Noni Madueke earned his third Man of the Match award of the season, a remarkable feat shared only with Cole Palmer. However, despite these individual accolades, Madueke’s general average rating remains significantly lower than Palmer’s. Madueke has scored four goals and provided one assist in just two matches against teams whose names end in “-Hampton,” showing a preference for those matchups. In contrast, his performance against teams not ending in “-Hampton” has been less impressive, with only two goals and one assist in 14 games. A fun suggestion was made to rename teams like Tottenham to “Tottenham-pton” to tap into his successful form against such teams.
Cole Palmer, with a rating of 7.6, narrowly edges out Moisés Caicedo for the second spot. Palmer, now the team’s top scorer with 9 goals, has continued to impress, especially considering the additional defensive attention he faces from opponents this season. His consistency and contribution have been essential to the team’s performance. A key point is that the team has evolved beyond being labeled “Palmer FC,” signaling a more balanced approach to their play.
Moisés Caicedo, also rated 7.6, continues to deliver strong performances but has recently been subjected to heavy workloads, including another 90-minute shift in a short period. His stamina and importance to the team are undeniable, but there are concerns about his physical toll, particularly with an upcoming match against Spurs.
The match against Southampton (a 5-1 win) saw several strong individual performances. Madueke, Palmer, and Caicedo led the way with ratings in the 7.0-7.9 range, with other contributors including Jörgensen, Enzo, Nkunku, Cucurella, Sancho, Félix, and Disasi. A few players, such as Gusto and Tosin, had more average performances, while no one received poor or terrible ratings. The team’s general performance remains solid, with key players continuing to shine despite the challenges they face.
