The Manchester United dressing room has not been fully fumigated. An associate of one player recently and indiscreetly described Antony as "slow as s--t" with "one trick".
They might be eating their words after Antony's auspicious performance at Nottingham Forest. He ought to have crowned it with a goal but failed to dink the ball over Wayne Hennessey's outstretched leg.
Erik ten Hag described Antony's self-served volley that was converted by Wout Weghorst on the rebound as "a great action". The Brazilian was namechecked among the forwards who can "do something no one expects, some crazy stuff that has to be also in a team's fantasy and adventure".
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"I think he played a really good game," Ten Hag remarked. "I think he was a threat in between the lines, he was good in the physicality, he had some good actions to go at the opponent. He had to score (in a one-on-one) but it was a great combination.
"So we needed to see that more; more dynamic in the frontline, we are working on that part - that is the most difficult part. But I have seen some good moments today and in the last couple of games and I'm happy with that.
"The 2-0 just before half-time was an important one because that brought calmness to the team and it was a great action from Antony and the rebound from Wout Weghorst. He's the striker, it's why we got him in."
Ten Hag measuredly assessed Antony's form during his pre-match press conference, opining United were better with the left-footer on the right but he "can do better". Ten Hag urged Antony to be more direct.
Around two hours after that embargoed section had ended at Carrington, Antony tweeted: "Important week for us!! Seeking to evolve to give my best to the team! It has always been a dream to be here and I will give all I have to honor this club cause we are stronger together!"
That seemed like a pre-emptive strike after his entourage were notified of the copy scheduled for 22.30. The likelihood is Antony was on the training pitch at that time as United players drove in for an afternoon session around the time Ten Hag was holding court in the upper floor of the Jimmy Murphy Centre.
At Selhurst Park, the press box is adjacent with the penalty area United were attacking in the first-half. Whenever Antony received the ball, he seemed too deep and he was vigilantly showed outside by Tyrick Mitchell. So the alleys he ran down were all blind.
He improved at Arsenal but United were so limited with the attacking variations they had four attempts on target. Against Forest, Antony was more unpredictable with his running and occasionally mimicked Arjen Robben.
Robben is proof predictability can be irrepressible. The speed with which he dribbled inside - and the directness - made him one of the most devastating wingers between 2010-15. His goalscoring threat was so great Louis van Gaal successfully converted him into a striker for the 2014 World Cup.
After Arsenal's dominant win over United, a clip of Mikel Arteta preaching on wingers' positioning went viral. Using a powerpoint, Arteta bemoans full-backs playing the ball to inverted wingers on the touchline with their back to supporters as they cannot progress the play.
Bukayo Saka was such a thorn in United's side as he was always facing goal. His instinct is to drift inside while the full-back is on the ball so he can gather the pass and face goal all in one motion. The difference between Saka and Antony at the Emirates was like night and day but at the City Ground Antony was gathering the ball on the half-turn.
One of Antony's best pieces of play all season was at Wolves when he accelerated an attack, switched the play to Alejandro Garnacho and met his cross with a tame free header. That is the variation Ten Hag is seeking.
Antony's approach play was so innovative at Forest he occupied Bruno Fernandes's zone for his one-on-one with Hennessey and the shot that was parried out to Weghorst. He was up against no slouch in Renan Lodi, a Brazil international who was outstanding in both of Atletico Madrid's Champions League knockout ties against United last season.
Ten Hag was constructively critical of Antony during his three-game scoring run at the start of his Premier League career. "We have to expect more from him," Ten Hag stressed after Antony slotted in his third goal in as many games at Everton in October.
"First weeks, he scored goals, he did good stuff, but also I saw a lot of room for improvement in his game, and what I was happy with the goal he made now was out of the moment of getting in behind. He has to do that more, he has to use his space, he has a good dribble, but he needs more variation."
Ten Hag's analysis did not end there and three-and-a-half months after Paul Scholes accused Antony of abandoning Diogo Dalot in the Etihad derby, Gary Neville said similar after another defeat at one of the top two.
Saka is levels above Antony and scrutiny was inevitable after two winless games he was substituted in. United overspent with their £85.51million investment but Antony has balanced out a lopsided attack and the potential is there.
He certainly has more than one trick.
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