Bertrand Traore to never start for Aston Villa under Unai Emery after pointless performance v Bournemouth
It was a bit of a surprise when Aston Villa manager Unai Emery decided to recall Bertrand Traore from his loan at Istanbul Basaksehir in January.
Traore, 27, hadn’t played much for the Turkish Super Lig club due to a knee injury but even in the weeks leading up to his setback, he was struggling.
In Istanbul, the Burkina Faso international scored just two goals and supplied one assist in 12 league appearances. He did grab a goal against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League too. But that was as good as it got for the ex-Lyon forward.
Emery needed extra depth in January and we’re not blaming him for the decision to recall Traore at all.
However, the winger’s display as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth at Villa Park on Saturday (18 March) shows why he’s never going to be a starter for Emery in the Premier League and also shows why he was doing so poorly in Turkey.
According to stats by WhoScored, Traore was dispossessed three times after coming off the bench in the 65th minute to replace Leon Bailey.
No player on either side was disposed more than Traore throughout the entire 90 minutes.
For someone who could be seen as a tricky winger, Traore didn’t complete – or even attempt – any dribbles, completed just six of the nine passes he played and both of his shots at goal were blocked.
It may be harsh to say it but Traore’s appearance off the bench was utterly pointless.
Bailey has his critics at Villa Park and understandably so.
However, the 25-year-old Jamaica international still chipped in with an assist, completed two key passes, attempted four dribbles – albeit completing just one – and wasn’t dispossessed once.
Traore’s lacklustre performance in such a one-sided game in Villa’s favour is worrying.
In September 2020, Villa signed the Burkina Faso ace for £17million, plus an extra £2million in add-ons, from Lyon [Sky Sports].
Since then, he’s played 50 times for the Villans, scored eight goals and supplied seven assists.
The former Chelsea and Ajax winger doesn’t seem cut out for the Premier League, unfortunately, and Emery must be starting to see that.
Villa are in great form but unless there’s some kind of monumental turnaround, they’re not getting relegated and they’re not going to be qualifying for Europe.
Between now and the summer, Emery will be assessing his players ahead of the summer transfer window.
Traore will enter the last year of his contract once this season ends and his performance off the bench against the Cherries proves his nothing more than deadwood who should be shipped off at the first time of asking.
In other Aston Villa news, the club could climb into the Europa League places if they sign the Premier League midfielder that Emery is “crazy” about.