I would think that Rich has a very good reason to have the matches on a Thursday. It may be that he does other things than look after our game, but, when it comes to going away for a week the Friday match is bad timing. We don't get the updates until late Saturday and most people on holiday have gone. If you can't tap into the game whilst you are away everyone undertaking trnsfers and loans. and filling in the sheet, can't conduct the transaction.
I will be filling in my sheet ,possibly before I know I have a player suspended.
Most of us have work and families - so to ask for it all to be done on a thursday night when you might not get in untill gone 7pm and have to be up for work the next day is a bit much?
When I have gone on holiday before I have emailed Rich my teamsheet ahead of time, with a set of notes for sensible changes if "x" player gets injured / suspended
Might be worth having a word with him and doing something similar if it would help you out?