2020/21 Abdoulaye Doucouré

[KaiserEFC]

I'm worried our centre midfield problems haven't been solved at all. Like you, I'm more on board with Allan being our destroyer but I feel like he needs some creativity alongside him that Doucoure can't provide.

My one concern with Allan is that his commendable “ball seeking missile” attitude is great but he can leave us totally caught out when he doesn’t get the ball and Doucouré is having an off day thus giving the opposition yards of space to run into

 

[Pat Butcher]

He is a perfect Prem player, I got stick for saying this but he is as good as Sissoko, he does score afew when he plays as a number 10 which shouldn't happen here

Fast and strong body nothing more, still he qould start in my first choice 11

 

[BigDuncTributeBand]

I am definitely not convinced by this one. I'm really not sure on his role in the team. Considering he's not playing as a defensive mid I think he needs to be much better on the ball than he's showing.

Role seems to be changing week on week, same with Allan and whoever the 3rd midfielder is. Can’t help. Was playing right back when we had the ball today, absolutely comical stuff from Carlo. Fine get the fullbacks high as they are the best wide players we have at crossing but just letting Delph and Doucoure drop in to cover was insane - no overlaps from Delph or Doucoure meant there were no options for Kenny or Niels when they did get the ball. Doucoure didn’t look like he knew what he wasn’t meant to be doing. Been a bit underwhelming so far but not helped by constantly being asked to do a different job.

 

[Bebeto]

Has to be the one playing further forward not
Gomes...this is where he is at his best...he would have provided more pace and drive in the attacking areas...

 

[dannyboy]

Role seems to be changing week on week, same with Allan and whoever the 3rd midfielder is. Can’t help. Was playing right back when we had the ball today, absolutely comical stuff from Carlo. Fine get the fullbacks high as they are the best wide players we have at crossing but just letting Delph and Doucoure drop in to cover was insane - no overlaps from Delph or Doucoure meant there were no options for Kenny or Niels when they did get the ball. Doucoure didn’t look like he knew what he wasn’t meant to be doing. Been a bit underwhelming so far but not helped by constantly being asked to do a different job.

Definitely think he´d benefit from understanding his role in the team. I can´t ever see him contributing much in attack so in games like today where we see a lot of the ball I think he´ll struggle. When we need to be more solid against the better teams, I hope that´s where he comes into his own.

 

[AussieToffee11]

Has to be the one playing further forward not
Gomes...this is where he is at his best...he would have provided more pace and drive in the attacking areas...

Completely agree - he is wasted as a pure defensive midfielder. When he gets on the ball and drives he is dangerous and draws defenders.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I've been a tad disappointed in him so far.

 

[Drico]

I think it's hard to judge the new guys in a team that's had to chop and change so much. Injuries I can accept, but the suspensions are bugging me. These have been self-inflicted wounds and, really, we need to start using our heads better. I'm optimistic the new guys will be effective in a more settled side.

 

[riddick]

I've been a tad disappointed in him so far.

It seems weird to me that we don't seem to really have a plan for him. Honestly would keep Allan as a DM and move him further up.

 

[ToffeeTim]

I expected him to play more attacking of the midfield 3 but he's often the deepest. He should be the one getting into the box to help Calvert Lewin.

He was very pedestrian today but so was the rest of the midfield. They didn't play like the match mattered

 

[Egil Olsen]

Role seems to be changing week on week, same with Allan and whoever the 3rd midfielder is. Can’t help. Was playing right back when we had the ball today, absolutely comical stuff from Carlo. Fine get the fullbacks high as they are the best wide players we have at crossing but just letting Delph and Doucoure drop in to cover was insane - no overlaps from Delph or Doucoure meant there were no options for Kenny or Niels when they did get the ball. Doucoure didn’t look like he knew what he wasn’t meant to be doing. Been a bit underwhelming so far but not helped by constantly being asked to do a different job.

Agree. We use him completely wrong - not only in this match, but in general. When JR plays, he is used to cover the room he leaves. Then we lose his box to box skills, and he gets a limited role in the team.

If it is absolutely necessary to give JR so much freedom, then I think we can move on to 4-2-3-1. Where Allan and AD are number 6, and where AD may be the most offensive of them. JR number. 10, and then put someone who can run as number 7. I think it will give better balance in the team, and AD will contribute more offensively.

 

[gwladysnight]

He is bang average. Adds athleticism to our midfield but his decision-making is shocking.

 

[bitter-no-better]

mom in a couple of games this season. Don’t think the line up helped him today. No creative players to work with.

 

[gwladysnight]

mom in a couple of games this season. Don’t think the line up helped him today. No creative players to work with.

When was he man of the match ?

 

[TheBigIguana]

He's always pretty much been an athletic player who can occasionally do some helpful footballing stuff. He remains that. When guys like James and Richarlison are doing their thing he's a good piece to have stitching things together both on and off the ball. When he's supposed to be one of the better guys in the team he isn't really that. I don't think he's bad but at the same time the value for money question feels legitimate.