FTL2023 - AO thoughts

Soooo the AO is always one of the trickiest weeks of the season.  Interestingly enough, many managers have completely different perspectives as to how to play it.  Some only prioritize the AO n dont worry about the following weeks (n pray for withdrawals), n some load up their bench n just try to get as many points at the Ao as they can.

Soo how did our Top teams from last season do?

Alexei Ilinykh our defending champ who took everyone to task last year by winning both Months 1 and 2, didnt have the greatest AO this year, so it will be tough to replicate that start to the season as he finished 85th this week.  He Captained Djoker, but beyond that, nothing else really panned out for players that were in his starting lineup!  As a result, he's 313 points behind our leader!

TRICIA finished 2nd last year, n wasnt much better than Alexei as she was 56th (237 points behind).  She had Djoker as her Captain, n played Rybakina, but beyond that, everything else sorta fell flat.  The team looked good on paper, but we know that doesnt always work

Mohaib Idrees was in the same boat as the top 2 as he finished 67th (267 points behind).  He captained Djoker as well, n played Tsitsipas as a KP, but having 3 players lose in R2 was a nail in an early coffin.  U have to wonder, if he's considering changing his team name back to his old n trusty one!

Mat Mermoud had a great week as he finished 11th. Hes within a 103 points, and truly within striking distance if he has a good GW2.  Safe to say, he was beyond preturbed with Coric's MIA performance against Lehecka, n u had to know that he was begging n praying that Coric was going to retire midmatch lol  - Ben Shelton would have been a hell of a replacement!  Apparently he had a conversation with our top 3 managers at the AO, n had Djoker, Sabalenka and Tsitsipas!

Jer Hetherington had a week that he'd like to forget!  His team looked good on paper but finished 117th and now sits almost 400 points behind!.  Hard to imagine having a team with Medvedev, FAA, Fritz, Pegula, Bencic, CarGar, Collins n Rune that he literally didnt have a single player left with once Pegula got bounced in the QF!

Hard to believe that in our top 5 managers from last year, only one manager was able to finish inside the top 50! Needless to say its a very long season, so dont fret if you struggled at the AO, as you are in some good company!