Former Premier League full-back Glen Johnson has claimed Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore ‘doesn’t do anything’ – and fans have been reacting.
The 36-year-old was speaking as a pundit on Gillette Soccer Saturday yesterday when he made the comment.
Traore has struggled in 2020/21 so far, failing to score or assist in 25 Premier League appearances.
He’s often heavily involved in games, but questions have now resurfaced about his end product after the improvements he made last season.
In the eyes of Johnson, Traore flatters to deceive when he’s on the ball.
He said: “Traore is strong and quick but he doesn’t do anything.
“For the pace and threat that he has, he should be amongst most of the goals, creating goals or certainly creating chances, but he doesn’t do that.
“People say how hard he is to play against, well just let him have the ball.
“If you’re playing against him he’s not going to do anything.”
One thing that is worth pointing out is that Traore is extremely unlucky to actually still have no goals or assists by this point.
Illan Meslier’s own goal in the game against Leeds was down to Traore, and he did also win a penalty against Brighton in January.
The £18m man (BBC Sport) puts in plenty of crosses – admittedly too many are overhit – but people have not been on hand to convert.
On social media, some both agreed and disagreed with Johnson:
Better than most
He’s right, Traore has glimpses of quality, but is so wasteful in possession at the moment.
We definitely miss a creative spark from the middle, Neves and Moutinho are too similar, no guile.
We miss Podence as much as anyone pic.twitter.com/qQJJXombgH
— Martin Brown /\_/\ (@mabr82) February 27, 2021
“Just let him have the ball….” Come again Glen? What ridiculous punditry.
— Joel Hampton (@joelhampton16) February 27, 2021
The sad thing is he is pretty much spot on
— Holden Mcgroin (@Jamessimonlew) February 27, 2021
Can say what you like his right what his saying. Only last 2 games really adama has started becoming a threat again, and his right about the midfield aswell
— Aaron Archer (@longliveaze) February 27, 2021
Don’t know why people are taking this to heart, he’s correct.
— Tony Wilde 🐺 (@TonyWilde99) February 27, 2021
Behave Glen
— Denim Dunn (@D3N1M33) February 27, 2021
Not wrong though is he?
— James (@James_A_Stevens) February 27, 2021
He’s not wrong
— Rob Cross (@robcross82) February 27, 2021
TBF he’s pretty much spot on there.
— Proud citizen of Wolftown (@robbomacca) February 27, 2021