16 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

More defensively solid than conceding just 6 goals in 14 games? (Having only lost one of those)

Based on what exactly, the 13 games in a row we won after putting Alonso into the starting XI? 

It's based on a fans view as often as these things are. It's the old "I don't think he's good enough so the manager won't" even though Alonso has been a mainstay in our longest win period.

1 hour ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Based on what exactly, the 13 games in a row we won after putting Alonso into the starting XI? 

No, I think Alonso has been fine and has contributed well to our good run, I'm sure Conte thinks that way too.

I think more the concern is that currently we have no backup for his position, this is troubling if he picks up an injury, but also as a player knowing there is nobody there to really challenge your spot no matter how good/bad you play. Ake will keep Alonso on his toes and make sure he stays training & playing at the highest level.

It would be unfair to get Ake straight into the team as Alonso did very well. Ake is a versatile defender so he can step in for the center backs and probably cover the wing back position. Conte returned him for a reason and i hope he has him in his plans.

I'm excited to see Ake in action with us again.

For the moment he'll slot into the one of the defensive options on the bench, I cant see him starting against Leicester anyway.

If alonso is injured or carrying an injury which was reported, it could elave him with a chance to start although I wouldnt be shocked to see Pedro LWB if that was the case.

No idea why everyone keeps saying Ake is to replace Alonso. Ake is a LCB. He would be a waste at LWB.

Allegedly, Nathan has taken the No. 6 shirt back.

Edited January 13, 20179 yr by Huttsey

he's so composed on the ball. 

 

Edited January 29, 20179 yr by enigma

Glad he is proving so many doubters wrong.

Not gonna lie, for a while i thought he wasn't going to make it here. Was pleasantly surprised to see how comfortable he looked in possession, Can see him taking Cahill's spot at the left of the back three in the next few years. 

Defintely looks better at LCB than LWB

Yeah didn't look the best at LWB but better in the centre back area.

Means we don't need to spend big on the likes of Van Dijk when we have guys like Ake and Christensen here already.

I think his biggest problem is going to be his height. With Azpilicueta, who is undroppable at this point in time, we already have a short centre back. Ake is good in the air for his height, but you can't compare him to Cahill or Zouma. Also we already have a pretty short team in general, so giving up even more height could kill us at setpieces. As long as Azpi is a regular in this defence at CB, sadly I deem it unlikely that Ake will be a starter as well. Which is a shame, because he looks like a cracking young player.

what is ake's crossing like? don't think i've ever seen him put in a cross. he seems better defensively. 

Ake and christiensen the future looks bright

You have to wonder where Christensen who's right footed will play. I don't see Azpi getting dropped. Conte has a real problem to solve with selection soon (even though it's a good problem).

Christensen's a ball player so seems to fit the David Luiz mold. Struggle to seem him displacing David or Azpi next year though. The logical move would be to have him in for Cahill's position then in for Luiz's position rotationally in cup matches at first and then permanently over the next couple of seasons. 

11 hours ago, Barrettinator said:

You have to wonder where Christensen who's right footed will play. I don't see Azpi getting dropped. Conte has a real problem to solve with selection soon (even though it's a good problem).

isn't cahill right footed?

 

Looking ahead couldn't Azpi play at RWB ahead of Moses?

He's got the engine.

David Luiz, Christensen, Zouma as back 3. Ake is too small to play CB. He's very nippy for a CB and surely could play at RWB. I don't think he is going to get in the PL team and will play in the FA cup.

10 minutes ago, Andy North said:

Looking ahead couldn't Azpi play at RWB ahead of Moses?

He's got the engine.

David Luiz, Christensen, Zouma as back 3. Ake is too small to play CB. He's very nippy for a CB and surely could play at RWB. I don't think he is going to get in the PL team and will play in the FA cup.

There's an obsession for some reason with playing dave at wingback and I can't get my head around it. He's the best defender we have, i've never seen someone so effective and dispossessing attackers in one on one situations, but he doesn't have the attacking prowess to play as a wingback. We've seen this for a while now. Moses is great at wingback because he has the engine and the attacking play to go with it.

I'm not a fan of the Ake height-bashing either, he's 5'11", he's not a midget, Cannavaro was 5'9" and was one of the best centre backs of all time. Ake has a great jump and technique, his height won't be a problem. I'm also not convinced his attacking play is good enough to warrant a wingback position either, it's one of the most important positions in our formation, but you need to be equally good attacking and defending. If we want to upgrade in the wingback areas then we need to be looking at the likes of Florenzi, Lichsteiner and Alex Sandro etc, players who are natural in those positions, not trying to fit players into a wingback role who aren't suited to it. 

Edited January 31, 20179 yr by RMCM

3 minutes ago, RMCM said:

There's an obsession for some reason with playing dave at wingback and I can't get my head around it. He's the best defender we have, i've never seen someone so effective and dispossessing attackers in one on one situations, but he doesn't have the attacking prowess to play as a wingback. We've seen this for a while now. Moses is great at wingback because he has the engine and the attacking play to go with it.

I'm not a fan of the Ake height-bashing either, he's 5'11", he's not a midget, Cannavaro was 5'9" and was one of the best centre backs of all time. Ake has a great jump and technique, his height won't be a problem. I'm also not convinced his attacking play is good enough to warrant a wingback position either, it's one of the most important positions in our formation, but you need to be equally good attacking and defending. If we want to upgrade in the wingback areas then we need to be looking at the likes of Florenzi, Lichsteiner and Alex Sandro etc, players who are natural in those positions, not trying to fit players into a wingback role who aren't suited to it. 

Puyol was only 5'10" as well. From what i remember he was a bit alright too.

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Puyol was only 5'10" as well. From what i remember he was a bit alright too.

Oh yeah he wasn't bad . . . 

Ake LCB, Luiz CB Azpi RCB. 

 

People keep forgetting Azpi is right footed.
 

 

bournemouth offering 18 million for him 

 

Time for Nathan to decide his future, it seems. Will come down to whether or not he's ambitious enough to see himself forcing his way into the team over the next couple of seasons.