11 | Jeremy Doku - 2023/24

[jollylescott]

I must have been watching a different game to some of you.

I thought he and Bernie were our best players, and yet the forensic criticism of his performance astounds me. He was far better than Phil and Julian, and was by some measure our best attacking player.

For those that say his crossing was inadequate, the scousers had so many players in the box at times it was almost impossible to find a way through the tangle of legs. Having said that, he still created chances for our Viking and Julian that should have been taken.

I’ll go back and watch the game again, but on first viewing I thought he and Bernie were clearly our best on a difficult day, but one where we should have taken the three points.

 

[bluenova]

Been saying this all season. Doku isn’t particularly fast. The phenomenal asset he has is his acceleration over 5 yards. The top speed after those 5 yards is nothing special. But that’s fine, the acceleration alone is deadly. But going back towards our own goal, he can’t really keep pace with anyone tbh.

Yeah - I thought this the first match I saw him - he has a slightly odd running style and seemed a bit wobbly when running longer distances. It's probably the reason his build is so perfect for getting up to speed so fast from a standing start, and frankly for City, you want someone like him who can break into the box and create havoc, rather than run into empty space which will rarely be there.

 

[bluenova]

I must have been watching a different game to some of you.

I thought he and Bernie were our best players, and yet the forensic criticism of his performance astounds me. He was far better than Phil and Julian, and was by some measure our best attacking player.

For those that say his crossing was inadequate, the scousers had so many players in the box at times it was almost impossible to find a way through the tangle of legs. Having said that, he still created chances for our Viking and Julian that should have been taken.

I’ll go back and watch the game again, but on first viewing I thought he and Bernie were clearly our best on a difficult day, but one where we should have taken the three points.

Agree. It was hard to see what live what was happening right in front of goal, but he made more key passes than anyone else, and it looked like he got the ball in some really dangerous positions.

He also had 12 successful dribbles - which is the same number as every other player on the pitch (for both sides) put together! It was a joy to watch him embarrass Alexander-Arnold on the inside continually, knowing that as soon as he went outside he'd leave him standing like a schoolboy.

I know a lot of people don't like xG etc., but his xA was three times as high as anyone else in the team. A high xA (expected assists) shows that the passes he made reached players who were in a good position to score.

 

[Craig]

Good performance, but no end product. Needs to look up, compose himself, and play the killer ball into or across the box.

There was good end product though today

 

[waspish]

Great today he scared the death out of Liverpool and Klopp to the extent Klopp had put 3 players on him oh world class salah was closed down by one player Ake we had no need to treble up on him like bottle job Klopp

 

[alexmcity]

He's 2 years younger than the other 3 forwards, yet was arguably better than them today. Sky is the limit. Confident he will help us in the 2nd half of the season to win big things.

89% pass completion today. This stat is for those who think he makes us more vulnerable to counters.

 

[OB1]

Between him and Bernie for MotM today.

 

[ojeme]

I must have been watching a different game to some of you.

I thought he and Bernie were our best players, and yet the forensic criticism of his performance astounds me. He was far better than Phil and Julian, and was by some measure our best attacking player.

For those that say his crossing was inadequate, the scousers had so many players in the box at times it was almost impossible to find a way through the tangle of legs. Having said that, he still created chances for our Viking and Julian that should have been taken.

I’ll go back and watch the game again, but on first viewing I thought he and Bernie were clearly our best on a difficult day, but one where we should have taken the three points.

I’m pretty sure some of our fans want Doku to fail. After watching that game and I came back on here to read comments, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It’s almost as if they feel offended that Doku is making a name for himself. Very embarrassing I must say.

As you say, Liverpool were ultra defensive and doubled up on him all game and yet he still found his teammates time and again but unfortunately we didn’t capitalize. I think I love Foden as much as anyone here but if he had a similar impact on his side which Liverpool focused less on, then maybe we would’ve been more lethal.

Too bad!

 

[bobom]

He's wonderful.

 

[Middedon]

I’m pretty sure some of our fans want Doku to fail. After watching that game and I came back on here to read comments, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It’s almost as if they feel offended that Doku is making a name for himself. Very embarrassing I must say.

I will say I think some of the Doku backlash is because he has seemed to attract a totally rabid social media fanbase (not necessarily here). Every match he doesn’t start, they’re calling for Peps head. He comes on as a sub, and he’s their Motm. It’s also all very anti-Jack. So I think sometimes the comments are just to moderate what people are seeing elsewhere. I’ve found myself doing it - I like him a lot, but I find myself mentioning he’s not the finished product more than I do about other similar players.

 

[ojeme]

I will say I think some of the Doku backlash is because he has seemed to attract a totally rabid social media fanbase (not necessarily here). Every match he doesn’t start, they’re calling for Peps head. He comes on as a sub, and he’s their Motm. It’s also all very anti-Jack. So I think sometimes the comments are just to moderate what people are seeing elsewhere. I’ve found myself doing it - I like him a lot, but I find myself mentioning he’s not the finished product more than I do about other similar players.

Fair enough and we must avoid the temptation of pitching him against our Jack and creating some kind of false competition. I think Grealish deserves to be tested in the “Alvarez role” at this rate.

 

[Middedon]

Fair enough and we must avoid the temptation of pitching him against our Jack and creating some kind of false competition. I think Grealish deserves to be tested in the “Alvarez role” at this rate.

Agreed. As a newer fan - and one that has stayed away from forums and the like until recently - I’m surprised how much fans throw players under the bus. If you really like one of the players that seem to get blame, I’m sure it may cause some irrational responses.

I also agree with trying Jack elsewhere - I don’t know why some players get to play anywhere but others are always in the same role. (Realistically, I’m sure it’s a trust—talent-magic pep thing).

 

[TrentGrisham]

He's wonderful.

I agree, but the most important thing in my eyes right now is that he's staying fit. Ha.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Not sure why Doku is getting so much shit over his final ball , he laid to chances on a plate for Alvarez and Haaland and if they go in he is man of the match , thought he was excellent today and proved he is a big game player

 

[TrentGrisham]

Not sure why Doku is getting so much shit over his final ball , he laid to chances on a plate for Alvarez and Haaland and if they go in he is man of the match , thought he was excellent today and proved he is a big game player

Agreed. I think when you create as many chances as he did, it opens one up for more criticism, but ultimately at least one of those chances he created should have been finished off.

 

[JTFactsPlz]

We don’t have to compare, be grateful we have both.

How about directing that comment to those people talking crap like Doku should start over Grealish rather than someone actually defending Jack for once? And nothing in Datoia's post was incorrect.

 

[Phil1]

How about directing that comment to those people talking crap like Doku should start over Grealish rather than someone actually defending Jack for once? And nothing in Datoia's post was incorrect.

I'll direct my comments where and when I think necessary.
For what it's worth I think both camps who feel they have to do down Doku to praise Grealish and vice versa are nobheads.
I think my posts on Grealish’s thread tell you where I am in regards to how highly I rate him so chill the fuck out.
Regardless of wherever or not you think the posters comments were correct or not I think they were inappropriate and serves just to stir the pot in an unnecessary tit for tat on both players threads.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Electric with the ball at his feet, but still learning the off-the-ball side of the game, both offensively and defensively

No concerns that he’ll get there though

 

[applejuice]

Deceptively slow for anything over 3 yards. Matip was running with the ball and Doku couldnt catch him.

Umm really? I think he was pretty fast on one counter attack getting a ball from Halaand. Definitely much faster than Matip carrying the ball.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Fair enough and we must avoid the temptation of pitching him against our Jack and creating some kind of false competition. I think Grealish deserves to be tested in the “Alvarez role” at this rate.

Just how many times did Jack operate on the wing for Villa. I never saw much of him but he always seemed to be right slap bang in the middle of the engine room.