Who are the best players to buy for GW8?
🧤 Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers first. A 4th clean sheet in 7 games for Raya on Sunday evening, whoever said his ceiling is 6 points was wrong this time, 9 pointer, and a few weeks ago 14 pointer. It's Everton home and they've got the best clean sheet odds this week, it's not too late to buy him particularly on a wildcard I'd strongly consider it, but if you've got Konsa and Calafiori for example there's no need to make that swap right now.
Brentford are playing Hull away so Kelleher comes in second this week on 4.0 points, Trafford with Sunderland away on 3.7 points. Brobbey and Isidor both out for Sunderland last gameweek as they were goalless away vs Bournemouth, not helped by the red card of course but it's not a great when Le Bris is forced to give a premier league debut to Tutierov due to lack of options. Let's see if either of the other two are back by Sunday.
Martinez suffered a serious jaw injury on the weekend and had to undergo surgery after, we don't have a concrete return time for him, Penders pops up on the table. I would avoid him, obviously first of all the Chelsea attackers are where you want to be investing if you're gonna triple up, but also Martinez could be back in say 5 gameweeks and you've only played Penders for a few games in there and have a Chelsea spot tied up in goal unless you spend yet another transfer in goal. Just not worth it.
Looking further ahead, next 10 gameweeks rather than 5 the best cheap keeper under 5m is Verbruggen, then Kinsky. So if you're looking for a budget keeper he's your man, it's not ideal before Liverpool and City away of course but on a wildcard for example a keeper is for the very long term. If those two tough games were 10 gameweeks from now instead it's the same thing just in a different order.
🛡️ Defenders
Let's have a look at the defenders.
The usual candidates in terms of Arsenal here, Gabriel, Calafiori, Konsa, Timber. Just on Konsa - there's still no firm timeline on Saliba's return, he reportedly resumed training on grass earlier this month and Arteta said he's progressing positively, with a scan scheduled for this week to see how his healing process is going. There's 3 more gameweeks then the final international break of the year, after that GW11 could be when Konsa is a potential issue, but I'd be speculating right now. Everton and Hull home in the next 3 is so strong that he's still fine to buy. Also worth pointing out that Konsa's been very good, it would be very harsh to boot him out of the 11 as soon as Saliba's back despite how good Saliba is.
Muharemovic is my favourite of the 5m defenders, a return every gameweek this season including defcon. Leeds have conceded 6 goals, only Brighton and Arsenal have conceded fewer with 5. No Europe to juggle, there's loads of fixtures coming up you'd start him in, the only exceptions between now and GW19 is Chelsea, City and Liverpool away. So that's 9 out of the next 12 he's great to play in. Bogle and Trafford also perfectly fine.
Bogle's only 4.7m as well and has a haul in him in wingback. One thing I'll mention and this is based on last season and might not be applicable, but when Rodon's back soon he's got a ton of competition in all spots, Justin can play RCB, he can play RWB which is Bogle's position - there were a few games last season where Farke took Bogle off before 60 mins when things weren't working, two 45 min subs in fact so it's a minor thing but worth a mention. Muharemovic on he hand will be nailed for 90 every week and ranks among the best for defcon so he's the stand out in my eyes.
Affengruber is on the table again but it's the last really good fixture for him for a while, after that a load of grey fixtures so he's alright to hold if you already have but is don't buy don't sell territory.
Forest have actually been one of the best defences this season and unlucky to only have 1 clean sheet. 8.3 xGC ranks fourth best in the entire league. 12 big chances conceded is second best after only Arsenal. Williams is on the table for 5m for the Ipswich game. Ranking the 5m defenders is tricky - who's your favourite out of Muharemovic, Van Hecke, Vuskovic, Silva, Williams? I'm looking at Vuskovic for after the international break, their first game back is Hull. De Cuyper is the hype pick but Vuskovic is only just behind him on points over the season having blanked just once. He's a ridiculous threat on corners and free kicks, was saying before the season started that he averages a goal about 1 every 4 games and he's only a teenager, he got his assist off a corner last match, would've been his goal if not for a save on the line by Benitez which Hinshelwood followed up for a Vuskovic assist instead.
Last defender I want to mention is Thomas, he's top of all the 4m defenders and playable in all of the next 6 gameweeks. Fulham home, Sudnerland home, Everton away, palace home, Leeds away, Ipswich home. Then it's a rough patch of games after that.