11 | Jeremy Doku - 2023/24

[Lavinda Past]

Good dribbler is still not easy to defend against as proven when was brought on against both our rivals. Finishing is erratic but Saka's isn't much better in that regard penalties aside. Tactically they are similar.

Saka is the most overrated player in England. Thanks to the London media

 

[youngbob]

Have there been many examples of a player who literally can’t kick the ball where they want to at age 21, then being able to later in their career? Feels like something he would be able to do by now if he was ever going to. It’s like he has two wrong feet.

Reminds me a lot of Saint-Maximin in that sense, who was so fun and unpredictable to watch because not one person - including Saint-Maximin himself - knew what he was about to do with the ball. But Saint-Maximin was only fun to watch because he wasn't playing for my team - he was playing for a lower midtable side and he was flogged as soon as Newcastle looked like they were heading places.

 

[decmancity]

Yeah, I'm increasingly of the feeling that Doku's weaknesses aren't really things you can learn under Pep. His basic ball control is almost non-existent. With players like Grealish, Rodri, Bernardo, etc. in the past, who haven't fully clicked 100% in their first seasons, you can see where little tweaks will make things better. They were all good with the ball but just had to understand their roles a bit better. But apart from a crazy first half against a shocking Bournemouth team (at the time) Doku's offered virtually nothing - most of the time he just runs into trouble and then loses it unnecessarily. There was a moment yesterday when he had De Bruyne right with him, but he just ignored him and ran into three Arsenal defenders who promptly started a counter attack. His first touch is terrible, he often looks like he doesn't know which foot to lead with, and he slips over an awful lot because he's moving before he's thinking. You can't just learn to control a ball properly because Pep's your manager. Looks a bit more dangerous when he's played centrally, and when we're up against teams who commit men forward against us, but how often does that happen? I think letting Mahrez and Palmer go at the same time was a mistake if this guy was who we had our eye on. When we were linked with him the only teams who were seriously mentioned alongside us were West Ham and Spurs - we should have known then what his level was.

His first touch is one of the best in the team. There has been numerous occasions where he has just plucked the ball out of the air like Mahrez used to.

As for the rest of your post. His performance against Bournemouth showed everyone exactly what ability he has, no need to down play it and say it was when they were shit. Do we hold that against anyone else?

Everyone knew exactly what we were buying so not sure why there is all of a sudden a clamour of posts making out like his ability has only just been seen. Pep signed off on him and has given him plenty of game time, so either he is losing the plot or we all are not seeing something.

 

[Lavinda Past]

His first touch is one of the best in the team. There has been numerous occasions where he has just plucked the ball out of the air like Mahrez used to.

As for the rest of your post. His performance against Bournemouth showed everyone exactly what ability he has, no need to down play it and say it was when they were shit. Do we hold that against anyone else?

Everyone knew exactly what we were buying so not sure why there is all of a sudden a clamour of posts making out like his ability has only just been seen. Pep signed off on him and has given him plenty of game time, so either he is losing the plot or we all are not seeing something.

We're definitely not seeing a top class player, that's the something we're not seeing

 

[DenizCTID]

Tells you a lot if Pep believes and trust him. Give him time to know his teammates. I‘m sure he will bring us much more.

We cried for a pacy and skillfull winger, now gets so much criticism because he isnt on that passing and shooting level.

He is a young growing man with potential not a finished Player.

 

[Craig]

Saka is the most overrated player in England. Thanks to the London media

He’s class

 

[Silva2021]

I’m not a fan, but I don’t consider myself to be an expert in football nor these players.

Which is why it is frustrating when I get proved right (I.e Phillips, never understood why we brought him) as well as Rodri (always liked him even early on).

But there are loads of others I was never sure on who turned out to be good and no doubt ones I am sure will be great who turn out not to be.

So, in the spirit of going against an opinion that has been established by me already, is there anything that makes me think this signing could work out well.

1. He’s young (not a massive thing as every player was once but it means room for growth).
2. He has been recommended by KDB and Mbappe
3. His feet in terms of ball manipulation and those first few meters is fantastic
4. He could have won the game v Liverpool (being positive here, so ignore the obvious)
5. He got round the back of Arsenal twice
6. He was fantastic against Bournemouth
7. It’s his first season
8. Pep plays him (so he must see something)

I’m no doubt my negative post would be longer, but there are reasons for optimism.

At the moment he is a last 20 minute (something different type player).

Let’s see how he does and how he progresses.

 

[Craig]

Have there been many examples of a player who literally can’t kick the ball where they want to at age 21, then being able to later in their career? Feels like something he would be able to do by now if he was ever going to. It’s like he has two wrong feet.

Sterling probably the best example.No doubt Doku is very raw but he does have unique ability to skin people

 

[Silva2021]

Saka was made to look ordinary yesterday, both by tactics and our players.

However, he is quality and saying otherwise shows a lack of knowledge!

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I’m not a fan, but I don’t consider myself to be an expert in football nor these players.

Which is why it is frustrating when I get proved right (I.e Phillips, never understood why we brought him) as well as Rodri (always liked him even early on).

But there are loads of others I was never sure on who turned out to be good and no doubt ones I am sure will be great who turn out not to be.

So, in the spirit of going against an opinion that has been established by me already, is there anything that makes me think this signing could work out well.

1. He’s young (not a massive thing as every player was once but it means room for growth).
2. He has been recommended by KDB and Mbappe
3. His feet in terms of ball manipulation and those first few meters is fantastic
4. He could have won the game v Liverpool (being positive here, so ignore the obvious)
5. He got round the back of Arsenal twice
6. He was fantastic against Bournemouth
7. It’s his first season
8. Pep plays him (so he must see something)

I’m no doubt my negative post would be longer, but there are reasons for optimism.

At the moment he is a last 20 minute (something different type player).

Let’s see how he does and how he progresses.

I’m in this camp too. I’ve focussed on his negatives, but there is a superstar in him if he “gets it“ from Pep and understands when to do things.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Thought he looked much better through the middle as against Newcastle.

 

[bluesmith]

He 22 next month and has played 180 odd first team matches, the lack of experience argument doesn't hold any weight.

Hopefully he can improve that final ball / shot and we'll have a great player.

 

[Sir peace frog]

Saka was made to look ordinary yesterday, both by tactics and our players.

However, he is quality and saying otherwise shows a lack of knowledge!

there wasn't one player(attacking) out on the pitch who didn't look ordinary, two teams totally cancelling each other out , gvardiol and rodri did well for us

 

[decmancity]

He 22 next month and has played 180 odd first team matches, the lack of experience argument doesn't hold any weight.

Hopefully he can improve that final ball / shot and we'll have a great player.

180 odd games before Pep don't count for anything at City, you start from scratch once you start training under Pep.

 

[bluesmith]

180 odd games before Pep don't count for anything at City, you start from scratch once you start training under Pep.

Any examples of a where Pep has improved a players final pass from the level Doku is at to even competent let alone good enough for City?

 

[decmancity]

Any examples of a where Pep has improved a players final pass from the level Doku is at to even competent let alone good enough for City?

No I don't have any examples, I guess that means its impossible.

Does Pep need Doku to produce a final pass, we will never know.

As I said, Pep must be losing his marbles because he bought Doku knowing what he was and since hes arrived hes been doing exactly what he did for Anderlecht, he is of course just up against much better opposition and so 50% of the time it doesn't come off, no reason why he can't improve on that. Its not like anyone has ever improved at City after 12mths is it.

 

[bluesmith]

No I don't have any examples, I guess that means its impossible.

Does Pep need Doku to produce a final pass, we will never know.

As I said, Pep must be losing his marbles because he bought Doku knowing what he was and since hes arrived hes been doing exactly what he did for Anderlecht, he is of course just up against much better opposition and so 50% of the time it doesn't come off, no reason why he can't improve on that. Its not like anyone has ever improved at City after 12mths is it.

Anderlecht? We signed him from Rennes! he left Anderlecht in 2020 no wonder he doesn't look very good if he's doing the same things he was 4 years ago.

He wasn't even.good enough at Rennes imo - he struggled to get in their team at times through the same faults he has for us.

Pep is allowed to get things wrong, he's a master at getting players to improve positionally, to improve their decision making and working as part of his tactics, there's little evidence that he can improve a players natural ability to kick a ball in a straight line i'm not sure any manager can that's wholly down to the player.

 

[applejuice]

His first touch is one of the best in the team. There has been numerous occasions where he has just plucked the ball out of the air like Mahrez used to.

Unless u watched a different game. Once he let the ball bounce onto his knee and brought himself down to the grass... definitely the worst first touch except Halaand among City players last night...

 

[Lavinda Past]

He’s class

He's good but not as special as he's been hyped up to be. He's still young and has time on his side, but at the moment he's just another Theo Walcott imo.

 

[decmancity]

Anderlecht? We signed him from Rennes! he left Anderlecht in 2020 no wonder he doesn't look very good if he's doing the same things he was 4 years ago.

He wasn't even.good enough at Rennes imo - he struggled to get in their team at times through the same faults he has for us.

Pep is allowed to get things wrong, he's a master at getting players to improve positionally, to improve their decision making and working as part of his tactics, there's little evidence that he can improve a players natural ability to kick a ball in a straight line i'm not sure any manager can that's wholly down to the player.

Apologies, should have included Rennes also but yes my point was that hes been the same at both teams. So City can't be surprised by what they are seeing.

Pep can get things wrong yes, lets give it more than 75% of a season before we make a call?

Unless u watched a different game. Once he let the ball bounce onto his knee and brought himself down to the grass... definitely the worst first touch except Halaand among City players last night...

He misplaced one pass you say, we better get rid then. No one ever does that do they.