Albert Adomah is Boro’s best goal-scoring winger since Stewart Downing

Published on: 28 March 2014
Albert Adomah is Boro’s best goal-scoring winger since Stewart Downing
Albert Adomah

Albert Adomah is the brightest star at the Boro right now as far as Bernie Slaven is concerned - the club legend's Player of the Season.

I  was delighted Albert Adomah got two goals at Huddersfield.

He was alert and speedy and was in the right place to pounce on defensive mistakes.

And twice he clawed Boro back from behind to get a hard- earned away point.

For me he is Boro’s brightest spark and the team need him to be on fire if they are to win games.

And the fans need him to be on fire too because he is the only one who can produce something special.

He’s the kind of player who can produce a moment of magic that can turn a game.

He is the kind of player I would pay to see.

Albert Adomah has got 11 goals now and that is a fantastic haul for a winger.

Especially for a winger in a side that is set up so rigidly and tightly and doesn’t really create too many chances.

Albert is on course for 15 goals this season, which is brilliant.

That would be more than most of the Boro strikers have scored in recent years.

It is a long time since Boro have had a winger that can really hurt teams and score goals.

Adam Johnson did it for a brief spell but really you are looking back to Stewie Downing for a winger that did it consistently.

For me Albert is that kind of player.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he is that top flight quality just yet.

But for what he brings to the team he has that kind of effect.

When he is on top form he makes the Boro a better, more dangerous side, he creates and scores chances and he terrifies the opposition. You need players like that.

For me he is the brightest star at the Boro right now. He’s my Player of the Season.

He had a brilliant start to the season and raced to nine goals by New Year and that is fantastic.

Then he had a spell where he had an injury and he was in and out of the team for whatever reason and for me it is no coincidence that the goals dried up when he was sidelined.

I like to see him tearing into the opposition on one flank and Muzzy Carayol on the other.

Obviously Carayol is out crocked now so that puts the onus on Adomah and I hope he rises to the challenge because when he plays to his ability he wins matches and excites crowds.

And that’s important. He gets the crowd buzzing.

He plays like he is enjoying himself and he wants the crowd to enjoy it too. He is the sort of player the paying public love.

He is entertaining. He brings goals, pace, trickery and creativity.

He tries to beat a man, he tries to run into the box, he looks to get a shot off. He tries to make things happen!

As a fan that’s what you want, players that can do the unexpected. Players who are unpredictable.

Especially when the rest of the team is set up so tightly.

And I know he can be frustrating. He can lose possession when he tries to be too clever and when a dribble doesn’t come off or he over-runs it.

But that is part and parcel of being a winger.

They do drift in and out of games. They do blow hot and cold from one game to the next and from one half to the next.

He wasn’t great against QPR. He lost the ball, his crossing wasn’t great and he will be the first to admit he wasn’t good by his own standards in that game.

But if wingers are good and they can produce a bit of magic once in a while you have to bear with them.

Especially if they are the one real creative outlet in the team.

Let’s be honest, no-one else is making anything happen.

With Muzzy crocked, Albert Adomah is the one player that can keep the season alive.

Fixtures are running out fast and Boro are not going up or down.

But the fans still want to be entertained and still expect the team to attack and create and score.

And Albert is the key man. If anyone can keep Boro sparking in the final straight, its him.

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