AllAboutFPL-GW8 Review

The second international break is upon us, but before that let’s look into GW8 which turned to be a tough week for FPL managers with almost all the big guns failing to score meaning the GW average plummeted to a mere 35 points the lowest so far this season. without much further ado let’s look into the Five key talking points from GW8, Weekend in numbers and of course the ALLABOUTFPL dream team.

FIVE KEY TALKING POINTS FROM GW8:

1. WOLVES PULL OUT A SENSATIONAL VICTORY AGAINST CITY
2. ASTON VILLA PUT ON A COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE AWAY FROM HOME
3. POTTER MAGIC AT THE AMEX
4. LIVERPOOL VS LEICESTER LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATION
5. CRYSTAL PALACE CONTINUE THEIR IMPRESSIVE RUN

1. WOLVES PULL OUT A SENSATIONAL VICTORY AGAINST CITY

Wolves had a tough start to the season with Thursday night Europa league games taking a toll on the wolves squad but in the last couple of weeks nuno espirito santos turned it around amazingly after strengthening defensively with a pair of outstanding displays away from home with an injury time winner against besiktas and an incredible 2-0 victory against the defending champions Man city.who dismantled watford 8 goals to nil on their previous game at Ethiad.

Most of the credit goes to former barcelona man Adama Traore who combined well with raul jimenez to hit the city defense hard on the counter scoring two identically similar goals, in fact the city defense struggled throughout the afternoon in containing Adama traore.

Adama Traore’s stats v. Man City:

• 7 ball recoveries
• 2 interception
• 2/2 tackles won
• 2 interceptions
• 3/4 dribbles completed
• 2/2 shots on target
• 2 goals

With just one tough fixture albeit against arsenal in the next 8 fixtures wolves can turn their season around if they can continue their impressive run post the international break, but for now the wolves team and fans can rejoice this special victory over the defending champions Man city!

2. POTTER MAGIC AT THE AMEX:

Spurs travelled to Amex to face the seagulls hoping for a win after being mauled by a rampant Bayern Munich side who scored 7 goals with former arsenal man Serge Gnabry alone scoring 4 goals, but an inspired Brighton side put on a commanding performance with new signing Neal Maupay opening the scoring after a blunder by spurs captain hugo lloris who injured his arm badly in the process and had to be withdrawn, talented youngster Aaron Connally scored twice as Brighton won comfortably with a three goal margin, adding more misery to mauricio pochettino’s men.

The standout performers of the day where Aaron Connally and Club captain Lewis Dunk who both put on a commanding performance on both sides of the pitch to guide Brighton to a famous victory at home.

Aaron Connolly’s (£4.5m) stats against Spurs:

• 2 goals
• 6 shots (3 on target)
• 2 chances created
• 80 minutes played
• 9 accurate passes (69%)
• 39 touches

With two home games in the next three games against struggling everton and Norwich city potter magic is all set to continue at the Amex. Lewis Dunk, Aaron connolly, Matt Ryan and Neal Maupay could prove to be excellent differential options in your FPL teams.

3. ASTON VILLA PUT ON A COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE AWAY FROM HOME:

Aston villa were promoted to the Premier league after winning the championship playoffs against Derby county, just like FULHAM last season villa too went big on transfers and signed 12 new players. But with FULHAM failing spectacularly on their return to top flight football Everyone had Aston Villa as one the top candidates of going down this season. But, the rise of Mings, Wesley, McGinn and the Villa Road faithful’s prodigal son Jack Grealish. After addressing their goalkeeping issues of last season with the late signing of well seasoned Heaton, They have managed to exceed expectation by staying clear of the relegation battle as we approach the International break.

Aston Villa blew away the highly praised canaries at their home turf with a 1-5 victory, recording the most shots (22) and shots on target (12) this game week. Wesley scored 2 in the first half and had a chance to make it three when Aston Villa was awarded the penalty, but unfortunately they couldn’t capitalize.
But once again the midfield duo of Jack and McGinn played extremely well and pulled the strings by keeping the ball moving and spreading the play well in many directions. With 8 games gone Aston Villa have secured 8 points but with the way the league is shaping up this form might be enough for them to stay up this season.
McGinn and Jack have the engine in midfield making a combined 67 tackles during the 8 games they have played together, Aston villa striker Wesley had the highest xG (expected goals) by far out of any player in GW8 with 2.62

4.LIVERPOOL VS LEICESTER LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATION :

Its time that we all accept that James Milner is one of the most underrated English players of the Premier League era. He is one of the few players who is capable of doing a decent job at any position during any crunch situation for the team and he shines yet again in a crucial fixture for Klopp and his high flying Merseyside Redmen.

James Milner’s game by numbers vs. Leicester City:
87% pass accuracy
7 ball recoveries
3 shots (1 on target)
2 tackles won
1 assist
1 goal
Thanks to him being cool as cucumber performance Liverpool are still the only team to not drop points in the league. This has been a rec-curing theme with Liverpool this season, where there is a new hero every match and they don’t rely on the front three for all the fireworks.

On the other hand for all the FPL managers, we know that the league is being hit hard with injuries to our mainstay choices, but some good news James (Madders) Maddison is back people and he is back with a bang. He has been one of the most improved players under the likes of Rodgers this season and some might even say this was a audition for him to join Liverpool next season. Well if their is any truth in that we can say with full confidence that he will be a part of the play at Anfield next season

5.CRYSTAL PALACE CONTINUE THEIR IMPRESSIVE RUN:

After losing arguably one of their best players in Wan-bissaka during the summer to Manchester United and all the rumours surrounding the likes of Zaha to Arsenal everyone thought things could go down south very quickly for the London side. But, to many peoples surprise Crystal Palace like last season have displayed high levels of stability and already have a big scalp this season.
Roy Hodgson with his calming presence has helped the team make a great start to the season which sees them make into the top six with 8 games played. It is criminally underrated stat Crystal Palace are one of the most consistent team in the top flight. Which also translates to they have been one of the top 5 teams of England over 2019.
On a lighter note Zaha’s dream to play in a top 6 team in England is finally coming true.

WEEKEND IN NUMBERS:

• Liverpool had the best xG (expected goals) out of any team this gameweek with 3.75, even better than Aston Villa against Norwich. Leicester on the other hand had the lowest xG (expected goals) of the gameweek with 0.10.
• Players that stuck out from the crowd were, as usual by this point, TAA with 5 key passes and creating 2 big chances.
• Aston villa striker Wesley had the highest xG (expected goals) by far out of any player in GW8 with 2.62 in front of the 2nd best which was previously mentioned in Connolly (1.2).
• Aston Villa had the most shots (22) and shots on target (12) of all teams this GW. With points for many of their attackers.
• Norwich’s poor defending continue this season with most shots conceded (143) and most tackles lost (103) in GWs 1-8. A message more to invest in attacking players who face Norwich city.
• A lot of has been said of Sheffield United’s resolute defensive play and they now have the joint most clean
• win, Wolves have the 3rd best upcoming fixtures of all teams; now could be a good time to invest in their assets as differentials.
• 8 teams have kept league high three clean sheets this season with only Man city being the sole representative of the “BIG 6” it’s time to invest on budget defenders rather on premium ones.
• Man city had the highest xG in the last four weeks with 13.70 meanwhile Manchester united were the bottom with an xG of just 4.48.
• Lundstram has provided the highest points per million this season with 9.3 points per million followed by pukki who has produced 8 points per million.

ALLABOUTFPL DREAM TEAM:

The allaboutfpl dream team consists of players outside the BIG6 with an ownership percentage less than 10% at the time of writing.

Team: Dean Henderson, Schar, Dunk, Boly, Traore, El ghazi, Longstaff, Hourihane, Connolly, Jimenez, Wesley.

Cheers for reading GW8 Review.Let us know how your Gameweek went in comments! Stay tuned for Game week 8 preview, Captain picks for GW8, team in focus-chelsea, crystal palace and also wildcard over the international break blog posts