2020/21 Abdoulaye Doucouré

[Jim Hopper]

 

[hktoffee]

Finally we find Gana replacement. With physical presence.

 

[Terrarian]

There's no denying last season he gets a shot off there without a doubt, a lot more energy and dynamism in the middle now and what a difference.

 

[Eggs]

.....that’s exactly what I meant when I kept saying we lack ‘powers of recovery’. When you were beyond our midfield you were in on the back four. Still need that attribute in central defence.

 

[Jim Hopper]

I love the way Coleman is there to get rid of it after Doucoure wins it.

 

[andy4efc]

3 games in and Doucs hsa already stopped two likely goals with a last ditch tackle.
Last season we go down to 10, and both teams score the resulting free kick to pile the misery on.

 

[Bullens Rd]

If that's Davies or Sigurdsson, heck even Gomes, they've stopped trying to catch Zaha about 30 yards ago and are jogging back, blowing out of their arses.

 

[Rooney_Tunes]

There's no denying last season he gets a shot off there scores a goal without a doubt, a lot more energy and dynamism in the middle now and what a difference.

 

[Prevenger17]

I remember feeling that was a much bigger deal than Doucoure made it look. We haven't had a midfielder who would have even tried to stop Zaha in that scenario since Gana.

 

[PhilM]

I think it helps that Doucouré ticks the boxes that many (most) Evertonians appreciate: hard-working; runs a lot; presses; happy to get stuck in with the tackles.

He'll get a lot of recognition alone from the fan base because of those attributes, and you only need to think back to Barry, Gana et al. for similar recognition.

People will be less forgiving for players like Iwobi and Walcott because they're less likely to in general get 'stuck in' and importantly when things aren't going well.

I'm not saying that's the right mentality, but its the Everton way. His performance was far from perfect yesterday, but for many that tackle will have saved it...

Zero to hero, ish. His and Allan's engines, tenacity and movement are what we've been missing for ages, and it's let our forward line actually play football.

 

[Paul Rideout]

Speed merchant!! Zaha was woeful for them, but last year he has a 1 on 1 from that passage of play.

 

[Neiler]

Hes awesome, massively important, engine, energy, mobility, transition, physicality, tenacity, presence, work rate, support play, leadership all in the duality of playing in the defensive and offensive areas of the pitch, one of those players you miss immensely if hes not there.

Him and Allan are a brilliant combo. A joy after last season.

 

[jceverton]

.....that’s exactly what I meant when I kept saying we lack ‘powers of recovery’. When you were beyond our midfield you were in on the back four. Still need that attribute in central defence.

Very impressed with this lads pace. Zaha is pretty rapid and he seemed fairly comfortable keeping up with him. I think he still had a bit more pace in his locker

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Just shows what some energy and physicality in midfield can do for you.

I hated playing Watford alone for Doucoure/Capoue in the midfield who would often bully us.

Sprinkle some quality around that area and you have a good set up.

 

[Eggs]

Very impressed with this lads pace. Zaha is pretty rapid and he seemed fairly comfortable keeping up with him. I think he still had a bit more pace in his locker

....obviously Zaha was running in possession of the football, but Doucoure will be fine in a leg race with most over that type of distance.