Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 8

Welcome to Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 8.

The purpose of this article has seemed less important since last season, you could even go so far as to say it’s become redundant most weeks entirely. What’s the point in myself and the other writers at this site telling you ‘The best captaincy picks’, knowing full well you’ll stick it on Haaland before the deadline?

Well, I believe it’s time for a change. I’m having a bad season; I had a bad season last year and I’m not really enjoying the game and in truth haven’t in a long time. Why am I telling you this? Well, I blame the robot. There I said it, some people won’t agree with me but yes, I am blaming Earling Haaland, for sucking the fun out of FPL and in part I’m holding him responsible for my poor FPL season last year and this.

Now, before you all think I’ve lost my mind hear me out. Remember how sweet it felt when you nailed your game-week captain? And what felt even sweeter was when you looked around your mini-leagues and found you were one of the few to catch that haul. I feel like we’ve lost that. Everyone is too scared, I get that, I’m part of the problem, and let’s face it, with so many of us knowing all too well how dangerous it can be to go against effective ownership.

But I think there are opportunities. Not every week, but if you’re willing to play the game, take some risks and occasionally bet against the masses then perhaps if like me you’ve lost some of the enjoyment for what is still meant to be fun, who knows, you may get that back. This week feels like as good a week as any to try something different, who knows, this may even become a thing.

Earling Haaland – Arsenal (A) – Rosco

So, first up we’ll look at Haaland himself who plays Arsenal (A). In this fixture last season, City were 1-3 winners with Haaland on the scoresheet. I didn’t say this would be a walk in the park! Haaland has 9 goal involvements (8 goals, 1 assist) this season, and 4 of those came away from the Etihad. A brace against Burnley, and a single goal in games away to West Ham and Sheffield. He of course blanked away to Wolves at the weekend.

Looking at the underlying stats for all his away games showed he had a non-penalty xGI of 4.62, so his output lines up with that, compared to the same stats at home which show a 2.01 xGI where he returned 4 goals and an assist. Furthermore, he has made 22 goal attempts compared to just 10 at home (although it should be noted that is in one less fixture). Many people say he’s not as productive away from home, there is an element of truth in that, however given the games where his goals have come this season, if anything it’s less about where he is playing and more about who he is playing. Against Newcastle in GW2 for example he had an xGI of 0.44, he blanked. Will Arsenal be as tough a nut to crack? Maybe.

In conclusion, if City are playing the bottom-of-the-table teams, home or away, Captain Haaland. If, however, he’s playing a tougher game (Arsenal this week is a case in point) then there is a real possibility that you could choose to bet against him.

With this In mind, let’s see who else you could look to. If you’re brave enough.

James Maddison – Luton (A) – Rosco

Son may have the bigger Haul potential, but at £9.3m he’ll be tricky for some of you to get to, but fear not, James Maddison (£7.9m) could still be a very nice pick in and of himself.

6 goal involvements (2 goals, 4 assists) already this season with a superior non-penalty xGi than Sonny (4.45 vs. 4.21) although admittedly there’s not much in it. However, what is evident is that Everything goes through Maddison, and whilst Son may have more FPL points, it’s Maddison that makes Spurs tick. Furthermore, Son has been nursing an injury, and whilst his minutes may not be managed to the extent they were in GW7, manager Ange Postecoglou seems a lot less inclined to take Maddison off early despite the fact he also came into GW7 with a yellow flag.

Nick has already done due diligence on the opposition so I’ll not rehash that, what I will say is that outside of perhaps West Ham, The Hatters have yet to face any of the so-called ‘big teams’ at Kenilworth Road. Who knows they may surprise us, but if I were a betting man, I’d say this one has haul potential and both Maddison and Son should be in serious consideration for your Captain’s band this week.

Heung-Min Son – Luton (A) – Swirly

There are some things that really are as obvious as they first appear. Were it not for Haaland’s perma-captain status, Son would be one of the most popular choices for the armband this gameweek. He goes into Gameweek 8 after scoring six goals in the last four, having started with a hat trick against Burnley in Spurs’ 5-2 demolition of the Clarets, as a blank against Sheffield United preceded two at Arsenal and, more recently, one more in the controversial 2-1 victory over Liverpool. All of that has been a catalyst to Spurs’ impressive second place in the league, just one point behind Man City.

Luton, meanwhile, have played the same amount of games but have just four points to their name. The joy of their first win in the Premier League, having overcome Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park, was short-lived as they succumbed to a loss to fellow promoted side Burnley by the same scoreline just a few days later. Indeed, that’s now 14 goals conceded and you can’t help but think that Spurs will increase the current average of two conceded per fixture so far.

An early kick off can put some off from using the armband so soon in the gameweek, for fear of that then decides their fate for the whole round. However, there is the fact that five of the six goals the Korean has scored have been away and, of course, there is his ridiculous xG of 2.9 and xA of 1.37. In addition, it looks like this highly lucrative position of centre forward is firmly his as Richarlison played out on the left against Liverpool, despite starting. All of that, combined with the feel good factor there is in the team thanks to the Postecoglu effect, does suggest that, this weekend, the camera celebration will be making an appearance or two. Or three.

Mo Salah – Brighton – Swirly (A)

His one and only blank so far may have spooked a number of FPL managers away from selecting Salah, however Halloween is still a good few weeks away, and so there’s nothing to be scared of yet. Indeed, there should have been an assist in that match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as it was the through-ball that led to Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal.

Now reaching FPL legend status on the back of such successful previous seasons, Salah is carrying on with this ‘business as usual’ in this campaign too, as the Egyptian has already notched up three goals and four assists, with an xG of 3.79 and an xA of 2.74. There may be that £12.5m price tag which will put many off when they’re forking out for Haaland as well – let’s face it, that’s more than a quarter of your entire budget on just two players – but going without could mean you’re then hoping for consistent performances from the cheaper alternatives.

And then there’s Liverpool’s opposition this gameweek, Brighton. As a Villa fan writing this, you can imagine my delight when I remind you of the scoreline from Saturday: 6-1. Unai Emery and the Villans ripped apart the Seagulls in that game as they had done their homework – catch the visitors on the counter-attack. De Zurbi may have bemoaned his players’ fixture congestion, however that style of play could play exactly into Liverpool’s hands this coming weekend as their defensive frailties are more than made up for by their attacking prowess which has so far seen 16 goals. You just know Salah will be at the centre of that too, potentially expanding on the six goals and half-dozen assists he has registered against Brighton in the 12 times he has faced them in the past.

The confessional…
This is where we ask our entire writing team to tell us who they think they will pick this week…. There are more caveats and get out clauses than a meeting with Daniel Levy but this is their initial gut feeling based upon who they actually own. And they promise that their picks will be allowed to leave for free if a better offer comes along…

DMC — Son

Follow @DCoelho

Jamesimmo — Son

Follow @James777Simpson

Ivan — Haaland

Follow @IvanGB111

Swirly — Sonny Son Son

Follow @theswirly

Matt — Haaland

Follow @MattyMcveigh

Loud Atlas — Son

Follow @FantasyFooty247

Rosco — Sonny

Follow @eugoogooly

Ellefcee — Son

Init — Son

Follow @AdamalcockFF247

Stone Frog — Son

Follow @StoneFrog638

OddDane — Haaland

Jamie Mc — Son

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Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Captain Picks Gameweek 8.

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