GW28 Scout’s Selection: The xGI-Driven Optimal 11 (Built Around Haaland, Bruno & O’Reilly)
FPL Admin
FPL Elite Analyst
Introduction
Gameweek 28 is the perfect moment to lean into what the numbers are already shouting: form, xGI, and ICT Index. Using only the provided data (and respecting the max 3 players per club rule), here’s the best team on paper—a balanced XI that blends elite ceilings with value picks.
GW28 Optimal 11 (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper
- •Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace, 5.0) — 109 pts, 6.8 form, 4.0 PPG
Defenders
- •Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, 6.0) — 122 pts, 8.0 form, elite ICT
- •Nico O’Reilly (Man City, 5.0) — 117 pts, 8.2 form, defender with attacker-level xGI
- •James Hill (Bournemouth, 4.1) — 7.2 form budget enabler with steady underlying involvement
Midfielders
- •Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd, 9.9) — monster xGI 14.94 and ICT 234.4
- •Antoine Semenyo (Man City, 8.1) — high ownership for a reason: 157 pts, xGI 10.99
- •Cole Palmer (Chelsea, 10.6) — the form king: 9.2 form, xGI 9.25
- •Dango Ouattara (Brentford, 5.9) — value mid with strong xGI 7.30
Forwards
- •Erling Haaland (Man City, 14.8) — the captaincy baseline: 193 pts, xGI 22.52
- •João Pedro (Chelsea, 7.7) — elite output: 139 pts, 8.8 form, xGI 11.71
- •Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, 8.8) — strong underlying threat: xGI 9.89
Club quota check (max 3):
- •Man City: Haaland, Semenyo, O’Reilly (3)
- •Chelsea: Palmer, João Pedro (2)
- •Liverpool: Van Dijk (1)
- •Bournemouth: Hill (1)
- •Crystal Palace: Henderson (1)
- •Man Utd: Bruno (1)
- •Brentford: Ouattara (1)
- •Arsenal: Gyökeres (1)
Key Data Tables (Why These Picks)
Goalkeeper shortlist
| Player | Team | Cost | Points | Form | ICT | Bonus | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Henderson | Crystal Palace | 5.0 | 109 | 6.8 | 62.5 | 7 | 4.0 |
| Đorđe Petrović | Bournemouth | 4.5 | 85 | 6.2 | 61.8 | 5 | 3.1 |
| Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | 5.1 | 95 | 4.8 | 53.1 | 10 | 4.1 |
Verdict: Henderson edges it on the blend of points + form, with solid baseline returns.
Defender comparison (attacking + influence)
| Defender | Team | Cost | Points | Form | xGI | ICT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nico O’Reilly | Man City | 5.0 | 117 | 8.2 | 4.61 | 108.0 |
| Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool | 6.0 | 122 | 8.0 | 2.79 | 123.4 |
| Tyrick Mitchell | Crystal Palace | 5.0 | 105 | 5.0 | 2.59 | 99.6 |
| Diogo Dalot | Man Utd | 4.5 | 93 | 5.5 | 3.41 | 93.4 |
| James Hill | Bournemouth | 4.1 | 65 | 7.2 | 1.05 | 46.1 |
Verdict: O’Reilly is the standout: defender price, midfielder xGI. Van Dijk brings elite ICT + points. Hill is the value glue.
Midfield engine room (ceiling + consistency)
| Midfielder | Team | Cost | Points | Form | xGI | ICT | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes | Man Utd | 9.9 | 145 | 6.0 | 14.94 | 234.4 | 25 |
| Antoine Semenyo | Man City | 8.1 | 157 | 6.8 | 10.99 | 195.2 | 17 |
| Cole Palmer | Chelsea | 10.6 | 82 | 9.2 | 9.25 | 96.4 | 7 |
| Dango Ouattara | Brentford | 5.9 | 89 | 5.8 | 7.30 | 94.5 | 10 |
Verdict: Bruno is the ultimate data pick (xGI + ICT + bonus). Palmer is the form play. Semenyo is the high-output anchor. Ouattara is the value accelerator.
Forward line (captaincy + support strikers)
| Forward | Team | Cost | Points | Form | xGI | ICT | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Man City | 14.8 | 193 | 6.8 | 22.52 | 238.6 | 35 |
| João Pedro | Chelsea | 7.7 | 139 | 8.8 | 11.71 | 165.3 | 25 |
| Viktor Gyökeres | Arsenal | 8.8 | 91 | 7.0 | 9.89 | 113.9 | 11 |
| Hugo Ekitiké | Liverpool | 8.9 | 106 | 4.8 | 11.21 | 135.7 | 19 |
Verdict: Haaland is the non-negotiable xGI king. João Pedro pairs elite form with strong xGI. Gyökeres wins the third slot on form + xGI, while avoiding overloading Liverpool slots.
Captaincy (Data-First)
- •Captain: Erling Haaland — unmatched xGI 22.52 and ICT 238.6.
- •Vice-captain: Bruno Fernandes — xGI 14.94 with huge bonus potential.
Conclusion
This GW28 Scout’s Selection is built to win on paper: Haaland for the armband, Bruno + Semenyo for relentless midfield output, and O’Reilly as the defender who plays like an attacker. It’s a numbers-led XI that respects team limits while maximizing form, xGI, and ICT—exactly the profile you want when chasing rank.