11 | Jeremy Doku - 2023/24

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

He's not as good as Grealish, but neither are as good as Bernardo, so it is what it is as they say, assets in different ways and games, someone sat next to me last night and said to me about Doku, he's not good enough is he, I said he's young and will learn and get better, with my fingers crossed, but I was warned off someone when he joined us he'd be as frustrating as Sterling was, which doesn't sit well with me at all.

Not as good as Grealish in keeping possession but a lot better in causing problems for the opposition and creating attacking chances.

 

[alexmcity]

He started his City career on the RW then Pep moved him to the LW, obviously Pep knows best but I've said previously he doesn't have the skill set (yet) of a cut in winger.

He doesn't have the right foot finesse shot.
He lacks power in his strike Right and Left.
He doesn't have accuracy crossing with his left foot, this aspect needs to be Pin-point accuracy because we play teams that pack the box.

His current skill set is better suited to RW.

He can beat a man from a standing start on either foot.
His crossing is better with his right foot.
Doesn't have as much decision making on the RW, it's beat your man and cross, hug the touchline and run in behind (which he needs to do more).
Defensively has more help as Walker/Akanji are better positionally Gvardiol.

Guess Pep's reasoning is that (1) Doku is less predictable on the left, the defenders can't be sure whether he goes left or right, (2) Doku might be able to develop his shooting and passing ability (few wingers were top goalscorers at 21 yo, not even Henry and Salah), (3) Grealish needs more competition for this position...

 

[Bluewars]

Guess Pep's reasoning is that (1) Doku is less predictable on the left, the defenders can't be sure whether he goes left or right, (2) Doku might be able to develop his shooting and passing ability (few wingers were top goalscorers at 21 yo, not even Henry and Salah), (3) Grealish needs more competition for this position...

Good points I'd love to know Pep's reasoning. Salah's finishing was very good at 21 when he was at Basel, Henry was never a winger and was scoring goals at Monaco at 19.

I'd like to see him start RW in the next weeks to compare, remember his best assist came from the RW against Bournemouth so he's definitely capable to produce from there too.

 

[dave_blue12]

He gives the ball away for fun which defeats one of City’s biggest weapons - possession pressure.

Yes he beats a man but what happens next is often wasteful. He needs to massively improve his decision making and some of his core skills. I doubt he can.

An on form Grealish is streets ahead.

 

[alexmcity]

Good points I'd love to know Pep's reasoning. Salah's finishing was very good at 21 when he was at Basel, Henry was never a winger and was scoring goals at Monaco at 19.

I'd like to see him start RW in the next weeks to compare, remember his best assist came from the RW against Bournemouth so he's definitely capable to produce from there too.

Salah's goal-scoring record at Basel, Chelsea and Fiorentina wasn't great. Only after going to Roma he became a proper goalscorer. Nobody in his right mind could see him scoring so many goals for Liverpool. Otherwise, he would cost at least double what Liverpool paid for him.

Doku might become a good goalscorer or might not, too early to tell. He can become an assist king, though. He's a raw diamond.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Quite mad that there's already an entrenched minority of people who after 10 games or something think he's not good enough for City. He's clearly getting the Bluemoon Raheem Sterling treatment. All feels a bit pantomime and obviously incredibly premature.

Not sure that’s fair. Having had the control Pepball maximised last season with Grealish, Doku is the antithesis of that. People are getting used to a non-Pep type player in a Pep team.

There’s no doubt he’s hugely exciting to watch, but also irksome when he’s dribbled past 5 defenders before passing it out for a goal kick or straight to thr opposition.

No one is writing him off, from what I see, just hoping that he can get the cold mind that can pick the right pass or shot at the right time.

The lad is 21. He’ll get way better in the upcoming seasons, but football is about the next game and he’ll be picked when Pep thinks we need his directness over Bobb or Grealish’s ability to retain the ball and work in smaller spaces.

If the lad improves his decision making, the sky is the limit for him.

 

[B\connellblue]

He gives the ball away for fun which defeats one of City’s biggest weapons - possession pressure.

Yes he beats a man but what happens next is often wasteful. He needs to massively improve his decision making and some of his core skills. I doubt he can.

An on form Grealish is streets ahead.

Which has been for about 3 months in 2 and 1/2 seasons.

 

[dannyboy29]

One thing you cant coach is speed. Pep will sort the rest.

 

[BillyShears]

Not sure that’s fair. Having had the control Pepball maximised last season with Grealish, Doku is the antithesis of that. People are getting used to a non-Pep type player in a Pep team.

There’s no doubt he’s hugely exciting to watch, but also irksome when he’s dribbled past 5 defenders before passing it out for a goal kick or straight to thr opposition.

No one is writing him off, from what I see, just hoping that he can get the cold mind that can pick the right pass or shot at the right time.

The lad is 21. He’ll get way better in the upcoming seasons, but football is about the next game and he’ll be picked when Pep thinks we need his directness over Bobb or Grealish’s ability to retain the ball and work in smaller spaces.

If the lad improves his decision making, the sky is the limit for him.

I think my post is entirely fair mate!

Pep ball is whatever Pep chooses it to be in any given season. He picked Sterling about 300 times over his City career, and if Doku can make half the impact Raz did he'll be a star for years to come. The sky is indeed the limit!

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I think my post is entirely fair mate!

Pep ball is whatever Pep chooses it to be in any given season. He picked Sterling about 300 times over his City career, and if Doku can make half the impact Raz did he'll be a star for years to come. The sky is indeed the limit!

Absolutely and Pep will likely succeed with most players.

I don’t think anyone is saying Doku is poor.

Is it a coincidence that we won the CL after Sterling left? Probably, as we should have beaten Chelsea. But we didn’t, for whatever reason.

I think the slow warming to Doku is fabs adjusting to having less control and having more counter attacks as a result.

That isn’t just about Doku though. It’s not having Stones fit and Gundogan shaped hole in midfield that Kovacic is now beginning to fill properly.

KDB also tries things and loses the ball more than most. No one wants him sold! They’ll warm to Doku more as his final action improves.

Now we’re starting to look more defensively solid, he might get more slack too.

Here’s hoping, anyway!