Adama Traore - CONFIRMED

[passitsideways]

actually, I'll correct myself - I don't agree with the bit about him being universally well received.  I was always far from convinced.

Based off what, exactly? A few Youtube clips? I suppose if you watched enough Ligue 1 to form an impression, that's fair enough, but most of us, I think, were basically working off reactions from French football writers on Twitter and the likes on the signing - and they were universally positive on him, Gana and Amavi (and for the record, much less so on Ayew, so it's not like they're just cheerleaders for anyone who rocks up from across the Channel.)

[oldhill_avfc]

I assumed he meant well received on seeing him play for us.

But if you're going back to the time he was brought then he, like all the overseas signings, he was unproven/risky and therefore again not universally well received when some (including the manager at the time) wanted players with a proven pedigree to replace Benteke and Delph.

[ROBBO]

Surely now is the time to experiment and see what players who have not been selected can do especially in defence.

[avfcpg]

Surely now is the time to experiment and see what players who have not been selected can do especially in defence.

I thought that last week, and the week before, and the week before that, and the week.....

[ozzjim]

Veretout was rated very very highly in France. In the same bracket as Amavi. He has 5 assists this season which considering how shit we are in not bad from set plays.  But worse, I don't think we have ever played him in a role he can be effective.  I hope we keep hold of him and the next manager works out how to use him.  He has a lot of potential.

[RichardBatchelor]

Black is treating Traore appallingly. Whatever his foibles, the stats show assists and a  goal caused by his pace in the very short time he's been on the pitch. He also offers the rare commodity of hope. If he doesn't track back, then that needs to be COACHED into him, that's how players improve, not rocket science. If it's linked to supposed cost of number of appearances as suggested then I'd like to see the club have the balls to tell the fans that before the lumbering Kieron Richardson is once again selected. The opaqueness and apparent illogic is so frustrating.

[Eckybloke]

Does the tracking back and defensive side have to be coached into all players though?  Read something over the weekend about Jurgen Klopp and Firmino.  Rodgers had Firmino tracking back and his effectiveness was rubbish.  Once Klopp came in he changed that and has apparently transformed him.

I would far rather have someone like Traore using his pace in the opposition half heading towards their goal than hurtling back towards our goal.

[RichardBatchelor]

You're probably right, Ecky. I'd rather see him up top. I think the point I was trying to make though is that great coaches/managers iron out weaknesses in players. The coaching under Black, Wilkins, Keane and the various rubbish managers has been truly awful. Good coaches improve players and I can't think of a single player in our current squad who has improved while they've been here. Westwood and Bacuna, for example, have gone backwards. Clark was at least as good under Houllier. etc etc.

[dave shelley]

Oft quoted.  "the best form of defence is attack".

[HolmesyVilla]

Oft quoted.  "the best form of defence is attack".

That is a way that would work 2fold for us if we bang Traore (what a player) on the right wing and tell Hutton (in @ RB) 'you have a 5yard limit over the half way line, no more'.

[old man villa fan]

Traore is never going to improve outside of the 1st Team.  He was bought based on his potential and had to be developed.  If we are not going to give him the chance to develop, we may just as well have burnt the money we paid for him.

[Steve R]

I assumed he meant well received on seeing him play for us.

But if you're going back to the time he was brought then he, like all the overseas signings, he was unproven/risky and therefore again not universally well received when some (including the manager at the time) wanted players with a proven pedigree to replace Benteke and Delph.

I can believe that Sherwood was not a big fan of Veretout. But maybe the manager who was reportedly also trying to buy him - Ranieri - knew better.

[oldhill_avfc]

Ranieri didn't rate him high enough to actually get him.

Sherwood didn't rate him in terms of replacing what he thought we needed.

I've never seen him do anything special that suggests either of them was way off the mark. 

He might improve a bit.  He might be alright in a lower level. 

Either way, he's certainly not the quality of player some are suggesting he might be had the poor soul not had to endure such chaotic and unsupportive surroundings.

[Dave]

Ranieri didn't rate him high enough to actually get him.

You know that doesn't make sense, right?

Leicester offered more money to Nantes than we did and wanted to make him the most expensive signing in their history.

He (rather stupidly) had his heart set on joining us.

[oldhill_avfc]

No doubt he'll go all out for him this summer then.