Trends From The Top Gameweek 8
Welcome to this week’s edition of Trends From the Top. It’s always fascinating to see the ways in which the leader board changes as well as the trends that evolve just over the course of a couple of weeks! Did you know for example that for GW 7, only two of the top 10 players had Aguero on their team? So… what trends did we see this week? What are the leaders doing and will they continue to maintain their leads?
Who was the most captained player by the top ten for Gameweek 8?
This week, 100% of the top ten managers selected… AGUERO! As many of you know, captaining him would have brought you 50 points but for the three top managers who decided to play their triple captain chip, kudos to you! At the time of writing only 33.9% of managers have been able to bring Aguero onboard as he carries a very heavy price tag of £13.2m but if this week’s performance is indicative of what’s to come, Aguero may be the one man up front to permanently invest your money in. (Next three matches are BOU (H), MUN (A) and NOR (H)).
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What recent trend have most of the top managers been deploying?
In researching this week’s leaders, it was interesting to see that once again, most managers have used many if not all of their chips! What’s even more fascinating, however, is the fact that Struthious D, currently holding position #2 has neither used a chip nor a wild card! His game play therefore may be more ‘credible’ and reflective of good managerial skills than others. (Struthious D has played for 10 seasons and his highest rank was 39,890). And, as the week’s progress, I do believe we will see the downfall of those who were eagerly ambitious to deploy and exhaust their chips within the first few weeks of the season.
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What are some other interesting findings regarding the leaders?
– NONE of the top 10 for this week were in the top 10 last week! This may be the new norm with all the new additions and modifications to the game but it is indeed very interesting to me as last year’s leader, stayed at the top for the last 15-20 weeks.
– Our leader brought in 145 points (ranked 72nd for GW 8) and was savvy enough to use his triple captain chip. While I do suggest above that they deployment of all your chips so early in the season may not be wise, the use of the triple captain chip for this week was clearly most fortuitous.
– Our leader also ranked 1,505,612 in GW 2! (There’s hope for us all?)
– Our leader went from 896th to 1st in one GW.
– Our current leader finished 408,298 for the 2014/2015 season.
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Goalkeepers: For this past gameweek 50% of the top managers selected Cech while 20% had Hart and 10% had Boruc and Butland.
Defenders: This week we saw 19 defenders make the cut for top managers. Interestingly enough, Kolarov (70%) was the only defender with an ownership rate of over 50%. Azpilicueta came in at 40% while Alderweireld was the next most popular pick with 40% ownership followed by Bellerin with 30%, Dann, Souare and Darmian with 20% and Hangeland, Morgan, Clyne, Williams, Mertesacker, Cedric, Cresswell, Skrtel, Fonte, Gabriel, Walker and Reid each with 10%.
Midfielders: When you look at midfielders, the top 10 managers had 20 different picks with several getting only 10% of the vote such as Morrison, Walcott, Mata, Sinclair, Countinho, Silva, Navas, Bolasie, Wanyama, Hazard, Eriksen, Puncheon, Barkley, Matic and Ozil. Payet was the most popular pick with 90% ownership followed by Sanchez at 40%, De Bruyne, Ayew and Cabaye at 30%. On a personal note, this is the most variety I have ever seen for midfielders while doing this piece over the past 3 years. The fact that only one player has an ownership of 50% or higher suggests that the midfield is ever evolving and/or has yet to plant stable and reliable choices.
Forwards: This week, the front line consisted of a 8 picks among the top managers which again seems to indicate that such spots are not yet solidified. Aguero came in with 100% while Vardy was the next popular pick as he received 70%. Ighalo was selected by 40% of the top managers with Pelle receiving 20% and Jerome, Sakho, Lukaku and Martial each receiving 10% a piece.
In summation, the Must-Haves for top managers for Gameweek 8 were not many. They were Cech, Kolarov, Payet, Vardy and Aguero as they all had an ownership rate of 50% or higher.
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Other interesting facts:
Other interesting facts:
– The average score for Gameweek 8 among the top 10 was an insane 123.5 points which is 68.5 points above average for the week. Yes, that’s 68.5 points above the average!
– England dominated the leader board once again as 50% of the top 10 were from England. The remaining three countries were Turkey (currently in 1st), Scotland, Northern Ireland, India and Indonesia.
– The average team value was £102 with £103.3 being the highest team value and £101.1 being the lowest value.
– 19 points separates 1st place from 10th.
– Best of luck in Gameweek 9 and a special birthday shout out to my #1 fan…
Happy Birthday Dad!
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So what’s the news regarding Mane? Think he’ll be played in GW9 after the IB?
Anyone thinking of taking Tadic as cover and banking the .9 mil extra?
That would give you a nice differential…
Yes he will. Last fixture is on the 14th… African Nations Championship match on 16th is only for the players in the domestic league.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_African_Nations_Championship
So he’ll likely be fit and start on the 17th.
Hmmmm well that’s not helped as now Ive not got a reason to leave him out. .
1. Vardy + Tadic = 4 point hit
2. Vardy + Mane = 8 point hit
Thoughts?
You haven’t even mentioned who are going out 😛
Wilson and Coutinho.
Plus Morrison to Barry to make .5 if I choose Mane.
I hate taking hits but am leaning towards Mane now I know he’ll be playing in GW9.
Other option is just use FT and do Wilson –> Ighalo
I took a hit for Mane this GW, so I can’t really say “I don’t think that’s a good idea”
But an 8 point hit for Mane is too much. Wilson -> Ighalo to Coutinho ->Mane for a hit is fine by me.
Since Wilson’s about to drop soon, do the first one now… and wait on the second one until Mane’s played his games or he’s about to rise.
Yea that’s what I was looking at, but Vardy is on fire having scored or assisted in all but 1 GW. That for 6.7 + not bad upcoming fixtures seems like a great deal.
Thing is I’m 1st in my money mini league and an 8 point hit would drop me to 4th.
Dropping to 4th is fine if there is a long term benefit from the hit. It is for you to weigh on whether Vardy will get you the required points to leapfrog them!
Gw6 ive taken -8pts and sitting on no12 on my league and gw7 i take another -8 and on now im on 1st place on my mini league..as long as u think the player that u take is gonna perform and can give u more pts then hitpoints that u take i think there is nothing wrong..up to u bro..hope it will help u..cheers
Hey gang, know it’s early but what should I be worrying about for next GW? Got 2 FT and 1.1 in bank. Which order should I deal with Diouf, Sako & Gomez?
Cech, Butland
Kola, Dawson, Nyom, Morgan, Gomez
Silva, Mahrez, Payet, Ayew, Sako
Kun, Gomis, Diouf
Sako will be a rotation issue, Diouf has just had a family bereavement (plus lingering injury issues) and Gomez has been dropped.
I’d go Gomez > Diouf > Sako.
You have 3 playing DEF, so Gomez is least priority.
Up front MCI,LEI,WHU are the leading form goal scorers
Diouf to Vardy, can you do Sako to Kouyate?
Not sure you need do them now, Id check price movements, best left till later if not critical on funds.
Cheers Sharm. Looking at Souare or Davies in for Gomez – anyone else?
Also, would you go to Diouf > Vardy/Ighalo and upgrade Sako or Diouf > Pelle and downgrade Sako to do it?
My top 4.5 picks are Davies, Souare.
If you’re looking for a really really short term pick, then Norwich have New (A), WBrom (H) in the next 2. Though horrendous fixtures afterwards.
Diouf to Vardy is a good move.
Guys
My team is set for the next gameweek
Schemeichal
Dawson/Kolorav/Cedric/Suoare/Targett
Ayew/Mane/Payet/De Bruyne/Mahrez
Martial/Aguero/Ighalo
Who to play Mahrez or Igahalo or go four at the back as all my defenders are at home.
I have 2 mill in the bank, plan to swap schemecial for Cech and considering a arsenal mid
Clean sheets
WBA Home 1 Away 2
MCI Home 2 Away 2
SOU Home 1 Away 2
CRY Home 1 Away 1
all Home 5 Away 7
You might want to play Mahrez/Ighalo with the other first reserve.
Taking on board what you’ve said, 3 defenders only. Kolorov, Cedric, Dawson. Saoure plays West Ham (Away specialists so far)
That will leave me with Ighalo or Mahrez, who would you play?
i’d play Mahrez personally
I will bench aguero and play mahrez and ighalo..lol..bad joke..haha..i will play mahrez because 56% player having him..and southampton only playing 3defenders at da moment..i think so..
Guys any news on hoolahan injury?
Casey,
seems news is scarce at the mo, but what I have found is that he is expected to be “close to being available” for next weekend – it’s a case I think of waiting for the presser on Friday.
Not many of you, but for any Diouf owners out there – on top of being an injury doubt, his mother also died in the huge crush in Mecca recently. Have to say it puts his game-time in more doubt (not to be a heartless bastard or owt; thoughts are with him and his family too of course), though perhaps this break will be enough for him to clear his head? Lampard played soon after losing his mother as I recall…
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Mame-Diouf-learns-mother-died-Mecca/story-27931196-detail/story.html