Centralscrutinizer
Well-known member
It's good to see a Traore discussion on here, I thought he'd been forgotten about 
Adama Traore
- Thread starter Acklam_Lad
- Start date
Wiseman_Vaughn
Well-known member
Some player!!! But not sure he would fit in to a long term plan
As he is so exciting to watch my favourite boro player since Juninho
jonny_greenings_sock
Well-known member
People talk about brave players, but true courage is not hiding, wanting the ball and wanting to do something with it. Not going into your shell and playing safe passes all the time.
Big difference between Adama and Downing there.
parmoboy
Well-known member
Traore may be one of these players who is outstanding in the Championship but not quite good enough to do it consistently in the Premier League. His overall stats for Wolves don't make for great reading.
I'd certainly have him back here though. If Monk had have had the sense to play Traore and Bamford from the start of the season we would have 'smashed the league'.
I'd certainly have him back here though. If Monk had have had the sense to play Traore and Bamford from the start of the season we would have 'smashed the league'.
red_harrington
Well-known member
Stats conceived when Jiminez was out injured and he didn't have a decent striker to aim for?
Watch downings first few seasons. He was outstanding for us and stepped up to the plate more than Adama (admittedly over a longer spell).
Prime downing or prime traore, can't believe it's even a discussion
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SilentProf
Well-known member
When Wolves had Jota and Jimenez attacking the posts, Traore regularly found them. His crossing is much better than people give him credit for but he needs the right players to take advantage of it. In fact his general technique is at an elite level. It’s only when he tries to operate at maximum effort that he loses a bit of control and accuracy.
The big drawback is his tactical awareness and decision making. When he’s going on mad runs or doing his little tricks to retain the ball, teammates often can’t anticipate what he’s going to do. He needs to be played with minimal defensive duties and simple tactical instructions to get the best out of him.
It was 10 assists and 5 goals according to Transfer Market and it was a purple patch in his career.
His overall output in the Championship was similar to Isiah Jones or Matt Crooks. Giles has 7 assists in 26 games. 10 assists and 5 goals is a decent return but it's hardly earth shattering.
I do get the point that he was exciting to watch, and he was, but he was also massively frustrating a lot of time time. For a player to get in such good positions time and time again, his conversion rate was poor! He was blowing out his hole after every sprint and often left us very exposed defensively. He needs to play in a front 3 with limited defensively responsibilities to be at his best which is why he has been used as an impact player a lot when chasing games.
If you want excitement and a bit of pizzazz for your money, you can't go wrong with Traore. I personally would rather see a winning team that play as a unit and there are better options out there in my opinion, when you take into consideration what he would cost us. Selling him for £18m was some of the best business Boro have done in past few years.
Bruce
Well-known member
Traore, Championship 17/18, 34 games (2244 mins), 5 goals, 10 assists (roughly goal or assist every 2 games)
Jones, Championship 21/22, 42 games (3274 mins), 1 goal, 9 assists (roughly goal or assist every 4 games)
Jones' figures are good but it's not even close.
Top assists that year was Barry Douglas, Wolves, 39 games (3391 mins), 5 goals, 14 assists.
Likely if Adama had played the same number of games and minutes he would have been top of the league for assists.
Jones, Championship 21/22, 42 games (3274 mins), 1 goal, 9 assists (roughly goal or assist every 4 games)
Jones' figures are good but it's not even close.
Top assists that year was Barry Douglas, Wolves, 39 games (3391 mins), 5 goals, 14 assists.
Likely if Adama had played the same number of games and minutes he would have been top of the league for assists.
G
Matt Crooks has 6 Goals and 4 Assists in 22 games this season..... so a goal contribution every 2.2 games (slightly higher than Adama's every 2.27 games). Like I said, its not earth shattering stats. Solid return but not spectacular.
Frozen Horse
Well-known member
During his purple patch, he was unplayable at this level.
That said, there was no reason to assume that form would continue. His goals did dry up before he left, with none his last 8 league games or the 2 play off matches. In fairness, he did still get a few assists in that time.
So, yes, he was unplayable in February and March, but there was no reason to think that would be his standard performance in the championship.
That said, there was no reason to assume that form would continue. His goals did dry up before he left, with none his last 8 league games or the 2 play off matches. In fairness, he did still get a few assists in that time.
So, yes, he was unplayable in February and March, but there was no reason to think that would be his standard performance in the championship.
Bruce
Well-known member
jonny_greenings_sock
Well-known member
Oh he was absolutely magnificent when he first came into the team, right through to maybe six months before he left. No way we’d have had those UEFA Cup runs without him, absolutely superb. Just his second spell that was a damp squib all round.
Andy_W
Well-known member
Ludicrous that, wasn't it.
He must have been absolutely shattered, like asking Usain Bolt to run a 40m sprint thirty times.
SilentProf
Well-known member
A lot of his attacking instincts were coached out of him in the McClaren years but the main problem for Downing in his second spell was the lack of pace and movement of the players around him. Whenever he did get in good positions, there would be nobody to pick out so he inevitably had to pass backwards or sideways to retain possession.
There was also some physical decline and I’m sure by the end, motivation was an issue but the fact he went on to play better for a couple of seasons after leaving showed he was still more than capable at this level.
Bear Chief
New member
He was wolves best player by a mile before the world cup shut down. Creates a lot of chances, this end product thing us bolloxHe flatters to deceive for me….can’t make up my mind as to whether he’s utter rubbish or occasionally deadly
I certainly wouldn’t have him back here….
Fat_Dragon
Well-known member
Probably explains why Wolves are 2nd bottom in the PL.