32 minutes ago, Malcolm9 said:

Unlikely, De Bruyne was on another level. Ake is good but not amazing personally, with De Bruyne it was clear how great his potential was, we just had Jose sticking to his favourites.

Yeah its very hard to see him reach KDB levels, but you're lying if you're saying that you saw KDB reaching this level... He was okay for us but nobody would have expected him to be this good before he left us

 

Edited July 30, 20205 yr by driller97

2 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

I would love it if we hijacked the deal. I would have taken Ake this summer and save world class centre back for next year, we are desperate for centre backs who can play from the back.

Ake and Laporte are both left footed, ball playing CB's... I think he's literally being signed as a backup for Laporte and nothing more

8 minutes ago, Snedger said:

Can't argue with that. For me we need three new centre-backs that compliment each other, regardless of which style of centre-back Lampard wants (cultured or agricultural). I don't rate any of the four we have at the moment. Maybe one of them could be useful kept as a backup for three good ones.

Yeah we need to change the entire backline outside of RJ and maybe Azpi, and thats the backups included. Still have some hope for Tomori but Rudiger, Zouma and Christensen need to go along with Emerson. Dont mind having Alonso as a backup LB but not as starter unless we're playing with wingbacks

The Sky Sports channel, they are conveniently neglecting to say if we have first dibs in a buy back clause?

20 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Interesting, i think he'd be excellent at LB, if Pep thinks he's good enough, hopefully we would.

Pep has bought plenty of dud defenders, he wanted Maguire.

I guess we’ll hear something by the end of today if we are going to match City’s offer. I just have a feeling we’d rather save the money for a left back and goalkeeper, especially after Havertz.

The Sun do say, and i quote

"Bournemouth will now have to inform his former club Chelsea that they have accepted an offer for Ake"

8 minutes ago, driller97 said:

Yeah its very hard to see him reach KDB levels, but you're lying if you're saying that you saw KDB reaching this level... He was okay for us, but after his stint with us, nobody would have expected him to be this good.

 

How am I lying when he was lighting it up for Genk, Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg. It was pretty obvious how good his potential was.

Edited July 30, 20205 yr by Malcolm9

8 minutes ago, Malcolm9 said:

How am I lying when he was lighting it up for Genk, Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg. It was pretty obvious how good his potential was.

Wolfsburg he was definitely lighting it up, but im talking about Chelsea days or earlier.

He was decent at Genk, but for us he didn't exactly show us much (which I know its tough to do considering how much game time he had) but there's no way anyone could have predicted he became as good as he is know... I just dont buy that

15 minutes ago, driller97 said:

Ake and Laporte are both left footed, ball playing CB's... I think he's literally being signed as a backup for Laporte and nothing more

Ake has played right centre back a fair bit this season, think they will play together aswell.

Just now, big blue said:

Ake has played right centre back a fair bit this season, think they will play together aswell.

Possibly, but they do look like like they're losing both Otamendi and Stones this year, so its possible Ake is a backup and they are looking to sign another CB as well

Bit gutted tbh. Always rated him highly, and i think he will do well there, but maybe he isnt the ideal centre back we are looking to bring in. 

He is better than Rudiger and Christiansen imo though.

I really rate Ake, but as a matter of timing he's not what we need at the back. We need a dominant all round defender, and that includes aerial ability as we've been exposed time and time again this season by set pieces and crosses, it's probably the main reason Zouma gets in the team is because he's our only real aerial presence in defence. If christensen were to move on, which i'd be fine with, then Ake would be a good signing to replace him, but as of right now we need a nailed on starter CB signing. Everyone harps on about Koulibaly, and to be honest he is exactly what we need, it's just a matter of whether or not we can lure him here. We need a presence in defence that will make strikers second guess themselves, which is why I've always liked players like Sergio Ramos, he's an unfathomable prick, but he puts the sh*ts up even some of the best attackers and is a quality defender. Problem is that there aren't many like that in the game these days.  

51 minutes ago, driller97 said:

Ake and Laporte are both left footed, ball playing CB's... I think he's literally being signed as a backup for Laporte and nothing more

Ake will be playing left back for City mainly and filling in for CB when injuries happen. 

Pep likes his fullbacks to tuck in and play pretty much as DM's which suits Ake perfectly. He will do very well in City's system, in our system however he would look average.

Edited July 30, 20205 yr by Remodez

41 minutes ago, Remodez said:

Ake will be playing left back for City mainly and filling in for CB when injuries happen. 

Pep likes his fullbacks to tuck in and play pretty much as DM's which suits Ake perfectly. He will do very well in City's system, in our system however he would look average.

Sounds likely tbf. And I agree that he wouldn't look good for us, but for them he'll look great, which is annoying.

1 hour ago, coco said:

Pep has bought plenty of dud defenders, he wanted Maguire.

The only defenders that come to mind are Laporte and Walker.. Im sure I might be missing 1 or 2, but compared to what they've spent, it hasn't gone well for them

I always liked Ake and thought he could be a regular  when he played for Chelsea. But I agree he is not the ideal long term choice to run the defence. 
I am coming round to thinking we should start with the goalie and the rest of the defence might just get better. 

15 minutes ago, ozboy said:

I always liked Ake and thought he could be a regular  when he played for Chelsea. But I agree he is not the ideal long term choice to run the defence. 
I am coming round to thinking we should start with the goalie and the rest of the defence might just get better. 

I think that’s the best bet, we can’t expect to fix all our problems in one window and Havertz seems like a once in a blue moon opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up on. Kai, Gk and LB will do for this window if the CB’s don’t improve having confidence in their keeper then go for them after but with a reliable keeper and a potentially frightening attack should be a massive step up for us.

34 minutes ago, ozboy said:

I always liked Ake and thought he could be a regular  when he played for Chelsea. But I agree he is not the ideal long term choice to run the defence. 
I am coming round to thinking we should start with the goalie and the rest of the defence might just get better. 

Yeah I would like to see what our team is like with a goalie and a new left back. 

If in 12 months time we are clamouring for a new center back, then go out and spend big. I don't see Ake as improving on what we have. 

1 hour ago, RMCM said:

sses, it's probably the main reason Zouma gets in the team is because he's our only real aerial presence in defence. If christensen were to move on, which i'd be fine with, then Ake would be a good signing to replace him, but as of right now we need a nailed on starter CB signing. Everyone harps on about Koulibaly, and to be honest he is exactly what we need, it's just a matter of whether or not we can lure him here. We need a presence in defence that will make strikers second guess themselves, which is why I've always liked players like Sergio Ramos, he's an unfathomable prick, but he puts the sh*ts up even some of the best attackers and is a quality defender. Problem is that there aren't many like that in the game these days.  

This is the real issue here, there's an abundance of attacking talent to take your pick from and there probably always will be... but solid CB options are becoming more and more scarce. In about 5-10 years time I dont think I can see many proper classic CB's in the mould of Terry or Vidic anymore. Every CB will end up being pretty lightweight and be a ballplayer and not much of a proper out and out last ditch tackle making type defender.

Happy for us to not bid for Ake...too short for a CB and not good enough at either attacking or defending...better CBs and LBs out there...besides we had a chance to buy him in New Year at a fixed price and didn't follow it through...

centre backs which could improve most sides available who would be available are few and far between. Koulibaly, Giminez and Romagnoli off the top of my head? There’s centre backs with “potential” but no one who screams going to be a monster. If Chelsea got havertz then I’m not sure how much money would be left available and a keeper and a left back seem more pressing. I know he’s taller than Dave but if we were happy to play a smaller centre back I’d prefer to stick to the current contingent before going big for giminez or romagnoli next summer.

 

 With one of them I’d think rudiger Tomori and Zouma would step up well alongside especially if we get a left back and keeper this summer

it appears Chelsea can match Man City's offer

 

JT, get polishing ya boots laddie, there's some business to sort down cobham way..