1. MARC CUCURELLA (8.3)
Enzo Maresca said that he would have to try very hard to find fault with any of his players’ performances in this game, and the ratings generally agree, with every starter bar the injured (and a bit stumbly) Wesley Fofana rated at least a 7.0.
That said, it’s perhaps a surprise that Cucurella gets the Man of the Match given all the other excellence out there, but I’m not ever going to begrudge that hair any such recognition. And he did play a major role in our opening goal, even though he didn’t officially get credited with an assist for some reason (deflection on the pass?), which would’ve been his first of the season.
Cucu’s had himself an excellent 2024, for both club and country; hope he keeps it going into the new year and beyond!
2. MOISÉS CAICEDO
Caicedo’s averaging a stellar 7.8 over his past six games, and he’s now closed the gap to Cole Palmer at the top of the ratings for the entire season. Like Cucurella, Caicedo’s going from strength to strength this year, and that’s lovely to see.
And in this one, he helped unveil our latest tactical wrinkle, slotting into the hybrid midfilder/right back role. If it’s inverting when a nominal right back goes into midfield in possession, is it “reverting” if a nominal midfielder drops to right back out of possession? Unverting? Outverting? Obverting?
Moisés Caicedo, reverted midfielder.
“We are always looking for balance on and off the ball. Enzo [Fernandez] did fantastic today once again. Moises, again. Today’s game is very difficult to find one of them who was not good. They were all good and that was important.”
-Enzo Maresca; source: Football.London
3. COLE PALMER
Palmer’s “quiet” game (per some of the TV broadcast) included an assist and a fantastic goal. Brrr.
vs. ASTON VILLA (PL, H, W 3-0)
EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —
EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Cucurella (8.3), Caicedo (8.2), Palmer (8.2), Enzo (8.1)
GOOD (7.0-7.9): Jackson (7.8), Neto (7.4), Colwill (7.3), Sánchez (7.2), Lavia (7.2), Sancho (7.0)
AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Fofana (6.7), Badiashile (6.6, sub), Madueke (6.3, sub), Félix (6.2, sub), Nkunku (6.2, sub), Gusto (6.1, sub)
POOR (5.0-5.9): —
BAD (4.0-4.9): —
TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —
OVERALL