Just media noise.

An injury to Palmer or Rogers and he'll start every week. A switch to a back four and he hopefully starts over Neto

Thought he was our best player in that first half alongside Watson. Subs obviously worked but thought others could have been hooked before him.

Really? I thought he was just as sh*t as everyone else.

I thought he was dreadful. Rightly hooked

Needs to knuckle down and prove why he should be a starter.

He's only young though so hopefully he'll learn.

Just now, 2211 said:

Needs to knuckle down and prove why he should be a starter.

He's only young though so hopefully he'll learn.

Hard when you're attack partner is freaking Gittens. I despise those that signed him

I'll say what I said in the match thread, I think his levels would have gone up similar to Barco's had he stayed on, but sacrifices had to be made and he had to come off to rescue the game. We can single out players for putting in an absolute dross of a performance in that first half (mainly Gusto and Gittens) but it was more of a collectively poor performance than anything else. There was a complete shift in tempo in the 2nd half and Estevao would have benefitted had he stayed on.

42 minutes ago, KonaKai Blue said:

Hard when you're attack partner is freaking Gittens. I despise those that signed him

Genuinely believe he brings the whole team down with him.

At the moment he's not a player that can take the game by the scruff of the neck, he's a good ancillary player. If Palmer/Rogers are unavailable he would slot in nicely if he's playing alongside the one available, but his level drops depending on who he's playing with.

All those bigging him up were reminded last night how young and raw he still is. Bar a couple of moments, he was poor last night and rightly subbed.

Feel a bit sorry for him as having the likes of Gusto (dreadful - really don't want to see him start another game), Gittens and Watson alongside him certain;y wouldn't have helped, but he still has to offer more. He was getting knocked off the ball and going down as easily as Gusto and Gittens and then always looking for the ref for a foul. Mans game lads - toughen up and get on with it.

Im wondering if Alonsos comments after the game about his (Alonso) wrong choices is aimed at Estevao as much as anyone, because with Gusto behind him he gave him very little chance of success.

He had one run late n the half where he showed what he can do, destroyed 2 defenders and was unlucky not to get an assist. But other than that was on the fringes of the game.

He’s not ready to start ahead of Palmer or Rogers but he should definitely be the first attacking change we make in games.

The talent is glaringly obviously there.

Only giving him minutes with Gusto & Gittens is tantamount to sabotage.

21 minutes ago, dkw said:

Im wondering if Alonsos comments after the game about his (Alonso) wrong choices is aimed at Estevao as much as anyone, because with Gusto behind him he gave him very little chance of success.

He had one run late n the half where he showed what he can do, destroyed 2 defenders and was unlucky not to get an assist. But other than that was on the fringes of the game.

I don't think so. More the overall lack of experience hence leadership against a very streetwise oppo.

3 hours ago, Nibs said:

All those bigging him up were reminded last night how young and raw he still is. Bar a couple of moments, he was poor last night and rightly subbed.

Feel a bit sorry for him as having the likes of Gusto (dreadful - really don't want to see him start another game), Gittens and Watson alongside him certain;y wouldn't have helped, but he still has to offer more. He was getting knocked off the ball and going down as easily as Gusto and Gittens and then always looking for the ref for a foul. Mans game lads - toughen up and get on with it.

Exactly how I see it.

Of course it’s not easy playing with “2nd string” players but the answer is to show by your decision making, appetite and hard work that you shouldn’t be a 2nd string player.

Morphing into another 2nd string player won’t help.

He’s young but he’s got to learn to stand out in those situations or he’ll be classed as a League Cup & FA Cup player.

He'll get there, just needs to grow into the system. early season and players are all still scratching around for form, stevo included. Will welcome Caicedo back as I think his presence reassures the team tbh. Out of all the players we miss the most, its him, not the flair or attacking players. Caicedo is the engine and the likes of palmer and stevo, rogers are the spark plugs. they sometimes misfire, but Caicedo gives them all confidence. Hes a massive player for us.

Am not worried he is a generational talent but playing with that lot last night would pull everyone levels down.

18 hours ago, The Boehly Babes said:

He’s not ready to start ahead of Palmer or Rogers but he should definitely be the first attacking change we make in games.

The talent is glaringly obviously there.

Only giving him minutes with Gusto & Gittens is tantamount to sabotage.

Well said.. and you have to keep giving him those minutes regularly. It’s like with Liverpool and Jacquet, he has been mid but Iraola has kept on starting him. Or closer to home, Josh looks better the more mins he gets. It’s about the bigger picture.

I think he is where he needs to be right now, he is getting game time without any expectations and that’s what he should be doing at 19.

He has palmer and Rogers to learn from, all this talk of changing the formation to accommodate him is crazy. If he gives the manager a decision to make later down the line then great but we ain’t there yet.

He had a chance against Leeds and didn’t take it, he can’t be knocking on the managers door demanding to start against Hull now can he.