Oscar Bobb | Back in first team training, again (p55)

[Centurions]

Attacking midfield was his main position as a youth team player.

Pretty sure that he started out wide (for the U18s or lower maybe), but then it feels like a lifetime ago now so perhaps I'm mis-remembering.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Doku is 22. He's in his 2nd season in the Premier League. I remember watching Salah playing for FC Basle and he was brilliant and appalling in the same game. What was de Bruyne like at 22? I have no idea.

We are looking at this very negatively. Doku has the most successful take-ons per minute played of any player in the Premier League. The rest may come. It will help if he has support from midfield and options on the ball. If Doku was playing outside of Rodri and an on-form Foden his passing game would be better.

I saw De Bruyne play when Wolfsburg won 3-0 at Werder Bremen circa April 2013 (the same weekend that Suarez bit Ivanovic)

It was such a long time ago that De Bruyne was actually playing for Werder Bremen (on loan from Chelsea).but the Wolfsburg coaching staff presumably saw something in his relatively nondescript performance, and within two years he was being linked to all the top clubs

De Bruyne was 23 when he joined City but it was immediately obvious that he was a potential match winner capable of fleeting moments of brilliance. Sometimes that brilliance might have only resulted in City hitting the woodwork in a game that City ultimately lost, but you always knew that it was there.

More importantly, even in his first season, when he occasionally struggled to adapt, De Bruyne still scored 7 PL goals in only 25 games

That's the yardstick. We can talk all day about potential and the mythical upward learning curve, when in reality the best players just hit the ground running and stay there.

 

[Craig]

I saw De Bruyne play when Wolfsburg won 3-0 at Werder Bremen circa April 2013 (the same weekend that Suarez bit Ivanovic)

It was such a long time ago that De Bruyne was actually playing for Werder Bremen (on loan from Chelsea).but the Wolfsburg coaching staff presumably saw something in his relatively nondescript performance, and within two years he was being linked to all the top clubs

De Bruyne was 23 when he joined City but it was immediately obvious that he was a potential match winner capable of fleeting moments of brilliance. Sometimes that brilliance might have only resulted in City hitting the woodwork in a game that City ultimately lost, but you always knew that it was there.

More importantly, even in his first season, when he occasionally struggled to adapt, De Bruyne still scored 7 PL goals in only 25 games

That's the yardstick. We can talk all day about potential and the mythical upward learning curve, when in reality the best players just hit the ground running and stay there.

I think you inadvertently back up the defence of Doku being young still and needing more time and patience

 

[Marvin.]

I saw De Bruyne play when Wolfsburg won 3-0 at Werder Bremen circa April 2013 (the same weekend that Suarez bit Ivanovic)

It was such a long time ago that De Bruyne was actually playing for Werder Bremen (on loan from Chelsea).but the Wolfsburg coaching staff presumably saw something in his relatively nondescript performance, and within two years he was being linked to all the top clubs

De Bruyne was 23 when he joined City but it was immediately obvious that he was a potential match winner capable of fleeting moments of brilliance. Sometimes that brilliance might have only resulted in City hitting the woodwork in a game that City ultimately lost, but you always knew that it was there.

More importantly, even in his first season, when he occasionally struggled to adapt, De Bruyne still scored 7 PL goals in only 25 games

That's the yardstick. We can talk all day about potential and the mythical upward learning curve, when in reality the best players just hit the ground running and stay there.

De Bruyne didn't, neither did Salah.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

I think you inadvertently back up the defence of Doku being young still and needing more time and patience

The professionals (and I'm not one of them) spot talent and technique but some players learn from their mistakes whilst others don't

There isn't some magical incremental learning curve and whilst we've already seen the best of Rashford it might be the same for a certain young City favourite (and I'm not meaning Doku)

 

[Father Paul]

The professionals (and I'm not one of them) spot talent and technique but some players learn from their mistakes whilst others don't

There isn't some magical incremental learning curve and whilst we've already seen the best of Rashford it might be the same for a certain young City favourite (and I'm not meaning Doku)

Basically players all develop in different ways and some reach a ceiling earlier than others. Where Doku is in terms of a curve I'm not sure but one thing seems clear to me. It is highly unlikely he will reach the heights of KDB or indeed a host of other players to wear the shirt over the last 15 years.

 

[Centurions]

Basically players all develop in different ways and some reach a ceiling earlier than others. Where Doku is in terms of a curve I'm not sure but one thing seems clear to me. It is highly unlikely he will reach the heights of KDB or indeed a host of other players to wear the shirt over the last 15 years.

If he reaches the heights of Raheem Sterling at his peak I'd be more than happy with Doku. Comparing him to KdB or David Silva (say) seems a touch unfair.

 

[Craig]

The professionals (and I'm not one of them) spot talent and technique but some players learn from their mistakes whilst others don't

There isn't some magical incremental learning curve and whilst we've already seen the best of Rashford it might be the same for a certain young City favourite (and I'm not meaning Doku)

Oh, sorry you meant Foden then? Wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the case with him.

 

[Marvin.]

Basically players all develop in different ways and some reach a ceiling earlier than others. Where Doku is in terms of a curve I'm not sure but one thing seems clear to me. It is highly unlikely he will reach the heights of KDB or indeed a host of other players to wear the shirt over the last 15 years.

Doku already has the most successful take-ons by minute played of any Premier League player. What needs to do is add some composure so that the dribble ends in a shot on target or a pass. I take the opposite position from you and suggest that Doku is one of a few players with outstanding potential. I agree that players develop differently. Justin Kluivert took a leap this season. He is 25 and prior to this season was just another player with potential, now he's a really top player. I don't see why you are pessimistic about Doku.