Nathan Aké

[Leif 6,006]

Ake is taller and weighs more than Makalele. Way too early to write him off at midfield.

Makelele was deployed in a 4-3-3 system with 2 players essentially protecting him at a time where his role was entirely unique to the league. Having a smaller player, Makelele, one with the best brain when it comes to his position, in that role is no biggie. Mak is the greatest to grace the league in his position unless you visit an Arsenal forum, his mind was just so far ahead of everyone elses. It's hard to compare a genius of their role with an up and comer like Ake who hasn't even played the same role at all. It would be like holding Izzy Brown to Zidane's light because he played in the hole that 1 time, and then assuming he'll make it because he's taller lol.

There was no writing off at midfield by anyone. Only in a 2 man midfield. 3 man midfields with Ake in them ahead of Matic i'm all for.

[Stats 7,142]

Makelele was deployed in a 4-3-3 system with 2 players essentially protecting him at a time where his role was entirely unique to the league. Having a smaller player, Makelele, one with the best brain when it comes to his position, in that role is no biggie. Mak is the greatest to grace the league in his position unless you visit an Arsenal forum, his mind was just so far ahead of everyone elses. It's hard to compare a genius of their role with an up and comer like Ake who hasn't even played the same role at all. It would be like holding Izzy Brown to Zidane's light because he played in the hole that 1 time, and then assuming he'll make it because he's taller lol.

There was no writing off at midfield by anyone. Only in a 2 man midfield. 3 man midfields with Ake in them ahead of Matic i'm all for.

Ake is slim but he is quite lean and handles the phsyical part of the game quite well. It is hard to say how he will adapt to the professional mens game in that aspect however he did not look out of place in our friendlies in the summer and I don't think that is actually a weakness. He obviously is not as strong as RLC but he has the tools to play there.

[Reddish-Blue 2,495]

Mourinho may be a top-class manager but he's pathetic in terms of integrating youth into the first team

I can understand if a youngster simply isn't good enough to be in the team...but I don't think that's the case with Aké..

I can only hope we don't waste Loftus-Cheek by making him sit on the bench next season

[iseah100 5,612]

Dat assist vs Maribor

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Musonda Jr, Anderlecht we're about to play him in their first team at around age 16 (he's 18 atm).

Really that was the case ? There were some talks from Anderlecht coaches you heard of ? Because if that's true Charly was really dump to come here. He'd be like Youri Tielemans now, there'd be talks about his price in that 8 figure region. And now he still plays youth, sometimes even on the bench because physicall players like Brown or Abraham are prefered (which is bullshit) without even perspective of first team. And he's such a special talent ... But at least money was good I guess.

[mikeholiday 209]

Really? Matic and Mikel were suspended and injured respectively earlier this month and yet what did Mourinho do? Play Zouma - a CB - out of position in DM. Was probably soul-destroying experience to see that happened.

You think Mou made a poor decision? If i remember correctly, chelsea won that game.

Now, should Mou play Ake over Zouma just because of hierarchy? Or is his job to field the best team (not to be confused with fielding the best players)?

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

On loan never to be seen playing for Chelsea again

[Jase 43,479]

You think Mou made a poor decision? If i remember correctly, chelsea won that game.

Now, should Mou play Ake over Zouma just because of hierarchy? Or is his job to field the best team (not to be confused with fielding the best players)?

Not arguing whether Mourinho made the right decision or not. The point was, we had a DM available in reserve to take Matic's and Mikel's place, but instead, Mourinho went for someone who isn't a midfielder to play that role. If you were Ake back then, you would have been very disappointed.

[mikeholiday 209]

Not arguing whether Mourinho made the right decision or not.

But you did say "Matic and Mikel were suspended and injured respectively earlier this month and yet what did Mourinho do? "

Mou's job is first and foremost to win games. And Chelsea as a club has been notorious for firing managers for failing to win.

[Shakez 755]

Really that was the case ? There were some talks from Anderlecht coaches you heard of ? Because if that's true Charly was really dump to come here. He'd be like Youri Tielemans now, there'd be talks about his price in that 8 figure region. And now he still plays youth, sometimes even on the bench because physicall players like Brown or Abraham are prefered (which is bullshit) without even perspective of first team. And he's such a special talent ... But at least money was good I guess.

A couple of months ago, Charly played with Belgium's u21 against Spain and Norway (won both matches) beïng the standout player. He got a standing ovation from the crowd there, wich is pretty big because Munir was also playing for Spain. In the match against Norway, he was taking selfies with the fans etc and made the news with beïng the most exciting youngster. Other players like Jordan Lukaku (brother of Romelu) commented that Charly was always the standout player when he was still at Anderlecht's academy.

After those matches. The manager of Anderlecht, Herman van Holsbeeck was a guest at some belgian news talkshow and said their plan was to have a Musonda/Tielemans/Praet midfield. When Charly was still at Anderlecht, he even had a special pass to go around the complex etc (+ his father was a youth trainer at Anderlecht). 1 youth coach that coached both Musonda and Januzaj mentioned that Charly always impressed him the most. Beïng Anderlecht's biggest talent since Vincent Kompany, he was beïng groomed for a debut at age 16. Ofcourse, some big clubs came sniffing around. Namely Barcelona, City and Chelsea. Musonda's dream team was Barcelona, and that was where he first went. Receiving a tour at Camp Nou etc (made possible by Johan Boskamp). Problem was both Barca and City only wanted Charly and not his brothers. Chelsea was the only club willing to add all 3 brothers.

Another argument Charly's father made was that Anderlecht where pushing him too hard. They where afraid that first-team football at age 16 would hamper his development, Romelu Lukaku beïng a prime example. At Chelsea he would play with players around his age. This does make sense, but i still think the money was just too much to ignore.

Im just hoping he'll be smart about the club he goes on loan to next season. Anderlecht had a first loan-option (if he goes back to Belgium), but Charly denied that last summer on twitter. Luckily he has a good mentor at Chelsea with fellow Belgian Eden Hazard . They appear to be good friends, and looking at his instagram account they spend alot of time together.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

A couple of months ago, Charly played with Belgium's u21 against Spain and Norway (won both matches) beïng the standout player. He got a standing ovation from the crowd there, wich is pretty big because Munir was also playing for Spain. In the match against Norway, he was taking selfies with the fans etc and made the news with beïng the most exciting youngster. Other players like Jordan Lukaku (brother of Romelu) commented that Charly was always the standout player when he was still at Anderlecht's academy.

After those matches. The manager of Anderlecht, Herman van Holsbeeck was a guest at some belgian news talkshow and said their plan was to have a Musonda/Tielemans/Praet midfield. When Charly was still at Anderlecht, he even had a special pass to go around the complex etc (+ his father was a youth trainer at Anderlecht). 1 youth coach that coached both Musonda and Januzaj mentioned that Charly always impressed him the most. Beïng Anderlecht's biggest talent since Vincent Kompany, he was beïng groomed for a debut at age 16. Ofcourse, some big clubs came sniffing around. Namely Barcelona, City and Chelsea. Musonda's dream team was Barcelona, and that was where he first went. Receiving a tour at Camp Nou etc (made possible by Johan Boskamp). Problem was both Barca and City only wanted Charly and not his brothers. Chelsea was the only club willing to add all 3 brothers.

Another argument Charly's father made was that Anderlecht where pushing him too hard. They where afraid that first-team football at age 16 would hamper his development, Romelu Lukaku beïng a prime example. At Chelsea he would play with players around his age. This does make sense, but i still think the money was just too much to ignore.

Im just hoping he'll be smart about the club he goes on loan to next season. Anderlecht had a first loan-option (if he goes back to Belgium), but Charly denied that last summer on twitter. Luckily he has a good mentor at Chelsea with fellow Belgian Eden Hazard . They appear to be good friends, and looking at his instagram account they spend alot of time together.

I read that he was fantastic in the last games for Belgium in U21. No surprise there.

Do you think that his dad had influenced the decision to move abroad rather than stay with Anderlecht ?

He would play first team football and would probably hope for big money already. I'll save my judgment but I hope he didn't make big mistake coming here.

You think that loan to Anderlecht is an option ? He couldn't join them last summer because he had still one year to become homegrown here. So now the path is clear. I believe he will play first team football soon to quicken his progress, where is a question. In Chelsea, they gave him long term contract so they believe that he has significant potential to reach.

I hope that when he stops growing he really hit a gym. He still grows, he's taller than he was a couple of years ago so it's understable that he doesn't build muscles. However, let's hope that he becomes stronger and broader eventually because it's holding him back. He laughs off saying that Eden Hazard is not beast either but Eden has very well build thighs and he can stand on his feet when pressed. Charly has to really think about it. Even at this level he is shoved off the ball too cheaply. He has absoulutely stunning technique, I'd say that probably on level with the best first-teamers but he's too lightweight still.

[Shakez 755]

I read that he was fantastic in the last games for Belgium in U21. No surprise there.

Do you think that his dad had influenced the decision to move abroad rather than stay with Anderlecht ?

He would play first team football and would probably hope for big money already. I'll save my judgment but I hope he didn't make big mistake coming here.

You think that loan to Anderlecht is an option ? He couldn't join them last summer because he had still one year to become homegrown here. So now the path is clear. I believe he will play first team football soon to quicken his progress, where is a question. In Chelsea, they gave him long term contract so they believe that he has significant potential to reach.

I hope that when he stops growing he really hit a gym. He still grows, he's taller than he was a couple of years ago so it's understable that he doesn't build muscles. However, let's hope that he becomes stronger and broader eventually because it's holding him back. He laughs off saying that Eden Hazard is not beast either but Eden has very well build thighs and he can stand on his feet when pressed. Charly has to really think about it. Even at this level he is shoved off the ball too cheaply. He has absoulutely stunning technique, I'd say that probably on level with the best first-teamers but he's too lightweight still.

Im not so sure what happened at Anderlecht, but what i have heard was that the move caught the board offguard. His father promised Anderlecht he would stay, but apparently it was the mother that was very eager to move abroad. I doubt that he is going back to Anderlecht, because he firmly said he did not want to come back (only when he is at the end of his career). He still loves the place though. But for his growth i wouldn't recommend a PL club t his age.

About his physical stature, he actually is a bit taller than Eden currently but still has a very slim frame. He does hit the gym quite regularly though. I would compare him to Neymar in build, and a mixture of Xavi/Iniesta in ability.

[Jase 43,479]

But you did say "Matic and Mikel were suspended and injured respectively earlier this month and yet what did Mourinho do? "

Yes but what did I say after that as well? "Play Zouma - a CB - out of position in DM." Same point as I mentioned in the previous post.

Mou's job is first and foremost to win games. And Chelsea as a club has been notorious for firing managers for failing to win.

You need to stop treating Ake as if he's a 16-year-old who has no first-team experience whatsoever. He's got that and has proved more than adequate in the Premier League and in Europe. This issue here stems from the fact that Mourinho just doesn't trust the youth players to begin with.

[zolayes 14,489]

Yes but what did I say after that as well? "Play Zouma - a CB - out of position in DM." Same point as I mentioned in the previous post.

You need to stop treating Ake as if he's a 16-year-old who has no first-team experience whatsoever. He's got that and has proved more than adequate in the Premier League and in Europe. This issue here stems from the fact that Mourinho just doesn't trust the youth players to begin with.

He is good enough to Captain the Dutch under 21s ,,as you point out he isnt a schoolboy

[mikeholiday 209]

Yes but what did I say after that as well? "Play Zouma - a CB - out of position in DM." Same point as I mentioned in the previous post.

You need to stop treating Ake as if he's a 16-year-old who has no first-team experience whatsoever. He's got that and has proved more than adequate in the Premier League and in Europe. This issue here stems from the fact that Mourinho just doesn't trust the youth players to begin with.

Who cares if Zouma is a natural CB? The team needed to stop the supply to Eriksen.

You clearly feel that Ake should be higher than Zouma in the pecking order/hierarchy. So now youre punishing Zouma to give Ake some playing time.