Nathan Ake

tolmie's hairdoo said:
He's a lovely guy with just above average defensive abilities, he doesn't possess the pace or the passing ability to be considered a really top centre back.

Nathan is always playing on the fine margins between a great, last-ditch tackle, or being left for dead.

Doesn't not make him a suitable fourth-choice defender for us, but that's all he is and would have been hiding behind the sofa each week if he had become anything other.

I ask myself the question, would I look forward to him marking Haaland next season, and the answer would be yes please!

I'm sure City will have a plan as we would have three CBs at the World Cup this year.
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Don't know how you can reach these conclusions after 2nd half of last season

- Defensively better than Laporte.
- Aerially better than Laporte and Dias.
- Pace faster than Laporte and Dias.

Only thing he falls behind on is his passing range.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
He's a lovely guy with just above average defensive abilities, he doesn't possess the pace or the passing ability to be considered a really top centre back.

Nathan is always playing on the fine margins between a great, last-ditch tackle, or being left for dead.

Doesn't not make him a suitable fourth-choice defender for us, but that's all he is and would have been hiding behind the sofa each week if he had become anything other.

I ask myself the question, would I look forward to him marking Haaland next season, and the answer would be yes please!

I'm sure City will have a plan as we would have three CBs at the World Cup this year.
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As long as he is replaced and the price is £50m then it’s all good imo.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Sounds like the Ake thing has come out of the blue and we are now trying to react, but wouldn't worry about such.

Phillips has played a few games at centre back, as has Rodri, Walker can shift to the right side of a pairing also.

There can be no panic as we have to remember the window is open for another month once the season gets started.

It's only three months or so before players are off to the World Cup and by the time that is over, the Jan window will be open?

We might be better served keeping our powder dry and seeing what the situation is come then, if needs be.
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Whatever happens, I trust the club to make the right decision, but I think if Ake leaves he will be replaced.
 
Cobwebcat said:
Difficult to argue with that until we know who it is. City might surprise us. I have to believe if they are prepared to let him go there must be something in it for us.
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Yeah this is a fair point. I refuse to believe that we're going to go into next season with Haaland but without replacing departing players. Not really buying into this idea that Phillips, Walker or Rodri are decent options to fill in at the back.

Not exactly panicking but that would just carry on this theme we've had over the majority of the last few seasons where we address one position and don't reinforce another. We've seen it at left back, centre back, defensive mid and striker at various points over Pep's reign.

This summer is the perfect opportunity to get ourselves sorted from top to bottom and I've got faith that we will.
 
trumpton said:
Sometimes I just don't get the love in on here. He was average as a centre half, poor as a left back, relegated with Bournemouth and we overpaid for him.

If someone is willing to pay us a tidy sum, I'd snap their hands off.

Another of those players I'm not bothered if they move on.

All a game of opinions but there are only about 11 of the squad I'd be gutted to lose. Ake isn't one of them.
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Yep - what a great transfer window CITY are having - Txiki is playing a blinder
 
01cravend said:
Don't know how you can reach these conclusions after 2nd half of last season

- Defensively better than Laporte.
- Aerially better than Laporte and Dias.
- Pace faster than Laporte and Dias.

Only thing he falls behind on is his passing range.
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Ask any top striker who would they rather face, Ake, Dias, Laporte or Stones, I would guarantee 99% would put Ake in first place, he is average.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
He's a lovely guy with just above average defensive abilities, he doesn't possess the pace or the passing ability to be considered a really top centre back.

Nathan is always playing on the fine margins between a great, last-ditch tackle, or being left for dead.

Doesn't not make him a suitable fourth-choice defender for us, but that's all he is and would have been hiding behind the sofa each week if he had become anything other.

I ask myself the question, would I look forward to him marking Haaland next season, and the answer would be yes please!

I'm sure City will have a plan as we would have three CBs at the World Cup this year.
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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.
 
01cravend said:
Don't know how you can reach these conclusions after 2nd half of last season

- Defensively better than Laporte.
- Aerially better than Laporte and Dias.
- Pace faster than Laporte and Dias.

Only thing he falls behind on is his passing range.
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No way he was better than Laporte. He did well but I'm not having that.
 
Churchlawtonblue said:
Is this not just another case of rubbishing a player just because it looks as if he is leaving City?
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I do find it odd that the players who are on the verge of leaving us seem to not only drop off a bit in terms of quality but their athleticism seems to fall off a cliff as well.

Chelsea need to announce Sterling soon or his legs will start to calcify.
 
Gingers Dad said:
No way he was better than Laporte. He did well but I'm not having that.
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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!
 
If we get north of £50m for him I think it’s a great move.

Nothing against Aké but I don’t think he was ever going to be more than 4th choice in this squad and he’s 27. 10m profit on a guy who started 19 league games in 2 seasons is good business.

I think replacing him with a young kid with higher potential who in a couple of seasons could take over from Laporte if he has another big injury or pushes for a move again is probably a good way to improve the squad long term.
 
I'm more disappointed with Aké leaving than Sterling tbh. With Sterling it feels like the time is right. That's not the case with Aké though and he had many MOTM performances when we had our defensive crisis towards the end of the season.
 
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.
 
domalino said:
If we get north of £50m for him I think it’s a great move.

Nothing against Aké but I don’t think he was ever going to be more than 4th choice in this squad and he’s 27. 10m profit on a guy who started 19 league games in 2 seasons is good business.

I think replacing him with a young kid with higher potential who in a couple of seasons could take over from Laporte if he has another big injury or pushes for a move again is probably a good way to improve the squad long term.
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Which kid do you have in mind?
 
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