The likelihood is that Nuno Espirito Santo has already revealed his plan for Adama Traore at West Ham United.
Just days after Traore made the move from Fulham to the Hammers, the Spanish speedster made his debut off the bench at Stamford Bridge.
Adama Traore replaced Jarrod Bowen with 81 minutes on the clock. Of course, the closest he would come to making an impact in a devastating 3-2 defeat came in the dying embers of stoppage time when he sent a ragdolled Marc Cucurella flying to the ground, but the timing of his introduction gave away Nuno Espirito Santo’s plan.
Where should Nuno play Adama Traore? 🤔
Wing back? Winger? Or on the bench? 😂
Nuno knows the ‘unique’ qualities Traore brings better than most, having worked with him at Wolves all those years ago. At the age of 30 now, though, the one-time Barcelona, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough winger appears to be settling into the role of an ‘impact sub’.
Not quite a ‘supersub’ – not yet, anyway – but someone a manager can call upon when he needs an injection of acceleration; an outlet to drag his team up the pitch. Hammers News were told when a deal was agreed that West Ham feel Traore could come in handy from a defensive perspective, too.
There is, though, some in the Hammers fanbase who feel Traore could yet be utilised in a different, more Michail Antonio-adjacent role.
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Adama Traore may be an option up top for Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United
In 263 Premier League games, Traore has scored only 14 goals. That alone will be enough for some to chuckle at suggestions that West Ham may have found another Antonio.
Then again, Traore in the number nine role – either from the start or from the bench – may have even the most cultured of centre-halves glancing nervously over their shoulders.
Antonio led the line supremely for David Moyes; while not the most technically-gifted when receiving possession, his ability to shrug off defenders, run the channels and open up spaces for his teammates were the key to getting the best out of Bowen and co.
Could Traore bring the same fearsome physical qualities to the table?
“[Use Adama as an] impact sub through the middle. Bring him on for Pablo after 60 minutes and let him cause a bit of chaos with Bowen and [Crysencio] Summerville, and hopefully create something for Taty [Castellanos],” one Hammers News reader wrote on our official Facebook page.
“Centre Forward, he would scare the centre-halves,” another responded when we asked how you would utilise Traore in Nuno’s shoes.
“Number nine; power, pace, running into the channels, causing havoc…”
“Stick him up front and watch all the defenders struggle with him.”
“Down the middle, as Michael Antonio did.”
“Put the tank straight down the middle.”
“Up front, so he can scare the hell out of defenders.”
“Substitute; he looked like a fish out of water against Chelsea. Then, up front as a battering ram if needed.”
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Traore will hope to make an impact away to Scott Parker’s Burnley
Against teams who prefer to dominate possession, as Liam Rosenior’s side did in a much-changed second half at Stamford Bridge, Traore’s counter-attacking threat feels like a potential game-changer. A joker in Nuno’s pack.
Saturday’s trip to Burnley, though, may require a different sort of weapon. A lock pick, rather than a battering ram.
Scott Parker’s Clarets are the only Premier League side to average lower possession numbers than the Hammers. Still though, while Traore will not have an in-form Bowen or Summerville fearing for their place, the sight of him warming up and applying liberal amounts of baby oil to his Terminator physique is enough to make most defenders short of breath.
“[Traore] needs to make himself the outlet when we are hitting on the break,” another fan writes.
“He’s a sub you bring on with 20/30 minutes left in the game when the defence is tired, and maybe he does something.
“Best impact is off the bench, the earliest being 85-minute mark but only when we have a sizeable lead.”
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