Adama Traoré - GONE

[claretandbeer]

I could easily see him playing central either on his own or off a target man. Central defenders would be terrified of his pace and it would only take a through ball or a ball over the top to see him in countless 1 on 1 situations with their keeper.

My opinion as well.His weaknesses,reluctant to track back and preference over beating another player rather than passing ,would not be too important and his strengths of beating defenders with skill or pace would be terrifying in this division.

[Zouch Villa]

Yes, with his obvious strength (although questionable fitness) I would like to see him rampaging down the middle, rather than down the wings. Think he would cause opposition all sorts of difficulties.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

him and ayew up top would rip that division a new one

[brian green]

I think you are right Touch. Ads first said keep him onside in his own half then flip the ball over the defensive line and let Adama scorch them.

[sirlordbaltimore]

It seems obvious that he's off and just biding his time until his agent finds him a club.

[Diablo]

It seems obvious that he's off and just biding his time until his agent finds him a club.

How come? Have I missed an article or two?

[Dante Lavelli]

I could easily see him playing central either on his own or off a target man. Central defenders would be terrified of his pace and it would only take a through ball or a ball over the top to see him in countless 1 on 1 situations with their keeper.

I predict most defences will be sat far too deep for this to be an option.  I think we will need to stretch teams by playing him very wide (when we have the ball).  That tactic, together with Grealish's ability to dwell on the ball and suck in the opposition players should provide  space elsewhere to create one v one duels.

[brian green]

If Traore makes the opposition sit deep the battle is half won.  All last season we sat deeper and deeper and conceded time and time again. We seemed to play a whole season in our own third of the pitch.  It would be nice to see us without that kind of pressure.

[mr underhill]

if he plays a dozen games this season and has the impact his talent is capable of it would aid the cause immeasurably. But that's a big if given the amount of time he spent on the pitch last year

[Mister E]

If Traore makes the opposition sit deep the battle is half won.  All last season we sat deeper and deeper and conceded time and time again. We seemed to play a whole season in our own third of the pitch.  It would be nice to see us without that kind of pressure.

True, but it still requires strikers to score goals and our history of breaking down defences is poor.

[N'ZMAV]

Isn't he going to be on a huge wage if he plays a certain amount of league games?
I think the club believed he would have a good season last season and we'd have obviously stay-up and be selling him for big money about now....

[Ads]

I imagine the stories about his wages are utter bollocks.

[N'ZMAV]

I do too - I'd heard something mad like £80k a week..... can't believe that, even with our mis-management.

[Toronto Villa]

I do too - I'd heard something mad like £80k a week..... can't believe that, even with our mis-management.

It's not £80k a week at all. It's £120k a week and will be £140k the minute he touches a football. Which is why he has been missing so far. Apparently it's nuts what we have to pay him if he crosses the half way line before the end of August so I don't think we will see him until September.

[RussellC]

I could easily see him playing central either on his own or off a target man. Central defenders would be terrified of his pace and it would only take a through ball or a ball over the top to see him in countless 1 on 1 situations with their keeper.

My opinion as well.His weaknesses,reluctant to track back and preference over beating another player rather than passing ,would not be too important and his strengths of beating defenders with skill or pace would be terrifying in this division.

Being a striker is more than just about being quick though. It's about being able to make runs in anticipation of the through-balls and not just the pace to do so. You also need to play a percentage of any game with your back to goal, and be bale to offer some kind of hold-up option. If not, you'd be so one dimensional and predictable that you'd be easy to defend against. That's always been the reason that Wenger's reluctant to use Walcott there.

I don't see Adama as anything other than a winger. If he had the attributes to play anywhere else the Barca youth-team coaches would have seen them you'd think.