Ex-Wolf Watch

[Derby Wolf]

I've never seen a footballer ball watch as much as him, not because he's lazy, but because he doesn't read the game. I used to see it in all it's glory from the NB upper. That as much as the finishing and the crossing is why he'll never fulfill the perceived potential. I don't know if it's apocryphal, but the story about Pulis switching his wing at half time so he could always be in his ear rings true even if it isn't.

Was certainly true in the 2-1 win at Boro in 2018.

First half he was up against Douglas and second half he was on the same side against Doherty. After the sendings off their entire tactic was "give it Traore" Downing on the opposite side was practically ignored.

 

[Alan]

I think if he'd been anywhere near his potential then he'd never have been anywhere near playing for wolves (let alone a season in the championship with Middlesbrough!)

Oh, absolutely no question. Didn’t mean it in Wolves-centric way; had he worked out the mentality to match his physicality he would have been playing with the big boys for sure, IMO.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Oh, absolutely no question. Didn’t mean it in Wolves-centric way; had he worked out the mentality to match his physicality he would have been playing with the big boys for sure, IMO.

Think technical ability would've still let him down at the very top level.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

If he were that close to being good enough then someone better than Fulham would have taken a flier on him given he was on a free.

 

[Alan]

If he were that close to being good enough then someone better than Fulham would have taken a flier on him given he was on a free.

I guess I didn’t make my point clearly enough.

It’s not about what he is, it’s what he could have been. By the time he was with us the ship had sailed, though I don’t think it’s hard to understand why managers are seduced by the tools he’s got.

 

[Banjo]

I guess I didn’t make my point clearly enough.

It’s not about what he is, it’s what he could have been. By the time he was with us the ship had sailed, though I don’t think it’s hard to understand why managers are seduced by the tools he’s got.

Presumably (and forgive me if I'm putting words into your mouth) you mean "what he could have been" based on his physical attributes and ball control at speed i.e. "if only he had x, y, and z to go with it" - as opposed to "he has got all the attributes, someone just needed to realise his potential".

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Bit pointless though isn't it.

If Andy Keogh were a better finisher then he'd have made a decent PL striker at his peak. He wasn't so he didn't.

 

[Banjo]

Yeah. Aunties, balls and uncles.

 

[AndyWolves]

Oh, absolutely no question. Didn’t mean it in Wolves-centric way; had he worked out the mentality to match his physicality he would have been playing with the big boys for sure, IMO.

I think the point TT makes about his football brain is relevant too. He could have been far more effective if he'd had a football brain, even if everything else about him was the same.

Even simple things like running in behind would have made a huge difference to his impact.

 

[AndyWolves]

Bit pointless though isn't it.

If Andy Keogh were a better finisher then he'd have made a decent PL striker at his peak. He wasn't so he didn't.

I'd say the difference is that there wasn't anything at all about Keogh that made you wonder "what if?"

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Bit pointless though isn't it.

If Andy Keogh were a better finisher then he'd have made a decent PL striker at his peak. He wasn't so he didn't.

The majority of professional footballers have a good football brain, the majority of footballers do not have Adama's technical and physical attributes.

Also, obviously his brain and understanding should/could have been coached. You can't coach someone to be as fast as him.

It's not pointless, it's an interesting topic in my opinion.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I think the point TT makes about his football brain is relevant too. He could have been far more effective if he'd had a football brain, even if everything else about him was the same.

Even simple things like running in behind would have made a huge difference to his impact.

Compare him his competition at Fulham and there are similar gaps in ability but those other players don't get fawned over even a 10th of what Adama does because he has a couple of freak aspects to his make up.

Wilson and Iwobi both attracted plenty of scorn on this forum over years but both are technically much more rounded than Traore has ever been and mentally they're light years ahead of him. Neither of them are ever going to be stand out top level players though and I'm not sure anyone would ever dream of suggesting they could be due to the shortfalls in parts of their respective games. For some reason Traore manages to blind that reality with a few stand out characteristics and have people dreaming of what ifs that shouldn't have been entering their minds for at least 5 years.

 

[AndyWolves]

Compare him his competition at Fulham and there are similar gaps in ability but those other players don't get fawned over even a 10th of what Adama does because he has a couple of freak aspects to his make up.

Wilson and Iwobi both attracted plenty of scorn on this forum over years but both are technically much more rounded than Traore has ever been and mentally they're light years ahead of him. Neither of them are ever going to be stand out top level players though and I'm not sure anyone would ever dream of suggesting they could be due to the shortfalls in parts of their respective games. For some reason Traore manages to blind that reality with a few stand out characteristics and have people dreaming of what ifs that shouldn't have been entering their minds for at least 5 years.

Thats the point though, Wilson, Iwobi etc are fairly ubiquitous in the game.

Someone of Adamas physical and technical attributes is almost unique in the game, which is why some people (me included) get misty eyed about what could have been.

 

[Tony Towner]

The majority of professional footballers have a good football brain, the majority of footballers do not have Adama's technical and physical attributes.

Also, obviously his brain and understanding should/could have been coached. You coach someone to be as fast as him.

It's not pointless, it's an interesting topic in my opinion.

It can't or someone would have done it

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

It can't or someone would have done it

Well it can, and is.

Just not in this instance with Adama.

 

[Tony Towner]

Well it can, and is.

Just not in this instance with Adama.

You said his brain and understanding

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Thats the point though, Wilson, Iwobi etc are fairly ubiquitous in the game.

Someone of Adamas physical and technical attributes is almost unique in the game, which is why some people (me included) get misty eyed about what could have been.

I loved watching Adama. He'd get you off your seat and on occasion would do something incredible.

I never understood the anger towards him, but then I don't understand the anger towards someone like Hwang at the moment either.

I understood the anger towards Johnson or JOH or Claridge though, who were genuine cunts.

 

[Tony Towner]

I loved watching Adama. He'd get you off your seat and on occasion would do something incredible.

I never understood the anger towards him, but then I don't understand the anger towards someone like Hwang at the moment either.

I understood the anger towards Johnson or JOH or Claridge though, who were genuine cunts.

Anger towards Hwang at least in my case is what he and what he represents rather than who he is

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Anger towards Hwang at least in my case is what he and what he represents rather than who he is

Well that's unfair then isn't it.

 

[Tony Towner]

Well that's unfair then isn't it.

Is it? Not like I'm at games booing him