Wednesday 21 December 2016

How will AFCB cope without Nathan Aké at Stamford Bridge?

A few weeks ago AFCB fans would not have been too worried to be going into an away game against the table topping side without Nathan Aké. That was before he scored three goals in his last four games, which is some strike rate. More importantly he has been instrumental in keeping the scores down at the other end and Eddie Howe will have to make a change with Aké not able to play his parent club.
Nathan Aké is the in-form player at AFCB but can play no part on Boxing Day.
The solution will be simple with everyone being fit. Adam Smith will most likely be moved to right back and Simon Francis will no doubt shuffle over to centre-back. Yet, Aké has added a quality that has been very helpful to the Cherries and that is his positional sense. He seems instinctively to know where the ball is going to go and his interceptions and clearances have been magnificent in recent games, including a goal line clearance against Southampton. The goal he also scored against the Saints was another close range goal, but his timing and desire to get himself in the best position he can when AFCB have set plays is a big credit to him.

Arguably Aké is the most in-form player of the AFCB team let along the back line, so it is a shame that he has to come out of the side for this next game on Boxing Day. But it does give the side the opportunity to try and repay Nathan with a win. He has helped win many of the points for the Cherries since he has come into the side and I imagine all the players appreciate what he has done for the side.
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While Aké is probably not AFCB's most famous loan signing, he has been a great asset and you would imagine that even if Eddie Howe is not able to encourage him to leave Chelsea come the summer, he will be indebted to what he has contributed to this Cherries side. In the meantime, let's hope he has played enough games at AFCB to feel that he wants to continue his loan spell at AFCB until May rather than go back in January.

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