I think (think) there’s a decent chance Gruda and Kadioğlu start tomorrow.

Wolves vs. Brighton | Predicted Lineup:

When Bob Dylan sang, "The times they are a-changin'," he was actually singing about FPL fixture swings. So I took a look at five teams entering good runs of fixtures, their best assets, and why Arteta would prefer a CB over... Helen of Troy. READ FOR FREE: www.lazyfpl.com/p/fixture-sw... 👈

If you believe hard times make good men, try scrolling through Napoli's squad list. They don’t make it easy, I’ll tell you that for free.

Gameweek 6: Free Hit

Chelsea vs. Brighton | Predicted Lineup:

Fabian Hürzeler said that Yankuba Minteh trained yesterday, but he wasn’t pictured in training.

Two things impress me most about Julián Alvarez: 1. The speed at which he sets himself up for a shot — a lot of steps (not good), but quick + nimble, meaning he gets there before CBs anyway 2. The speed at which his laces go through the ball (snap through the shot)

Fabian Hürzeler on his decision to sub Minteh off vs. Spurs: “Everyone wants to play but we have to make decisions.” “We need to take care, we need to understand that, in some moments, he didn’t track back and he didn’t defend like he should defend. (1/2)

In this week's keep or sell, I make fun of Manchester United, justify keeping Florian Wirtz (sort of), make a case for Pedro Porro, make fun of Manchester United AGAIN, and talk about three other popular players. READ FOR FREE: www.lazyfpl.com/p/keep-or-se... 👈

If I were Vogue, I’d start working on a Diego Gómez catalogue of finishes ASAP, because you’re not going to find anything more visually appealing than that

Barnsley vs. Brighton - EFL Cup, Round 3:

Every Wildcard 6 draft looks the same, so we had to find you some differentials to extend your tail of outcomes and liven up your drafts. From Yankuba Minteh and Bukayo Saka to DEFs and GKs, here are the best differentials for your GW 6 Wildcard. READ FOR FREE: www.lazyfpl.com/p/wildcard-d... 👈

Gameweek 5: Bench Boost

Brighton vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Predicted Lineup:

It's Gameweek 5. You're sick and tired of feeling like only your players are underperforming, and you're wondering if it's time to cut your losses. But is now the time to sell Florian Wirtz? Ollie Watkins? Chris Wood? Here, we answer this and more: www.lazyfpl.com/p/keep-or-se...

Watching Slot's training methods/hearing how he speaks about fitness (Isak for eg) shows why he's [fundamentally] a good coach. Players, and by proxy fitness, come first. Get your best players on the pitch as often as you (sustainably) can, and you win more + build cohesion.

Gameweek 4: Wildcard

Bournemouth vs. Brighton | Predicted Lineup:

West Ham unironically have one of the best FB pairings in the league.

Gameweek 3: Palmer + Georginio → Cunha + Mbeumo

Brighton vs. Manchester City | Predicted Lineup:

— Haaland pins Brighton’s CBs back, pulling one of van Hecke/Dunk out of position — City progress narrowly (from deep) in a 3-2 base — Reijnders runs into the box and gets a shot off, with Haaland there to clean up any rebounds Bring on Sunday

Two months ago, I wrote: Scouting Nick Woltemade. Through video + play-by-play breakdowns, I analysed his ball-striking + range of finishes, agility + dribbling, link-up play + selflessness, and two MASSIVE red flags no one was talking about 🚩 READ NOW: instinctive.substack.com/p/scouting-n... 👈

Signing Mainoo on loan would be the best thing to happen to Brighton since… whatever the next best thing was, but I cannot it happening. It’d take a chunk of minutes away from other players and, proportionately (very nihilistic perspective), stagnate possible development → profit.

Similarly, Georginio Rutter may be available to face Manchester City but Fabian Hürzeler is “unsure”

Welcome, Stefanos Tzimas. You’re going to score a LOT of goals.

Oxford United vs. Brighton | Confirmed Lineup:

Georginio Rutter may be available to face Oxford United tomorrow; a decision will be made later today. [The Argus]

The reason behind Georginio Rutter’s absence, via Sussex World: A source close to the club confirmed that Georginio pulled up in training this week with “minor issue” but stressed it is not serious and that he is “fine.”

If the majority of your progression comes from wide, you’d want either a) a (tall) physical striker who can bully CBs and open up space to shoot near the edge of the box or b) a striker whose first thought is to shoot on his own (1/2)

I can’t shake the feeling that Brajan Gruda gets good minutes today. One of the better games for a start, imo.

Gameweek 2:

I don’t think Forest’s signings (barring Ndoye, Kalimuendo, and Hutchinson) have been great. I think sacking Nuno would be terrible. This is NOT the year for deforestation, but I suppose the board has other ideas.

Everton vs. Brighton | Predicted Lineup — Georginio Rutter: Will he start? — Yankuba Minteh: A minutes risk? — Danny Welbeck's future — Attacking dynamics READ FOR FREE instinctive.substack.com/p/everton-vs... 👈 🔗

Brighton 1 - 1 Fulham | Match Report — Mats Wieffer and positional avoidances — Georginio Rutter + Matt O'Riley = trouble? — Wide and deep progression — Passive pressing post subs READ FOR FREE: instinctive.substack.com/p/brighton-1... 👈 🔗

After Carlos Baleba was subbed off, Brighton's LW was repeatedly dragged inwards (OOP) to occupy the spaces left empty in midfield. This is going to be a big issue when it comes to seeing off games unless Baleba becomes a 90' man this season.

Fabian Hürzeler on Georginio Rutter's flexibility (and dynamics w/Danny Welbeck): “With the loss from João, we miss one more striker. Stefanos needs time to step into this role, so it’s a little bit of a balance thing. (1/3)

— Mats Wieffer's tackles are often rash/mistimed. — Mats Wieffer simply avoids having to make a tackle and still wins the ball back. Nice.

I think the subs vs. Fulham were honestly *great* Losing Minteh + Mitoma isn’t ideal (outlet), but Welbeck gives you hold-up play, Milner → work rate + experience, Kadioğlu control, etc, etc. BUT a lot of players got lost in the press. There was no cohesiveness there.

With Wieffer (RB) settling into midfield (image) or de Cuyper staying high + wide, van Hecke/Dunk had to periodically play as FBs. Both have the skillset to do so, and Boscagli + Igor should manage too. Coppola, on the other hand, will struggle and needs more time to settle in.

Wieffer’s 1v1s are good when he’s ahead of his man, but if both are starting from a standing start… yikes. Two pacey forwards and Brighton’s right-hand side could unravel pretty quickly. Baleba as cover helps, of course.

I think Hürzeler sees Kadioğlu/RW like Wieffer/RB (acclimatising far from goal w/less pressure).

In HUGE news, we finally have a sitting midfielder to defend transitions:

Brighton vs. Fulham | Confirmed Lineup

From what you can see in training (small-sided games), Ferdi Kadioğlu looks really, really good. Very spring-y and assured (playing LB).

Gameweek 1:

Brighton vs. Fulham | Predicted Lineup — Georginio Rutter: where will he play? — Who takes penalties? — Carlos Baleba’s involvement — Facing Fulham in transition OUT NOW: instinctive.substack.com/p/brighton-v... 👈

Fabian Hürzeler says Brighton have been practicing penalties more than usual, but he won’t reveal the first-choice taker: “Hopefully we get a penalty and you can see.”

The fact that Hürzeler’s easing in the captain (and starting CB) of a UCL side but started a 20-year-old from the same league in Gameweek 1 says a lot about the latter and his physical development.