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. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Any chance Son gets benched?

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

      Ofc, small one imo.

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

      Poch needs a result. No Son, no party.

    3. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      there is always a chance...but I see no point of resting him ahead of an international friendly

    4. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I’m curious about that one too?!

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

    Captain?
    a Auba
    or
    b Sterling

    1. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

      c) Aguero

    3. James VARdy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    4. Igz08
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

  3. fabregasismagic
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    KDB & Vardy -> Auba & D.Silva for free?

    1. thewhitepele
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wouldnt get rid of vardy

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

      Not sure I’d want to get rid of vardy tbh

  4. thewhitepele
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Digne
    Salah Sterling *KDB* Cantwell
    Tammy Pukki Wood

    Button, Soyuncu, Dendonks, Rico

    KDB - - > Son for a hit?

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

    Bit stuck, any help appreciated 🙂

    A. Emerson to Tomori this week, Salah, greenwood, aurier > yarmo, Auba, pereira next
    B. Vice versa, except swap the tomori and pereira transfers

    Not sure if that makes sense tbh so sorry if confusing (also unsure between Maddison and soy, or yarmo and pereira (going without vardy))

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

    KdB->Sterling worth a hit?

    1. thewhitepele
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Probably

    2. James VARdy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah, especially if you give him the armband

    3. ritzyd
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yep and captain him

  7. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    No point overthinking it - City at home to a side which is struggling this year and played on Thursday....

    Sterling my captain it is.

  8. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bottomed 🙁 ...

    Best option this week?

    A KDB to Mahrez
    B Save FT

    Pope
    TAA Ota Lundy Lowton
    Salah Son Mount Cantwell
    Kun Pukki

    subs: Green, Rico, KDB

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

    the best transfer for a hit to accommodate auba ??

    a. mane to yarmolenko
    b. kdb to saka
    c. none

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      a

  10. olliejames
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Will Cantwell play?

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

      Well, can't.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I think so

  11. G Banger
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ola all... Current Team:

    Pope
    TAA - Otamendi - Tomori - Lund
    Sterling (C) - KDB* - Mount - Salah
    Pukki - Abraham

    Button - McGinn - Soyunco - Greenwood

    Is the following a panic move?

    Salah + Greenwood => Yarmo + Auba? (-4)

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

      yes

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I did that move this week. But I needed to because I have Cantwell and KdB with just Rico, Soyuncu and Greenwood on the bench. Did it to sure up my starting lineup.

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

      Did similar, not sure who to captain

    4. G Banger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      It feels like I'm chasing the bandwagons, and Auba fixtures are great, bleugh still nonethewiser

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

    Chances of Son starting today?

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

      89,22%

      1. ItOnlyTook9Years
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Did you round up?

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

          Nope it was actually 89,2201%

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

      I hope 0. But he is the only one playing good.

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

      I think 70%. Tottenham have to win. And he's their best starter.

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks all, have to agree Spurs can't really afford to rest right now.

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

      Bought him in and have a feeling Moura will start. You try and work my logic out

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

    Ryan
    TAA Ota Digne Lundstram
    Sterling(C) Salah(V) Mount Cantwell
    Pukki Abraham
    Button KDB Greenwood Boly
    A) Save and pray Cantwell starts
    B) KDB to Son
    C) Other

  14. Klein
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Just auba, mane, kun and son to keep quite and i would be very happy.

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Easy

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

      Aubameyang will probably disappoint you

  15. andre_c
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Quick!! KDB to Mahrez? Yay or Nay?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

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

      Nay

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

      Nay

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nay.

    5. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not for me

    6. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nah

    7. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Negative

    8. James VARdy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Has a better chance of playing and if he does he could do well. Comes down to who plays for you instead but I would do the move.

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

      Yes. Why not

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

      Ignore the noise most people who kept KDB will be promoting you do the same and vice versa

      I see it as 10 mil on your bench wasting away . Points mean prizes . Can you guarantee he will be back next gw?

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

        Yes, Pep said he would be.

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

        im thinking of getting de bruyne back in gw9 because crystal palace away could be a bit tricky. Ill take a punt why not. Sitting at 1.4 mil.

  16. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone else done Cantwell to saka as a 1 week punt ahead of wildcard?

    Really hope it doesn't backfire.

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

      very tempted but would be for a -4

  17. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Please choose one:

    A) TAA + Mount
    B) VVD + Abraham

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. GE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

      A) mostly because TAA

    4. Orion
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A all day

  18. 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 0.2)

  19. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Pieters Lund
    KDB* Sterling Mount Cantwell*
    Kun Tammy Pukki

    Ceballos, Kelly, Soy, 1FT, 2.9M

    A Kdb to Salah
    B Ceballos to Yarmo

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

      B

  20. GE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Gtg or take a hit?

    (0FT, 0.0 itb)

    Pope
    TAA/VVD/Digne/Ota/Lundstram
    Salah/Sterling/Cantwell*
    Tammy/Pukki

    Bench: Button, Dendoncker, KDB*, Wickham*

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gtg

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

      gtg

  21. mcmd11
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    KDB -> Son? I am using my WC

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      On my wc I did kdb to Mahrez.
      Tottenham are a mess

  22. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Will mount be benched?

  23. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play two from

    A) Pieters
    B) Lundstram
    C) Barnes
    D) Cantwell

    (have Pukki, dont have Pope)
    Good luck this week.

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

      B, C. Cantwell first sub

  24. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Will u guys sell dunk for cresswell and start him?

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

      Would rather keep Dunk with Fabianski out.

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Okay thanks!!!

  25. mash
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Draft game - start one:

    A) Alonso
    B) Zinchenko

  26. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    For those questioning whether to take out KDB
    1) swap him out in a one for one if you have two free transfers and are happy with everything else
    2) swap him out if you don't want him back straight away
    3) swap him out if you want to reform your squad (i.e bring him back next week for Salah, enabling Pukki to Vardy)

    It should be stated that there is no guarantee that KDB is fit for the next GW. Look at Martial. I also don't see the point of holding him purely for a minimal saving (0.2).

    Ultimately KDB for Mahrez could return nothing...or Mahrez hauls and his points bring you a rank increase of a few thousand. One thing though - taking him out for a hit if you want him back makes little sense imo, unless you are removing someone else who isn't fit.

    1. ItOnlyTook9Years
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If you want him back you also have to take into account the implied cost of 2 transfers

  27. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ready for the weekend

    Pope

    Lowton Lund zinch

    Salah Sterling Mcginn Mount

    Aguero Pukki Auba

  28. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling or Auba (C)

  29. ♤TeddyBear♤
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Erikson is more likely to start than Son.

    With most of these moves being a 1 week punt why are most not opting for him?

    Off form yes but will start and is very capable

    1. ♤TeddyBear♤
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      South Korea also have 2 qualifiers coming up which will mean Son will be benched against Watford

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Just like he was against CPL... oh wait, he's scored 16 points!!

        1. ♤TeddyBear♤
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Agree son has the higher ceiling but for a 1 week punt I think Erikson is the best

      2. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        There is quite a big gap between his match against North Korea and weekend match against Watford so he might start.

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

      I would not bank on Erikson starting.

  30. Mikha In A Tutu
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captaincy:
    A) Aguero
    B) Sterling
    C) Abraham

    1. andres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      b

    2. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

      How about?
      A. Sterling
      B. Auba
      C. Abraham