Valencia Shin Crosses
Full Member
Amad produced against Championship sides whilst being fed the ball left, right and centre and being favoured heavily by his manager. He did really well under the circumstances, which suited and in some ways were tailored for him. Put Antony there and he would have done the same and imo much more but that's not a slight on Amad because he's older and more experienced; it says more about the quality of the league (in comparison to the PL).
I think Antony produced the bare minimum and I see him improving because he has the technical and athletic qualities along with a dogged mentality. His biggest issue is decision making, which I realise isn't something that is easy improve on but based on what we saw last year, he's got all the tools to do it as I believe he massively underachieved on it. A year of growth and better players in the team should help (as it would any other player).
Amad may easily become a better or more productive player in the future but at this time and point, he's not Mbappe levels of talent and until he shows it in the first team, it's conjecture to say he's 'clearly better' than Antony.
What if I told you Amad actually shot significantly less than Antony while producing more?
Also people say Antony has "technical qualities" but in reality he's one footed and is a poor passer of the football at a basic level. He's got excellent ball retention (probably his best trait) and is decent in tight spaces, but he's not great running with the football (just watch any time we get on the break and he has to run with the ball at pace) so he can't be a Rashford style inside forward playing off the shoulder. Again, if he was this Vini Jr level raw winger talent I wouldn't have the same issues with his lack of end product. But he doesn't really present a threat 1v1 to make up for his lack of creativity or final third decision making, and in all you get a player that is inefficient in ways that aren't easily improved upon given the traits. It's why I keep calling him a mid table winger, because I think he'd look right at home for Wolves or Crystal Palace or any of those sides that have wingers with some trickery but ultimately aren't good enough at key things to make the step up to better sides.