Adama Traore's outstretched arm and finger pointing jubilantly
with a dejected Man City goalkeeper Ederson on the ground.
The evolution of Adama Traore from highest paid winger for Wolves in mid 2018, then a much criticised player who didn't fit in for long stretches of time.On Sunday, he capped an ever improving presence in the first team with a brace (2) of world class goals.
The brilliant coach / manager Nuno identified his unique talents, and after 1 long year of struggle, ridicule from the fair weathered fans (me included), Adama Traore comes up with 2 gems of goals against the current English Champions at their home ground, no less.
Almost the entire team played magnificently, except for Saiss who limped off with a calf injury only after 19 minutes of play but truth be told, Adama spoke of how hard he and the rest of the team trained, day in day out, flying for European competition, and slogging the hard work, team strategy and efforts finally paid off most handsomely in the form of beating the current English Champions, Man City at their home stadium the Etihad Stadium by 2 -0.
No team has beaten City at home for almost 1 year, and Wolves had not done this feat, the last time being in 1984, when I was in University 35 years ago !
Added to that Man City have been absolutely lethal in front of goal, scoring 27 goals in 7 games at home, thats an average of 3.8 or almost 4 goals per game at home ! To deny them a single goal, that is the brilliance and hard stopping efforts of the magnificent Conner Coady and his defence comprising of Wily Boly, Ryan Bennett, Roman Saiss, Jonny and Traore. Traore was later switched to the winger role once Matt Doherty came on.
A big thank you to the entire team including the backroom 'boys' who take all the credit for this unforgettable win which will be remembered for decades to come :
1. Patricio 8 > Honorable Mention ; pulled off several world class saves,
2. Coady 8.5 > Superb all afternoon, not a single foot or header wrong
3. Boly 8.5 > Another top defence play
4. Saiss 7.5 Bennett 8.5
5. Vinagre 7.5 Jonny 8
6. Doherty 8
7. Neves 7.5
8. Moutinho 8 > Robbed the ball back for the first and instrumental for second goal.
9. Dendonker 8
10.Cutrone 8
11. Jiminez 9 > Excellent shielding of ball and dribble past Otamendi like child's play
12. Traore 9.5 > MOTM ; kept Sterling at bay whole afternoon, and 2 excellent strikes made him the talk of England this week and next.
Coach Nuno 10 - Planned and Executed Gameplan to Perfection ; The Tactical Boss !
Added to that Man City have been absolutely lethal in front of goal, scoring 27 goals in 7 games at home, thats an average of 3.8 or almost 4 goals per game at home ! To deny them a single goal, that is the brilliance and hard stopping efforts of the magnificent Conner Coady and his defence comprising of Wily Boly, Ryan Bennett, Roman Saiss, Jonny and Traore. Traore was later switched to the winger role once Matt Doherty came on.
A big thank you to the entire team including the backroom 'boys' who take all the credit for this unforgettable win which will be remembered for decades to come :
1. Patricio 8 > Honorable Mention ; pulled off several world class saves,
2. Coady 8.5 > Superb all afternoon, not a single foot or header wrong
3. Boly 8.5 > Another top defence play
4. Saiss 7.5 Bennett 8.5
5. Vinagre 7.5 Jonny 8
6. Doherty 8
7. Neves 7.5
8. Moutinho 8 > Robbed the ball back for the first and instrumental for second goal.
9. Dendonker 8
10.Cutrone 8
11. Jiminez 9 > Excellent shielding of ball and dribble past Otamendi like child's play
12. Traore 9.5 > MOTM ; kept Sterling at bay whole afternoon, and 2 excellent strikes made him the talk of England this week and next.
Coach Nuno 10 - Planned and Executed Gameplan to Perfection ; The Tactical Boss !
Backroom Boys 9.5 Credit to all
A big salute to all the heros from Coach Nuno Esperito Santos, his backroom staff (6), the ball boys, the masseurs, the cleaning crew, the bosses at Fosun, the MD and the entire team must take the praise from this fair weathered Fan who sincerely hopes to pin his dreams on this Team of the Future !!!
