Nathan Ake

DMA's said:
It’s amazing how many posters suddenly turn on seemingly departing players. Like spoilt children it’s pathetic. Anyone can see Ake has improved immensely and will be missed should he go. To say we don’t even need to replace him is complete madness.
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I don't think anyone is turning on him. More just seeing that being offered £50m for our 4th choice CB, who has started just 1/4 of our league games since signing is good business. Added to that, Chelsea want him and can probably offer more regular game-time so its highly likely that Ake wants to go. Its a good deal all-round.

Our 4th choice CB should be a youngster who can push for becoming a regular in years to come. If the likes of Mbete aren't able to fill in as 4th choice, then buy a youngster who can. Our 4th choice CB should not be a 27 year old International, who in 2 years hasn't shown anything to suggest he can become anything more than 4th choice, and who only plays when someone gets injured or needs a rest.
 
domalino said:
I don’t have one - that’s above my pay grade!

I’m sure the club has tabs on every 18-21 year old prospect at the position though, that’s half the point of building the worldwide CFG empire.
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So your employed by the club?
 
Big Jonjo said:
Tbh, apart from Laportes passing range, I feel he is the weak link out of our cb's. He is prone to defensive errors and poor positioning, albeit he finished the season off very well when we needed him most. I don't think we have a major defensive issue as once again we had the best defensive record in the league. I'm sure whatever happens, Pep will be on top of it!
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Laporte had his best season for us so far. If there were bids on the table for Ake and Laporte and both players wanted to go I know exactly which player the club would fight to keep.
There was a bit of this Laporte bashing creeping in on this forum last season. He's a top centre half at the peak of his career.
 
DMA's said:
It’s amazing how many posters suddenly turn on seemingly departing players. Like spoilt children it’s pathetic. Anyone can see Ake has improved immensely and will be missed should he go.

To say we don’t even need to replace him is complete madness. Question this and the default answer seems to be.... “doesn’t matter we have haaland now”. let’s make our already stretched squad smaller than last season with the most condensed scheduled season about to commence. History has shown we need 4 capable Cbs to compete in the league. Liverpool’s fourth choice Gomez has just signed a new deal we need a player of that standard at least.

No doubt will be the same posters moaning when pep has to practically throw away the fa cup in April due to lack of squad depth.
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Completely agree. We needed all four centre backs last season, and even then there were a couple of games Fern ended up there and we looked shaky defensively in those because of that.

Winning the league is such fine margins these days in an era of 90+ points and scouse twats never getting injuries because of their performance enhancing inhalers.

We simply can’t afford to risk such a drop in quality when two of our first team centre backs are unavailable, which at some point over 60 games they will be.
 
Churchlawtonblue said:
I just don't agree with this at all. Is this not just another case of rubbishing a player just because it looks as if he is leaving City?

I just don't recall any games where he has played as badly as you are inferring.
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I'm not Ake's biggest critic nor fan, I think he's done a decent job for us as fourth choice centre half but surely you remember how horrific he was at Newcastle when Carson made his debut. He's obviously improved in our system since, as you would expect training under Pep, but if someone were to offer £50m + for him then its an absolute no brainer to sell and either replace or utilise the squad and youth.
 
domalino said:
I don’t have one - that’s above my pay grade!

I’m sure the club has tabs on every 18-21 year old prospect at the position though, that’s half the point of building the worldwide CFG empire.
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Ok.


I wasn't being facetious btw.

Every time someone semi-serious suggests that a proven senior PL player and starter for a top European national team should be replaced with a kid, I always assume they have a kid in mind that they think can perform to that level, and I ask out of interest, as I don't know enough to think of one myself.
 
gazinho said:
I'm not Ake's biggest critic nor fan, I think he's done a decent job for us as fourth choice centre half but surely you remember how horrific he was at Newcastle when Carson made his debut. He's obviously improved in our system since, as you would expect training under Pep, but if someone were to offer £50m + for him then its an absolute no brainer to sell and either replace or utilise the squad and youth.
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Every defender has bad games , even Dias has had his horror moments, but you don't judge a defender on one or two games. Also remember when Ake plays he never plays in a settled back 4. It's always a mix of 'unfamiliar' players by the nature of him being 4th choice.
 
Coatigan said:
Ok.


I wasn't being facetious btw.

Every time someone semi-serious suggests that a proven senior PL player and starter for a top European national team should be replaced with a kid, I always assume they have a kid in mind that they think can perform to that level, and I ask out of interest, as I don't know enough to think of one myself.
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I know Gvardiol at RB Leipzig is supposed to be a super talent and he's only 19 and Timber at Ajax is thier next big thing. They might be too good though, and both cost too much and not consider a club where they'd be 4th choice.

Othewise I'm not that clued up on young CBs. Kounde might be an option, he's only 23.
 
Is it out of the realms of possibility that Mbete replaces Ake next year? I remember when Grealish signed there was a clip of Lescott asking him if he'd played against Luke yet which implies that he is highly rated and he is 19 in September. At some point, we do need to start properly integrating these young lads who have lots of potential like Mcatee, Palmer, Mbete etc. having said that, I would understand if the club wanted to replace Ake with an experienced international defender. It's going to be interesting as this clearly wasn't something the club had planned for, unlike the Fernandingo replacement
 
Churchlawtonblue said:
Every defender has bad games , even Dias has had his horror moments, but you don't judge a defender on one or two games. Also remember when Ake plays he never plays in a settled back 4. It's always a mix of 'unfamiliar' players by the nature of him being 4th choice.
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I dont disagree mate, in fact I put many of Ake's poor performances (especially in his first season) down to the fact he was playing next to that fuckwit Mendy, as I said im not judging him I was just pointing out that horror show at St James' again as I say im easy either way if we keep him great if not £50m, for whom I think we all agree is our 4th choice centre half, is good
 
If Ake was happy to stay City would keep him, however he obviously wants guaranteed game time at Chelsea, so thanks for your efforts and goodbye.
I’m sure City will be lining someone up, either promising youngster or mature been there done it player.
 
Oli88 said:
Is it out of the realms of possibility that Mbete replaces Ake next year? I remember when Grealish signed there was a clip of Lescott asking him if he'd played against Luke yet which implies that he is highly rated and he is 19 in September. At some point, we do need to start properly integrating these young lads who have lots of potential like Mcatee, Palmer, Mbete etc. having said that, I would understand if the club wanted to replace Ake with an experienced international defender. It's going to be interesting as this clearly wasn't something the club had planned for, unlike the Fernandingo replacement
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Obviously it depends on how highly the club rate him.

Aké started just 14 league games at CB, 7 a season. So realistically there's not a huge load to be carried in replacing him.


I'd be interested in seeing the club maybe give him the first half of the season and maybe set up a new CB for January. Give him a chance to show he's up to it in the league cup, maybe a few sub appearances. And we're only ever a couple of months away from reinforcements if injuries hit and he's not good enough.
 
I get the frustration on here & the same with Sterling but fans need to realise if these players want out espeacialy the not playing every week players then if good money is offered we aint holding anyone back

Pep has always said knock on my door & talk

100m right now for those 2 is serious money its simple as that

So forget why we are selling its more of we really don't have a choice

World Cup year won't help our argument to keep Ake either

If you think City havnt got this boxed off then people ate mad!!
 
We have big Luke on the bench
We have Rodri & Phillips who could sit in
We could play 3
We could play Walker

Not a problem imo

Maybe we knock on Evertons door?
 
gazinho said:
I dont disagree mate, in fact I put many of Ake's poor performances (especially in his first season) down to the fact he was playing next to that fuckwit Mendy, as I said im not judging him I was just pointing out that horror show at St James' again as I say im easy either way if we keep him great if not £50m, for whom I think we all agree is our 4th choice centre half, is good
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Haha I remember getting called a Rag on here for calling Mendy something similar
 
It must be the tribalism that is part of football that drives this need for some posters to make assumptions about other posters and divide everyone into 'camps' - re players, Lovers or Haters

Is this just not as simple as CITY managing our club in a very professional and business like manner - we should welcome that when you look at the farce down the road and elsewhere in the PL and Europe?

Re Ake, it seems to me

1. He has had his head turned through an approach by Chelsea, to CITY and through his agent

2. It seems a good opportunity to consider given it is a world cup year and he has accepted that he is 4th place at CITY - he will probably get more money as well

3. CITY's executive management team - recognising that Ake is open to the approach act a) to not get in his way as he is not one of the 'must keep' players (that seems professional to me) and then ask CITY's transfer management to b) to ensure that we get a good deal regarding the fee and enough time to secure a replacement - should the management of the playing squad decide that is needed. This also seems professional to me

Noise on here I see as just that tribalism with fans needing to argue positions - because that is the nature of football fans

It is just business fellas - and long may we be so professionally managed.
 
Oli88 said:
Is it out of the realms of possibility that Mbete replaces Ake next year? I remember when Grealish signed there was a clip of Lescott asking him if he'd played against Luke yet which implies that he is highly rated and he is 19 in September. At some point, we do need to start properly integrating these young lads who have lots of potential like Mcatee, Palmer, Mbete etc. having said that, I would understand if the club wanted to replace Ake with an experienced international defender. It's going to be interesting as this clearly wasn't something the club had planned for, unlike the Fernandingo replacement
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Think a Pep will have a look at Doyle this preseason, Mbete been around the first team now for a bit so Pep must see if he can step up! With Doyle who has played first team games now for quite a bit for me would be a good choice for 4th choice…
 
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