Noni doesn't step up in time (and doesn't track the runner); but that's just mitigation. The main issue is on how Gundogan has so much time:

x.com/tekkersfoot/...

A "loophole" many clubs used before us during COVID, and one Premier League clubs opted not to close even after.

(FPL hat)

Any idea why he's not scoring goals? I have not watched closely, he seems to get into good positions and he had goals at Girona.

Seems to be nailed in the side though, insane creative production.

You should not accept anywhere near this level of output with a net spend of 800m.

We should not spend any more money now net, any future buys should come from selling this lot and re-investing.

Actually amending LB:

LB: Chilwell/Cucu/Hall/Maatsen -> Cucu/Veiga ❌

On a whole, attack is definitely improved (held together by Caicedo and Palmer being best-in-the-league hits), while defence has significantly deflated.

Fullbacks the only place we're on the same level with Cucu improving to 21 Chilwell and Gusto.

LW a big miss so far in attack.

Deep Central: Jorg/Kante/Kova -> Caicedo/Enzo/Lavia ✅
Att Central: Mount/Gallagher/Kai -> Palmer/Felix ✅

RW: Ziyech/Pulisic -> Madueke/Neto ✅
LW: Pulisic/Sterling -> Sancho/Mudryk ❌

ST: Havertz/Lukaku -> Jackson/Nkunku ✅

There isn't a recall clause reportedly so not sure why Palace would do it.

No real number 9 though apart from Jackson...

I think Chelsea are likely going for Liam Delap, but do feel he fits here as a rotational forward; assuming we get a proper direct LW.

We need our forward to drop deep to receive the ball in CAM zones, then lay it off to Palmer facing the opposition goal.

(selfish FPL question)

Do you foresee him keeping his spot for the next few league games, up top with Havertz or out on the flank?

P.S. In absolute awe of your work always.

I do agree given how we ended the Everton game, it was inevitable how dead we'd look on this one (and no subs worsened that), but feel that is also on player conditioning.

Maybe they're yet to experience PL intensity without a week's rest; body's unused to it.

Obv take off the red-zone players around 60-65, rather than 80~ we're doing, but they shouldn't have been this lethargic after getting last midweek off at Shamrock.

Not same XI, but same core.

Liverpool with VVD, TAA, Robbo, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Henderson etc. City had theirs too; both in a 3 sub era.

Subs help massively but this is a Sun-Thur (not Sun-Wed) turn around. Look at Salah's minutes all season. Consistently playing 90 every CL/PL.

This is a young core we're expecting to take us forward, they're going to be playing back-to-back in far more games in the future with CL.

You don't want this every week, but they should be able to put in 3 good games in 7-8 days for a crunch period (e.g. deep in PL & CL).

It even makes us opposition fans angry. You can accept a team not being good enough, but these players are clearly good enough to atleast fight against Lei/Ipswich/Wolves.

The worst defence I've ever seen in the PL, primarily due to a lack of professionalism from the manager. Consistent sabotage.

Is pass network data publicly available? I've not been able to find anything and lately have been thinking of coding something up to self-generate on analyzing tape.

Captain's Saka. Vice Mo.

I've always loved Jackson and was very close to using FT on Wissa. He's poor in the air but we're not playing teams with strong deep blocks.

Held off due to weak bench; feeling he'll be rotated before Palmer in a midweek. Didn't want a scenario where he's rested, back and picks the 5th yellow.