2024/25 Abdoulaye Doucoure

[Axlswhk]

One of the best front press player in the league and a team with good front press enjoys plenty of benefits at both ends.

we need to fill this gap with a better player without diminishing the work rate significantly.

 

[pfim]

Telling we also offered a contract.

The club know it too.

They're right to not pay him the wages he's on now - we've got to grow beyond Doucoure and certainly not Doucoure as our highest earner.

But considering the amount of players we need, ideally I'd have liked him to stay a year or two but never on the wages he's on now.

We need numbers, the club know it, everyone knows it. The club has options now, however.

 

[matty1878]

We need numbers, the club know it, everyone knows it. The club has options now, however.

obviously we’re freeing up doucs wages
for another two/three players

 

[GrandOldTeam]

We need numbers, the club know it, everyone knows it. The club has options now, however.

Problem is, and the reality is - the club doesn't have infinite resource.

The more bodies we need, the more thinly transfer fees are spread.

 

[Bluebonic]

I’m glad he is going, because him and Harrison both give the ball to the opposition way too many times. As others have said he always grafted and scored some majorly important goals for us. I think the best I can say is that if he ever plays at our gaff for some other team, I will applaud his name when it got called out on the tannoy. I think thats the best any professional player can hope for when visiting a former team.

 

[roy vernon]

Had he been prepared to sign an extension for less than £50 k per week, then yes, it would have been worth keeping him around as a squad player. As he clearly wasn't prepared to do that it was the correct decision to let him go. On the plus side, at least Moyes won't be tempted to select him as a starter next season.

Thanks and goodbye Mr. Doucoure, poor footballer, great athlete, unfortunately the years are catching up with his athleticism now.

 

[efcste97]

he saved the club and, for that reason alone, fully deserved the contract at the time. Right time to move on now, would've been so stupid to match or increase his current wages.

 

[Jokerdan]

A 20% pay cut to a £100k per week player with, at best, two more years in him is nothing but a 20% pay cut annually to the average working man is catastrophic. And let's not forget, said player will still get that money irrespective of whether or not he plays.

There should be no more 'old skool' Everton, retaining players because of what they have done or their professing of love for us. We are now in the hard nose business world and our new owners are setting out their stall as to how we need to be run if we are looking to achieve some sort of modicum of success.

 

[pfim]

Problem is, and the reality is - the club doesn't have infinite resource.

The more bodies we need, the more thinly transfer fees are spread.

They offered him a reduced wage, per reports, he declined.

If we give in to his asking price, that's over 6 million per year. It's not going to be a one year contract, assume two. 12 million now. Our not so infinite resource is dwindling. You sign a younger player to a 3 million per season contract with a 15 million fee, the math washes out (3 mil amort per season) and you have a sellable asset going forward, that will improve.

I don't even have to give an example at those numbers, we have one in the squad now.

Putting aside the fact that he is where counter attacks go to die, I understand there's gap to fill, he played a large role in the squad the past two seasons. But its better to move on.

This is the right move for the club. We should be looking to improve the squad, not keep stagnant. Signing a 32 year old to a large contract is stagnation if you're not signing Mo Salah, and he's no Mo Salah.

 

[mikel_88]

Wish him the best has been one of the key reasons why this team has stayed up, welcome back anytime after he retires and should always get a good reaction from the fans

 

[Jokerdan]

if i got offered significantly more money it would change my life

a footballer who's played in the premier league for around 10 years and has had a 120k a week contract for five of them will not have their life changed if they're suddenly on 50-60k a week. the money they make is obscene and there's nothing more he can own or do that he couldn't already. i dont begrudge them earning the money btw. id rather the money went to a traditionally working class player who actually makes the game happen, than suits or executives.

also its a job that is related to your performance and ability to do it, his has massively declined.

if we're gonna try and compare it to normal life it's like if I used to be able to do 35 hours a week but now I can only do 20 and when I write an email every second word is spelt wrong

You forgot to use 'Capitals' at the beginning of every paragraph. You're fired!

 

[Blue Alert]

By the same token, we can't pay top dollar to anyone but the best, either.

Signing a player is usually a gamble. You never know whether it’s going to work out. “The best” is, therefore, frequently dependent upon what a player does after signing.

I agree that the days of regularly (and seemingly indiscriminately) offering top tier pay packets to unproven players should be gone… but there still may be reasons to offer a player with huge potential, and a number of choices of destination, larger wages to get them here. But it should be an exception. A luxury sat atop an otherwise disciplined pay structure. Indeed that discipline can be the reason funds might be available for an occasional roll of those high-stakes dice.

 

[maccavennie]

The correct decision.

 

[GoldenToffee]

Massive thank you and goodbye. Huge contribution to our safety and always gave his best with a fantastic attitude. Professional from start to end. All the best Doucs, once a blue always a blue.

 

[Librarian]

Interesting

Since Abdoulaye Doucoure signed in 2020...

Everton with Doucoure are;

played 148
wins 55
draws 34
defeats 59
points 199,
1.34 per game

Everton without Doucoure are:

Games 41
Wins 4
Draws 16
Defeats 21
Points 28,
0.68 per game