11 | Jeremy Doku - 2023/24

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Yeah and tennis players like Djokovic and Nadal just do fitness training. They don’t bother practicing hitting the ball etc as they know they can’t improve. Don’t know why Lampard spent hours practicing his shooting after training either.

Don’t know how the FIFA game stats change each season either as all players are just the same.

 

[MANCtrigger]

I posted very negatively about Doku in the past - only to see him turn in a man-of-the-match performance his very next game.

So here's the thing...
===
Doku can change games, certainly.

But will he ever develop to the point where, once he beats his defender, he can be relied upon to make a crucial pass or to get a good shot on goal?

Or will he only sometimes make the pass, only sometimes get the shot? But too often not? A frustrating figure?

Well, maybe you think it is just it is a coincidence that we scored once he was on the pitch, it is not:
* pre-assist and assist in big games against Madrid and Chelsea
* threat for defenses, staggering/breaking right backs
* even if his delivery rate is 'only' 50% after his high speed infiltration, we actually get lots of chances
* ball possession is nice, but when it is 0-0 it is a frustrating dance around the bus
* "only sometimes a pass or shot" is better than "never a pass or a shot", unless you like endless tiki-taka across the width of the field
* do yourself a favor and find 3 players worldwide who can pass multiple defenders like Doku

 

[SebastianBlue]

Not significantly it is what they are born with. Same with speed. Can't really teach that either but what you can improve is offsetting both deficiencies in those attributes in tactical awareness. Something that will definitely improve under Pep.

You can’t transform Harry Maguire in to Kyle Walker, but you can potentially take a player like Dennis Zakaria (if he can stay fit) and improve his pace to be near Kyle Walker.

Often times young footballers haven’t actually spent a lot of time working in their running form and strength specific to the technique for sprinting. They work on overall strength and acceleration but technique is often to just left to what they naturally developed.

That means in many cases running form can be improved to allow for modest gains in pace, either over shorter distances or longer spans. It can also help to improve their balance, which has a knock on effect of making the stronger on the ball, which I think we have seen recently with Phil.

The pace and strength gained over shorter distances tends to be the most achievable and, fortunately, the most impactful for footballers.

So Doku and others could actually get a bit quicker with the right training. Of course, all of that has to be done carefully so as to not disrupt the player’s ball control and dribbling ability. But if it is worked on gradually, that usually can be avoided.

At any rate, he needs to start tonight and show he can consistently be more than a super sub.

And I think he can. I think he has a ways to go in development and we are only seeing the early stages of that—this is him as a rough diamond.

He’ll be nearly unplayable once he is cut and polished.

 

[RayCTID]

You can’t transform Harry Maguire in to Kyle Walker, but you can potentially take a player like Dennis Zakaria (if he can stay fit) and improve his pace to be near Kyle Walker.

Often times young footballers haven’t actually spent a lot of time working in their running form and strength specific to the technique for sprinting. They work on overall strength and acceleration but technique is often to just left to what they naturally developed.

That means in many cases running form can be improved to allow for modest gains in pace, either over shorter distances or longer spans. It can also help to improve their balance, which has a knock on effect of making the stronger on the ball, which I think we have seen recently with Phil.

The pace and strength gained over shorter distances tends to be the most achievable and, fortunately, the most impactful for footballers.

So Doku and others could actually get a bit quicker with the right training. Of course, all of that has to be done carefully so as to not disrupt the player’s ball control and dribbling ability. But if it is worked on gradually, that usually can be avoided.

At any rate, he needs to start tonight and show he can consistently be more than a super sub.

And I think he can. I think he has a ways to go in development and we are only seeing the early stages of that—this is him as a rough diamond.

He’ll be nearly unplayable once he is cut and polished.

Definietly now when it is looking like Kyle Walker is losing that edge with his overall speed but not when Kyle Walker was at his peak. We can sharpen Doku's footballing brain to give him that extra yard but not physically. Same technically. That is formed when in a Youth Academy.

 

[RayCTID]

Yeah and tennis players like Djokovic and Nadal just do fitness training. They don’t bother practicing hitting the ball etc as they know they can’t improve. Don’t know why Lampard spent hours practicing his shooting after training either.

He maintained that skill not significanly improved upon it. There is a difference. Most of his skill was formed in the youth team. Tennis Players are the same.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Definietly now when it is looking like Kyle Walker is losing that edge with his overall speed but not when Kyle Walker was at his peak.

Zakaria was clocked at 36.09km/hr.

Walker’s all-time top speed was clocked at 37.31 km/hr.

Zakaria probably could make that second or so up if he focused on sprint training.

 

[RayCTID]

Zakaria was clocked at 36.09km/hr.

Walker’s all-time top speed was clocked at 37.31 km/hr.

Zakaria probably could make that second or so up if he focused on sprint training.

Or improved his footballing brain or positioning training but I don't think Zakaria could really sustain it.

 

[MANCtrigger]

what really counts is his acceleration, since our entire team is already playing in the opponent's half. Count Doku, faster than his shadow

 

[Craig]

He maintained that skill not significanly improved upon it. There is a difference. Most of his skill was formed in the youth team. Tennis Players are the same.

Interesting the Premier League’s 2nd highest scorer disagreed last night about improving finishing. Yes he’s a fat red twat but he was some striker. Reckons he improved his finishing loads with repetition after training.

 

[RayCTID]

Interesting the Premier League’s 2nd highest scorer disagreed last night about improving finishing. Yes he’s a fat red twat but he was some striker. Reckons he improved his finishing loads with repetition after training.

Still didn't improve his overall technique significantly.