Jeremy Doku dances past the Cottagers’ defense and unleashes a ferocious strike from distance to give Manchester City a 3-1 advantage over Fulham at the Etihad. See the Doku screamer in the video below. Hopefully for Manchester City fans this is the first of many from outside the box for Doku.
Watch out if Manchester City’s wingers start scoring from outside the box.
This is a problem they’ve come up against throughout the years since Guardiola took over. From Silva to Grealish to Doku, they all have very little time and space on the ball to get a shot off. But here, on a bit of a counter attack, Doku is able to drive at the defender.
When teams pack the box against Manchester city, they are going to have to score goals from longer distances to open up the defense. I wonder if Guardiola is telling his wingers to take more shots from outside the box?
In the 2023-24 English Premier season, Doku played in 29 matches. Scoring 3 goals and assisting 8 times, demonstrating his valuable contribution to the team’s attacking efforts. However, the knock against Doku is he needs to score more goals in general. So far in the current 2024-25 season, he has made 6 appearances and has found the back of the net once – with this screamer versus Fulham.
Initially, it looks like the pace and the spin on the ball from the Doku screamer forces Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to dive the wrong way. The power behind this strike by Doku made the ball swerve and confused the goalie.
Smartly, Rico Lewis gets the ball out wide to Doku. And with a quick little feint and hesitation, Doku looks like he’s going to go back outside, which frees him to drive the ball on goal and score.
Doku’s goal comes in the 82 minute. He’d come on for Grealish in 62 minute. So there will be talk by the critics of how Doku is more dangerous than Grealish. Along with talk of how much money Grealish is making. Plus, how expensive of a transfer he was for the club. Although hopefully Grealish will get his goals too. Especially ones from outside the box. Like this screamer from Doku.
