Brighton’s defenders supplied the biggest individual haul and another productive outing, while Manchester City’s forwards brought the goals. Across the XI, creation, tackles and saves gave Balanced managers several ways to score beyond the obvious attacking returns.
This review covers TFF’s simulated Premier League 2026/27 season. The platform’s official GW7 XI totals 176.0 points; the analysis below uses its supplied record, rather than real-world results.
Brighton's defenders offer more than goals
An assist and a shot on target helped Luka Vuskovic reach 22 points, the highest score in this XI. He played all 90 minutes against Crystal Palace, adding a key pass and a tackle. That combination matters in Balanced: attacking involvement can support a defender’s return without a goal. His 75 season points across seven appearances already make this more than an isolated name appearing near the top.
Still, this was his first assist of the simulated season, alongside one previous goal. The wider points record is the stronger signal; another 22-point outing is a much bigger ask. Alongside him, Maxim De Cuyper collected 13 points through a full match featuring four key passes and three tackles, without scoring or assisting. With 65 points, two goals and two assists across seven appearances, he has the broader attacking record. This week’s contribution strengthens his case because it shows another route to a useful return.
United's creation comes from two positions
Four tackles and three key passes gave Diogo Dalot a productive combination in the visit to Leeds. His 18 points came without a goal or assist, making him a useful example of why Balanced managers should look beyond attacking returns alone. He completed 90 minutes, but his season total of 53 points from seven appearances also puts the haul in perspective: it was a substantial jump above his roughly 7.6-point average.
Youri Tielemans supplied an assist, three key passes and a tackle during 84 minutes for 14.5 points. That assist was his first of the season, with no goals across seven appearances. His 52.5-point total suggests useful scoring can exist around a modest attacking return, but neither player’s season record establishes that this particular creative output will repeat. The verdict is encouraging involvement from both, with more evidence needed before treating these scores as their usual level.
City pair turn goals into selection
Two goals from two shots on target made Erling Haaland the obvious scoring threat against Ipswich. Three key passes accompanied his 19 points over 90 minutes, adding creation to the finishing. Eight goals and 77.5 points in seven appearances provide the clearest established goalscoring signal in this XI. A brace remains a big weekly expectation, but the season evidence supports the scoring threat.
For Phil Foden, the balance is different. His 13.5 points included a goal, three key passes and two tackles in 77 minutes. This was his first goal across five appearances, with two assists also contributing to a 42.5-point season total. The mixed contribution is encouraging for Balanced managers; the goal alone doesn’t establish a new scoring run. His record supports involvement in goals, while leaving plenty of uncertainty about how frequently he will score himself.
Chelsea's finishing and saves both count
Pedro Neto scored twice, registered three shots on target and made five key passes against Everton. Add two tackles across 90 minutes and his 17 points came with activity beyond the finishing. Yet those two goals account for two-thirds of his season tally. With 56.5 points and one assist across seven appearances, there is a useful overall record, but this particular goalscoring burst needs treating cautiously.
At the other end, Emiliano Martínez made four saves during 75 minutes for 11 points. Saves give a goalkeeper a direct way to contribute in Balanced, although the supplied figures don’t explain every component of that total. His 47.5 points across six appearances average roughly 7.9 per outing, so this was an above-average return. It supports his existing contribution rather than proving a change in level; one week’s save count cannot establish a workload trend.
Three returns, three different signals
Evanilson combined a goal and an assist with two key passes and two tackles in 79 minutes against Sunderland, earning 19 points. His 79 season points lead this selected XI, with two goals and four assists across seven appearances. That makes repeated involvement in goals a stronger signal than prolific finishing alone. Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz earned 12.5 points at Brentford through an assist and nine key passes over 90 minutes. With no goals and two assists in seven appearances, creation is the attraction, although the season totals cannot show whether that key-pass volume is typical.
Alex Iwobi completed the selection with 16.5 points against Hull, recording a goal, two shots on target and three key passes across 90 minutes. His 49-point season contains no other goals or assists, so the finish is a spike rather than an established pattern. Across these three, the useful distinction is between recurring attacking returns and one particularly productive afternoon.
Which of these players would you actually add?
