Everton

Everton: Greg O’Keeffe delighted to see Doucoure step up his performances this season

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Image for Everton: Greg O’Keeffe delighted to see Doucoure step up his performances this season

Greg O’Keeffe has been speaking on the All Together Now podcast about how good Abdoulaye Doucoure has been this season for Everton.

Last year, Doucoure was trusted by Carlo Ancelotti last summer having been handed 29 appearances in the Premier League, however, he was seemingly very limited in the final third.

The Frenchman only scored twice and registered three assists, which is in stark contrast to how he’s been performing this campaign after just seven appearances.

Is Doucoure the best midfielder in the league?

Yes!

Yes!

No!

No!

Rafael Benitez appears to be getting so much more out of the midfielder, who’s already got two goals and four assists to his name, including great assists against Burnley and Manchester United.

O’Keeffe spoke of his delight towards Doucoure this season.

“I thought he was a water carrier and so I thought he was a ‘get it and give it to better players’, you know, your typical defensive midfielder leggy, yeah he can get up the pitch, but…

“For a start, I didn’t see goals in him like he’s shown so far under Rafa, and I definitely didn’t see the little feints, the little lovely pass, the weighted, perfect measured pass to Townsend for that goal.

“His fitness is through the roof, his intensity and his effort is brilliant. You know what you get from him every week. He just seems to have gone to another level under the manager. I mean, he was the key man, really [v Man Utd].”

TIF Thoughts on Doucoure…

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To kick off this quiz on Everton transfers, which player was the Toffees' club-record transfer fee paid on according to Transfermarkt?

Doucoure is a very capable box-to-box midfielder given his presence all over the pitch, as the Frenchman has recorded the second-highest amount of pressures in both the defensive and middle third, while at the other end of the pitch, he’s recorded 32 passes that have moved 10 yards or more towards the opposition’s goal, which is seven more than anyone else in the Everton squad (FBRef).

The Frenchman has been deployed beside Allan this season in every Premier League game, and they appear to be striking up a dynamic partnership, with the Brazilian having racked up both the most tackles attempted and won, so his ability to dominate the midfield defensively has seemingly freed up Doucoure to get further forward in games.

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