Scout Picks

Gameweek 8 Scout Picks features Chelsea and Spurs triple-ups

Chelsea and Spurs are the key sides at the heart of our Scout Picks XI for Gameweek 8.

They face Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion respectively in two of the most favourable match-ups of the weekend.

This team has been chosen following the Scout Squad submissions made by David, Neale, Tom and Andy earlier in the week and, as ever, we are in 3-4-3 formation, coming in at £82.9m, £0.1m under our budget of £83.0m.

As a result of the 16:00 GMT deadline today, we are putting this article out earlier than usual. Therefore, these selections were made before Friday’s main bulk of press conferences, not something we normally like to do!

Goalkeeper

Chosen by three of our pundits, Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) nails down a spot in the Scout Picks for a Gameweek 8 meeting with Newcastle. £4.5 goalkeepers are proving harder to get excited about than ever before, but the Southampton man has been solid if not spectacular this season. Only Emi Martínez (7.1) and Karl Darlow (6.6) have managed more than McCarthy’s six points per million spent in 2020/21 thanks to clean sheets in three matches, and additional save points on the same number of occasions. 

Defenders

Ben Chilwell (£5.9m) looks set to benefit from a favourable match-up in Gameweek 8 as he faces a Sheffield United defence that has conceded more chances down their right-hand side than any other this season. Chelsea’s left-back has created more chances than any other defensive colleague this year so looks poised to involve himself in the Blues’ goals. And don’t forget Frank Lampard’s men are the third-best for expected goals conceded (xGC) over the last four, while Sheffield United have the second-fewest shots on target in that time.

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion come into Gameweek 8 with the Premier League’s lowest goal conversion rate over the last four matches. That certainly boosts the clean sheet potential of Sergio Reguilón (£5.6m), who has provided an assist in two of his three Premier League starts this season.

Aaron Cresswell (£5.1m) was the most popular West Ham defender among the Scout Squad pundits for Gameweek 8 as their appealing run of fixtures finally gets underway. The Hammers host Fulham this weekend, who have the second-worst shot accuracy since Gameweek 4 (27.8%). While a considerable amount of the Cottagers threat comes from Aleksandar Mitrovic’s aerial ability, David Moyes men conceded the fewest amount of headed attempts of any Premier League team over the last four matches. Cresswell’s role in set pieces means he has created the most chances among West Ham players since Gameweek 4.

Midfielders

Fantasy favourite Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) could do well against Liverpool in Gameweek 8. We know the Reds were struggling defensively even before Virgil van Dijk’s long-term injury anyway and his absence has only made things worse. However, the key factor that underpins De Bruyne’s FPL credentials at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday is how Pep Guardiola uses him in games against the so-called bigger clubs. In such matches the Manchester City manager likes to deploy the Belgian a more advanced midfield role than usual and, when they Liverpool during Project Restart, he ran the show and came away with two attacking returns.

Son Heung-min (£9.6m) has been the king of away matches this season, registering 74.6% of his FPL points on the road so far. We are expecting the South Korean to find space behind West Bromwich Albion’s defence at the Hawthorns, especially as chances conceded on the right-hand side of their defence has increased since their recent switch to a back-four.

Hakim Ziyech (£8.0m) has made a significant improvement to Chelsea’s attacking flow since returning from an early season injury. In three starts in all competitions, the former Ajax man has two goals and one assist and, with a shared hand in set pieces alongside Chilwell and Mason Mount, he could benefit from Sheffield United having conceded more headed attempts than any other side this season.

It was a tough call choosing between Jarrod Bowen (£6.3m) and Pablo Fornals from the Scout Squad submissions, each earning two votes each. While we think both assets have decent potential for West Ham’s upcoming run, we have gone with the former for Gameweek 8 based on a specific favourable match-up. Bowen could be afforded a chance to play centre-forward but if he is used on his usual right flank, that will put the winger against a Fulham defence that has conceded the second-highest number of chances on the left flank in 2020/21.

Forwards

As we have mentioned before, Harry Kane (£11.0m) is still an auto-include in the Scout Picks, selected as the best forward by all four of our Scout Squad pundits. West Bromwich Albion’s defensive improvements of recent weeks proved to be something of a false dawn in their poor 2-0 defeat to Fulham and, if anyone is poised to pile on the misery right now, it’s Kane. He carries an elite level all-round threat into Gameweek 8, top of the league for shots on target and big chances created this season, as well as being Spurs’ designated penalty taker. 

Like Chilwell, Timo Werner (£9.4m) should benefit from Sheffield United’s well-documented problems with the right-hand side of defence ahead of Gameweek 8. Whether the Chelsea forward is deployed to the left of Tammy Abraham or is handed the central striker’s role himself, this is an area of the pitch in which he specialises. Throw the German’s recent claiming of penalties away from Jorginho and we could be looking at a big haul for him at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Crystal Palace’s defence is not what it once was and Patrick Bamford (£6.0m) looks poised to capitalise on that. He may have blanked immediately after his Villa Park hat-trick in Gameweek 7 but that was not for the lack of trying. In fact, no player has even come close to Bamford’s 18 shots in the box over the last four matches, while away matches have proved more fruitful for him this season. As he prepares to visit Selhurst Park, the Leeds man has banked 62.7% of his FPL points on the road, despite playing 57.1% of his matches at Elland Road.

Substitutes

Lukasz Fabiański (£5.0m) is an alternative route into the West Ham defence for their appealing run of games. Naturally a nailed-on starting option who has earned enough saves for additional points in four of his seven matches so far this season.

Following his well-deserved first goal of the season last time out, Tariq Lamptey (£4.7m) has plenty of potential at both ends of the pitch for Gameweek 8. Burnley are the Premier League’s joint-lowest scorers and while only three defenders have managed more touches in the box than Brighton’s right-back this year.

Luke Ayling (£4.5m) has been a little unfortunate not to get more attacking returns in recent weeks, offering the highest expected goal involvement (xGI) of any defender in 2020/21. A trip to Crystal Palace could be just to time for him to get involved as the Eagles have conceded more chances on the left than any other side after the first seven Gameweeks.

Crystal Palace and Sheffield United are also the only two sides to have given up more chances on the right-hand than Leicester, who host a resurgent Daniel Podence (£5.5m) in Gameweek 8, a man who benefitted from playing in front of a more recognised full-back last time out.

The Captain

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

We choose the Scout Picks captain using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because the use of Fantasy Football Scout data is used so heavily in this process, the skipper we choose each Gameweek is known only to those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 8:

Community Champion

Each week, one of the Fantasy Football Scout community takes on the Scout Picks by pitting their chosen XI against ours.

The Community Member who beats our team by the largest margin will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Moderators and Contributors League for the following season.

Riot managed 50 points for the Community Champions in Gameweek 7 but the Scout Picks went 5-2 up for the season with a healthy score of 67.

THFC4LIFE takes us on for Gameweek 8, opting for a 3-4-3 line-up of Mendy; Zouma, Bellerín, Coufal; Mané, Son (c), Ziyech, Zaha; Kane (vc), Jesus, Adams.

AA33 is the current leader, defeating the Scout Picks by a 53-point margin in Gameweek 2.

1,872 Comments Post a Comment
  1. E25
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench one:

    A) Podence (lei)
    B) Barkley (ars)

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bark

    2. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Podence

  2. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sell Jimmy? 5.4 itb

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Keep for next two games

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Ta

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Id keep for SOU. Money ITB is good to accomodate City assets if yuo want later

  3. tokara
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any chelsea news today?

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lampard reports Christian Pulisic is out of tomorrow's game, as is Kai Havertz who is still self-isolating. Kepa is available again although he is still feeling some pain in his shoulder.

      #CHESHU

      1. tokara
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pulisic out

    3. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pulisic and Havertz out

  4. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    who to start?

    A.....foden

    B.....reece james (in addition to chilwell)

    C....foden tk bowen - 4

    My guess is that neither james or foden start at weekend! Thanks

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

      B

  5. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Why did 327k and more people keep buying Jota...

  6. Enes_Sahini1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hows it looking lads?

    McCarthy
    Saiss Chilwell Lamptey
    Salah Grealish Son Zaha
    Bamford Kane DCL

    Martinez Justin Mitchell Stephens

    1FT 2.0ITB

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

    Trent and Barnes to Zouma and Hamez for free?

  8. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hames to Ziyech?

    1. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nope Rodríguez is fit to play this GW and has great fixtures after

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        My thoughts too tbh

    3. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why

    4. V-2 Schneiderlin
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      hold I'd say for upcoming fixtures - he trained I think?

    5. hustler7
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Is there any news on Hames fitness?

  9. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I still try to understand if Werner will start.Abraham up front,Ziyech right,Mount left and Kovasic,Jorginho,Kante behind them is a possible formation right?

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      CHO will play

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I don't care if Cho will play.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not really - Werner only competition on left is CHO

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Last year Mount has played on the left side.

    3. MarcusAurelius
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can’t see him playing Kovacic Jorginho and Kante to be honest. I think two of those will be along side Mount in the midfield with a front 3 of Ziyech, Tammy and Werner

  10. mcdrizzle77
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy,
    TAA, Chilwell, Justin, Coady
    Salah, Son, Grealish, Podence
    DCL, Kane
    Subs: Ryan, Mitro, Bissouma, Konsa

    Have 1 FT and want to replace either Mitro or Bissouma

    A) TAA & Mitrovic > Coufal & Werner
    B) TAA & Bissouma > Coufal & Ziyech
    C) Mitrovic > Wilson
    D) Bissouma > Soucek
    E) Roll the transfer

  11. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What's the news on hames?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Fit to play

    2. Lutherc71
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Available!

  12. AnyoneButLiverpool
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Guys, I try to give as much advice as I can, but literally no one replies to my posts :/ Could someone please answer me?
    Maritnez

    Chillwell Reguilon Vestergard

    Mane Sterling Son Grealish

    Kane DCL Watkins

    Button Ayling KWP Bissouma

    2 FTs. Was thinking Vestergard or Ayling to Coufal. Any advice??

    1. Poison Apple
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Vestergard between the 2

    2. fudoki
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Vestergard is one of the more transferred in defenders this week (behind only Chilwell and Zouma). I'd take that as a sign. Ayling to Coufal feels a sideways move. Maybe something left field like Mane + Bissouma to Ziyech + JWP.

  13. Apwilkin
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy (Button)
    TAA-Chillwell-Semedo (KWP, Ferguson)
    Salah-Son-Rodriguez-Podence (Biss)
    Kane (C)-Wilson-Adams

    2.6 mill in the bank. Save FT right?

  14. Lutherc71
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who to bench?
    A) Grealish
    B) Bamford
    C) J. Rodriguez

    1. Party time
        3 years, 4 months ago

        A

      • Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Other

        1. Lutherc71
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          For now I have:
          McCarthy (or Ryan, still to decide)
          Chillwell Lamptey KWP
          Rodriguez Son Salah Zaha
          Bamford DCL Kane

          Ryan Grealish Dallas Targett

      • Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Fix your team mate... dont put yourself in that situation

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      How is this for a back line -

      Bellerin, Zouma, Robertson

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Prefer Coady

        1. Vazza
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Haha! You’re a legend mate!

    3. G0SS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Would you start Foden vs Liverpool or Gabriel vs Villa?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Foden

    4. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Midfield of Salah Son Foden Rashford

      Pulisic to Grealish the best move possible? Or who would you chose

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

      With the news of Tyrick Mitchell out.. Do I:

      A) Play Coady and hold transfer
      B) Johnson to Coufal (Bench Coady)
      C) TAA to Chilwell (Chilwell-Zouma-Coady my backline then)

      1. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        C) is the popular option within the FPL community but my recommendation would be A)

        1. JBG
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks

    6. Tinmen
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Folks, Ziyech or Zaha?

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Zyiech imo.

    7. King Kun Ta
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Play Rashford or Ziyech (-4)?

      1. Shifty
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Rashford in an open game.

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

      Is Chilwell more nailed than Zouma?

      And would you get Hamez from this GW?

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Both pretty nailed it seems.

    9. Mr Bird
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bench one?

      A. Robertson - MCI (A)
      B. Lamptey - BUR (H)
      C. Kilman - LEI (A)

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        c

    10. Enes_Sahini1
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      repost..

      Hows it looking lads?

      McCarthy
      Saiss Chilwell Lamptey
      Salah Grealish Son Zaha
      Bamford Kane DCL

      Martinez Justin Mitchell Stephens

      1FT 2.0ITB

      1. King Kun Ta
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Took Saiss out this GW....

    11. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Would you start Ayling/ Mitchell or saiss?

      1. AnyoneButLiverpool
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Mitchell and Saiss won't start so Ayling

    12. FPL FAN
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      McCarthy Button
      TAA Robbo Saiss Justin Mitchell
      Salah Son ASM Jorginho Stephens
      Kane Jimenez Mitro

      2 FT available

      WC or not?

      1. Mr Bird
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Definitely not 2hrs before deadline with 2 free transfers unless you’ve got at least 4-5 moves you want to make already planned out. I’d do it over the international break otherwise.

    13. Lignja
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      McCarthy
      Chilwell, Lamptey, Ayling, Saiss, Mithcell
      Salah, Son, Pulisic, Zaha, Grealish
      Kane,Dcl, Brewster

      2ft 1m itb

      A. Saiss, Pulisic to Coufal, Rodriguez
      B. Saiss, Pulisic to Coufal, Ziyech

      Wanted 2ft for next week but cant see how to keep one...

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

        The same dilemma, although i could get Cresswell or Coufal for Saiss, and Pulisic to Rodriguez/Ziyech

        I dont know who between Rodriguez/Ziyech (as Chelsea are in the CL) is the best moving forward?

      2. King Kun Ta
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        B

    14. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kilman 4.2 best cheap defender even with fixtures or find 0.2 for

      Holding or balbuena

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He’s 4.3 now

        1. Sarri-ball
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I got at 4.2 earlier in week on a wildcard and not sure how much id play him before xmas

    15. Kasper the ghost keeper
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Start ?
      A) Justin
      B) Taylor

    16. tabby98
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A) TAA ---> Chilwell/Zouma
      B) TAA + ASM ---> Chilwell/Zouma + Zaha/Ziyech for a -4

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thinking of similar move to your B. Might pay this week. Ziyech and Chilwell but Zouma if you need money elsewhere

    17. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Saiss to Telles next week could be golden