Tbf...’speculating’ about players, managers and DCFC in general - often based on limited knowledge - is what forums such as this usually do. That’s why the question, ‘what’s goin’ on’, was asked.
If we were told...’health reason’, ‘personal issues’, ‘ankle injury’...whatever, then the ‘speculating’ would largely stop but to be repeatedly fed the line...’tactical decision’ is, to quote DCFCA, just ‘bollux’ and only fuels such speculation.