Cianan’s Column GW8: It’s Semenyo’s world – we’re just living in it

First things first: buy Semenyo. Will he continue overperforming his xG at this level? Probably not. Is he still the best midfielder in FPL? Without a doubt. Does he retain exceptional value even at £7.9m? Undoubtedly.

Now, onto other affairs. As a general point of interest, seeing as we’ve come back from another international break, avoid making transfers until after the manager’s press conferences on Thursday. Players may be harbouring previously undisclosed injuries picked up while away with their countries, so it’s best to play it safe and get all the info before deciding on your transfers.

GW8 is a likely time for many to be deploying their wildcard. Given the five free transfers managers receive ahead of GW16 (due to AFCON), and the second wildcard coming into play after GW19, now seems an optimal time to switch up the team for maximum points before the soft-wildcard in nine gameweeks’ time. So, who to bring in…

In goal, Raya is an easy set-and-forget. Arsenal’s defence is outstanding, as are their fixtures, so it’s easy to recommend doubling up on Arsenal defenders; I’d go for Gabriel or Timber. All of these assets are relatively pricey, ranging between £5.7 and £6.3m, but offer the best likelihood of consistent defensive returns over the coming weeks.

DEFCON monster Senesi also deserves a mention. Averaging 6.6 points per game and producing the most DEFCONs so far this season (88), he’s attractively priced at £5.0m; over the long term, he may prove to be the best defender in all of FPL given the reduced price point compared to the Gunners’ assets.

Burn of Newcastle comes in at a similar price point (£0.1m more expensive), offering a route into the Magpies’ sturdy defence, while retaining a differential factor with a low 8.7% ownership. Opting for Pope instead of Raya is another way to extract value from Newcastle, although I wouldn’t double up in this area. Although their fixtures are good, their lower ownership can quickly turn them from individually sound risks to collective liabilities.

Get a Crystal Palace defender while you’re at it. I prefer Richards over any of the other options simply because he is so cheap at £4.5m and consistent for DEFCON, but Guéhi and Lacroix are also understandable pickups. Even after his goal against Everton in Palace’s last game, I stand by what I said last week: Muñoz is overpriced.

Continuing with the Eagles as we move up the pitch, Sarr is a top-quality asset who continues to excel so long as he stays fit. Only 6.6% of managers own him, and Palace have an agreeable fixture run-up until GW16 (excluding GW9), which is when Sarr is likely to leave for AFCON regardless.

Another AFCON-faring option is Ndiaye of Everton, but Manchester City (A) this weekend hardly inspires optimism for the Toffees. However, Haaland could easily grab several goal contributions in this fixture against a Grealish-less Everton side, and the debate over this week’s captaincy falls between him and Salah (form vs. fixture – pick your poison).

Haaland is essential at the moment; he is simply at the top of his game, and the same can’t be said for Liverpool’s talisman. It’s difficult to afford both of them alongside Saka/Gyökeres, and so I’d rather own one or the other, and the Norwegian is at this moment the only real option. Returning to the Arsenal attackers, both have, as previously mentioned, outstanding fixtures primed for returns, so don’t go without one of them. Other assets, such as Eze and Rice, can fill the void, but neither offers the same combination of minutes consistency, explosive point potential, and penalty potential as the more expensive attacking options.

Between now and GW13, Chelsea have the fixture run of all fixture runs, including away games against Nottingham Forest and Burnley, as well as home games against Sunderland and Wolves. Ensure you own at least one of Pedro or Fernandez. The former has been poor in recent games but ought to be well rested after missing action with Brazil. The latter has been far more attacking due to Palmer’s absences. If the Englishman is out for the long term, and Fernandez isn’t injured himself, he really could be a dynamite option who, to top it all off, is likely on penalties.

Rapid recommendations

● Haaland and Salah drafts are certainly viable, even if I’m personally opposed to the idea for now. It’s your team, go with both if you think it’s worth it.
● Identify when your worst week is in terms of fixtures up to GW19. Don’t organise transfers around it if you have your free hit; that’s when you should plan to use it.
● Didn’t believe I’d be saying this a few weeks ago, but as punts, West Ham’s Bowen and Paquetá are respectable options.
● Not sure we’ll ever be able to trust Isak or Ekitiké’s minutes.
● Other options I like on wildcard include (but are not limited to): Minteh, Fernandes (still), Chalobah, Cucarella, Woltemade, Reijnders, and Alderete (if fit).

The Boar standings

1st: Dwight Club (449) – managed by Cianan Sheekey
2nd: parths11 (434) – managed by Parth Malik
3rd: Shiver me timbers (418) – managed by Seba Bayliss