I disagree that he can see passes. I’ve not seen him consistently pick out a through ball or cross.Traore is just a speed merchant. Doku is capable of seeing passes and combines with teammates. Hes not a route one player like Traore.
But as I said before, with the way Pep sets the table, the passing windows in the final third are so tiny that any winger needs to make split second perfect decisions, while also advancing the ball at high speed and anticipating one or two defenders moves. Unless you're an absolutely generational, historically great player, this is very difficult to achieve for specialized cut inside wingers. The best ones in the business, such as Vinicius, Mbappe or Leao are not capable of this either.
He's not good at threading the needle through congested opposition lines like a KDB or Rodri. But I have seen him play through balls for Belgium to Lukaku where the defenses are not as packed. Crossing is a different matter altogether - a lot of the time he crosses it in the right area but for some reason nobody is there to receive it.I disagree that he can see passes. I’ve not seen him consistently pick out a through ball or cross.
Maybe it is Pep’s system that is hindering him, but I just don’t see an intelligent player, just a dribbler with no clue what else to do.
Whatever the issues are, it isn’t working for us at the moment. I live in hope that his output will improve, but don’t expect it to.He's not good at threading the needle through congested opposition lines like a KDB or Rodri. But I have seen him play through balls for Belgium to Lukaku where the defenses are not as packed. Crossing is a different matter altogether - a lot of the time he crosses it in the right area but for some reason nobody is there to receive it.
Criticising Doku (or Savinho) for not being a great through ball passer like Rodri is like criticizing Rodri for not being able to beat his man the way Doku does. Thats why there are different positions, for different skillsets.
My issue with Doku is the lack of off ball positional space instinct (so not passing but receiving the ball) and the poor motor which is a combination of poor stamina and possibly determination. Hes a good enough passer and shooter for his profile when its there for the taking. The problem is its not often enough and being a volume creator it means you need to increase the volume.
I agree its not. But you need a diagnosis in order to come up with a cure. For example Jeremy has been focusing intensely on strength and agility in the last couple of years, at the cost of pace and stamina. And that was the wrong strategy if the goal was to improve physically.Whatever the issues are, it isn’t working for us at the moment. I live in hope that his output will improve, but don’t expect it to.
Fans would give him more slack if he win games for us. His conditioning is one thing, but the thing he needs to improve is between his ears, not strength nor stamina.I agree its not. But you need a diagnosis in order to come up with a cure. For example Jeremy has been focusing intensely on strength and agility in the last couple of years, at the cost of pace and stamina. And that was the wrong strategy if the goal was to improve physically.
You can't improve your brain beyond a certain level no matter what you do. But you said his passing is not good, which I disagreed with. Even his assist to Bernie yesterday was a through ball. Players like Vinicius or Leao don't have better passing ability, but they play in a more direct system. Im saying if he plays in a situation that would suit him (like Vini) he would need a better motor not better brain.Fans would give him more slack if he win games for us. His conditioning is one thing, but the thing he needs to improve is between his ears, not strength nor stamina.
Hmm, Sterling learnt how to score 15 goals each season at the back post. It is possible to learn to become better.You can't improve your brain beyond a certain level no matter what you do. But you said his passing is not good, which I disagreed with. Even his assist to Bernie yesterday was a through ball. Players like Vinicius or Leao don't have better passing ability, but they play in a more direct system. Im saying if he plays in a situation that would suit him (like Vini) he would need a better motor not better brain.
Thats tactical instructions. A coach sees that a player has good instincts for finding space off the ball and he tells him to do that more often (and probably shows him more situations in which he could do it). But for Doku that takes away his best attribute which is on ball ability. At his best hes an assist getter, not a goalscorer.Hmm, Sterling learnt how to score 15 goals each season at the back post. It is possible to learn to become better.
He can play through balls, it’s just that about 1 in 10 result in a chance being created at present. If he could make that 5 in 10, he’d become a superstar.