Would be quite happy to see him leave if I'm being honest (assuming we get decent enough money). I've seen a lot posting on twitter saying they'd be gutted and he was such a fantastic player for us but for me he epitomises what went wrong this season. He showed little to no effort throughout the campaign compared to his high standards in the previous seasons. Clearly didn't want to be here once the season started poorly and didn't raise his game at all to stave off relegation.
Anyone who wants him enough can convince themselves we got relegated DESPITE Doucoure. Change of managers etc. Should be no less than £30 million. He will go on to succeed wherever he goes, played at about 60% for us for most the season. Clearly wanted to go Everton.
We really need to get a good transfer fee for him though, to make it worthwhile. We can probably afford to lose him and Pereyra without major impact to the side. If we get over £30m for those two, then it would be a necessary thing to do in helping cover some financial shortfall in order to maintain a big talented squad for the coming season.
For me, he’s quite symbolic of how Gino strayed from the operating model that had been successful previously, in terms of buying low, providing a shop window, and then selling off, as they did with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Richarlison. He was an unpolished diamond, who developed and reached what was likely to be just about his max value, but we prevented him leaving. After that, his performances and value declined. Whether that’s because we had ambitions to push on and felt like we couldn’t replace him, or because we thought another year would improve his value even further, it’s hard to say. Neither happened, and now we have an unmotivated player, who’ll probably leave for a fraction of what we could have sold him for 18 months ago.
I’d have wanted £50m two years ago, but the 2018/19 season he was thoroughly outshone by Capoue and the season just ended he was still nowhere near his best. Has he downed tools? Did the system not suit him? Was he always this level but now our expectations are much higher? Whatever the reason, he’s still got to be worth at least £25m, surely? £40m to Everton.
The thing about Doucs is all other fans overrate him so hopefully someone will just offer the money based on previous seasons. I think we would do well to get 30 million for him now, I wouldn't be sad to see him go either.
I think we'll get about £20m for him. His decline this season in particular was pretty alarming. In hindsight it's quite clear he's a confidence player and once that went he was a shadow of himself.
Reckon there will be lots of forum fury when all the "undisclosed" fees start happening for Doucs, Geri and Sarr!
On the contrary all the "Gino is a business god" disciples will claim we got a £40m+sell on clause for each. The doubters amongst us will assume an embarrassing £15m for the lot. We'll all be happy and consider ourselves proved right.
One of my favourite Watford players. Although hasn’t reached the same standards this season it could be argued that’s somewhat to do with the overall standard of the team and poor tactics etc. Not sure why so many are claiming he wasn’t trying, stopped caring or wanted out. I personally didn’t see that, always looked gutted when things weren’t going well and still tried to use his energy and drive to get forwards and back continuously. Not against him going now either way, we need a change and if he gets the chance to move on to a new challenge then I wish him well.
If someone offers £30m for AD, then I would bite their hands off. He looked like he had two left feet for most of the season.
I think we would be lucky to get half of that davisp2, I'd bite their hands off if they offered even that (15m). He has been crap for a couple of seasons now, in fact I would argue he was a one season wonder and has not reached the heights of that season since.
Seen that Everton are interested in him (as well as Sarr). Hope he goes there because they're a) rich b) stupid and c) have a midfield which is absolute toilet, what would be a £20m player to one club might be a £30m player to the Ev
I'm honestly not sure what he's supposed to be good at anymore. He's looked like a midfield Andre Gray for at least 18 months now. A clumsy, ungainly oaf who now struggles with the basic concepts of controlling and passing a football, and who clearly bought into his own hype far too seriously. Will not be sad to see the back of him at all. If we get more than £15m for him now we are laughing. He's toilet.
To be fair to AD, I have no idea why he was played in the advanced midfield role, when he has no finesse. He is on £70k per week, as is Gray. I am sure the owners want to get both of the books
If Arsenal miss out on all their main midfield targets, (and that’s likely if they miss out in European competition by failing to win the FA Cup), they will sign Doucoure. With Torreira on his way back to Italy, they can afford our £30 million, improve his wages (and a nice signing on fee), and still have saved money.
I think he'll go for a good fee. Players of his age doesn't just lose their ability. He is as good now as he was a couple of years ago, he just needs a club that will bring out the best.
Good move all round really, Arsenal would get a decent midfielder I can see him doing well there and we would get 30 million and Doucs would get a move to a big club possibly playing in Europe and he wouldn't even have to move house.
Yeah, he's certainly a good player. Retrieve the ball, pass it on to a better ball player and repeat, that should be his role. The fact he was the #10 in our team making runs off Deeney and operating as one of our key goal threats says more about us than him. Actually, more I come to think of it, what the hell was Pearson thinking?
Doucoure has had 2 and a half very decent seasons for us, maybe not quite hitting the heights of his first season all The time. The main reason we were so good for most of last season was because of his partnership with Capoue. This season he’s been poor, but then so has almost everyone else. On his day he’s one of the best box to box midfielders the country . I think if he goes to the rugby team he will flourish.
TBF he was very effective in that role initially when he was taken from the holding role and effectively swapped with Capoue. He may not be brilliant, but he's been our best box to box CM for the last few seasons and will really be missed when he moves.
I think with Deeney not being the most mobile anymore it didn’t help. With Deeney as a lone striker in that system you need 8-10 goals from your CAM. Doucs was good for the pressing from the front but end product in final third was way too inconsistent, I’d say his shooting was atrocious. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
His shooting is bad and his passing is even worse, he passes more to the opposition than he does his own team and that is not an exaggeration
How have Everton even spoken to him yet, have we agreed he can? If we have not given Everton permission to speak to him then surely they are in breach of regulations yet again by making an illegal approach to our player?
