Traore the enigma

[Parkins left foot]

If it was a choice between selling Cav or Costa now would probably go with the latter (though given what we paid for each not sure we get our money back in full for him on whilst we probably would at the very least with Cav)

Costa, just seems a bit devoid of any confidence and gets knocked off the ball too often - it's not just that we have gone up a division as in the cup v Liverpool (& I know that wasn't their full team, but nor was it ours) he was maintaining control, getting through on goal or holding players off to release Weimann for the second - not really managing to do that now.

 

[Pablowolf]

It is a weird one. Did the injury knock him back or did his form dip before, at all?

 

[Tony Towner]

https://www.expressandstar.com/spor...a-traore-must-improve-wolves-decision-making/

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

His decision making is very poor but I'm still bothered more about general technique and footballing awareness.

Plus we are now playing him as a striker and he almost never looks like he's going to score.

He's not an enigma as per the thread title, he's just not very good.

 

[Tredman]

If we are chucking our random statements I'll say he's just a faster more powerful version of Costa.

Both have a tendency to run in to dead ends and fall over a lot. Both can produce a random good cross / pass out of nowhere. One does tend to hide slightly more than the other though.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

This is the footballing equivalent of "But Labour" though, what someone else is doing is irrelevant. Costa hasn't been good enough this season either, I have seen him look like a footballer in the past though.

 

[Tony Towner]

The one thing we can all agree on is Traore's major asset is his pace, I'm also hoping we can all also agree that his movements are reactive rather than proactive. Unless you can coach instinct, which I don't believe you can, then he's not going to make a central forward. There's more chance of him finding the time and space he needs from a wider position

 

[Tredman]

It is indeed. But saying not good enough is similar. Not good enough for what? If it's to sit on our bench and provide and provide a completely different option then that's not correct.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It is indeed. But saying not good enough is similar. Not good enough for what? If it's to sit on our bench and provide and provide a completely different option then that's not correct.

We've brought him on quite a lot and more often than not he doesn't make an impact.

West Ham (indisputable)
Burnley (although we were already winning I think)
Southampton (generally dreadful but did play a major part in the first goal)
Arsenal (good but should have scored)

The rest of his sub appearances have made us worse if anything.

 

[SSB]

It’d be interesting to know how he performs in training. I’d go down and watch while walking the dog whilst I’ve got two weeks off, but don’t think they let you in anymore?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The one thing we can all agree on is Traore's major asset is his pace, I'm also hoping we can all also agree that his movements are reactive rather than proactive. Unless you can coach instinct, which I don't believe you can, then he's not going to make a central forward. There's more chance of him finding the time and space he needs from a wider position

Nuno doesn't trust him there at the moment because he takes up totally the wrong positions and plays it all the wrong way for us - starts way too deep, doesn't do the defensive bits, doesn't link with the striker, doesn't move off the ball, doesn't attack the back post.

He switched between a central role and out wide against Cardiff (to no effect) but otherwise we haven't played him wide since Spurs I think - which was a token five minute appearance where he gave the ball away pretty much every single time.

 

[Tredman]

We've brought him on quite a lot and more often than not he doesn't make an impact.

West Ham (indisputable)
Burnley (although we were already winning I think)
Southampton (generally dreadful but did play a major part in the first goal)
Arsenal (good but should have scored)

The rest of his sub appearances have made us worse if anything.

That's what you get with him.

I dont think Nuno envisaged him playing as much as he has so far, that's more down to the poor form of others. I could see improvement on Friday, agree with TT he is more suited to wider though.

Ultimately if we can get the adama who played against West ham, or wolves last season, to do what he does for 30 mins in 1 or 2 games out of 3 it's worth it (to me). The fee was moderately large (not that much more than hugill though), but i imagine his wages aren't high which is more important for FFP.

 

[Johnny75]

The one thing we can all agree on is Traore's major asset is his pace, I'm also hoping we can all also agree that his movements are reactive rather than proactive. Unless you can coach instinct, which I don't believe you can, then he's not going to make a central forward. There's more chance of him finding the time and space he needs from a wider position

Agree with all that. Given that speed of thought is as important as the physical side of the game he just isn't there. I don't think he will ever be.

I'd sign a replacement now.

 

[AndyWolves]

Agree with all that. Given that speed of thought is as important as the physical side of the game he just isn't there. I don't think he will ever be.

I'd sign a replacement now.

I'd agree.

Right now he's a physiological weapon at best

 

[White Wolf]

That's what you get with him.

I dont think Nuno envisaged him playing as much as he has so far, that's more down to the poor form of others. I could see improvement on Friday, agree with TT he is more suited to wider though.

Ultimately if we can get the adama who played against West ham, or wolves last season, to do what he does for 30 mins in 1 or 2 games out of 3 it's worth it (to me). The fee was moderately large (not that much more than hugill though), but i imagine his wages aren't high which is more important for FFP.

You don't believe Nuno intended to play our record signing as much as he has? He's only started four games in the league.

The money may not be a massive amount in terms of overall wealth but still plays a factor in FFP and in general I'd rather we not spend a substantial fee on a player who many of us would be happy to see us cut our losses on immediately. Comparing it to Hugill isn't a valid argument, West Ham have a history of wasting money with their board (which their fans are rightfully irritated by) and if that was us who would have bought him for £10m (so close to half of Traore's price) you can bet people here would be fuming - in fact I do believe many members of this forum were very against it when we were linked to Hugill in the summer of 2017 under Paul Lambert.

Won't argue against him having an impact against West Ham as he clearly did, we signed him to have an impact and this was the game where it worked - but the only other game where his output has actually led to anything was against Southampton, and the rest of the time he looked like a total amateur in that game. Against us in March - he was playing against 9 men defending a lead and wasn't that good.

If he was having an impact two-thirds of the time off the bench then I'd not be as irritated by him as I am, but he isn't doing that. He's played 15 league games and DW has been able to name only 4 of those were he has had some positive effect.

The one thing we can all agree on is Traore's major asset is his pace, I'm also hoping we can all also agree that his movements are reactive rather than proactive. Unless you can coach instinct, which I don't believe you can, then he's not going to make a central forward. There's more chance of him finding the time and space he needs from a wider position

Agree with all of this.

 

[Del Woppio]

I used to play football with a really quick lad who was a wide forward, and I was a cm. As soon as I got the ball I wanted him to be on his bike. I wouldn't look at him, I'd look at a space behind a fullback's back and ping it. It took about a month for him to figure out that when the ball's coming to me on the half turn he needs to start sprinting. Half time I'd make the pass, half the time I'd spot a better option, but he learned that run, that ball, that play. Adama really should be making that run, because you can see neves look for it

 

[sycophantia]

2 weeks ago I was ready to see him bombed out of the squad but in light of the fact he had a decent game against Liverpool, was crap versus Fulham and then decent yesterday, is it worth persevering? Has he turned a bit of a corner? (Maybe a kink in the road) is the input Nuno and the boys finally having some impact? I'm thinking given our position we should maybe give him till the end of the season....although I still see him mainly coming off the bench or playing against certain teams e.g. Spurs types

 

[big mean bunny]

I am one of his biggest detractors but I've seen some improvement in him.

 

[Tredman]

First time in a while he's played in his proper position and I thought he looked good. Particularly liked his running with the ball to clear it out of defence.

 

[sycophantia]

Bloody hell, 3 positive comments in a row......Christmas spirit aye it?