Friday, November 3rd, Carrington's entire focus shifted to Fulham.
The analysts had the projector running before the players had even finished their coffee, Fulham's expected 4-2-3-1 already up on the screen — João Palhinha protecting the middle of the pitch, Antonee Robinson providing athletic width from left-back, the rest of the shape filled in around them.
The staff spent the most time on Palhinha, by some distance.
"League's most aggressive ball-winner in central midfield," the analyst said, running the clip package. "Watch how he chooses his moments."
Demien watched closely, chin resting on one hand.
Palhinha didn't chase every midfielder around the pitch the way a less intelligent presser might. He waited — for a poor receiving angle, a heavy first touch, a pass played into a body still half-turned toward its own goal — and only then did he attack, hard and total, no hesitation once he committed.
Clip after clip showed the same pattern: patience, then violence.
