2020/21 Abdoulaye Doucouré

[TheBigIguana]

Which is why it was so alien to the team.

I've just got his heatmap up on Opta.

We want him a) much more central and b) much more advanced

View attachment 106799

I agree but it still isn't the same as saying he played fullback. Was he defending on the end of the backline when Newcastle had possession? No? Then he isn't the fullback for that match.

 

[BlueToff]

I agree but it still isn't the same as saying he played fullback. Was he defending on the end of the backline when Newcastle had possession? No? Then he isn't the fullback for that match.

Right, but he was evidently drifting over to where a 'full-back would 'normally' be when we had possession, like Delph was on the other side.

The full-backs were pushed up and I got the logic, as we then kept a solid four at the back.

However, it completely negated Doucoure's best offensive ability which is marauding forward with or without the ball, which would also have given us another runner we desperately needed.

Even with the personnel who started, it would surely have made more sense to have Gomes dropping there, as he at the least has a better passing range than Doucoure?

 

[TheBigIguana]

Right, but he was evidently drifting over to where a 'full-back would 'normally' be when we had possession, like Delph was on the other side.

The full-backs were pushed up and I got the logic, as we then kept a solid four at the back.

However, it completely negated Doucoure's best offensive ability which is marauding forward with or without the ball, which would also have given us another runner we desperately needed.

Even with the personnel who started, it would surely have made more sense to have Gomes dropping there, as he at the least has a better passing range than Doucoure?

Yes it would have made sense. He tried to use Gylfi and Gomes as dual #10s but that ignored that Gomes has never been that type of player and his creativity from his usual position offers no sign that he could be that and that Gylfi is a bad playmaker from open play. So yes Doucoure being the one to drop deep was misguided but honestly with that lineup I'm not sure a good solution existed. As bad as the rest of our wingers can be they should have been used.

 

[Joey66]

IMO he's playing far too deep........

 

[neilsyd]

IMO he's playing far too deep........

Yeah I agree. He scored a few goals for Watford and I thought he’d add a few to our team. Or at least be a threat getting in the box. It’s ok to play a deeper role when the front three are all playing but to still be so restricted when they’re not is disappointing.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Least he can run which puts him ahead of the majority of our other midfielders.

 

[Brendan Janus]

Headless chicken !!

 

[DaChunk]

IMO he's playing far too deep........

Been surprised to see him sitting a fair amount deeper than Allan.

 

[MACCA75]

He can be a physical presence in the box but he needs to get in there more. We should be playing a bit more direct in my opinion.

 

[mrb85]

So, is it that
a)- he's not as good a player we thought he was
b)- he's not yet got the self confidence to go forward
c)- his role under CA is more restricted than anticipated

b) for me. If it wasn't for the fact that he's a very experienced player I'd say he's a bit overawed with life at GP. Certainly he seems reluctant to open up and so play to his full potential.

 

[Saint Domingo]

So, is it that
a)- he's not as good a player we thought he was
b)- he's not yet got the self confidence to go forward
c)- his role under CA is more restricted than anticipated

b) for me. If it wasn't for the fact that he's a very experienced player I'd say he's a bit overawed with life at GP. Certainly he seems reluctant to open up and so play to his full potential.

Perhaps he’s doing the running for a right winger (Sigurdsson) with no pace and a right back (Kenny) with no pace. On the other side of the pitch Allan is covering Gomes’ lack of work rate also so Doucoure is mindful that Allan is also being dragged out of position.

Doucoure and Allan can’t be assessed as midfielders until they are surrounded by competent team mates that they don’t have to cover for all the time. Wide players with pace and work rate, full backs with pace and work rate, central defenders who can bring the ball out and start the play. Maybe then they could do what we brought them into do rather than trying to do everything for us.

 

[Bluebonic]

I think you are overthinking it. With James, decent team, without James kack team. We need someone close to James ability to see the moves and dictate the game.

 

[Billy Dean]

He can be a physical presence in the box but he needs to get in there more. We should be playing a bit more direct in my opinion.

Longer term maybe replace Gomes with Godfrey in our 433. Godfrey can sit deeper like Allan which would allow Doucoure to push on more

 

[Lanolin]

So, is it that
a)- he's not as good a player we thought he was
b)- he's not yet got the self confidence to go forward
c)- his role under CA is more restricted than anticipated

b) for me. If it wasn't for the fact that he's a very experienced player I'd say he's a bit overawed with life at GP. Certainly he seems reluctant to open up and so play to his full potential.

I suppose it depends how good a player you thought he was really. I think the answer for a lot of people must be a, because the level he's shown so far is exactly the sort of level I expected him to produce, and yet a lot of people appear to be disappointed. I think he's done fine so far personally, but I honestly don't think there's that much more to come from him. He's a decent PL midfielder, but no more than that in my opinion.

 

[Toffeelover]

basically to a great extent for a player to play really well depends on his team mates around him, are they playing well or just going through the motions.