Nathan Ake

[oldius]

He played in half our games last season.

And even if it was 5-10 games, it isn't just about being a body or a number there, a player has to actually perform there.

Ake can, and does. A kid can't, otherwise he'd be in the first team.

That's the difference between winning trophies and not. That was the difference last year, without Ake and some of his big performances in some pretty big games, we would have won fuck all. That is why the club bought a 40m international to be one of 4 defenders for 2 spots.

That is why this 'cash in on 4th choice and give his minutes to a kid' claim that a few seem to be making just plain wrong.

The things is that we have no idea if we would have won nothing. I am a fan of Ake, and do not wish to cash in, but if he wishes to go, I would have no issues replacing him with an academy player. Given the scenario you highlight, I cannot see how an academy player would ever get into the team. For clarity, what I am suggesting is that throughout the season, the fourth choice defender gets playing time, especially in cup competitions, and playing time of an increasing number of minutes, so that in the event of an injury to one of the main three, they can step in without fear.

 

[Coatigan]

The things is that we have no idea if we would have won nothing. I am a fan of Ake, and do not wish to cash in, but if he wishes to go, I would have no issues replacing him with an academy player. Given the scenario you highlight, I cannot see how an academy player would ever get into the team. For clarity, what I am suggesting is that throughout the season, the fourth choice defender gets playing time, especially in cup competitions, and playing time of an increasing number of minutes, so that in the event of an injury to one of the main three, they can step in without fear.

Which academy player?

People just look at a list and pick names and pretend they know the players can cut it.

No, I DO know we would have won nothing without Ake. Because I watched last season, and not just wrote out a list or formation mockup on bluemoon, stared at it for 2 minutes, and then went on to argue some made up case.

The performances Ake put in, and games we won, and drew, because of him, there aren't many PL proven first choice defenders at other teams that could have put those in, let alone kids with no experience.

Debate his value and whether you'd take it or not all you like, but no rewriting the season, that happened, we saw it, we celebrated it.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

People just pigeonholed him as “Oh, fourth-choice centre back, came from Bournemouth”, unstated but understood — must be a bit shit. These are human beings: they evolve as athletes. They have ups and downs. They play themselves into teams, into systems. Or not, as the case may be (cf. Lukaku). A good argument could be made that he wasn't at all far off at least two of the other central defenders last season (I don't include Diaz who, at the top of his game, is the best centre-half in the country with Van Dijk). It would be a mistake to sell him. He's not the greatest thing since sliced bread. He's proven that he's worth more minutes.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

People just pigeonholed him as “Oh, fourth-choice centre back, came from Bournemouth”, unstated but understood — must be a bit shit. These are human beings: they evolve as athletes. They have ups and downs. They play themselves into teams, into systems. Or not, as the case may be (cf. Lukaku). A good argument could be made that he wasn't at all far off at least two of the other central defenders last season (I don't include Diaz who, at the top of his game, is the best centre-half in the country with Van Dijk). It would be a mistake to sell him. He's not the greatest thing since sliced bread. He's proven that he's worth more minutes.

Second half of the season he was very good, Stones can’t be trusted to stay fit. Diaz has had problems towards the back end of last season as well, not to mention we could encounter an incident in how Laporte did his cruciate 3 season ago. We need 4 centre backs, they all got game time season just gone.

 

[willipp]

Second half of the season he was very good, Stones can’t be trusted to stay fit. Diaz has had problems towards the back end of last season as well, not to mention we could encounter an incident in how Laporte did his cruciate 3 season ago. We need 4 centre backs, they all got game time season just gone.

We do need 4 CB's, but at the same time Ake probably knows he's 4th choice and at his age and with the WC coming up, wants to be assured more game time. Totally understandable if he fancies a move away.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

We do need 4 CB's, but at the same time Ake probably knows he's 4th choice and at his age and with the WC coming up, wants to be assured more game time. Totally understandable if he fancies a move away.

If we are asking about Reece James another option is we could potentially shuffle Walker over to centre back as a very last resort.

 

[oldius]

Which academy player?

People just look at a list and pick names and pretend they know the players can cut it.

No, I DO know we would have won nothing without Ake. Because I watched last season, and not just wrote out a list or formation mockup on bluemoon, stared at it for 2 minutes, and then went on to argue some made up case.

The performances Ake put in, and games we won, and drew, because of him, there aren't many PL proven first choice defenders at other teams that could have put those in, let alone kids with no experience.

Debate his value and whether you'd take it or not all you like, but no rewriting the season, that happened, we saw it, we celebrated it.

I think he has great value but I am talking about him not wanting to stay, if that is the case. My choice as fourth centre-back, in such a situation, would be Mbete. He is strong, powerful, pacy and excellent one on one. He can also pass well. What I am suggesting is that Luke picks up minutes while the others are fit: playing cup games and the last third of matches, so that he is ready if he needs to step up to full matches.

My ideal would be that Ake would stay AND we would blood Mbete.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Of course you can. Happens all the time.
Was in the papers yesterday that juventus are paying Aaron Ramsey off.

Aaron Ramsey hasn’t been accused of a deplorable crime, that type of decision is as wide apart as can possibly be!

 

[willipp]

If we are asking about Reece James another option is we could potentially shuffle Walker over to centre back as a very last resort.

Yeah defo an option, but i can't see us getting RJ under any circumstances if im honest and like you said above, we suffered quite badly with injuries last season all across the back 4 and it very nearly cost us the title. Losing Ake would be a blow, but id understand his motives. Either way, we need to strengthen as we are and if we lose Zin and Ake, we would be paper thin.

 

[stablemcfc]

Doesn’t seem much sense in this one.

Has plenty of time in his contract, a good player who’s done well for us last season in a position we seem to get frequent injuries.

Only see this happening if a crazy bid comes in for him.