Traore and Jota are both excellent young players, and the former has made truly astonishing strides since last season. They’re both hugely impactful and fun to watch. Pedro Neto has blown me away this season. I had no expectations, but he gives the opposition hell and creates chances every time he steps on the pitch. He’s about to tally 10+ G/A in his first PL season and he’s four months younger than João Félix. He’s so polished and fast as hell. He’d already have surpassed that 10-goal mark if not for a couple excruciatingly close video reviews that went against him. I’m still high on Félix, but it’s crazy that he and fellow 19-year-old Neto were sold the same summer for fees that were about £100 million apart.
I can't argue with that. At the rate Traore's improving, he may well adapt to playing down the middle, but he's not there yet. His natural ability, his strength, his agility - the potential there is phenomenal. I can see that there are various people pushing different agendas on this forum. As an outsider looking in, it seems odd how there seems to be a need to praise one player (Silva, Felix etc.) and dismiss anyone else. Why don't some folk just appreciate all these quality young players?
I agree with you. It’s not me tho. I am a true sage of football. I enjoy all players especially young players . That’s why I coach and Scout.
Once again adamas brilliant cross leads to the win. adama>jota luckily for Spain they scooped him up just before Africa did. In fact Spain called him up the very next day after he received a cal up from his African country
No one ever argued that Jota is better than Traore. Traore operates predominantly on the wing, Jota in the middle. Different roles. Everyone knows Traore is better player.
Traore had a good game including one run in the first half that was unreal. It’s a safe bet he’ll end up representing Spain, but he’s still a free agent (he was called up by Spain, but didn’t report for training due to injury and remains uncapped).
Wolves has a really good shot of making assuming city’s ban is not overturned. Chelsea has a very hard schedule. I expect chelsea to lose tmw at city and Sunday at Leicester
I think Champions League qualification was always going to be unlikely this season, though it's frustratingly close. I'd be happy with any improvement over last season, and we're on course for that with a possible 5th/6th place finish. Finishing above Arsenal and Tottenham would make it all the better. My understanding is that if Man City's ban is upheld then 5th place is enough for qualification, so we need to overtake Man Utd, but they've got an easier run in. Of course there is the small matter of the Europa League. It'll be a bit of a lottery, but there's still the potential for Champions League football if we managed to win that. Regardless of all that, it has been a privilege to watch these players play in old gold & black and I'll look forward to next season.
To me, the Arsenal game just highlights the Traore/Jota conundrum. Traore just isn't as effective in a front two, at least not at the moment. Jota works well with Jimenez as a partnership, but isn't currently getting the goal return that you'd want. Unless we're going for the throat from the start, Wolves currently start off with two up front, to keep it tight, then release all hell part way through the second half. This is why Traore often comes on as a sub and makes such an impact. Same with Neto. By starting with Traore in a two, we don't get the best from him, and by the time we do switch to a three, he's not as fresh and so not as effective. Either start him in a three or bring him on when we switch to three up front. This is why Nuno perseveres with Jota from the start, even when he's not firing on all cylinders. He plays well with Jimenez, and the two players instinctively seem to know where the other will be. Even if he's not scoring, he's giving the opposition defenders a tough time. The other option is to start with Neto ahead of Jota. Maybe a bit of rotation and a few starts off the bench would be beneficial for Jota.
“Even if he's not scoring, he's giving the opposition defenders a tough time.” That’s the thing people fail to credit when they merely look at goal tallies. As frustrated as I am at times about Jota’s dribble-through-the-defender mindset, that’s the same relentless style that keeps pressure on defenders and makes them uncomfortable. He’s a nuisance and I doubt many defenders enjoy playing against a guy like that. And he teams excellently up front with Jimenez. What finesse he lacks he generally makes up for with persistence. He’s neither a prototypical strike nor a pure winger, but he produces nonetheless. Traore has been excellent and creates so many dangeous attacks, but I still wish that one great chance Traore had the other day had fallen to Diogo instead; a creative finisher, Traore is not. Some act like Traore’s production (as good as he has been this season) has put Jota’s to shame this season. Yet between the Premier League and Europa League (qualifying excluded) Jota has accounted for 13 goals to Traore’s 15; they’ve accounted for a goal every 178 and 185 minutes, respectively. In all competitions, Jota’s at 21 to Traore’s 18 despite having played almost 700 fewer minutes.
Interesting performances from the Portuguese contingent today vs. Everton. Podence had a fantasic first half, created chances for himself, nearly sent Neto clean on goal with a great pass, and eventually won a PK that Jimenez put away. Not much after halftime, though. Neto was his usual self, not a huge threat, but just after halftime he sent across a perfect free kick for Dendoncker to finish. That gives him 10 G+A this season. Jota then came on when Neto - who had been nursing an injury - pulled up lame and soon was sent 1v1 only to completely blow the opportunity, barely getting off a half-assed shot while falling over himself that was easily smothered. But being the enigma that he is, a few minutes later Neves stole the ball in his own third, dribbled forward, played a wonderful diagonal pass over two defenders to Jota. Diogo chested the ball down and then unleashed a nasty shot by the keeper at the near post with his next touch. Jota is unquestionably a better finisher when he doesn’t have time to think (or overthink) about what he should do.
you mean the thing I said that you completely agreed with... clown I am currently working on a project which I will drop on here July 31 2020. Stay tuned. I’m glad I am missed but I am retired from this board. I have now immigrated to the juventus, Real Madrid and man utd boards. Cheers.
I thought you retired? Like I said when you made your announcement, it's another z-like retirement. How can someone retire and post else where when the whole point of the account is to troll the Portugal forums in the first place?