Nathan Ake

The problem is he isn’t competing with anyone when he isn’t fit.

He’s been a fantastic player and major contributor to our success. But injuries to too many key players cost us last season and we can’t repeat the same mistake.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Pep mentioned 22 but I really cant see it. He is going to have to be resigned with up to 5 players being told they are not part of the matchday squad.
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Don't think so, if it gets down to 24, 20 matchday squad + Betinneli, leaves 3 for injuries and suspensions, may be 1 or 2 left early season, though Kovacic out for a while but once we get into it should be okay.
 
johnny crossan said:
A twelve year old would readily understand that competition for places is the starting point for a successful team Yoda.
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The competition for the LCB position is between Ake, Khusa and Akanji for replacing Gvardiol when needed. Gvardiol starts, unless he isn't fit or needs resting.

The idea that without Ake we don't have competition for that position isn't based on how things stand.
 
alexmcity said:
The competition for the LCB position is between Ake, Khusa and Akanji for replacing Gvardiol when needed. Gvardiol starts, unless he isn't fit or needs resting.

The idea that without Ake we don't have competition for that position isn't based on how things stand.
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Has it escaped your notice that (unlike Dias, Akanji & Abdu) Nathan is left footed?
 
johnny crossan said:
Has it escaped your notice that (unlike Akanji & Abdu) Nathan is left footed and covers left back too?
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Akanji played at LB vs Arsenal and Real (both legs) in the Treble season. And did brilliantly.

Anyhow, Akanji has played many times at LCB.

If both Ake and Akanji stay, wouldn't be surprised if Khusa is loaned out. Otherwise, he may be out of the group for many games, which isn't great for the lad.
 
I'd be happy for him to stay.

Only think we need a replacement if both Ake and Akanji go.

But if just Akanji we obviously dont need someone.
 
Calv_from_the_frog said:
Aké won't go as he's crucial to the 8 association trained.

(Bear with me here, it gets messy).


The PL allows clubs to register 25 players, with no more than 17 being non-association trained (not having been with English / Welsh clubs for 3 years before their 21st birthday).

Our (19) foreign association trained players are:

Ederson, Ortega, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Nico, Bernardo, Reijnders, Gundogan, Cherki, Savinho, Doku, Kovacic, Haaland, Marmoush


Consequently, we have only the absolute minimum of 8 association trained players, namely:

Trafford, Bettinelli, Lewis, Stones, Aké, O'Reilly, Bobb & Foden


So we can theoretically sell Aké (and go into the season with less than 25, as Pep has done before), but in any event we still need to sell at least 2 of the non-association players (or have them not be able to play in the PL, which I'm guessing neither we nor they would be happy with).


To buy both Rodrygo & Donnarumma (the latter of which I'm praying doesn't come), we'd need to sell 4 of our current crop (the reason why I'm guessing Akanji's name has started to pop up, but it'd still need us needing to sell - I'm guessing here - Ortega).


In any case, and back to the point, not only does he boost our HG/AT numbers, but if he's fit - in the event that Ait-Nouri was unavailable, I'd rather go into an important match with Aké than O'Reilly (who, for reference, is still listed as being a midfielder on the OS..... as, bizarrely enough, is Nunes).


And breathe (I haven't had a lot on so far this morning, can you tell ?)
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Important to consider that is Rico is not counted as part of the 8 nation trained players for the PL.


Given Rico is as an under 21 who meets other criteria, he does not get counted towards the 25 players in the squad to be registered.
 
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alexmcity said:
He's 4th choice at City at best, behind Gvardiol, Dias and Stones.

I think part of our fanbase has lost contact with reality when it comes to Ake.

He was great in 22/23 (nowhere near as good as Rodri and Gundogan, though, despite fans voting him our 3rd best player). Pep put him on the bench when the chips were down in 23/24, and there isn't much to say about 24/25...

Back to reality please.
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I think he was brilliant in the treble-year. Phenomenal actually. He’s one of those that never drops the level 7/8 out of 10 every week. Doesn’t make errors. Can play against high lines at left-back, LCB, CCB.

He’s not somebody we should look at actively trying to sell anyways and I stand by a fit Nathan Ake is one of the best CB’s in the league.
 
It'sBlue93:20 said:
I think he was brilliant in the treble-year. Phenomenal actually. He’s one of those that never drops the level 7/8 out of 10 every week. Doesn’t make errors. Can play against high lines at left-back, LCB, CCB.

He’s not somebody we should look at actively trying to sell anyways and I stand by a fit Nathan Ake is one of the best CB’s in the league.
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Hopefully the treatment he has had over the summer has cure some of his problems.

Whether he will remain is yet to become clearer.
 
It'sBlue93:20 said:
I think he was brilliant in the treble-year. Phenomenal actually. He’s one of those that never drops the level 7/8 out of 10 every week. Doesn’t make errors. Can play against high lines at left-back, LCB, CCB.

He’s not somebody we should look at actively trying to sell anyways and I stand by a fit Nathan Ake is one of the best CB’s in the league.
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Fair enough mate. Agree about the Treble season. That's 2 years ago, though. I hope he can stay fit. Will make it easier for the team to compete. When fully fit and in top form, he can help us a lot.
 
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