How did he look?
Creative quick but needs ( understandably ) to bulk up a bit. Body strength will improve - good player great prospect.
As impressive as he was vs Brighton. I can see why he's picked ahead of ESR but it's going to be difficult to keep keeping ESR out. ESR with the strike vs Brighton that led to the corner that led to the equaliser last week and ESR with the equaliser today.
Quote from: demeant0r on August 24, 2025, 09:04:56 PMAs impressive as he was vs Brighton. I can see why he's picked ahead of ESR but it's going to be difficult to keep keeping ESR out. ESR with the strike vs Brighton that led to the corner that led to the equaliser last week and ESR with the equaliser today.
and also ESR's pre-season form (appreciate King scored two, but ESR contributed more and is continuing to)..
for me King has proven he's capable at this level, playing at Baleba, and then Casameiro and Ugarte.. He's 18 and is holding himself up. But as someone else said, he needs to bulk up.
Esr gets the nod from me at the moment. Seems to be relishing playing - even when he took on another shot later in the game when he shot, he smiled - which wasn't a look of someone who was smiling because he was lighthearted and not taking things seriously, but more of a look of a player who is enjoying his football and the challenge again..
First twenty minutes he was a passenger gave the ball away in dangerous positions but after that he was good his movement running into space was excellent and he should have shot instead of trying to square it across goal. I really like how his first instinct is to get on the half turn and drive forwards
Has a lot to learn,but he will.
Great prospect.
Think he did well, kept providing good runs and composure on the ball. Should possibly have done better when he got through on goal in the first half and a bit unlucky to not get past Yoro in the second with the back heel flick.
Not sure we should be heaping all that much praise on ESR for winning a corner off a pretty weak shot attempt last week. He looked much sharper today though.
Thought game passed him by at times. Will have to baulk up in time.
Few times he was delayed in either the pass or cross.
But he is not out of place in this division.
Showed some brilliant flashes, but not quite ready for prime time. I think ESR should probably start. Bright future for sure though.
I thought he did well today. He's clearly getting more attention now. Casemiro was always checking to see where he was and Amorin seemed to have him sandwiched between De Ligt and Casemiro a lot in the first half. This led to Josh not getting time on the ball. I thought second half Josh adjusted his position and found more space. This was encouraging, he is self aware enough to alter in game. He's a bright boy. No doubt about that.
Thought King was impressive today. He has a real knack of finding space and he's quick and will always unsettle defences.
Smith Rowe looked very good when he came on. It looks like he's had the benefit of a full pre-season and looked to my untrained eye to be half a stone lighter.
Very good, as others have said - probably needs to bulk up a little bit.
Refreshing counterpoint to ESR and AP in the 10 last few seasons. Very positive and always looking to go forward and cause problems.
Looks at ease at this level and will improve. First goal involvement for him will be huge. Hopefully it comes soon for him and his development.
I'd like to see King & ESR on the pitch together. Just trying to think how that would work as probably would mean one of Lukic or Berge drops out.
He made a couple of poor decisions but also showed glimpses of class. An overall good performance, but he's still learning and adapting to this level. I have no doubts whatsoever that he has a great future ahead of him, and hopefully with us.
Still a bit sleight of frame. He just needs to bulk up a bit. Creative and made some good runs. The Man U boards noticed him and some believed he'd been on their books at some point in the past. He will be a big player for us at some point if he doesn't get his head turned...sadly I think that's inevitable if past experience is a guide regardless of the examples of many an waylaid career jumping ship