My FPL Gameweek 8 Team Selection

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FPL GW8 Team Selection | Gibbs-White captain? Saka fit? | Fantasy Premier League 26/27

My starting eleven

Bench, in order

Transfers

No transfer this week: the free transfer is rolled.

Intro

I'm giving my armband to Gibbs-White instead of Haaland, a player about three quarters of managers own, and Gibbs-White didn't play a single minute last week, so if this goes wrong it costs me a lot of rank. By the end you'll know how worried to be about Saka's thigh, who replaces him if he misses out, and why I think going against Haaland is worth the risk.

Let's start with the biggest injury news, and that's Bukayo Saka. He was forced off after just a few minutes against Bayern. He tried to play a wide pass, didn't catch it cleanly, and straight away seemed to feel something in his thigh. He signalled to the bench immediately and looked devastated, which is never what you want to see. There are already worries it could be a significant muscle injury, but nobody knows the severity yet. A minor strain could mean a few weeks, a grade two injury could mean one to two months, and a grade three tear would be much longer than that. I wouldn't treat any of those timelines as confirmed. He's expected to have a scan tomorrow, and that should tell us a lot more. The best case is that he's back after the international break, but we have to wait for the scan. Then there's Manchester United. They completely fell apart away at Como, losing four one, and Bruno Fernandes had a very quiet night. One result doesn't decide a manager's future, but the pressure on Carrick is going to be huge now. If United do make a change, Antonio Conte, Fabian Hurzeler and Julian Nagelsmann are among the names being linked with the job.

Last week

A quick look back first. Gameweek seven gave me sixty six points, seven above the average, so a decent week. Haaland led the way with thirteen, and Konsa and Calvert-Lewin chipped in nine each.

Intro

That leaves me on four hundred and eighty three points, ranked around eight hundred and eighty five thousand, with zero point two million in the bank. The Free Hit is the only chip I have left, and it has to be played by Gameweek nineteen. My model puts this eleven on about fifty six points this week, with the captain doubled.

Goalkeeper and defence

In goal it's Kinsky, and he's away at Chelsea this week. That's not the fixture you'd pick for a keeper. Chelsea have scored seventeen goals in seven games, the third most in the league, so a clean sheet is a big ask. The model gives him two point nine expected points, and he owes me a return. The good news is what comes after, with Crystal Palace and later Ipswich both at home.

At the back, Calafiori starts, at home to Everton. I'm happy with that because Everton have only scored eight in seven, so they don't carry much of a threat going forward. He's been excellent, and he's projected for four point eight expected points. The reports even have him down as an outside captain option this week, because he's involved in a fair share of Arsenal's goals. About half of managers own him, so he's one you don't want to be without.

Next to him is Gvardiol, who's away at Aston Villa. I think he can get something from that, because Villa have scored just seven goals in seven games, one of the quieter attacks in the league. The points have dried up for him lately, though, and he only managed half an hour last week. My model has him on three point three expected points.

Konsa keeps his spot after nine points last week. He's at home to Everton, the same game as Calafiori, and the same logic applies: an Everton side that doesn't score much. The form has been solid, and my numbers have him on three point seven expected points. He's cheap and he's doing a job.

Munoz is away at Ipswich Town, which looks like one of the kindest fixtures of the week on paper. Ipswich have conceded fifteen and haven't kept a clean sheet, so there's attacking upside for a wing back. The catch is that Ipswich have also scored eleven, so I wouldn't bank on a clean sheet. He hasn't done much for me, and the model gives him three point three expected points. Almost nobody owns him, so if it clicks, it helps.

Midfield

Into midfield, and Saka is the big worry. He's at home to Everton, which would normally be a decent game, and he's on penalties. But he's flagged with a thigh injury and rated seventy five percent to play, and after what happened against Bayern I'm not reading too much into that number. Whether he plays depends on tomorrow's scan, so for now he stays in the eleven and Davis covers him. My model has him on four point three expected points, but that means nothing if the scan is bad.

Rogers is in, at home to Tottenham Hotspur, and I like that fixture. Spurs have only scored six goals all season, so Chelsea should have plenty of the ball. He's been returning most weeks, and he's projected for six point four expected points. The reports mention him as a possible differential captain too. About half of managers have him, so he won't gain me much, but I can't afford to be without him.

Now Gibbs-White. He's fit to play, and he's most likely going to be my captain. He's away at Ipswich Town, and that's the fixture I want. Ipswich have let in fifteen goals in seven games, the second worst record in the league, and they haven't kept a single clean sheet. He's on penalties as well. The form looks ugly, but that's mostly because he had no minutes last week, and the news is he has a good chance to bounce back here.

Attack

Up front, it's Calvert-Lewin, away at Sunderland. Sunderland have conceded fourteen in seven games, and they've only kept one clean sheet. He's on penalties, he played the full ninety last week and scored nine points. My numbers have him on four point three expected points. For six million, he's doing exactly what I bought him for.

Joao Pedro is alongside him, at home to Tottenham Hotspur, the same game I like for Rogers. Spurs don't score much, so Chelsea should be on the front foot. He has eight goal involvements already, and the model gives him five point seven expected points. About three quarters of managers have him, so he's more about protecting my rank than climbing it.

Then there's Haaland, away at Aston Villa. He's the obvious choice for captain, and I get why. He's on penalties, he has eight goals, and he's projected for six point nine expected points. Still, I like how Aston Villa play, and I think they can make this awkward for him, so I think there are better captain picks this week. He stays in the team, of course, because with that many managers owning him, I can't be without him.

Captain

But the real question is whether I'm brave enough to take the armband off Haaland. I am, and it goes to Gibbs-White. The reason is the opponent: Ipswich have conceded fifteen in seven and haven't kept a clean sheet, while Villa only let in eleven. Gibbs-White takes the penalties and has one goal and two assists, with five point one expected points on my model. I know the risk. Haaland is ahead on my numbers, the reports have him as the top captain this week, and nearly everyone in the top ten thousand had him last week. If he hauls, I lose ground. The model's top captain is actually Foden, and I don't own him. Joao Pedro is my vice, so he takes the armband if Gibbs-White doesn't play.

Bench

On the bench, Dubravka is the backup keeper. Davis is first off, at home to Nottingham Forest. Dewsbury-Hall is second, away at Arsenal, and Gross sits third. He's away at Liverpool, a defence that's only let in eight, so I'm happy leaving him out this week.

Team news

One last word on team news, and it's all about Saka. He has a thigh injury and he's rated seventy five percent to play, but the scan is what matters. If he doesn't make it, Davis comes in as my first sub. I'll check again before the deadline on Friday evening, and you should too.

Outro

That's my team for Gameweek eight, with Gibbs-White on the armband and Saka waiting on a scan. Who's getting your armband, Gibbs-White or Foden?

More for Gameweek 8

• GW8 captain picks
• GW8 transfer tips
• GW8 differentials
• The full Gameweek 8 guide
• Plan your own team

The team, the captain, the transfers and the reasons are my own decisions. Fixtures, prices and ownership are FPL's; projected points (xPts) come from the FPL Dave engine and are estimates, not guarantees.