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

    Who to play, have Pukki up front

    a) Cantwell (AVL)

    b) Maddison (liv)

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

      A

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

      Maddison. Liverpool aren't as good defensively.

      Cantwell might not even start.

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

      A

    4. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A but if he is injured, it won't make much difference.

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

    If son is benched would you be confident he comes on in the second half?

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

      Yeah

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

      Yes.

    3. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No doubt.

    4. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Surely. Spurs need a bounce back after that embarrassing midweek game

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

      If Spurs are struggling, he'd surely come on

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

      Probably

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

      I would rather take 30 minutes of Son over Soyuncu of the bench lol

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

    Captain Auba or Sterling?
    On Auba because feel as if he's safer

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

      A

    2. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Auba I think, guaranteed points

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

      Sterling. Much higher ceiling. City a lot better than Arsenal. Gets 1 more point for each goal, and also 1 point CS bonus.

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

        Yeah I have both and I went Sterling.

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

    Shall i do this or that?

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

      or which or when

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

      Yes

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

      Save

    4. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      That has a higher ceiling

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

      Don’t overthink it

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

      I wouldnt that but probably this tbh

    7. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C

  5. Ycfc
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bench 1:

    A) zinchenko
    B) Tomori
    C) Lundy

    Thanks and GL!

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

      B

    2. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      tough call but i think b

  6. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Any rumours this morning?

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

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

        Check fpl rockstar for another view!

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

          Kane, Son, Lamela, Eriksen all start Alli, Moura on bench

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

      Son benched

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

      Bakra is going to turn into seekh

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

      this rumor has made me do kdb to marhrez last min transfer.
      Cant afford having rico and soyuncu coming in for them

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

    Who else here has Aguero and not Sterling?

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Si

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

      Never owned Kun since last season

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

        why not

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

          Too expensive when you can get KDB/Sterling and a cheaper forward to afford Auba

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

            true

    3. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Me. And I also have injured KDB. I feel anxious

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

        i got mahrez for KDB. Hopefully he does well. Trying to cover up for STerling

    4. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      the majority probably.

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

    Start:
    A) Cantwell
    B) Jorginho

    Captain:
    1) Sterling
    2) Aubameyang

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A1

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

      A1

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

      A2

    4. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A2

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

      A1

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

    Pope
    TAA Robbo (Tamori lundstram rico)
    Salah KDB Sterling Yarmo Mount
    Pukki Tammy (wickham)

    - 4 KDB to mahrez, will lose .3 but have .7 itb to get KDB back, but is it worth it ?

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Log out

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        -4 + loss + transfers used is the definition of high risk low reward

        1. Beinahruga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks, needed that logging off

          GL to you

  10. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Even though confirmed out, still putting KDB in the starting XI 😀

    Never trust that man.

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lol me too. Lund first on the bench.

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

      Me too!

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Could get a cameo! 😉

    4. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hahaha did the same

    5. sandman58
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Is he not injured??
      Declared out...or will he actually play??
      So confused

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Pep has said he's out. He 99.99% won't play.

        Wouldn't be able to deal with myself if he amazing started ha.

        Bench comes on. All good.

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

      Same

    7. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      +1

  11. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    COME ON KANE PLEASE START

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

      No worries there

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

      He is sure to start

    3. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Why he wouldnt. Son wont start.

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        You're in for a shock

  12. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Boring pre deadline question

    Kelly or Capoue first sub?

    1. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Kelly

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

    One last time!
    Who to make captain?
    A) Auba
    B) Sterling

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

      Auba

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

      A

    4. The Wizard of Ozil
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Been on B all week but just changed it to Auba

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

      A no brainer

  14. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      aurrier?

    2. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nice try. Please post genuine sources,not just your own (very fake) sources.

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

    With Son romoured benched, would you start Digne over him????

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

      No, I think he starts

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

      He starts

  16. JBG
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Kdb to Son for -4?

    Will probably use WC next gw.

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

      No

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

      MAHREZ

  17. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start Montoya or Lundstram? Hearing Son’s benched

  18. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain Kun or Sterling?
    I keep swaping

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

    Play Digne or Lundstram?

    1. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Both.

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

    gtg WC team?
    Roberto (McGovern)
    VVD Otamendi Tomori Rico Soyuncu
    Sterling Mount Mahrez Salah Sako
    Auba Abraham Greenwood

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

    Son out for-4 ? Lol

    Just brought him in

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

        Thanks mate. You saved me 4 pts . Was gunna bring in defender

  22. ClothedinSun
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Son in on a -4 for KDB and a Pukki triple captain.

    I've the same feeling I used to get as a child where I was peer-pressured onto a massive rollercoaster, the safety rail is about to fix down in place and I am just waiting for it to be over now...

  23. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Come on Salaaaaaaaah(C)

    Dont let down again

  24. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Kane, Son, Lamela, Eriksen, Davies all start Alli, Moura on bench

    Please don’t reply with prove it. It’s correct. As you’ll find out in 6 minutes

    https://twitter.com/FPL_Rockstar/status/1180428452777910272

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

      Thx

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

      Prefer this version

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

    Rico or Greenwood 2nd/3rd sub?

  26. Goat
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Son starts don’t mind those stupid rumors.

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hi

  27. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Last one...
    Start Cantwell (a)
    Lundstram (b)

    Have pukki already

  28. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    If Son doesnt start, then I hope Spurs get hammered again

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

      I hope so, I have Ryan!

  29. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Digne Tarkoski
    Sterling Salah KDB Mount
    Abraham Pukki
    (4.0 Rico Dendonder Nkeitah)
    1FT 0.2 ITB

    A) KDB -> Son
    B) Save
    C) kdb nk-> McGinn Wilson (-4)

  30. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain?
    Aguero
    Pukki
    Tammy
    Mane