11 | Jeremy Doku - 2025/26

[Belgian Flash]

Yeah his strength while also being his weakness because if he waits for his opponents to come close - the other teammates of the opposition will easily block his crosses or whatever he does after getting past his defender. Against Madrid he could’ve easily broke through but instead slowed down and then tried to dribble 3 players. No matter what that makes absolute zero sense. And when he finally broke through the defense was always set.
That’s a bit reason why he barely directly scores. There‘s slower players who will still use the ball and try to run into open space instead of waiting for the defense to catch up.

I think its less about pace, more about the stamina to make longer runs more frequently. He just doesn't have the lungs.

 

[Dax777]

Yeah his strength while also being his weakness because if he waits for his opponents to come close - the other teammates of the opposition will easily block his crosses or whatever he does after getting past his defender. Against Madrid he could’ve easily broke through but instead slowed down and then tried to dribble 3 players. No matter what that makes absolute zero sense. And when he finally broke through the defense was always set.
That’s a bit reason why he barely directly scores. There‘s slower players who will still use the ball and try to run into open space instead of waiting for the defense to catch up.

I think on a few of those occasions he was waiting for his teammates too. If you dont have people ahead to pass too. Going might not always be the right answer. O. 2 occasions he immediately slipped the ball to NOR when NOR made an inside run.

Othera have to do their parts too. I see far fewer situations where he is failing to aee an early pass this year. This has been one of his best improvements. He looks for the early pass more often than ever before.

 

[Belgian Flash]

Doku, Haaland and Cheeki are all shit poor at this :(

Haaland is getting better though with his pressing. So is Cherki, its too early for him to tell. Meanwhile Pep seems to have given up completely on making Doku a better defensive contributor. Hes just... there. Basically.

But again it would be ok if you run more off the ball in attack. Sure you got Foden and Bernardo moving like crazy, but that still doesnt mean you can afford to pretty much never making a run behind the defense. Haaland's off ball game is historically great, while Cherki is very active in finding pockets.

Doku needs to get better in this - and fast. Hes not that good of a passer or shooter to play like that. For all the praise hes been getting lately, hes still very much the same player he was last year. His passing and crossing and shooting is slightly improved, but not so much to warrant the massive decline of sheer running.

 

[ScottSinclair]

Injured

 

[AirbagsOptionalTheReturn]

Injured

Any ideas what it is? Not surprising after the number of kicks he got against Madrid

 

[Ryan.98.]

I really hope it’s just a knock.

 

[Sunset]

Haaland is getting better though with his pressing. So is Cherki, its too early for him to tell. Meanwhile Pep seems to have given up completely on making Doku a better defensive contributor. Hes just... there. Basically.

But again it would be ok if you run more off the ball in attack. Sure you got Foden and Bernardo moving like crazy, but that still doesnt mean you can afford to pretty much never making a run behind the defense. Haaland's off ball game is historically great, while Cherki is very active in finding pockets.

Doku needs to get better in this - and fast. Hes not that good of a passer or shooter to play like that. For all the praise hes been getting lately, hes still very much the same player he was last year. His passing and crossing and shooting is slightly improved, but not so much to warrant the massive decline of sheer running.

ever thought that maybe pep wants the other team to get the ball more to open them up for these exact players you are mentioning being poor at pressing. Haaland and Doku especially thrive on countering teams. The only way you can counter teams is if they have the ball first.

You probably think this is an insane argument and that pep would never do that but we are dealing with the smartest manager of all time and all geniuses know you have to do the opposite of what youre opponents expect in order to keep the upper hand.

Just look at our goal keeper and you immediately know there is some validity to this theory.