Abdoulaye Doucore linked

[goldfish]

We're 'tracking' him, according to the Evening Standard.

Doesn't seem a very us signing, but he'd be a good one.

 

[Tring Wolf]

Apparently, he has agreed personal terms with Everton but the clubs haven’t come to agreement on a fee.

 

[reanswolf]

He is one I really like, but has his heart set on Everton apparently, though they are in the process of signing 2 CMs today.
£35m is way too high, so I am afraid this is old news anyway, we have again just been tentatively linked and I don't think we would look at him myself.

 

[moseleyite]

[...]has his heart set on Everton apparently[...]

Poor lad...

 

[Pessimistic Wolf]

He has often looked fantastic against us, but I understand he has gone missing for Watford on quite a few occasions. Still, his physicality and ball carrying abilities would be useful - a rich man's Tongo Doumbia.

 

[WalsallWolf]

I don't see us paying that kind of money at the moment, unfortunately

 

[marrs-guitar]

If the master negotiators of Everton ("30 million? For Alex Iwobi? Are you sure that's all you want? We can go higher if you like") can't agree a fee for him, we shouldn't even waste the phonebill money calling to enquire.

 

[goldfish]

Evening Standard just says Watford want 'more than £20m' for him, so who knows.

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

 

[Deleted member 5635]

Evening Standard just says Watford want 'more than £20m' for him, so who knows.

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

If Watford want more than £20m that definitely rules us out

 

[Black Coffee]

Evening Standard just says Watford want 'more than £20m' for him, so who knows.

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

As a mixed race man myself I think that type of article is more damaging rather than being 'progressive'.

A lot of black athletes are considered superiorly athletic across many sports look at the NBA & NFL for an example of this it's nothing to be ashamed of thinking that, I'm not offended personally by it.

Doucore is similar built to Patrick Viera a man who is the athletic type of midfielder everyone in football wants in their team he made that style famous

I don't see the issue with Doucore being compared to other imposing black midfielders as there isn't many 6ft 3/4 imposing white midfield players to compare him with if I'm being honest.

On Doucore he's the type of player are midfield could do with but I'm not sure it will happen

 

[Very Proud (AKA Still Proud)]

Evening Standard just says Watford want 'more than £20m' for him, so who knows.

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

Docoure and Neves passing and physicality scores, will let you determine which one is considered physical and which one more of a ball player.

 

[Pessimistic Wolf]

Evening Standard just says Watford want 'more than £20m' for him, so who knows.

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

In the broader context I absolutely agree that there is a tendency to focus excessively and sometimes exclusively on the "physicality" of black players, and this can be reductive and stereotypical. It does also fit into some pretty nasty historic connotations, so I am sorry if I've given that impression - it is certainly not my intention to imply that all black midfielders are useful in a side exclusively because of their physical prowess. Yaya Toure, despite being tall and powerful, made his name for his sublime technical ability.

I would argue though Doucoure's height and strength on the ball is one of his clearly identifiable assets, and an asset that we sorely miss in our midfield. I'm struggling to think of Wolves players from the past decade who have fit into that midfielder mould. In terms of powerful, tall midfielders, there's Doumbia, N'Diaye, at a real push Saiss and with far less technical ability, Karl Henry. Perhaps the difficulty in drawing more parallels is because we have been so bereft of that type of player?

At any rate, your point is well taken. Black footballers are complete players - not just 'pace', 'power' and 'size' - but with this particular footballer, his physicality and strength on the ball specifically would be an asset to our midfield.

 

[Pessimistic Wolf]

Although I should add that the rumoured Pahlinha is 6'3 so perhaps he offers similar assets to Doucoure?

 

[WolfLing]

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

That article’s first line about Pogba’s pace and power being talked about is where it falls down. It’s absolutely not the first thing that’s mentioned about Pogba.

It’s almost exclusively his unbelievable technique, or his bad attitude.

 

[OoohRobbieRobbie]

As a mixed race man myself I think that type of article is more damaging rather than being 'progressive'.

A lot of black athletes are considered superiorly athletic across many sports look at the NBA & NFL for an example of this it's nothing to be ashamed of thinking that, I'm not offended personally by it.

Doucore is similar built to Patrick Viera a man who is the athletic type of midfielder everyone in football wants in their team he made that style famous

I don't see the issue with Doucore being compared to other imposing black midfielders as there isn't many 6ft 3/4 imposing white midfield players to compare him with if I'm being honest.

On Doucore he's the type of player are midfield could do with but I'm not sure it will happen

Superb post.

 

[Peszkywolf]

Thing that annoys me is when black players are described as a 'beast'. Only white player that people call a beast is Andy Carroll.... and tbf he is actually a beast

 

[Royal wolf]

If Everton can’t agree a fee then we’ve got no chance

 

[Deleted member 4184]

Big strong athletic player. Sometimes we need that in the midfield

 

[Ponty]

Watford have put a big price on him but the longer he is still there the lower the price they’ll accept will become. They know his heart won’t be in it at Watford next season and will sell and the later in the window he goes the lower the fee. Not sure he’s the right player for us, certainly not at £35m , but at £20m he’d be worth the risk.

 

[Hoganstolemywife]

Fwiw, I think he's a quality player. Threw his toys out the pram when he didn't get his psg move but doesny stop him from being excellent

 

[Black Country Wanderer]

Evening Standard just says Watford want 'more than £20m' for him, so who knows.

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

Just another polite note,where has anyone focussed excessively on him being a black player or his physicality?
No one cares what colour he is,as long as he fits our system,and if hes a big lad then its worth mentioning isnt it?
I really dont get this obsession with some about race,as football fans we only care if they are good enough to play for us and improve the team,any other conotation is purely detrimental to the people that bring it up imo

 

[Martin Riggs]

Only in 2020 can you be linked with a player then someone request you don't talk about some of his main attributes because of the colour of his skin.

Moving on from that nonsense. He'd be a great signing, just what we need when we play with 3 in the middle, strong, athletic, carries the ball forward well - which is something we don't have in centre midfield.

 

[Rednal Wolf]

Thing that annoys me is when black players are described as a 'beast'. Only white player that people call a beast is Andy Carroll.... and tbf he is actually a beast

Bully was often described as a beast of a player was he not ?

 

[WickedWolfie]

Fwiw, I think he's a quality player. Threw his toys out the pram when he didn't get his psg move but doesny stop him from being excellent

Everything l've seen in the London press suggests that there is no way on God's earth that he would pass Nuno's character test.

 

[reanswolf]

He'd be a great signing, just what we need when we play with 3 in the middle, strong, athletic, carries the ball forward well - which is something we don't have in centre midfield.

Agree. Our CM lack that one attribute, to move forward. And that is not a criticism of any of them.

 

[manchesterwolf17]

For me, whether it's Doucoure or someone else, this position should be where we make the 'marquee' signing. Our lack of depth in the midfield is one thing, but we really miss this type of player so much for certain games, and have done for 2 seasons now.

 

[Werewolf of Wombourne]

Everything l've seen in the London press suggests that there is no way on God's earth that he would pass Nuno's character test.

Maybe he just hasn't played for the right manager yet?

 

[Wolfy McWolf-Face]

Would be a good signing if true. He is tall and athletic as well as being good on the ball. I dont say that because of his race, I say it because it is true and would be a quality addition.

 

[JayStringer]

Evening Standard just says Watford want 'more than £20m' for him, so who knows.

Also, just a polite note: please can we not compare him solely to other black players or focus excessively on his 'physicality'.

A second polite note to add to this, because it's a football messageboard and arguments break out : nobody is being accused of being racist when someone politely points out that they/we use tropes related to racism in our conversations. We're just being asked to note the tropes exist, and as people who aren't racist, not to use them. There's zero need at all for anyone to get defensive about a comment like this. Just to note it, think about it, and make small adjustments.

Back on topic, I've been saying throughout the window I think Doucoure would be a good signing. I still don't see it happening, but he'd go straight into our starting eleven in the 343.

 

[reanswolf]

Still expected to sign for Everton.

 

[thisisgil]

. We're just being asked to note the tropes exist, and as people who aren't racist, not to use them. There's zero need at all for anyone to get defensive about a comment like this. Just to note it, think about it, and make small adjustments.

Or you could just give your head a wobble and stop trying to tone police.

 

[JayStringer]

Still expected to sign for Everton.

Definitely feels more like an Everton-type signing, and less like a Nuno/Shi type.

 

[JayStringer]

Or you could just give your head a wobble and stop trying to tone police.

One final polite request, to actually read the comment you're replying to, which was saying there's no need to fight, no need to get defensive, and nobody is being accused of being racist.

 

[thisisgil]

One final polite request, to actually read the comment you're replying to, which was saying there's no need to fight, no need to get defensive, and nobody is being accused of being racist.

I'm not being defensive. You're the one that (unnecessarily) brought race into a discussion about a player on a football forum. If that's all you think about, then more power to you, but try not to inflict your ideologies onto others.

 

[Hoganstolemywife]

How do Everton not fall foul of FFP?

 

[WW1963]

Maybe he just hasn't played for the right manager yet?

He's been through about twenty at Watford. Seems that HE is the common denominator and not as good as some think he is.

 

[Deleted member 4023]

Everton stadium delayed due to design changes - they'll sign as many players as they can to keep the fans happy.

 

[WW1963]

How do Everton not fall foul of FFP?

Made £350m from sales over the last seven years.

 

[JayStringer]

I'm not being defensive. You're the one that (unnecessarily) brought race into a discussion about a player on a football forum. If that's all you think about, then more power to you, but try not to inflict your ideologies onto others.

Nope, someone else raised the issue and I added a little more detail and context to it. It's clearly not all I think about since, even in this thread, I've been talking about the player, the signing, and how I think he'd fit into our tactics. And, once again, part of my addition to that particular line of thought was to caution against the need to get into a fight on a messageboard. If that's what you're looking for, you won't get it from me. I'll be muting you and continuing on with the football chat.

 

[iantendo]

Monaco are after him as well according to the Daily Heil