Really felt for him today. The guy just runs around for 45 minutes at a time and gets told nothing. The club need a translator quickly or the club need to get gauthier (anyone has actually seen him at Oakwell) down to spend a couple of hours on a Friday afternoon to translate for him. He's got to learn things with effectively one arm tied behind is back. The game stops due to an injury to Wardle. He runs to get some water. The rest of the players get instructions, he just looks around and only acknowledges anyone when a couple of kids shout Mamadou. For the pens he must have been thinking why aren't I taking them. He got his own way for the first but wrestling Mcgeehan for the other two.
It's obvious why he didn't take the second 2 pens. He missed the first one, that's why. See your point with the language though, but how do you know he doesn't speak English?
PH said he didn't and it's clear from the couple of time i've seen him he doesn't. At Sheff U Ugbo was stood doing hand (open palm pretending to draw what he should be doing with a finder ) style signals to him in the middle of the pitch. Carvare or whatever he's called doesn't either.
Does the club need a translator for him? My French is a bit rusty but for a grand a week I could brush up on it pretty quickly.
It's been mentioned in the other thread but he's clearly got something. Confident off both feet. see's the picture well and movement around him. Likes a battle powerfulshot
Agree about both feet. He took the pen with his right, had several shots with his left. Even though he ballooned them into orbit, I saw that as a good sign. He doesn't have to mess about in the box trying to get the ball onto his good foot, which eventually will give him the extra split second he needs to score. He took the free kick with his right, but shanked it, which wrong footed the keeper and it bobbled in. He was a bit isolated at times, not sure he could do the lone striker role, but he'd be OK in a 442 I think.
He's played on the left quite a bit in France. With an attacking left footed left back, I think he could be dangerous.
Both Thiam and Cavare are having English lessons after training. Surprised at the comments, as there was a video on Twitter where Mamadou said he was glad to be at the Club and that he already loves it.! Dimitri has also responded to the many welcomes he's had so I don't think it will be long before they pick up the key words they will need to know during a game. Might be a good idea for the English lads to learn French as well. It's not a difficult language once you know the various verbs and tenses. For example " Mamadou tu es merde" ( Mamadou you are sh*te) would soon invite a response.!
If someone told you, me anyone to say something in French like just repeat this then you'd/ I'd do it easy. Good translate's a good thing. for the response online.
i warmed to him as match went on , hes a big strong unit without the height though , McGeehan was obviously the designated taker , for 1st pen thiam nicked ball of him and then hit post , second pen he was trying to nick ball as well till harsley told McGeehan to take it , he didn't celebrate with other players when we scored 2nd pen , looked to have blogs on but kept going , was roughed up a bit by there center halfs but gave as good as he got , was moaning at midfielders for not passing to him as well , glad he got the last goal though , looks good with both feet and has a bit of attitude as well which is good in a striker .
Never mind about all this French stuff, it's all Greek to me, back to the football. I thought the skipper Jared Bird was really good in central midfield, seemed to have time to control the ball and find a pass before he got clattered. No wonder he's on the fringe of the first team. A good future for this lad. A word for Nick Townsend. Awesome. One of the benefits of attending reserve games is that you can hear what goes on on the pitch. This lad never stops shouting, organising the defence. Two outstanding saves in the first half, and a world class triple point blank 2 and a half somersault with pike block in the second half. In between he caught every cross cleanly and just muscled all opposition out of the way. No worries if he has to play in the first team. Mottley-Henry. Pace to McBurn, but obviously the wrong studs as he kept slipping. Good in the air too, and a decent shot on him. Needs time but could be an asset in due course. Pinnock. Commanding, good on the deck, likes to pass rather than hoof it. Right back, forgot his name, looked very comfortable bombing forward. Very enjoyable game all round.
Thought Ben Williams was left back? I've just looked it up I think it was Louis Wardle that I'm on about.
Le *********. He's just like any other player, it will just take time for him. Football is a universal language n all that...