Nathan Ake

[willipp]

Hood City have a left footed CB replacement sorted if Ake to Chelsea is something they’re willing to allow.

Stones & Dias are RCBs and Laporte & Ake are our LCBs, hence the need for a fill-in.

Yet for me our best CB partnership is Dias and Stones. Not sure which of them plays on the left when they play together, but it does seem to work really well.

 

[richards30]

Yet for me our best CB partnership is Dias and Stones. Not sure which of them plays on the left when they play together, but it does seem to work really well.

Dias plays on the left side when he’s paired with stones.

 

[willipp]

Dias plays on the left side when he’s paired with stones.

So if we do replace Ake it doesn't have to be a left footer. Could just be another very good right sided CB. That is reliant on us getting a LB though as Ake was decent cover there as well.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

So if we do replace Ake it doesn't have to be a left footer. Could just be another very good right sided CB. That is reliant on us getting a LB though as Ake was decent cover there as well.

The problem with Dias on the left and Cancelo on the left is no left feet and no cross field balls.

 

[willipp]

The problem with Dias on the left and Cancelo on the left is no left feet and no cross field balls.

Yeah i think Ake going is very much reliant on us signing a left back. Not a chance we go into the new season with Laporte and Zinc as our only left footed defenders.

 

[TonyM]

If Ake goes maybe we get a 1st choice CB?

BAM!

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

The problem with Dias on the left and Cancelo on the left is no left feet and no cross field balls.

Spot on

Cancelo played well at LB when either Laporte or Ake were left CB

Not so good when Dias

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

What if the plan is to bring a new centre back in as first choice alongside Dias and not as fourth choice as replacement for Ake? Just a thought.

 

[Keeper!]

What if the plan is to bring a new centre back in as first choice alongside Dias and not as fourth choice as replacement for Ake? Just a thought.

why?

Stones and Laporte are outstanding.

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Agree, but does that mean we stop looking to improve? If there's better out there, get them in.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

why?

Stones and Laporte are outstanding.

Agreed.

 

[crossbar]

What if the plan is to bring a new centre back in as first choice alongside Dias and not as fourth choice as replacement for Ake? Just a thought.

Don’t know who would replace John or Aymeric. Maybe Matthijs De Ligt but he is expensive. Stones had a fantastic partnership with Dias 1-2 years ago and I’d be happy to see that again. Laporte, while not as rocksolid as when he joined, still is a great defender with Dias.

We start to see issues in the backline as soon as Dias is not playing, so maybe we’re looking for a another centreback leader?

Aké is too good to sit on the bench. I understand he wants to leave.

 

[Coatigan]

why?

Stones and Laporte are outstanding.

Going to get some hounding for this. But honestly, on last season's performances, if both were fit and available I'd start Ake ahead of Laporte.

 

[BlueRockape]

Going to get some hounding for this. But honestly, on last season's performances, if both were fit and available I'd start Ake ahead of Laporte.

IMHO I still think Ake has a lot more to offer given time

 

[Blue Maverick]

IMHO I still think Ake has a lot more to offer given time

He’s a great defender but unfortunately in our team you need to be a ball player as well, I didn’t know much about him when we got him but surely Pep must have known he was only ever going to be back up or cup player. That’s why he goes fir every trophy it gives vital game time to squad players and makes his management of them easier.

 

[Keeper!]

Going to get some hounding for this. But honestly, on last season's performances, if both were fit and available I'd start Ake ahead of Laporte.

Can I be first in the que for the hounding.

Ake is nowhere near the level of Dias, Laporte or Stones.

 

[Coatigan]

Can I be first in the que for the hounding.

Ake is nowhere near the level of Dias, Laporte or Stones.

I'm not saying he is.

I'm saying he was better than Laporte last season, in the games they both played. Imo

 

[Brewster's millions]

If Ake goes maybe we get a 1st choice CB?

BAM!

Exactly.

The team is going to progress more by buying the very best players and spurring competition for the starting XI, rather than purchasing players who are always going to be on the periphery.

I would rather have a squad made up of 14/15 top class players who can all start regularly (plus good youth players) rather than one of 10/11 top class players and another 7/8 senior players who aren’t quite at the required level.

 

[Keeper!]

I'm not saying he is.

I'm saying he was better than Laporte last season, in the games they both played. Imo

LOL that's even worse, Laporte had a difficult period after his knee injury, last season he came back to his best, he was outstanding, Ake for me is a decent back up, nothing more, a 50m and I would rip Chelsea's hand off.

 

[Mon Autre]

Going to get some hounding for this. But honestly, on last season's performances, if both were fit and available I'd start Ake ahead of Laporte.

I really want us to keep hold of Ake as I think there's plenty of game time to be had between the four of them, but weirdly I think Laporte was our best defender last season.