There is a saying that "one day in heaven and one year on earth." Before returning to Barca, Adama Traore had played 57 Premier League games in Wolves' last season and a half, contributing just two assists.
Back at the Rossandrica, the star who debuted in La Masia's academy contributed 2 assists in 2 games and dominated 4 goals. Barca's teammates are much more aware of the movement than Wolves, allowing Adama to play well in the game now.
The advantages at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends are large: personal ability does not need to be questioned
After scoring the first two goals against Atletico, Adama again dominated all two goals in the Catalan derby.
Single-players won 11 1-on-1 matches, the highest in the game, while contributing 5 passes and 3 shots on goal. If Adama had been a little more efficient in his shots, perhaps more people would have fallen in love with the nickname "Plum Rhinoceros" (rhinoceros's rhinoceros).
Adama's basic touch skills are actually very good, and this kind of chest stop after receiving Garvey's cross in the penalty area is extremely appropriate. Unfortunately, his final shot is still always only powerful, lacking some skills and changes. The shot was too positive, causing it to be saved by the goalkeeper.
As a winger, Adama has the ability to strike directly into the core area. Barca's long pass to find his way of playing has a good effect.
During the internal cut, Adama, although his bipedal abilities are not as indiscriminate as Dembele's, his back foot left foot can also carry the ball and pass.
Unfortunately, when Adama shot with both his right foot and left foot, he would only shoot explosively, and this time his left foot shot was deflected after taking a step with the ball.
Not only did he perform well on the offensive end, providing a unique assist for the team, but also Adama also had 3 steals and 1 clearance on the defensive end.
Adama, who has speed, strength and is in place, has a good advantage in one-on-one defense, and it is difficult for opponents to avoid his upshoots and destruction.
In Barca's 2 assists tied 57 premier league games: it's important that teammates run
After returning to Barca in the winter window, Adama Traore made just two appearances for the Rossandre and scored two assists. Keep in mind that since the 2020-21 season, Adama has played 57 league games for Wolves in the Premier League and has only achieved 2 assists.
Under Harvey's tactical system, Adama was given the offensive dominance on the right, and then asked his teammates to complete the timely mobile response, amplifying Adama's ability to create space while covering up the shortcomings of his passing choices.
Like Barca's first goal after the opening, Adama's attraction to a four-man defence is important, while Busquets and De Jong have a firm grip on the outside and second-placed chances, laying a solid foundation for Adama's second attack after a mistake.
Many fans don't understand Busquets' value, but Busquets' movement on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends is enough to make him a textbook.
This time, Adama's cross made a mistake, and it was precisely Busquets who accurately counter-attacked at the first time, allowing Alba to send a very good cross to find Pedri who was unguarded at the back point.
In the second half, Xavi changed sides and sent Adama and Dembele on either side to send crosses, and Luke De Jong and Aubameyang were added to the middle to grab the point.
Compared with Dembele's clearer thinking in handling the ball, Adama is more hard and hard, and how to maximize his advantages still needs the support of teammates in details.
In fact, when Adama can deliver a supremely equal assist, he also needs to thank his teammates for their help. Espanyol's three defenders were driven by Barca's no-ball pick-up point and involuntarily retreated quickly.
Because they feared that Adama would try to plug straight or hit the wall with the front plug (although it didn't necessarily happen), there was a huge amount of room for Adama to fully adjust and send the cross.
Adama's support from his teammates at Barca is much better than it was when Wolves were. With Barca's overall tactical literacy and team movement, it would be a great experience if you want to give a player support.
Adama's stats are much better than wolves because he has the ability to do so personally and at the same time integrate into a better team.
After 100 days in charge of Barca: Xavi can still make the team better
Time flies quickly, and in the blink of an eye Xavi has been in charge of Barca for 100 days. He has led Barca to 16 games in 4 competitions, and in La Liga, Xavi led the team to 22 points out of 33 points.
For this team, Harvey still has a lot of potential to tap. When Adama collides with his teammates against the wall, it's more like getting him a chance to warm up and attracting more Spaniard defenders to the wing.
If Aubameyang can top the ball this time, maybe Adama can add another assist. He returned from the Premier League, the quality of the cross is guaranteed, and what is needed is that his teammates are more reliable when they grab points.
Adama's biggest advantage is not the cross, but the sudden rise of speed in the game with the ball. In the process, he will have a bit of an illusion of Messi, the problem is that he is not comparable to Messi in terms of passing choices.
So how to better enjoy the advantages brought by "Plum Rhinoceros"? Maybe this time Felan Torres should let himself go deeper into the middle of the two defenders and give Garvey a bigger chance to catch the ball at the back point. This also allows Adama to send out the ball more simply, after all, he is unlikely to send a good pass that can penetrate the defense in a small space like Messi.
So Harvey does have a problem at the moment, as Adama advances with the ball, he needs to find a "guide" (a really good forward arrow) who can hold the opponent's defense line without the ball and lead him forward.
When Adama goes to the wing, he will also need to have a teammate like Luke De Jong who is good at heading the ball.
All of the above shows that Barca still need to find a better striker this summer. Depay, Luke De Jong, Aubameyang and even Ferran Torres may all have a skill, but they still have more than enough to shoulder the burden of bringing Barca back to the top giants.
Conclusion
Fortunately, the team has a manager who is very imaginative on the offensive end, and Harvey can make the team achieve 1+1 greater than 2 through his grasp of the details of the attack.
Is it accidental that Luke De Jong scored under Xavi and when Adama came to Barca and delivered assists in a steady stream? Finding the right coach will be the basis for Barca to return to the top in the future.