi further down the pecking order I am all for it.

 

[skyblues]

We still need a proper left back. Mendy is a woeful footballer and not the answer. I expect Ake to play LB until we can find a replacement.

I’m not sure. Mendy has shown glimpses of his Monaco-form recently, against Liverpool he was excellent. I doubt he’ll be replaced.

 

[PJM1891]

Thanks, how long ago did those lists have to be submitted?

Can clubs change their squads again this season?
Yes ... if they get through to the knockout stage. Ahead of the round of 16, by midnight on 1 February, clubs can register a maximum of three new players. The overall limit of 25 players on List A remains, though.

Any limitations on who is added?
Players may have played in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League, but only one of them can have played in the UEFA Europa League group stage. Players cannot represent two clubs in the UEFA Champions League from the group stage onwards.

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsl...0--uefa-champions-league-squads-how-it-works/

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Not to disrespect Stones considering what he’s won with us, but this guy is twice the defender he is. Stones is passive and almost backs into the goal when facing attackers. Aké just dives right in. A real fighter, very physical and most of all, intelligent.

Filling the homegrown quota plus looking at our needs, he is absolutely perfect for us.
I don’t believe City will buy a left back now. Both Aké and Cancelo can play there, along with first choice Mendy who will face serious competition now.

Stones would also look like a cracking defender in a team who sits back all the time with all his teammates within metres of him.

Playing as a defender in City’s team is very different to anything else in the world. Our tactics would show up a genetically modified scientific experiment defender with the genes of Beckenbauer, Dave Watson, Baresi and Kompany, and see him make a lot of mistakes if he wasn’t at it.

Ake has always impressed me as a defender in his own box, but being a defender for City is 90% of how good you are on the half way line.

Ive never seen Ake defending that far forward before so I’m refraining from saying whether he’s better than Stones or even a good signing full stop, until I see how good he actually is at defending in our team.

 

[skyblues]

I don‘t know why people say we don’t need a LB anymore because CANCELO and AKE CAN play there. It‘s not their best position. I rather have someone who can do something on the position and feels comfortable. Ake would be more or less the defensive options - don’t see him going forward like Mendy.

It’s not about ’can play there’. Cancelo is actually good in this position. And I have no doubts Aké could whip in a few crosses, although maybe not as good as Mendy.

I believe this upcoming season will be make or break for Mendy. If he doesn’t improve fast, he’ll be replaced next summer.

I still have confidence in Mendy, believe it or not.

 

[skyblues]

Can clubs change their squads again this season?
Yes ... if they get through to the knockout stage. Ahead of the round of 16, by midnight on 1 February, clubs can register a maximum of three new players. The overall limit of 25 players on List A remains, though.

Any limitations on who is added?
Players may have played in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League, but only one of them can have played in the UEFA Europa League group stage. Players cannot represent two clubs in the UEFA Champions League from the group stage onwards.

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsl...0--uefa-champions-league-squads-how-it-works/

Woah. Could we add Aké to play in UCL?

 

[St.Pauli support]

The fee seems a little high but if it means Stones and Otamendi further down the pecking order I am all for it.

I think both will leave this summer.
Ota now has 2 LCB in front of him.
Stones could stay if we fail to sign Koulibaly/Carlos/Dias - but I think we will move on aggressively and use our strong market position.

Garcia really seems to leave but even then I think Stones can't stay but has to move to save his career and we might look for another RCB or Tosin and THB do the cover. Even Fern.

 

[domalino]

Woah. Could we add Aké to play in UCL?

No.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Time will tell on this one I think.

Seems a lot of dough for what may be a back up.

 

[Keeper!]

I don‘t know why people say we don’t need a LB anymore because CANCELO and AKE CAN play there. It‘s not their best position. I rather have someone who can do something on the position and feels comfortable. Ake would be more or less the defensive options - don’t see him going forward like Mendy.

They are emergency LB only simply not good enough long term if Mendy get a mid/long term injury.

 

[cleavers]

I've no idea why you would buy a defender from a relegated team, when you are at the top, Bournemouth conceded the third most goals in the PL for a reason, their defence was shit.

 

[@BluePhil8]

Time will tell on this one I think.

Seems a lot of dough for what may be a back up.

The back ups have to be as good as the first team though, or at least compatible. When we play Stones or Otamendi we go from a top 3 team on the planet to a top 20 team. The drop of is ridiculous. We lost De Bruyne for a whole half a season and still won the league with 100 points. We always survive when Aguero is injured. Take Laporte away from us though and the entire team on the pitch drops a level or 2. We need competent solid back ups. Ake and Garcia would be a great back up pairing.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

I think both will leave this summer.
Ota now has 2 LCB in front of him.
Stones could stay if we fail to sign Koulibaly/Carlos/Dias - but I think we will move on aggressively and use our strong market position.

Garcia really seems to leave but even then I think Stones can't stay but has to move to save his career and we might look for another RCB or Tosin and THB do the cover. Even Fern.

Getting rid of Otamendi should be easy enough, he is knocking on and I expect we would be reasonably happy to just get him off the wage bill, even if it meant giving him away for next to nothing.

Garcia is seemingly a wanted man and with only a year left on his contract, our hand could be forced. I think we may end up taking any money that is on the table for him. It could potentially be a nice £20m added to the budget.

Stones could prove troublesome to shift. Not many people rate him as a defender, so his potential suitors would be those who want his apparent footballing ability. This limits the market somewhat. In addition, theres no way the club is letting him go for a pittance, so the potential market shrinks even further.

I wouldnt be surprised if we start the season with Otamendi and Garcia both gone and Laporte, Koulibaly (hopefully), Ake and Stones as our 4 centre backs.

 

[cookster]

Net 20m after Sane for Ake and Torres is an excellent start to the window.

Let hope we don't let Stones and Ota leave on loans unless there's a fixed fee obligation to buy at the end.

Still need a LB and another CB. Another forward player would be the icing on the cake.
Douglas Luiz can come in Summer 21 as Diniho replacement.

 

[Champions Again Ole Ole]

 

[SleepingBlueTiger]

I like him, it's so hard to shine in a weak team as a defender and whenever I've seen him he has stood out. Make no mistake - that Bournemouth team has been crap for years despite overachieving in some seasons.


He will be a reliable defender who will get a lot of games. He will also get games in LB and CDM when we get injuries.