Always remember, first few times we see Andy Johnson, he had nickname ‘fast but useless’ and the rest was history

Give this lad a chance, skipping passed people in the Brazilian league is obviously going to be easier than the most physical league in the world, so he needs to adjust, which is hard when you’re not playing regularly

My son pointed out that our more successful signings in the last few years have been improving players from the Championship whereas the most of the players signed from abroad have had questionable impact or made slow progress - Riedewald, Sorloth, Meyer, Ahamada, Mateta. Doucoure obviously a recent exception.

Absolutely, I loved his energy as a kid before the goals but I remember plenty in the stand around me saying he was useless……no doubt they changed their minds in time

He's clearly not the finished product but he had an almost perfect first touch, is quick and can clearly dribble. The issue on Thursday seemed to be he didn't really know where he was supposed to be and players weren't passing to him when he was open (quite common when a youngster starts). It was hard to judge him as pretty much the whole team was useless. Also, it seemed bizarre to give him his first start in a position that is new to him. Hopefully he starts again in the replay but on the left. What he needs more than anything is game time as without a run of games he is never going to get the experience he needs to grow. What does sadden me a bit is he seems to have lost that confidence that he seemed to show when he entered the club.

To write him off after so little time is just really bizarre especially when it is clear he has technical ability, but then I remember quite a lot of people saying we should sell Zaha when he was a kid as he had no end product and the same for Bolasie. Once Roy is gone I think we'll see a different player if we bring in a manager who actually coaches his forward players on how to attack and who allows space for the youngsters to make mistakes and grow.

Deception? Simulation? Cheating? If not, then what?

I for one certainly did not expect or demand anything more from Franca than he provided, and have no reason to think that he can't develop. I of course hope that he becomes a match winning player in time, just as I hope Rak-Sahki does.

In both cases it would be highly unusual if such young attacking players were instantly effective - the key is to be of some use, enough to get more game time, and then build up bit at a time.

My observations on Franca were simply that I didn't think he was obviously useful enough to get more minutes soon (I think the team carried him), and that he was unusual in that whereas Rak-Sahki might have limited effect on a premier league game when he plays, I can at least see that he is trying to do things that would work if he could just do them a bit better and quicker. The things Franca was trying to do didn't make any sense to me.

Of course give him time, and of course don't base ultimate judgement on his limited time so far. At the same time, I won't be sitting there thinking Roy should pick him more, or drop Ayew or Schlupp for him, or think that there is no need to get a wide attacking player on loan for the second half of the season if we can.