11 | Jeremy Doku - 2025/26

He didn't score them from the right, he scored them from the left.





We know that Doku's greatest strength (and what hes maybe best in the world) is that 5-10 yard acceleration burst. At City, that burst is used far outside of the box, at the byline, which as we have seen time and time again, results with getting past the first defender, and then as he gets caught up by the man he just skinned or closed down from inside, he is under pressure and starts to lose balance, and sends a suboptimal cross. The fact that Haaland is also clueless around the 6 yard area doesn't help, but the main issue is that Belgium plays him further forward and slightly more central, and they play a lot quicker. So they the ball to Doku somewhere at the edge of the box in transition, before the defense is set, and from there the burst and shot is unstoppable - no matter if its Kazakhstan or Liverpool, who btw he tormented the last few matches. And Chelsea too. Just for that strange GaudinoMotors poster who really hates Doku. All the players play better against weaker teams, duh.

Belgium also play Doku in a more free role where he gets to roam between left, right and center and there is not that much emphasis on keeping possession from him so he tries a lot more stuff.

Also both of his goals here come from counter attacks so you can forget that.
 
Hate commenting on internationals, entirely dofferent team and setup to us and so very little relevance to us but has to be said, those were some sweetly taken goals.

we know he has that nice curler in his locker, we have to find a way of seeing it more. Ignoring the quality of the opposition, the difference is where he's picking up the balls, he's much more central in areas he can be impactful compared to when he is hugging the touchline for us.
 
He didn't score them from the right, he scored them from the left.





We know that Doku's greatest strength (and what hes maybe best in the world) is that 5-10 yard acceleration burst. At City, that burst is used far outside of the box, at the byline, which as we have seen time and time again, results with getting past the first defender, and then as he gets caught up by the man he just skinned or closed down from inside, he is under pressure and starts to lose balance, and sends a suboptimal cross. The fact that Haaland is also clueless around the 6 yard area doesn't help, but the main issue is that Belgium plays him further forward and slightly more central, and they play a lot quicker. So they the ball to Doku somewhere at the edge of the box in transition, before the defense is set, and from there the burst and shot is unstoppable - no matter if its Kazakhstan or Liverpool, who btw he tormented the last few matches. And Chelsea too. Just for that strange GaudinoMotors poster who really hates Doku. All the players play better against weaker teams, duh.

Belgium also play Doku in a more free role where he gets to roam between left, right and center and there is not that much emphasis on keeping possession from him so he tries a lot more stuff.

That is a correct analysis. Most of the time, he is caught up by the defenders , would be a good idea to try him on right
 
It looked from the CWC that’s what we were going to see more of this season. With Alt Nouri going on the outside and they were linking up very well. Then came the Saudi game where Pep went back to inverted fullbacks. Alt Nouri has barely gone on the outside since, whether it’s Doku or Marmoush starting. Very strange as it’s not as if Alt Nouri has looked good either
 
Slagged him off loads but give him all the credit today - he was fucking superb. Hope this can be the start of him becoming the player he is meant to be.
 
Well that was brilliant, should leave the wing more if that's how creative he is centrally, still needs to work on the defensive side though, left Nico to dry a few times, but he was unstoppable offensively.
 
Better, got to show more strings to his bow. Think Pep has some what shackled that side in recent years. In forbidding freedom and instead making them provide the width instead. Wasn't all dribbling to byline and putting poor left footed cross in and he looked twice the player for it
 
Twice the player in a counter attacking team. Hopefully Pep continues with the system because Doku is going to flourish big time.
 
Been saying it all along Doku is a good player, Pep should allow him to drift across the front lines and wings, defenders won’t be able to live with him if he’s allowed that freedom.
 
Lethal picking the ball up in the channel. One less man to beat than when he receives it on the touchline.
 
Best player on the pitch up to the 2nd goal.

That run for the first goal was magic. He has it in him to destroy teams. Needs more freedom and to be allowed to do damage from more central positions.
 

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