17 Feb 2014 11:45:32
Just so people know, Traore's size is NOT his biggest strength. He may be 6'8", but you should picture him as though he where about 5'10". He may be very tall, but heading and hold up play have always been a weakness in his game; that's why he chose us over West Ham. Obviously chasing Champions League is more appealing than a relegation battle, but also because we play the ball on the ground, which suits him, instead of hoofing it to his head.

I know you'd expect him to win at least a few headers, but heading is one of his weakest attributes. I'm about 6'2" and can't head to save my life! Some people just can't do it, despite the fact they should.

1.) 17 Feb 2014
Yeah but your not paid about 40 grand a week how can ya make excuses for someone getting paid this money not been able to head a ball!

2.) 17 Feb 2014
Yeah, I know. For that money they SHOULD be able to cure diseases and feed the 5000, but when you take it within the context of football, being paid a lot of money doesn't mean they can do things they physically couldn't before. I'm not trying to make excuses, anyway, I'm just letting people know that heading isn't his strong point. I've already read about 5 posts moaning about he barely won a header, so i'm trying to nip it at the bud so we don't read that every week for the rest of the season.

3.) 17 Feb 2014
Whilst he may not be strong with his head I would expect him to work and work at improving his heading ability. Players who are one footed train and work at becoming at least reasonable with both feet and Traore should be no different. I would be disappointed if he wasn't demanding extra training for heading.

4.) 17 Feb 2014
Right so he can't header the ball or hold the ball up! doesn't offer much then does he! didn't seem to have any pace, or a first touch either. As you seem to know so much about him, what is he going to bring to the team?

5.) 17 Feb 2014
17 Feb 2014 16:31:45
he has lots of pace, we couldn't see it because he was getting the ball hoofed to him!, he is two footed, insanely strong and powerful, a gifted finisher when one on one and can beat a man, despite those few things he can't head the ball or hold the ball up and lacks a first touch, same as lukaku, neither offer anything alistair we should cancel their loans and go all out to buy andy carroll!

Mike-Ox Long

6.) 17 Feb 2014
I think most peoples view(as mine is) is the fact he is 6ft 8inches and never won a header.its not about heading into a goal, its the fact for his size he couldn't win a header

7.) 17 Feb 2014
Mike-Ox Long. I know nothing of Traore, having watched him for the first time on Sunday (Live) and am merely going off my first impression. I hope he does prove to be a good signing and I look forward to seeing his two footed, one on one finishing while powerfully holding off a defender week in week out. However when playing up front, heading, holding the ball up and being able to control the ball first time tend to be quite important. We've just got rid of a striker in Jelavic who was incapable of any of those basic skills. So hopefully you prove me wrong.

8.) 17 Feb 2014
I watched him against the sh*te and he had a good game and scored a good goal. But I was also one of the posters who pointed out that he was hopeless in the air and his hold up was poor on Sunday. He was 2nd to the ball on a few occasions. Iguess like all of us, we should not judge players on one or two appearances. Naismith has been awesome last couple of games and Osman has also done pretty well. Earlier in the season Mike Ox-long will tell you both were rubbish (and I agree to an extent). let's give the lad a few games, then decide how good he is. He certainly looked off the pace on Sunday so perhaps its just match fitness needed.
Degsypulford

9.) 17 Feb 2014
Agree Degsey, it's been nearly five months since he played a competitive game!

10.) 17 Feb 2014
I'm not quite sure if Mike was being sarcastic at the end of his first post, but he was right at the start. He is strong, quick, skillful and clinical. None of these where on show because none of these where given the platform to be on show. We saw his height and we tried to exploit it, just as I feared we would when we signed him. I think he's a good player who could contribute a lot to the team, but the players, namely Jags, need to look past his height, too.

11.) 18 Feb 2014
17 Feb 2014 23:06:20
Although I agree with the points made, surely if we have the ball at the byline and have the opportunity to cross the ball into the box, we should at least beat the first man in the penalty area, usually an opposition defender. But our final ball in the first half lacked quality which both coleman, mirallas and pienaar were guilty of. Give the guys who have worked hard to get in the box a decent delivery and I'm sure it would have paid off.