Gameweek 8 rewarded managers who found points outside the crowded template. Thomas Brønsby scored 76 and gained 640,000 places, while Andy North’s 51 points lifted him to the top of The Great and The Good standings. Injuries, absences and a red card disrupted many popular plans along the way.
A difficult week for popular picks
Joao Pedro was the biggest absentee among widely owned players. Bruno Fernandes was left on the bench after criticism of Michael Carrick’s tactics, Pascal Groß scored at the wrong end, and Cole Palmer returned a negative score after receiving a red card. Managers who handed Palmer the armband had an especially rough week.
Midfield injuries had already forced decisions before the deadline. Bukayo Saka, Antoine Semenyo and Dominik Szoboszlai were all unavailable, leaving managers to replace three players. Marcus Tavernier was the standout choice among the replacements.
With so many teams making similar moves, the squads were beginning to look alike. The week’s results offered a reminder that a less familiar selection can still change a manager’s rank quickly.
Brønsby’s differential haul
Andy North’s 51 points put him first in the group. Ezri Konsa contributed, while his Joao Pedro captaincy automatically switched to Erling Haaland. Tarik Muharemovic supplied the points that helped North edge ahead of LTFPL Andy and Joe Lepper.
Brønsby had the week’s biggest score: 76 points and a rise of 640,000 places. His team stood apart from the common picks, with Harvey Barnes, Iliman Ndiaye and three Arsenal defenders among the key selections. Gabriel Magalhaes and Konsa were part of that defensive strength.
Gabriel also helped Fabio Borges and Mark Sutherns post strong scores. Sutherns had brought him in during the same gameweek, raising the prospect that the defender could attract more interest as managers redistribute funds from injured midfielders.
Transfers reflect the injury squeeze
Every manager in The Great and The Good made a transfer. Saka’s departure was especially common, and Szoboszlai was another frequent sale. Bryan Mbeumo emerged as a popular replacement, despite Manchester United’s recent performances giving managers reason to hesitate.
FPL Harry and many managers copying his move went from Saka to Palmer, funding the transfer by selling Hall for Bobby Thomas. Thomas was substituted at 59 minutes and 21 seconds, just short of the 60-minute threshold for clean-sheet points. That explains why managers checking their benches didn’t receive those points.
Tom Freeman’s decision to bring in Joao Pedro also backfired, leaving managers to wait for clarity on the forward’s injury. Sutherns, meanwhile, used the money from Saka’s sale to bring Gabriel into his squad.
Fixtures carry less weight
Moves from Szoboszlai and Saka to Mbeumo and Morgan Gibbs-White capture the week’s prevailing approach. The coming weeks could bring more interest in Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, alongside further spending on defence as midfield budgets open up.
Fixture difficulty has been a less dependable guide this season. Promoted sides have exceeded expectations, home advantage has looked weaker, and strong expected-goal numbers haven’t always translated into goals. Nottingham Forest has been a particularly striking example.
Squad ownership across The Great and The Good suggests managers are still backing Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Manchester City despite mixed upcoming fixtures. That may reflect confidence in the teams themselves, with fixture ratings playing a smaller role in decisions.
Aston Villa could attract more managers, with Johan Manzambi currently its only representative in the group. Leeds United, Everton and Bournemouth may also gain attention. Muharemovic, Tavernier and James Tarkowski are among the players who could benefit.
Room to move beyond the template
After a week shaped by absences and familiar transfers, the balance could shift. The midfield injury crisis has freed up funds, while upcoming fixtures may create openings for less common picks. Gameweek 8 showed that a well-timed differential, as Brønsby’s score demonstrated, can quickly reshape the standings.