Metrics

Salah and de Bruyne sold by chunk of top 10k managers this week

A chunk of high ranking Fantasy Premier League managers opted to sell Kevin de Bruyne (£10.0m) and Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) for Gameweek 8.

The Manchester City midfielder was ruled out of the meeting with Wolves this weekend after suffering a groin injury against Everton.

Manager Pep Guardiola described the issue as “not serious” this week and seemed optimistic that de Bruyne would be back after the upcoming international break.

However, that relatively positive update on the player was not enough for a sizeable portion of managers currently ranked inside the top 10,000 places worldwide.

Going into Gameweek 7, de Bruyne was sat in 85.8% of teams at this level, more than any other Fantasy asset.

However, his ownership in the top 10k dropped to just 59.9% for the Gameweek 8 deadline.

That represents an ownership drop of 25% at this level of the game.

Some of that might be influenced by a change of personnel inside the top 10k, but considering de Bruyne scored nine points against Everton, it seems unlikely that many teams without him earned green arrows into the upper echelons.

Considering the Belgian international was sold by 795,000+ managers worldwide for Gameweek 8, it seems likely that his drop in top 10k popularity was heavily influenced by these sales.

The Fantasy community will almost certainly be holding its collective breath over the international break as we await further information on de Bruyne’s recovery – so it will be interesting to see how much ground can be gained by this chunk of managers as they go without him for at least Gameweek 8.

All eyes will be on de Bruyne’s fitness situation after the international break

Another premium option moved on by this season’s highest-ranking Fantasy managers was Liverpool man Salah.

He was sat in just 54% of top 10k teams at the Gameweek 8 deadline, a drop of 16% from the 66.1% recorded ahead of Gameweek 7.

Those sold the Egyptian for Gameweek 8 breathed a sigh of relief on Saturday afternoon as Liverpool were largely restricted by Leicester City.

The Reds did win the match courtesy of a James Milner (£5.3m) penalty but it was scored after Salah had come off with a knock.

Whether he would have taken it had he still been on the pitch is hard to say given that Milner has historically taken spot-kicks even when sharing the field with Salah.

The injury did not look too serious at the time and he will have an international break without any match duties to recover.

However, Jurgen Klopp did seem angry about the challenge on him from Hamza Choudhury (£4.5m) and did not paint a positive picture.

“How can he be okay? He was limping from the pitch and you ask me if he’s okay! How can he be okay?! Did you watch it back? Watch me, what do you think?” – Jurgen Klopp

With De Bruyne and Salah both losing support among the top 10k, it is interesting to see which premium options increased in popularity for Gameweek 8.

It appears one of the most common recipients of those players’ funds was Raheem Sterling (£12.1m).

The England international’s popularity within the top 10k rose from 30.6% to 38.2% for Gameweek 8.

However, Sergio Aguero (£12.2m) also saw a dip in popularity for this weekend, dropping from 52% ownership in the top 10k for Gameweek 7 to just 40.5% for Gameweek 8.

To see where some of these funds have been moved to, a look at the Gameweek 8 Wildcard template among the top 10k gives us some clues.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s (£11.0m) recent form has convinced 49.8% of managers at this level who Wildcarded this week to include him in their squad ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Also included among the most popular Wildcard targets was Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m) selected by 36.2% of top 10k Wildcarders for Gameweek 8.

The absence of de Bruyne from this selection shows that the Algerian has been pounced upon as a short-term opportunity while the Belgian is out.

Despite Aubameyang’s popularity on those Wildcards, and being signed by 210,000+ managers worldwide, for Gameweek 8, the top 10k were not particularly interested in him for the captaincy this week.

It was a close-run thing for the most popular captain in the upper echelons of the world rankings, Aguero and Sterling both backed by a similar amount.

It was the Argentinian who topped the charts for top 10k captains, 23.5% of them handing him the armband for that meeting with Wolves.

Meanwhile, 22.5% placed the armband on Sterling and 13.9% went for Salah.

Aubameyang did not appear in the top three and made up the 40.1% chunk representing ‘Other’ captains.

Aubameyang was captained by just 13% of managers in the top 10k in Gameweek 8, while 6.8% went for Teemu Pukki (£7.2m) and 4.5% backed Harry Kane (£11.0m).

Finally, another look at general chip usage among the top 10k shows that they are becoming more and more a reliable test of high performance.

40% of the managers at this level are yet to use a chip this season, while 37.1% of them have played just one.

According to the breakdown, it is the Wildcard that remains the most popular, used by 39.5% so far.

2,266 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tissae
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Chances of Pukki drop tonight and Mane rise tonight?

  2. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How did Vardy play? I’m thinking about getting him

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Did basically nothing according to stats
        https://www.sofascore.com/liverpool-leicester-city/GU

        1. Boomerang V
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          It’s between him or Wilson.

          I also have Auba and Abraham

          Pukki will be leaving my team

          1. MTPockets
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Probably doing the same (with Aguero/Abraham) for one of them.
              Will see how Wilson looks tomorrow but can't really judge Vardy vs Liverpool for upcoming fixture run

          2. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Vardy had mediocre stats when they won the league. Only stats that Vardy looks good on are goals

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

          Yes, I'm curious about this too. Thing is Vardy has been in great form for ages and has a great upcoming fixture run, even if it transpires he didn't get a sniff against Liverpool I'm not going to let that put me off bringing him in post IB.

        3. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Didn’t do anything. But his midfield look great

        4. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Vardy hardly ever looks good on stats.

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

          Vardy's Opta Shots on Target: 0. :).

      • jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        With 2FTs and assuming KDB is back fit after the break, would it be crazy to consider this: Sterling, Pukki > Auba, Maddison?

        Attack would be: Salah, KDB, Mount, Madd; King, Tammy, Auba

        1. Am sorry to say again it�…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah do it, but do it now

          1. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            why do it now? GW hasnt even finished and neither of them are due to rise or drop

          2. jdp219
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Not doing this yet. Waiting until after the break. If I did that move, I would have enough funds to absorb rises or drops.

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

          Probably look into how many of your players will likely play a lot of international minutes and are at risk of injury.

          Can you take a -0.1 on Pukki without a loss

          Big call to use both FT's this early, especially with KdB injured. And especially when one player is Madison, who really isn't essential

          1. jdp219
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Not doing it now. Just thinking ahead.

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

              Fair play. Personally I'd get rid of Salah. City average 1.3 goals more per game. That's more chances for involvement. Doesn't necessarily translate to more points, but if there's little too pick between them, I'd look to that to decide

        3. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Already pulled the trigger.Salah and Pukki to Madison. Aubameyang

      • davies
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thoughts on this wildcard?

        Roberto 4.0
        TAA Tomori Soyuncu Lundstram Rico
        Sterling Mane KDB Maddison Saka
        Auba Abraham Connolly

        Would rotate between 343/352/442...

        1. MTPockets
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Are Connolly, Saka and Rico reliable enough (minutes) to have all 3?

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

              Well Saka can be any 4.5

              Connolly is the best 4.5 forward and Rico is the best defender at that price imo

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

          Want Vardy. Sell whom, Pukki? or Haller??

          1. zotter
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Either. But do it

          2. Bring back Rafa
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I'm in the same boat.....I'm thinking Pukki. For a player that costs $7.2m (that's TAA price) I have no confidence in playing away from home.

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

          Tomori or soyboy for wildcard?

          1. zotter
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Soy

          2. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Prolly Soy now

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              ideally both

        4. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          A) Pukki -> King -4
          B) Pukki -> Jota
          C) Pukki + Son -> Vardy + Maddisson -4
          D) Aguero + Pukki + Son +-> Auba + Vardy + Mahrez -8
          E) Aguero + Pukki -> Auba + Wilson -4

          If D I would prolly wait another gameweek before pulling the trigger.. But it could pay off pretty quickly if Mahrez obtains gametime (not sure what the latest news is on the Bilva ban)

          Current team:

          Pope
          TAA Tomori Soyuncu
          Sterling KDB Son Mount
          Aguero Abraham Pukki
          ____
          Button; Hayden Lundstram Kelly

          1. Point-one short
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Bilva news will be after Wednesday (deadline for Bilva to appeal).

            C or D from those IMO, probably C

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Leaning towards D.. but it all depends on wether Mahrez is nailed or not. If he is not then I lean towards B

              1. FC Hakkebøf
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                C*

          2. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I'd go E, but aguero out for a hit is a bit meh. Maybe just Son + Pukki --> Maddison + Wilson?

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Rather have Vardy over WIlson to be honest

          3. Bis_78
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            C or E

        5. syke63
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Think Cantwell will be out of my wildcard team. Blonde streaks, Alice band, diving and whining to the ref not my kind of player. Need a team of men ftw.

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

          Salah Sterling KDB Mount xxx
          Abraham xxx (Greenwood)

          A. Maddison & Pukki

          B. Cantwell & Vardy

          1. zotter
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            A. But don’t get greenwood. Get ayew if you can Even it means salah to mane

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

              Will be gone on WC

          2. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Maddison and someone else. How much money do you have striker?

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

              7.0

              1. Scholes Out For Summer
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Hmm maybe go Wilson + Mount/Tielemans

        7. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Have exact money for Salah + Barnes + Ceballos --> Mahrez + VArdy + Maddison

          But cant do Haller --> Wilson and hate doing early transfers before IB and GW finishes...

          Mahrez set to rise tonight too. Thoughts?

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I like the moves tbh lots of upgrades.. is it a -4 or -8?

            1. Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              -4! Just hate to do it and that means Haller in the team for a while longer, which I dont mind I guess. What do you reckon the actual odds of Mahrez rise?

              1. FC Hakkebøf
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                He will rise within 4 hours I believe

              2. FC Hakkebøf
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Mind giving me a shout in the post above?

        8. Boomerang V
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Would you rather have Vardy or Wilson?

          1. zotter
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            V

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

            Probably Vardy for the fixtures

          3. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Wilson if 1 for 1. Depends on team though.

          4. MTPockets
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Wilson if had to choose right now (NOR wat)

          5. The Cherry Picker
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Sorry, had no responses

            Alright everyone, hope your GWs are going well.

            I’ve got 2 FTs and really stuck on where to use them. Any suggestions would be most welcome. (0.1 itb)

            Pope Button
            Dunk Digne Kelly Lund Otamendi
            KDB Mane Mount Son Cantwell
            Aguero Abraham Pukki

            Thank you so much!

            1. zotter
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Digne to Pereira

            2. BenjaniMwaruwari
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Digne & Pukki to Vardy & Rico if affordable?

            3. Sepp Blattered
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Your team value must be ridiculous!

            4. The Cherry Picker
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Close to 104

            5. ted mcnure
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Wait 2 weeks, obviously,
              then you could cash in Digne and Son, and upgrade Pukki -4?
              If you're a Cherry, why no Callum?

              1. ted mcnure
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Would Maddison and Tomori do?

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

            Would you rather have Maddison or Vardy? Both not possible

            1. The Cherry Picker
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Vardy

            2. Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Vardy if you can afford it. Depends on who the other striker/midfield would be

          7. Ci Siamo
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Is being in the top 100k rank an achievement at this stage?

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

              No.

          8. danlynch13
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Should I do

            OTA + Haller > Tomori + Vardy (-4)

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

              Break is a long 2 weeks even I am one to go early for a hit during the break.
              Can it wait awhile or exact cash scenario?

              1. danlynch13
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                It can wait..

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

            Pukki part over ?

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

              Yup

            2. Albrightondknight
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Currently cleaning up the place and then we can turn out the lights.

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

              Drugs outta the system, hangover time

            4. Danstoke82
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Yeh I’ve well and truly left be party now. Heard there’s a better one...Jamie Vardy’s having a party.

            5. Clintymints
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Yup, the comedown has well and truly commenced

          10. Sepp Blattered
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Haller owners, keeping?

            1. Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Think I might have to. Other moves to be made.

            2. danlynch13
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Don’t want to think I’ll try move him to vardy

          11. Albrightondknight
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            A. Pukki to King
            B. Haller to Wilson
            Could do Pukki to Wilson but for a hit with Cantwell out for a 4.5 mids.That seems nuts as I will probably move this evening and I have KDB and who knows what happens over the break.

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

              King cant match Wilson for anything except touches in the box. Which begs the question why is he not shooting more?
              Any opinions on this please.

          12. Supersonic Marv'
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Fair play now the dust has settled I've got to admit it was a blatant dive from Mane.

            1. The Ejiptian King
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              I just saw it, why didn't Albrighton clear it?!?!

              1. Clintymints
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                He touched it, thought the keeper was going to come, remembered he couldn't pick it up nor get near it as mane was nearby made a balls of that, then mane nicked it

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

              Yeah, he went down easily and was definitely looking for it. But it was clearly AlBrightons mistake.

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

                Hey you leave it out. I am innocent . Innocent i tells ye 🙂

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

                  Yeah, very innocent of you with that cheeky extra 5 points for my man Mane. 😉

            3. Clintymints
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              A dive yes, but worth the risk with that much contact in the 93rd min

              Stay on your feet and lose the ball, as Evans was coming in to get it, or take a chance and dive

              Enough contact to warrant it as VAR decided

          13. Forza Papac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Nothing better than settling down on a Saturday night to watch all the points your players didn't get on Match of the Day

          14. ZeBestee
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Has Pereira been called to International duty? Need to bring him in soon.

          15. KNOW IT ALL
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            buy rico, he is an assist king

          16. DAVESAVES
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Robbo, Salah, Greenwood > Soy, Maddison, Auba -4 ?

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

            WC Trigger pulled and doing the usual crap of covering the price changes. Its been so long!

            1. The Ejiptian King
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              I think I'm about to hit it too.

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

                Join me Ed. We can compare notes for 2 weeks and get geeky

            2. ted mcnure
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Very tempted to do the same!
              Is Boredom during IB one of the sanctified reasons for a WC?

          18. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Jazzo Vazzo Bazzo

            1. Supersonic Marv'
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              A pint of water before bed will help with the hangover mate.

          19. Clintymints
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            That Norwich defense is the worst I have seen in a long long time

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

            Are Arsenal’s fixtures from an attacking perspective really that great? Next up are Sheffield, Palace, Wolves and Leicester. Good teams defensively, bar Wolves atm, but they proved last year they can be hard to beat if they pick up some form.

            1. Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              This. Not worth getting Auba unless on WC

          21. 9I6
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            How does this WC sound?

            Pope, Gazza
            TAA, Tomori, Lundstram, Rico, Kelly
            Mane, Son, KdB, Mount, Yarmo
            Auba, Abraham, Connolly

            Leaves me with 0 itb, but I could always downgrade Gazzaniga for an extra 0.4m?

            A little unsure about Son too after today, would it be better to have Maddison and Vardy over Son and Abraham?

            1. Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Just go for a 4.0 GK

              Yarmo has bad underlying stats. TOT looks out of sorts.

              1. 9I6
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Just realised I still have Salah instead of Mane, means I can afford Maddison instead of Yarmo if I get Button, thanks!

            2. Clintymints
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Yarm is never consistent and save the keeper money

          22. Danstoke82
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Even if Salah is declared fit after the IB is it mad to do Salah + VVD + Cantwell > Mane + TAA + McGinn over the next few weeks?

            1. Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Pretty sideways moves imo

            2. Clintymints
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              not totally, those lads are decent picks

              1. Danstoke82
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                I’m liking the idea of McGinn as a 4th mid over Cantwell. TAA seems essential. Mane is looking quite capable of competing with Salah this season. I’m tempted.

                1. Clintymints
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Yea for sure Norwich party has settled and they found their place and Mane looks hungrier and more tenacious than Salah atm. + not a doubt

          23. lordkippe
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Looking like I need to take some hits. Would love some feedback on my alternatives 1 FT & 1.6 ITB

            Pope ( Button )

            TAA - Tomori - Otamendi ( Soyoncu, Lundstram )

            Salah - Sterling - KDB - Mount - Mcginn

            Pukki - Abraham ( Wickham )

            A : Pukki > Wilson ( Free )
            B : Salah, Pukki > Auba & Maddison ( -4 )
            C : Salah, Pukki, Wickham > Auba, Maddison & King ( -8 )
            D : Other suggestions