Confirmed Signing Abdoulaye Doucouré

[Zatara]

For me, it depends on a couple of factors


1) Length of Contract
2) Wages
3) Fee

If we tie him to a 3 year with option of a 3rd, with wages similar (if not less), to what Allan is being mooted at then it's good business. If we're getting him at max £20m, then for me it's good business. Don't want to be going above that though.

Don't want to be saddled with an old 33 year old on £120k a week who can't get a game anymore cause his legs have gone. So 3 years with club option for me.

4 year deal for Doucoure takes him to 31
4 year deal for Allan takes him to 33

Gives us 2-3 seasons to build the rest of the squad

 

[barneygumble]

4 year deal for Doucoure takes him to 31
4 year deal for Allan takes him to 33

Gives us 2-3 seasons to build the rest of the squad

Thought Doucoure was 29 too. Even then, i'd be concerned about getting my hands burned with "big" contracts, both should be 3+1 for me.

 

[voodoobloo]

My hornet mate says he’s really good. He has/had the same opinion on Richarlison and Sarr. He says their midfield and forwards were great last season but defence woeful, “top 6 midfield and attack, League 1 defence”.

 

[Exeter_Gently]

is doucoure that good or is he gonna flop here like bolasie

Don't think anyone is going over the top claiming he's "that good" but he's certainly gona improve us the centre of the park.

 

[Terrarian]

This was on the Watford fans site, I had a good chuckle at the bold bit

He threw his toys out of the pram at the start of last season when we wouldnt sell him to big 7 side Everton. He was the catalyst of our relegation with his own goal against Brighton and giving away a penalty against Wham. Has been talking up leaving the club for years. I loved him when he was good but cant stand the caant now. One of the senior pros who couldnt be arsed to keep us up. £35m yes please.

 

[Bob Elstone]

Amazing scouting from Brands. Totally out of left field this one.

 

[st.domingo]

£35m yes please.

 

[Harryflashman]

Amazing scouting from Brands. Totally out of left field this one.

I don’t disagree with the idea but it’s a proof of the pudding signing really isn’t it ? If it works out like richarlison then it’s a superb piece of business if it’s like siggurdsson then obviously it’s a nightmare and he’ll rightly have to answer questions .

i’m not wanting to sit on the fence , although it’s my Natural position , but if he’s what we want and they believe he’s the fit it’d be crazy to take a risk on some Ligue 1 Algerian Just to placate criticism.

 

[matty1878]

He's a decent player, but I just can't help but feel this has a Sigurdsson/Schneiderlin/Bolasie signing written all over it.

Player moves to us in his late 20's, on high wages, whose value will only decrease should we decide to sell. If he's a success then arguably we're only getting a balanced return on the investment we put into him, if he's mediocre / a flop then it'll be even more money flushed down the Finch Farm loo.

Whatever happened to Brand's strategy to focus on promising youth.

we don’t know if (a) it’s true and (b) If that’s the case we can’t judge players we might sign on previous ones.

 

[gaz1976]

Enter Dave !!

 

[chazzle_dazzle]

I do think there is an element of the "here and now" with the players we are linked with and potentially signing. I think this summer we will prioritise this over younger players to give Ancelotti a base to build on which is more in his team and style - get us up the table and get better players in.

Maybe a few younger players (Tyler Onyango and others) will start building in that time too

 

[john jako]

I actually don’t mind this signing if it happens.

 

[ValBlue]

Would actually happily take Doucoure but knowing Watford, they’ll throw their toys out if the pram and demand £70 million from us. Need him to push for a move himself to get the price to a reasonable amount. Him and Allan (with Gomes in a 3) makes our midfield massively more improved with grit, engine, tenacity and an eye for goal. We’d need to shift a couple of of either Delph, Sig, Tom (sorry), Bernard to accommodate the incomings though

 

[Mat70s]

we don’t know if (a) it’s true and (b) If that’s the case we can’t judge players we might sign on previous ones.

You kind of can. The pattern of signings over several windows indicates a consistent ‘mistake’ being made in terms of recruitment and this one ticks a few concerning boxes. That said, I think he’s a good player who will add the steel currently missing.

 

[ValBlue]

Just for comparisons sake, if you do get both you’re looking at either of the following 442:
Rich-DCL
Iwobi-Allan-Doucoure-Walcott(Ocampos?)
Digne-Mina/Branth-Mason- Coleman(Arias)

or 433:
Rich-DCL-Walcott(Ocampos)
Docoure-Allan-Gomes
Digne-Mina/Branth-Mason-Coleman(Arias)

with Gblammo, Walcott, 2 defenders, Tom/Sig, Iwobi on the bench. It’s not horrific depth

not usually a fan of the hypothetical lineup but you can see how massively we are improved with both midfielders coming in. Missing out on gabs in order to get Doucouré is a blessing in disguise. We lacked aggression, a proper tackle, directness and an odd goal in midfield. Like him or not, he’s in his prime age and has a record of goals from a midfield 3 in the Prem. wait it out and get him for around 20mil and it’s a good transfer