11 | Jeremy Doku - 2023/24

[Roachy]

Some of his trickery can result in him being dispossessed at times. However, you can see that he completely unsettles the opposition's defence whe he's on the ball. A great asset to the team.

 

[Skrastins]

Did nothing to change the game. That was down to the Ake and Alvarez subs. At this point people are just seeing things that aren't there with this guy. It's genuinely weird.

que ? he made RB's defence to come out more with attracing more players to him and n that he opened everyone else. everytime he was with 2-3 RB players.

 

[youngbob]

Did nothing to change the game. That was down to the Ake and Alvarez subs. At this point people are just seeing things that aren't there with this guy. It's genuinely weird.

Nah come on. I'm not fully on board with the Doku hype train and think he's got a lot to learn, more than some on here seem to think cos they're ready to dump Grealish for him already. But he put the shitters up Leipzig and got heavily involved in the third goal. He did what he was asked to do.

 

[burning blue soul]

The only 'control' Jack offers is the controlled 5-4-1 deep block he allows the opposition to get into after dilly-dallying on the ball for the umpteenth time, nasty wing work. He needs to play centrally or subbed on in the last 10 mins to see the game out, thats where his gamesmanship can be used.

100m for a 10 minute cameo player is not gonna have a future, for club or Jack.
Pep needs to find a more useful role for Jack.

 

[Bluewars]

100m for a 10 minute cameo player is not gonna have a future, for club or Jack.
Pep needs to find a more useful role for Jack.

I agree, Pep has tried, Alvarez, Phil, Rico, Kovacic, Nunes, Foden, Bernardo all centrally except Jack, so what is he seeing in training? Is he really 8th choice in CAM? His whole city career he's had about 4 good months, thats not good enough for 100m.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I agree, Pep has tried, Alvarez, Phil, Rico, Kovacic, Nunes, Foden, Bernardo all centrally except Jack, so what is he seeing in training? Is he really 8th choice in CAM? His whole city career he's had about 4 good months, thats not good enough for 100m.

I think it’s because of how we defend/press. We defend in a 442, so one central player has to be able to defend in a 2-man midfield next to Rodri. Jack can’t do that. Bernardo, Nunes, Kovacic, Rico all can. Even Foden can’t yet (and Pep has said this is the long term aim).

Then the other player in the centre has to be able to press from the front alongside Haaland and be a trigger. I’m not really sure Jack has the hustle for this either. Not in the way that KDB has done it for years or the way that Alvarez does it.

So because of the off the ball factors, this is why Grealish can only play on the left for Pep. He doesn’t have the qualities out of possession that Pep needs in those positions.

 

[Bluewars]

He's also a lot quicker and more direct than Jack. Certain games we need Doku other games we will need Jack.

I agree, problem for Jack is those 'certain games' could become Luton and Bournemouth away or fa cup early rounds and games were Doku needs a rest.

 

[Bluewars]

I think it’s because of how we defend/press. We defend in a 442, so one central player has to be able to defend in a 2-man midfield next to Rodri. Jack can’t do that. Bernardo, Nunes, Kovacic, Rico all can. Even Foden can’t yet (and Pep has said this is the long term aim).

Then the other player in the centre has to be able to press from the front alongside Haaland and be a trigger. I’m not really sure Jack has the hustle for this either. Not in the way that KDB has done it for years or the way that Alvarez does it.

So because of the off the ball factors, this is why Grealish can only play on the left for Pep. He doesn’t have the qualities out of possession that Pep needs in those positions.

Thanks mate, cool that you noticed the intricacies of how we set up in different phases, this also explains why Pep picks certain partnerships eg Bernardo and Alvarez as the two #8 as opposed to Foden and Alvarez, I can understand why Pep is reluctant to try Grealish there now.

 

[Crooked_rain]

Some of his trickery can result in him being dispossessed at times. However, you can see that he completely unsettles the opposition's defence whe he's on the ball. A great asset to the team.

Yeah, I think sometimes the way we do our approach play smetimes gives opportunities for defences to set themselves, but even then it doesn't often matter because we are so good at moving the ball around and moving them out of position to make a mistake, but with Doku they can't even do that because he puts them on the back foot straight away before they can really set themselves and it gives them something different to think about.

He must be horrible to play against as a right back and he's going to make you look daft at least a few times in the game.

 

[jimharri]

Did nothing to change the game. That was down to the Ake and Alvarez subs. At this point people are just seeing things that aren't there with this guy. It's genuinely weird.

Utter nonsense. He terrified their defence, and they were so preoccupied with him that they were neglecting other players, notably Phil. Your take is "genuinely weird".

 

[Barcon]

Utter nonsense. He terrified their defence, and they were so preoccupied with him that they were neglecting other players, notably Phil. Your take is "genuinely weird".

Sooner or later he's going to have to swallow.

 

[eastmanc]

I agree, problem for Jack is those 'certain games' could become Luton and Bournemouth away or fa cup early rounds and games were Doku needs a rest.

That's true Jack needs to compete for that place with Doku, better than he is at the moment. Doku keeps raising the bar for Jack, although I do think Jack could play more central in midfield, he definitely has the ability.

 

[eastmanc]

Utter nonsense. He terrified their defence, and they were so preoccupied with him that they were neglecting other players, notably Phil. Your take is "genuinely weird".

Doku changed the dynamic and the tempo of the match when he came on.

 

[jimharri]

Doku changed the dynamic and the tempo of the match when he came on.

Yep. Defenders hate players running at them. I remember Barnes and Tueart back in the 70s. And, of course, Leroy and Raheem in the Centurions and the following season.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Doku changed the dynamic and the tempo of the match when he came on.

Indeed he did. With two banks of five to play against and a two-goal deficit yer need a player demonstrates twinkle toes in tight places. Foden's goal was an example, but Jezer D seems to have the beating of any full back(s) he is up against. And they won't want to put a tackle in on the edge or inside the box. Perhaps Spurs could oblige on Sunday.

 

[eastmanc]

Indeed he did. With two banks of five to play against and a two-goal deficit yer need a player demonstrates twinkle toes in tight places. Foden's goal was an example, but Jezer D seems to have the beating of any full back(s) he is up against. And they won't want to put a tackle in on the edge or inside the box. Perhaps Spurs could oblige on Sunday.

Let's hope Spurs do David.

 

[eastmanc]

Yep. Defenders hate players running at them. I remember Barnes and Tueart back in the 70s. And, of course, Leroy and Raheem in the Centurions and the following season.

Doku reminds me a lot of Peter Barnes but stronger.

 

[Dax777]

He's also a lot quicker and more direct than Jack. Certain games we need Doku other games we will need Jack.

I personally struggle to see a type of game in which Jack would be a better option.

Nah come on. I'm not fully on board with the Doku hype train and think he's got a lot to learn, more than some on here seem to think cos they're ready to dump Grealish for him already. But he put the shitters up Leipzig and got heavily involved in the third goal. He did what he was asked to do.

You'd struggle to find anyone who doesn't think he has a lot to learn. But that's neither here nor there. The issue however is that when he is on the field it is as clear as day that he has a more significant impact on the opposition from the left wide position. Than any other player we play there.

To analogize. One can note that Haaland has a lot to improve in terms of his headers, ball control, dribbling etc But yet still recognize that in spite of all those flaws he is significantly better a leading our attack than anyone else. And it's not interchangeable for different games simply because there are other strikers who are more technical, head the ball better or have better control.

We are ALWAYS better with Haaland leading the line no matter the opposition. Same is becoming invariably true of Doku. This is not to suggest he couldn't play poorly... (He can and will at times coz he has deficiencies)... But his overall effect on average is beginning to look significantly superior to those of anyone else out on the left flank.

That's all I and some are saying. Granted, one need not to hate on Jack to make this point.

 

[eastmanc]

I personally struggle to see a type of game in which Jack would be a better option.

You'd struggle to find anyone who doesn't think he has a lot to learn. But that's neither here nor there. The issue however is that when he is on the field it is as clear as day that he has a more significant impact on the opposition from the left wide position. Than any other player we play there.

To analogize. One can note that Haaland has a lot to improve in terms of his headers, ball control, dribbling etc But yet still recognize that in spite of all those flaws he is significantly better a leading our attack than anyone else. And it's not interchangeable for different games simply because there are other strikers who are more technical, head the ball better or have better control.

We are ALWAYS better with Haaland leading the line no matter the opposition. Same is becoming invariably true of Doku. This is not to suggest he couldn't play poorly... (He can and will at times coz he has deficiencies)... But his overall effect on average is beginning to look significantly superior to those of anyone else out on the left flank.

That's all I and some are saying. Granted, one need not to hate on Jack to make this point.

Your point is a good one at the moment . If Jack was playing as well as he did last season, then the decision to pick one or the other would be a harder one. As I pointed out in a later post he is more dynamic than Jack and attracts attention to himself everytime he had the ball and is very dangerous in possession. Of course he has a lot to learn but at moment he is a far better option than Grealish. Jack needs to up his game but it might be that he could move inside and help the team out in midfield I think he can do that.

 

[alexmcity]

I personally struggle to see a type of game in which Jack would be a better option.

You'd struggle to find anyone who doesn't think he has a lot to learn. But that's neither here nor there. The issue however is that when he is on the field it is as clear as day that he has a more significant impact on the opposition from the left wide position. Than any other player we play there.

To analogize. One can note that Haaland has a lot to improve in terms of his headers, ball control, dribbling etc But yet still recognize that in spite of all those flaws he is significantly better a leading our attack than anyone else. And it's not interchangeable for different games simply because there are other strikers who are more technical, head the ball better or have better control.

We are ALWAYS better with Haaland leading the line no matter the opposition. Same is becoming invariably true of Doku. This is not to suggest he couldn't play poorly... (He can and will at times coz he has deficiencies)... But his overall effect on average is beginning to look significantly superior to those of anyone else out on the left flank.

That's all I and some are saying. Granted, one need not to hate on Jack to make this point.

Another thing to consider is that our fullbacks are not the most creative and we need a more direct threat on the wings.

If Foden or Kovacic hit form in midfield once KDB is back, Pep may play Bernardo on the right wing to complement Doku's directness.

Something like

------Stones-‐----Rodri

-------KDB-----‐-‐-Foden

Bernardo----------------Doku

---‐------------Haaland