Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 8

With the next international break breathing down our necks, be sure to savour the thrills, heartache, jam, and (fingers crossed) joy that Gameweek 8 will undoubtedly provide.

As ever, Fantasy Football Scout is here to help you separate fact from rumour, stat from gobbledegook, and Pep from his roulette wheel. Well, ok separating Pep from his roulette wheel is probably surgically impossible, but two out of three ain’t bad. And, just for the heck of it, we’ll even explain what a “compound differential” is. Oh yes.

Talking points

The main headline this week has undoubtedly been the injury to Kevin De Bruyne. Guardiola confirmed on Friday that the brilliant Belgian will miss Gameweek 8

No, tomorrow [De Bruyne] is not fit. After the international break, he will be ready. It’s not a big, big problem.

Over half a million managers have wasted no time in ditching De Bruyne with Mount, Yarmolenko, and Mahrez (more on him later), the popular replacements. 

For other more patient souls – willing to trust Pep when he says the midfield maestro will return for Gameweek 9 – this will mean a substitute taking his place in their fantasy teams. 

If you’ve got options like John Lundstram (£4.5m) or Todd Cantwell (£5.0m) on your bench, hold on to Kevin.

The FPL General

However, as Neale reported in his team news round-up, some may have reason to worry. Speaking on Friday, Norwich City boss Daniel Farke reported a problem with 27%-owned Todd Cantwell:

There is a little doubt, a little question mark behind Todd Cantwell. He’s got some hamstring problems. He was out Wednesday and Thursday, returned back today on the training pitch, it looked alright. We have to wait a bit, how his body reacts. I hope to have him available for tomorrow.

For the low-down on all the treatment room latest, we not only have Neale’s quote-filled articles, but Rotation’s Alter Ego has kindly summarised the key points for each team. Could Allison be about to make his return this weekend?

Who to trust with the armband?

Raheem Sterling leads the captain poll with 25.8% of the vote, ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah, and Sergio Aguero. Without an overwhelming favourite to stick the armband on, FPL managers face another tricky decision. 

The underlying statistics once again point to the potential of Manchester City assets ahead of their home encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers, as David highlighted on the Captaincy Video

Only three teams have conceded more shots in the box [than Wolves], and no team has had more shots in the box than Manchester City.

Digging a little deeper – using data available to FFS Members – TheFantasyFreÆK focused on Wolves’ defensive problems this campaign:

… the stark contrast I notice in Wolves 19/20 v Wolves 18/19 from a defensive point of view is very worrying. Wolves have conceded triple the number of big chances this season than they did at this stage last season (12 v 4), hence their xGC (expected goals conceded) has nearly doubled (5.5 to 10). Shots in the box conceded have also witnessed an alarming rise of 46%.

The problem is knowing which City player to trust. 

In Gameweek 7, many FPL pundits and experts felt Aguero would definitely start following his midweek rest. They were wrong. This week it’s Raheem Sterling’s turn to be the favoured captain pick.

Sterling has scored in his last three matches in all competitions and emerged from the bench in the Champions League on Tuesday night to inspire City to victory. The 24-year-old will lead the FPL General’s troops on Sunday. 

However, one manager who won’t be giving Sterling the armband is Career Hall of Fame number one Sean Tobin. Sean, as Greyhead informed us in the latest installment of The Great and The Good, omitted Sterling from his Gameweek 7 Wildcard. Instead he’s chosen to go with Aguero and Salah as his only players costing over £11.0m.

Backing up Sean’s decision to favour Aguero, David observed in his Captain Sensible article:

Once again, we come into a Gameweek with Aguero as the busiest attacking player in the penalty box over the previous four matches. He has shot 17 times there from Gameweek 4 onwards, more than any other player in their last four outings.

While The FPL General feels that we shouldn’t be put off by Salah’s upcoming fixtures:

On paper, Liverpool have a tricky run of games but is it really that difficult? It’s Leicester at home this weekend (Salah’s lowest score at Anfield this season is nine points), then a trip to face mid-table side Manchester United before a home tie against a Spurs outfit who conceded seven goals to Bayern Munich this week.

Second in the captain poll, Aubameyang is attracting interest and it’s easy to understand why. Brandon pointed out in FPL Question Time:

With no blanks through the first seven weeks of the season, Aubameyang is indeed the real deal.

Discussing the Gabonese international in the Captaincy Video, Joe enthused:

It’s a six-point floor!… At the Emirates Bournemouth have conceded eleven goals and scored just three over their last three league visits, and Aubameyang has scored in his last two encounters against the Cherries.

High-end Purchases on a Limited Budget

The challenge facing many FPL managers is deciding which of the £11.0m+ players to own, with many offering the promise of points. Three premium-priced assets make this week’s Scout Picks: Salah, Sterling, and Aubameyang.

To help ease the pressure on our limited budgets players such as McGinn, Pukki, and Abraham – as well as a shift towards cheap defenders – are proving popular. All three offer the promise of goals this weekend.

In his analysis of the underlying stats, Neale revealed that Abraham had been presented with nine big chances in the last four Gameweeks:

Abraham had four of those gilt-edged opportunities in the last two Gameweeks, so he has still been getting into dangerous positions despite recording back-to-back blanks.

And goals are expected when Norwich City host Aston Villa later today:

486 shots conceded by Arsenal (126), Aston Villa (121), Norwich City (121) and Bournemouth (118) combined this season. Those four clubs have allowed the most attempts on goal in the Premier League this season and play each other this weekend, with Norwich entertaining Aston Villa and Arsenal hosting the Cherries.

Compound Differential

The form of Riyad Mahrez has been discussed this week. The injury to Kevin De Bruyne and a potential ban for Bernardo Silva increasing his appeal.

Neale goes into impressive depth exploring not only how well Mahrez has performed this season, but also his potential for minutes. While the Algerian does not have the luxury of guaranteed game-time, Neale observed:

If we are to accept the occasional rest for [Sterling, Aguero, and De Bruyne], then why not the more affordable Mahrez?

The most transferred-in player ahead of the Gameweek 8 deadline and with an ownership fast approaching 10%, Mahrez just about squeezes into the differential category

But it’s as a “compound differential” that he could really make a difference. Appearing on the Scoutcast this week Tom, from Who Got The Assist?, explained:

Where I think Mahrez is really interesting is that because he’s a compound differential, so it’s not really a differential in and of itself, it’s a differential because you’re pairing him with other players and making a unique combination, which is a little bit different to everybody else.

Tom went on to point out that selecting a triple City midfield of Sterling, De Bruyne, and Mahrez is pretty maverick: that combination is owned by just 0.04% of managers.

Even selecting City’s three most highly-owned players – Sterling, De Bruyne, and Aguero – each owned by over 29% of managers, as a combination is only selected by 2.3%

In Case You Missed It

There was another take on the De Bruyne injury / Mahrez appeal, tuvok thinks that perhaps De Bruyne’s absence could have a negative impact on Mahrez.

Elsewhere, Sebastes asked can Spurs bounce back? And Meltens kindly previewed Gameweek 27 (only four Gameweeks to go!) in Fantasy Allsvenskan.

To view all our discussions please visit our Hot Topics page, and if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.

Community Tournaments

For a full update on all FFS Mini-Leagues and Community Tournaments, please click here to read the latest round-up. 

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. A link has also been added to the ‘Scout Leagues’ section on the home page

The fixtures for Gameweek 8 can be found below:


Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

Best of luck for Gameweek 8!

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

2,244 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tokosbobet88
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Confused if i should make any changes ?

    Ryan;
    Lundstram - Diop - Tomori - Pieters
    Sterling - Mount - Son
    Aguero - Pukki - Tammy

    Button; Dendonker; Soyuncu , KDB

    1. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good to me!

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Can we swap teams ?

      1. Tokosbobet88
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        lol

    3. cruzex
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Captain?

      1. Tokosbobet88
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        STerling(C)....Kun(VC)

  2. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain who?

    1. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      America

      1. Tokosbobet88
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        lol

      2. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Planet

      3. itsmeguneet
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Already underrated comment

    2. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah Aguero Sterling Auba Pukki

      Loads of options

    3. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      City. After midweek travel, hunch that Wolves are in for a hiding.

    4. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Caveman ?

  3. Rhys85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Morning guys,

    Any chance of Leicester attacking returns against Liverpool?

    I've got Maddison, but feels a bit wrong benching him for Cantwell?

    Cheers

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would play Madison!

    2. Grounderz
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      The ball is round so there is every chance.

    3. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would play Maddison.

    4. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers guys

  4. Teahupo'o
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anything worth a hit?

    Pope
    Tomori Lundstram Rico
    Mane Sterling Mahrez Mount
    Aguero Abraham Pukki

    (Button, Cantwell Soyuncu Hanley)
    0FT 1.3ITB

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nope.

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Not evasive at all. Thanks 🙂

        1. Evasivo
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          1. Teahupo'o
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            😀

    2. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      not at all

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

  5. llmja
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain

    A.Kun
    B.Salah
    C.Pukki
    D.Mahrez

    Thank you

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

    4. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Am captaining Kun

  6. alifzuhdi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Everybody is getting Mahrez, but I'm afraid that Pep will start Sterling and B. Silva as these both player not playing 90 minutes on midweek. Is it a gamble to get Mahrez?

    Do you think Aguero will start or Jesus?

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No idea. Guess voor everyone.

  7. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Not sure what to do with KDB... I got him at 9.5

    A) save and play Dunk (TOT)
    B) sell for Mahrez
    C) KDB & Greenwood > Mount & Wilson

  8. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start Diop or Lundstram?

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lundstram

    2. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lund

    3. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lundstram

    4. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Diop

    5. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lund

  9. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Imagine if Pep just lied and KDB starts. That would've been something.

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He's in my starting 11

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I'm tempted to do the same, haha!

    2. tokara
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Only jose do such thing

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Very true!

    3. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      ive him starting

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He's currently in my starting eleven. Of course he won't play, but still.

    4. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Then he will have to play Internationals.

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He could always fake an injury after the match… 🙂

        Haha, no. Just happened to think if Pep did such a thing, how the reactions would have been.

      2. Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This. If it was a regular gw, the rope-a-dope would be plausible.

    5. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I've got him starting just in case.

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        My team looks better with him starting, so for that reason alone I think I will have him in the starting eleven.

        1. The Mighty Hippo
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Lol, yeah, seeing my team with Dunk as a starter is too much of a reality check at this time on a Saturday morning! KDB makes it way more appealing.

          1. TAT
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Indeed!

            It's Dendoncker here, but he'll become Saka before the deadline unless there's some late news/rumours making me consider other transfers. I only hope the guy starts.

  10. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Greenwood or Boly 1st on bench? Greenwood 1 pointer likely but Boly has ManCity.

    1. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Greenwood

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would go Boly. You never know, Wolves could spring a surprise...

  11. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    The only 2 starts by Jesus this season in pl has been away.

    Kun owners i think you are safe this gw .;)

    1. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Stop jinxing us.

  12. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    VC question, Pukki or Salah if you captain City player?

    1. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki

    2. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki

    3. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mines on Salah

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers sticking then

  13. Snapes on a Plane
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who to make captain?
    A.Sterling
    B. Auba

    1. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      sterling imo

  14. afsr
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    G2G or find a replacement for Cantwell?

    Pope,
    Otamendi, TAA, Lundstram
    Mane, , Mahrez, Sterling, Son, Cantwell
    Tammy, Pukki

    Button, Greenwood, Dunk, Hanley
    0FT, 2,3 ITB

    Don't fancy Dunk coming off the bench if Cantwell misses out

  15. drcooper817
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero the only City playing asset currently in my team.
    Is it worth shipping him out for Auba and go without a City player (KdB benched)?

  16. Football Heaven
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Yarmo or Maddison?

    1. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yarmo

    2. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Maddy long term

  17. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Gtg?

    Pope
    TAA Ota Lunds
    Mane Son Mount Saka
    Auba (c) Tammy Pukki

    Bench: Ward KDB Rico

    1. itsmeguneet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Decent. All the best!

  18. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Greenwood or Rico 1. on bench?

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Rico

  19. joersherman
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How's this WC guys? Keep tinkering!

    Pope 4.0
    TAA Tomori Lundstram (Soy 4.0)
    Sterling Son Mahrez Maddison Mount
    Auba (C) Abraham (4.4)

    Enough ITB for Mahrez > KDB next week

    1. alifzuhdi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm also tempted to sell KDB for Mahrez. If you think that Mahrez can get double digit for this game week, then I think it's good to go. But if not, better hold for KDB or get Sterling instead as he's been rested on midweek.

  20. DF
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    can someone post the clean sheet odds for the weekend or provide a link that my work laptop won't say no to.
    thanks

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hot Topic has them

      1. DF
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        thanks man

  21. Cholito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I'll do WC after this GW, and i had KDB since GW 1, so:

    A) Start Cantwell ahead of KDB and hope he plays
    B) Sell KDB, buy Pepe/Son as one week punt (i'll want him back in WC so i'll lose 0.1-0.2)

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Put KDB in your starting 11, and Cantwell first sub

  22. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would u rather Mahrez or Anderson/ Yaramalenko

    1. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      depends on your team

  23. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Manifesting another green arrow.

    My work is done here.

    Auba (c) Lock up.

  24. The Mighty Hippo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who to captain this week?

    A) Aubameyang
    B) Sterling

    It's currently on Auba, but I've been getting it wrong all season so far.

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling better option this week

    2. DF
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      expect strong returns from both mate. you can't get this one wrong. enjoy

  25. drcooper817
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Really tempted to do Aguero->Auba, given Aguero isn't nailed to start.
    Thoughts?

  26. tokara
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start Cantwell or Diop?

  27. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Kdb-> Mahrez for one week then get de bruyne back on wildcard next week?

    1. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      if you've WC yes..

    2. drcooper817
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Seems a good option.

    3. Cholito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm in the same boat.

      Mahrez/Pepe

  28. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Only 1 response last time. Advice?
    Pope Heaton
    Otamendi VVD Lundsteam (Soyuncu) (Aurier)
    Salah KDB MOUNT CANTWELL (D. Luiz)
    Abraham Pukki Aguero

    What should I do?
    a) Upgrade D. LUIZ TO Yarmolenko / McGinn
    b) Transfer out KDB for Mane/Mahrez
    C) Auba and Sterling in for Aguero and KDB (4 point hit)

    Thanks

  29. Ben Marlin
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which option is best?

    A. Digne > Pereira

    B. Dendocker > McGinn

    C. Diop > Pereira

    D. Dendocker > Yarmolenko

    E. Dendocker > Jorginho

    F. Digne > Lundstram/Pieters/Tomori + Greenwood > Abraham/Wilson (-4)

    G. Greenwood > King

    1. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      nothing looks good to me this week

    2. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      GBD on that order

  30. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Huge game for pukki fantasy wise

    Blank today v villa and he is going to be in for a mass exodus. It's been said he only does well at home so need a big score

    1. DF
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      here, bemba, have you got the clean sheet odds?

      1. DF
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        nae bother...get them