1. Pedro Neto (8.9)
Although Neto was almost always in the starting XI, he fell into a rather long slump – availability is always a good ability to have! – so it’s nice to see him break out with (hopefully) a game-winning performance. The hat-trick also brought him to 10 goals for the season, a career-high and made him the third player to reach double figures in all competitions this season (after Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez).
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Head coach Liam Roneyall was a little over the top in his praise for Pedro after the game, but it would be hugely helpful if he can find some form and finish the second half of the season as strong as he did last season.
2. Liam Delap (7.5)
Delap was rated very low at the end of the first half, and not just because he missed a true open-net goal.
At the end of the game, he was named Player of the Match and ended the game with a hat-trick of assists. The two in the second half were particularly impressive.
It was not an easy first season for Delap, who made a lot of mistakes and made questionable decisions. But we can see hope in it. But it feels like he still has a lot to learn.
“I thought the ball went in. Obviously I was stupid and I should have just put it in, but these things happen and I’ll learn from them next time. I thought the ball went in and was waiting for the referee to blow the whistle. It was stupid on my part, but I thought it went in.”
—Liam Delap; Source: The Standard
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3. Mamadou Sarr (7.4)
It wasn’t technically a debut, as Sarr played the final ten minutes or so of Tunisia’s 3-0 win at Esperance in the Club World Cup, but it was his first start for Chelsea and he performed as well as we’d expect from his performances in Strasbourg and for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations. He also deserved an assist when Esteban shockingly missed an empty net goal.
vs. Hull City (FAC, A, W 4-0)
Excellence(8.5-9.5): Neto(8.9)
Excellent (7.5-8.4):delap (7.5)
Good (6.5-7.4): Sal(7.4), Santos (7.3), Esteban (7.1), Hatto (7.0), Fofana (6.9), Caicedo (6.8), Sanchez (6.6), James (6.6)
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Average (5.5-6.4): Enzo (6.4, son), Achim Pong (6.3, son), Delhi (6.3, son), Mheka (5.9, son), Tosin (5.8, son), Grenache (5.6)
Below standard (4.5-5.4):—
Poor (3.5-4.4):—
Bad (2.5-3.4):—