Saint-Maximin and Traore are similar, yet also quite different

They are both heralded for their prolific numbers for take ons and ball-carrying. They are both a mid-table Premier League’ sides main outlet at bringing the ball closer to goal. They can both play out wide or in a more central role. In this sense, Allan Saint-Maximin and Adama Traore are, therefore, similar attackers.

Yet when you further inspect their approaches to taking on defenders and by extension their overall games, you may begin to notice how both are quite different.

Here is an attempt to showcase those core similarities that comprise of subtle differences.

Both are wingers-by-trade, but they do not only play as conventional wide attackers on either flank. Saint-Maximin has often played up front when Newcastle United adopt a 3-5-2 shape, and Traore has previously featured as a right wing-back for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Subsequently, their starting positions in matches, as well as the tactics adopted by their sides may have an effect on where they receive the ball and therefore from where they influence attacks.

Take a game for each where each completed a high volume of take ons. In Wolves’ 0-2 win against Watford, Traore completed 10 of 13 take ons, and all but one occurred on either the right or left-wing.

In a 4-2 defeat to West Ham in Newcastle’s opening game of the new season, Saint-Maximin completed 10 of 12 take ons from broadly similar positions.

But in the same games, the passes they received show how Saint-Maximin more so than Traore receives the ball in the channels where he can then carry the ball forward, or release quickly. Traore often receives longer passes either straight or diagonal when he is taking up a wider position.

This is one way to suggest Saint-Maximin is the primary source of creativity for a side which largely lacks such. His positioning can invite passes in the channels and between the lines which can then enable him to turn and bring the ball forward. Newcastle do rely on his invention.

Traore dribbles more often than Saint-Maximin, which is perhaps a reflection of their respective sides set-up. Wolves have so far average more possession per game (52.5%, the leagues 8th highest) then Newcastle (40.7%, the leagues second lowest), and so more often Traore receives the ball from his teammates with room to motor down the flank or inside.

Even when Saint-Maxmin does start up front, he does drift into wider positions. Both he and Traore are great at getting past defenders in tight situations out wide. Both can alter the pace of their dribbles, although Saint-Maximin arguably has more trickery. Using feints and stepovers to outwit and create space for himself in 1v1s, the Frenchman draws defenders closer when holding onto the ball. As a result, Saint-Maximin can also draw similarity to Manchester City’s Jack Grealish in how he can not only draw markers closer, but slow down his move and quickly reignite the tempo of it when out wide.

Traore often drops the shoulder and goes down the byline, and uses his strength to pass the defender to move closer to the box and/or to get into a better position to deliver the ball into the box. Traore does average more crosses into the box per 90, with 0.54 last season and 1.04 after five games into the new season, which is more than Saint-Maximin’s 0.12 and 0.80 respectively.

Both ride challenges but there is more of an elusiveness to Saint-Maximin, he changes direction more often and dribbles to where there’s space, dragging defenders with him before aiming to take them on. It is arguable Traore forces his way through opposing mid-blocks and pressure. Traore is in this sense more predictable, but by his combination of balance, change of pace and upper body strength, he is at times unstoppable when in full flight.

In a recent 0-1 defeat to Manchester United, Traore started on the left, and often drifted inside to easily bypass United’s double pivot of Paul Pogba and Fred. The space available in central areas was a gold mine for a Traore, who was a threat throughout the first-half especially, though Wolves failed to convert chances. This relates back to how Traore often takes up a wider position before carrying the ball infield, whereas there is perhaps more variety to the positions in which Saint-Maximin receives passes.

Saint-Maximin and Traore are potent when their sides are in attacking transition, either leading the transition themselves, or being on the receiving end of a pass after making a supporting run. But as already alluded to, Saint-Maximin offers more varied off-ball movement when looking to receive a forward pass. Notably when playing as one of two centre-forwards, his movement into the channels provides an option with space ahead to dribble into, and Saint-Maximin often advances into the box either when making the run, or after having made the run and now with the ball too.

Data may not be able to highlight visual differences in characteristics when taking on opposition players, but it can break down the end product of these moves; just how often the two play a pass into the box or score from a carrying the ball forward.

Saint-Maximin is more of a goal threat. Adama so far has the higher xG this season, but since the start of last season, the Frenchman has scored more goals then the Spaniard, with 5 goals (including 2 this season) to 2. Looking back at Saint-Maximin’s equaliser in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United, Saint-Maximin anticipated the right moment to strike after a) getting into a position on the date of the box, with enough space in between him and the Leeds defenders, to receive the pass, and b) holding on to the ball, adjusting himself and finding the right angle from which to shoot.

🗣️ "It reminds me of that goal George Best scored all those years ago!"

Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin weaves his way past three defenders before rifling a shot into the far corner 🔥

📺 Watch #NEWLEE live on Sky Sports PLpic.twitter.com/w95pMUYJwu

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) September 17, 2021

Considering percentages for shots on target, Saint-Maximin has bettered Traore in recent times, with 40% to 30.2% last season. Although both do need to better their goal tallies.

Newcastle’s #10 also has an eye for a pass. Whereas Traore does complete more crosses, which may bump up his overall passing statistics, Saint-Maximin has, after five games, played 4 through balls to Traore’s 0. Though the latter still averages more key passes per 90, with 2.5 to Saint-Maximin’s 2.4. But even when watching, Saint-Maximin’s freedom to move down the channels and float across the attack means he can get into a range of positions in and sprung the final-third where he can combine with teammates.

Traore’s assists were considerably higher two seasons ago (9), largely due to the partnership built with centre-forward Raul Jimenez, but the latter being absent following an unfortunate fractured skull meant that last season a) Wolves sorely missed a profile goal scorer and b) though Traore’s chances created matched the numbers of the previous season, they were not converted as often. But this may also suggest that there was/is an over reliance on the same sort of chances.

Both do also arguably lack a high defensive work-rate, although during Nuno Esperito Santo’s reign at Wolves, Traore did often feature as a right wing-back and there his defensive involvement did increase.

What is clear is that here there are two ball carriers key to how their sides attack, but that when you break their approaches down and look at their data, their not as similar as you may assume on a first glance.

Images: StatsZone

Data: http://www.whoscored.com and http://www.fbref.com