EPL Supercoach Gameweek 8 Wrap: 7 things we learnt


<p>A really tricky week – one in which I scored poorly and dropped back outside the Top 1k with an anaemic 89. </p>



<p>While I was ready to question my trades, they overall actually made the week BETTER than it otherwise would have been…Neto was the best-scoring of Chelsea’s attacking assets in a poor performance against Spurs; Gabriel scored against Everton &amp; James Maddison looked good before getting injured…(again…).</p>



<p>It all led to a soup of disappointment even after a Haaland hat-trick &amp; Cole Palmer somehow coming away with a -1 after nearly having 2 goals in the first half against Tottenham.</p>



<p>This week won’t be any easier – Chelsea against Man Utd is an awesome 11.30pm Saturday kick-off, Man City vs Brighton is intriguing, Liverpool vs Arsenal at Anfield is the Monday 3.30am fixture. It’s tasty, but it’s tough. Let’s have a look at the lessons out of last week.  </p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1. Big Question Marks over Chelsea Assets</strong></h3>



<p>Didn’t all that positivity dissipate quickly, and the performance in the 2<sup>nd</sup> half was worrying, but the fact is that the Blues should have had the lead at half-time and on most other weekends they would have.</p>



<p>The <strong>Joao Pedro</strong> injury draws into sharp focus just how capable of carrying on the attacking momentum without him. I’ll get to whether to trade or hold him in a moment.</p>



<p>Owners of <strong>Morgan Rogers, </strong>I think, should be looking to re-invest &amp; I’d offer the same advice to owners of <strong>Jordan Henderson.</strong></p>



<p>The fortunate thing is that <strong>Cole Palmer </strong>will be available for the game against Manchester United after serving his ban in the Carabao Cup this week. Let’s hope he bounces back with a big performance – he’s very much a hold going into this game against Manchester United.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2. Injury Decisions will determine GW9 Success</strong></h3>



<p><strong>Pedro </strong>is obviously at the top of the list after his late withdrawal from the starting XI on the weekend – a thigh injury which will likely keep him out for 4-6 weeks with an international break in that period. </p>



<p>I’m loathe to move him knowing I’ll want him back, although I’m concerned about the amount of money sitting on my bench – so he’ll likely be a trade for me.</p>



<p><strong>Dominik Szoboszlai </strong>is a big worry too – ‘recurring hamstring’ injury is never a sentence you want to read about one of your players. I’m saying sell – given the high break-even – it’s a re-invest in your defence.</p>



<p><strong>Bukayo Saka</strong>, if you’re still holding – get rid… I’d probably be saying the same even if he wasn’t injured.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3. Erling Haaland is still a set and forget</strong></h3>



<p>I couldn’t push you toward any other Man City asset after that display and the rotation I wrote about last week, but the big Norwegian is automatic. </p>



<p>Even in a team that was pretty comprehensively outplayed, he’s scored and might have had one or two more.</p>



<p>Wish I was somewhat keen to fade – but just can’t take the risk at this stage.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4. Spurs are on the right track… maybe just not Maddison</strong></h3>



<p>I’ll claim victory on my Spurs take last week, although I’m not quite taking a victory lap after <strong>Maddison’s </strong>injury.</p>



<p><strong>Pedro Porro </strong>at 7.3mil and less than 3% ownership is getting a hard look from me at the moment – particularly given the dearth of midfield certainties.</p>



<p><strong>Mathys Tel’</strong>s goal was an absolute beauty – I just need to see more consistent minutes from him…</p>



<p><strong>Andy Robertson</strong> and <strong>Omar Marmoush</strong> are both options I wouldn’t be talking anyone out of at the moment either.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5. Bournemouth – now</strong></h3>



<p>This is where the value is at the moment – less so in the attacking ranks where I’d worry whether <strong>Evanilson </strong>&amp; to a lesser extent <strong>Marcus Tavernier </strong>are going to be able to continue their hot form.</p>



<p><strong>Adrian Truffert </strong>and <strong>Antonio Silva </strong>both look like first-rate options at different prices. <strong>James Hill </strong>3<sup>rd</sup> choice of the backline but I wouldn’t talk you out of him.</p>



<p><strong>Lewis Cook </strong>looks like next month’s cash cow having taken Alex Scott’s position – just be aware he’ll be a trade back out in 4-6 weeks’ time.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6. Aston Villa &#8211; now</strong></h3>



<p><strong>Nicolas Jackson </strong>is only behind <strong>Alexander Isak </strong>for me in terms of FWD options at this point. I made the point during the podcast last week that I prefer him to a Brian Brobbey or Dominic Solanke because of his creative ability – it gives you a forward who doesn’t JUST need to find the back of the net for you to see a return. </p>



<p>Add to that Villa’s fixture and the fact they’re a better attacking unit than Sunderland or Spurs at this point.</p>



<p><strong>Pau Torres </strong>could prove to be a very good budget signing at 3.6mil as he has now put a few 90-minute performances together, and Tyrone Mings seems to be lurching from one disaster to the next as competition for his spot.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>7. Time to go searching for midfield PODs</strong></h3>



<p>Take a swing and see if you hit here at the moment – I’m likely to be divesting from <strong>Jack Hinshelwood </strong>this week and re-allocating those funds to my backline, which leaves me free to latch on to a cashie this week.</p>



<p><strong>Lewis Cook </strong>is a base stats swing I like, but I’m heading to the cashies for upside, and for that reason I’m going to have a swing at <strong>Julio Encisco </strong>given a run of games which Ipswich are going to need points from to stay up.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Trades</strong></h3>



<p>Two this week – I did think about a boost to bring Isak in for Joao Pedro, but with Liverpool facing Arsenal I’m not worried about waiting another week or two – even with his BE as low as it is.</p>



<p>Both pending whether the outs are named in the starting XI… so it could end up being 0 Trades!</p>



<p>Hinshelwood, Palestra OUT</p>



<p>Enciso, A.Silva IN</p>



<p>VC Palmer</p>



<p>C Haaland</p>


EPL Supercoach Gameweek 8 Wrap: 7 things we learnt

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