I don’t think he’s a tracking back winger.
I recognise that in the modern game, everybody has to do their share of defensive work but it could lead to a mindset of more what Franca can’t do as opposed to what he can do.
I’d like to see him more in an inside forward role where he can float around in the final third.
However, since Roy doesn’t play this way I think his opportunities will be confined to wide areas.

I enjoyed watching him. He is very raw but definitely stretched their back four when running at them. He grew more into the game as it went on and was unlucky with that run and shot. He is an out and out attacker not someone who will cover our defenders which in Roys world is more important. Hope he gets more chances.

I think the time to judge him is after he has had a run of games and had time to adjust to the demands of the league in both a physical and tactical sense.
At the moment, I find it hard to believe Palace paid an initial £14m for him based on the evidence so far. Compare that to what has been paid for Olise, Eze, Wharton etc who all seemed so much more advanced in terms of their development and ability to quickly adapt to the PL.
As other have said, if he had emerged from the academy at very little cost one might feel more sympathetic. However, at the moment he looks so far off the pace tactically and doesn't really strike me as having a significant goal threat going forward where his nerves seem to get the better of him. An awful lot of patience is going to be required I suspect.

He has a long way to go... We all want him to do well but at what cost? He's not ready and looked well out of his depth. The commentators commented several times as to how much he was struggling.

Other than the ball he knicked off their full back and the chance he missed, he was non existent for the first 70 mins and kept giving the ball away. He lost his man for their equaliser so was at fault for that. It took him 19 mins to get his first touch.

He's got pace and enthusiasm, but that's not enough at this level. People on here won't like this, but we'd be better off with a steady Schlupp starting on the left as you know what you're going to get from him. If not, you'd get more from Edouard who is stronger on the ball and has better awareness. Given the precarious league position we're now in, Franca is too much of as gamble.

With his pace I can see him as a useful impact sub but not a lot else currently. Once the season is over - and presuming we stay up - we should send him on loan to the Championship for 6 months to gain experience.

As others have said, we're gonna have to be patient. His price tag led us to think we'd signed better player than the one we've currently got. I hope he proves me wrong because we need him right now.

Yep. Schlupp used to be a good impact player. I'm not really sure what he is anymore? Eduoard is the only other option on the left, but he runs like his mum has told him he has to come in for dinner and he doesn't want to.

Where we're at is that Franca probably isn't ready, but there are literally no other options who look like they can provide any attacking threat. I mean, did Ayew produce anything going forward last night other than a really tame shot? I think he's an important player but he is not a serious goal threat. Franca needs a run of games. If when Eze is back he hasn't improved then fine, but until then let's back him.

Well with the footballing world (those with access to Sky anyway) watching, would any club pay £20m for him on that performance? Even as one for the future?
Don't think so. He needs to be in the U23's.
Franca and Henderson. One of the great mysteries of transfer logic.

Following Palace since 25 Feb 1978

Franca is right where he needs to be at the moment. He needs games. He was the only player to get me on the edge of my seat all night.

He improved as he went along. Given a few more starts I am sure he will accustom himself to the pace of PL.

He was prepared to take people on, not always successfully, which is more than many others who want to get rid of the ball as quick as possible.

Given his youth and inexperience I think he'll turn out to be a good buy.

Man and boy Palace since my first game in 1948 sitting on my dad's shoulders

At the very least whilst Eze and Olise are out, he starts.
Once one of them come back, arguably we don't need to play him as well. Until then there's no real viable alternative.

Hopefully in the time it takes Eze/Olise to come back he's found his feet and he's earned his place to start alongside them.

Edited by CrazyBadger (13 Feb 2024 4.50pm)

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

I agree, He looked good a couple of times going forward. That little run in the first half where he nearly got a shot away could have been amazing. He put a couple of intelligent passes through too. Equally he tried more than once to carry the ball up field and lost it to Gusto. He also lost Gusto (who he should have been watching) when Chelsea scored so I'd say its 50/50. I definitely see he has potential but right now thats all it is and he has a mistake in him for sure.
Having said that, while I trust the coaching staff to know more about it than me and respect their decision, I would personally like to see him start against Everton