If you want to find out whether someone is an optimistic or a pessimist, just ask them what they have made of Antony's time at Manchester United so far.
For some people, there have been real signs of promise. An extremely talented forward who has all the attributes to become world-class, but just needs a little help, and time to get there.
For others, he is the embodiment of all style and no substance. An unnecessary luxury at a time when the basics aren't already being covered.
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What they will agree on, is that there is certainly much more to come. It is down to him to dictate whichever direction that might end up being.
The first chance of the match against Brighton fell to Antony within two minutes, before he had had time to finetune his finishing. He took a touch inside and drilled a low effort skiding back across goal and just beyond the post. The very best only need one chance.
Erik ten Hag, stood with his hands in his pockets, shook his head and turned around in despair. It might have been early, but it should have been a goal.
It was to be a common theme of his performance on the night, with the 23-year-old doing so much right, but not quite finding the end product that will define his status in the game.
This was not only evident within his poor finishing, but his build-up play as well. United sparked into life when Marcus Rashford nutmegged a defender and dragged his team up the pitch, but the attack lost its momentum when Antony took a touch and played a safer pass backwards to Bruno Fernandes, rather than poking it forward for Rashford to run onto.
There was another nearly moment after half an hour as well, when a clever corner routine found the Brazilian on the edge of the box, but he fired the ball into the ground and sent it dipping awkwardly at goal.
It was by no means an awful effort, but was one that lacked finesse, as does so much of his game.
Ten Hag has defended his former Ajax ace throughout their debut year at the club but has never shied away from the fact that he has needed an improvement in front of goal.
"He knows, I know as well, that when you're a striker, you need an end product," the United manager admitted last month. "But already he had quite a lot of end product, he scored in all competitions now. Eight goals in his first year at United is not bad and there are still games to go.
"But he has to do it. I can't say in every game, but in many games, if you want to be a top-class player and especially in all the competitions. He has to step up."
Antony has shown steady progress this season and is still having an impact in the final third with his off-the-ball movement and pass selection, but for the price United paid he ultimately has to offer more.
He is also not helped by the lack of a proper striker in this United side, someone he can get a rapport with in attack, who will allow him to engage in regular link-up play and have more freedom in the final third of the pitch.
What he does have though is fight. Ten Hag loves that, but he would not have loved it if he had been sent off for a needless scuffle that highlighted his frustrations last night.
The game sparked back into life 20 minutes from time when he lashed out at Alexis MacAllister after he felt he should have been awarded a free-kick, before squaring up to Lewis Dunk as his frustrations boiled over.
Six minutes later he was withdrawn, not as the United hero, but as the Brighton villain. As the home fans jeered him off the pitch he looked up and just patted the crest on his shirt.
Antony is determined to come good at the club that have shown so much faith in him, but this was another reminder of just how much work is needed in the years ahead.
Ten Hag is still an optimist.
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