Pro Pundits

Kane, Fernandes or De Bruyne: Which premium FPL asset to own for Gameweek 9

Happy International Break everyone. Are you feeling glad that it’s here, with the opportunity to rest and recuperate from all the madness? Or are you longing for more football to sink your teeth into?

I feel as though Gameweeks 9 and 10 are crucial weeks in all of our seasons. Looking at the Season Ticker, there’s some huge swings in terms of difficulty, Manchester City soaring to the top with, debatably, the three best home games imaginable from both an attacking and defensive perspective. 

Manchester United also emerge from a difficult run of games to host West Brom – before facing three out of four games away from home where they have, up until now at least, looked better than under the lights of Old Trafford.

Tottenham on the other hand sink to the bottom of the ticker, with Wolves also set to face three tough teams – and a local derby against in-form Villa to boot. 

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 8

Az <p>One half of the FPL BlackBox YouTube series with Mark Sutherns.</p><p>Former Membership Strategy Manager for FFS&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

895 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JURGENAUT
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Can my front 7 withstand the teams with a City attack for 1-2 weeks into their golden run? i.e. GW10 & 11 so I can use 2FT in GW12?

    Salah - Fernandes - Grealish - Zaha
    Kane - Werner - DCL

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      KDB has 15% ownership and the rest are negligible so you'll be fine.

    2. abhirup780
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      At my rank tier, KDB is less than 10%. For top 5k it is less than 3%. It may at max become 10-15% next GW. I won't be worried about KDB for 1-3 GWs.

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        This is how I felt about Ziyech and Bruno before I bought them

        They took me up from 3m to 1.8m in one week, with hits

        It's too early in the season to be consolidating ranks, imo

  2. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Nathan Ake looks like he has just pulled his hamstring

    Off injured

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Gomez and Ake already, buckle up!

    2. abhirup780
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Here we go!

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      gonna be a crazy IB, early transfers punished

    4. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Eric Garcia, step right in

      1. Black Knights
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        They’ve still got Laporte and Dias first choice at the mo, right?

      2. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        John Stones maybe ahead of him, Garcia wants out. Either way, Laporte and Dias clear first choice and will play vast majority of PL games if fit.

    5. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cancelo just got more tasty as an option.

  3. Garam MOSALAH
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Ziyech a 90 mins man weeks in and out ?
    Is Ziyech knee jerked ?

  4. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    For me the choice comes down to fernandes or KDB and looking at citys schedule I just cant go without KDB. Fernandes is a great option but keeping kane and salah, grealish and ziyech in midfield is strong enough I feel.

    1. Garam MOSALAH
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Thinking on the same line but will Ziyech play 90 mins every week ?

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        think so, looks to be pulling the strings in attack

      2. Garam MOSALAH
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Have exact funds to get Ziyech in for -4 hit and do KDB next GW

    2. JURGENAUT
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Whats the rest of your team like?

      I'm in the situation where I chose Fernandes and my team looks like this:

      McCarthy
      Chilwell - Justin - Lamptey
      Salah - Fernandes - Grealish - Zaha
      Kane - Werner - DCL

      1. JURGENAUT
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        But now in two minds about whether I should have waited for KDB.

      2. drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Team is
        Mccarthy
        Bellerin Chilwell Robertson
        Salah Son Grealish Ziyech
        Kane DCL Watkins

        son will probably make way for KDB somehow before gw 10 but will watch spurs city first and the decide

        1. JURGENAUT
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Looking good mate, what's your team value?

          1. drughi
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            103.3

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Agreed it's the same for me. Want to captain KDB in GW11 & 13.

      But I'll be selling Kane for Vardy(c) in GW10. Leicester also have 4 great fixtures between GW10-13 (FUL shu BHA EVE).

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Kane>Vardy is an option for sure

  5. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Surprised can't see an article on who is away on international duty

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Was thinking the same. Was very useful last time around

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      At this point, it feels like almost everybody who counts in FPL and hasn't retired from international duty is away on international duty

      I guess a roundup of how they performed this week should be out by Monday

  6. Stormbringer22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A) Son > Bruno (-4)
    B) Hamez > Bruno (-4)
    C) Neither and pray

    Martinez
    Chilwell - Cancelo - Lamptey (Mitchell - Ferguson)
    Salah - Son - Hamez - Grealish - Bowen
    Kane - DCL (Brewster)

    Cheers!

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Do nothing. Survey the domain like a king as the press conferences bring chilling tales of horror

      1. N00B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        +1

    2. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers both!

    3. Mid budget coach
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kane to Jesus
      Bowen to Ziyech
      Just an idea for later when we know about fitness

  7. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Got 2 freebies team needs fixing, please help guys! Torn between getting Ziyech and Bruno.

    A) Foden > Ziyech + Saiss > Coufal
    B) Son > Bruno + Saiss > Coufal

    Martinez (Steer)
    Chilwell, Robbo, Lamptey (Saiss, Mitchell)
    Podence, Salah, Son, Grealish (Foden)
    Bamford, DCL, Kane..

    1. N00B
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B) Bruno is better than Ziyech and you will still have Kane for Spurs "cover".
      Then, next gameweek, I will sell Foden asap.

  8. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rate my wildcard - day 3

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Cancelo Targett
    Salah KDB Bruno Ziyech Grealish
    DCL Bamford

    Bench: Forster, Lamptey, Brewster, Neco Williams

    1. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Very good. Prefer Watkins to Bamford. Very similar to mine but struggling to fit Cancelo in with my poor team value.

  9. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Assuming Wilson is injured would you replace him with Antonio (if fit) or Bamford?
    (Can't get Watkins have 3 Villa)

    Little worried about Antonio's injury record.

    1. Party time
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bamford

    2. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno has been locked in my team since gw2. Nobody remember him last season, unbelievable! Yes United have been poor but do you really expect them to finish in the bottom half? I know a lot of people want them to but they will be too 6 which means points and wins are coming fast and quick soon

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        The only GWs in which I haven't had Bruno this season were 1 (blank) and 6 (Chelsea)

        He's the player in this league that gives me FOMO, even much worse than Salah. I can't stand it

      2. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It has worked out really well for early adopters after they missed GW1. There seem to be a lot of managers either locked out or unconvinced or too tempted by others. Which is good news for owners because he's operating consistently over time at top level premium for low/mid level premium cost

      3. One Man
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bruno will consistently deliver, even when United aren’t firing on all cylinders. I have a feeling United will pull up their socks over the next 6/12 and Bruno will be smashing it as usual.

    3. Garam MOSALAH
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A) Podence > Ziyech (-4)
      ---> Son > KDB next GW
      B) Son > Bruno (-4)
      ---> Podence + Kane > KDB + Bamford (-4) next GW

    4. Spg76
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Saiss I don’t think will start next game but if they lose to Southampton at home...Just can’t see him starting

    5. Az
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      This article took me aaaages to write.
      Feel like I went right down the rabbit hole.

      Let me know what ya reckon

      1. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers, AZ. Good read, always helpful. Think KDB is the way to go. Not sure if to pull the trigger prior to Spurs game, especially with Bruno's juicy fixture. Can't have them all I suppose...

      2. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I have Kane. And want Kdb and Bruno. Stuck in rabbit hole too:)

      3. Party time
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Great article. You are right. It’s time to drop Kane for Bruno

        • Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Just about to ask then, which combo scores more next 3:
          A. Rashford Kane
          B. Bruno Jesus

          1. Ze_Austin
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            B, tbh

        • Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Great read, Az. I sold Kane a few nights ago; targeting Bruno and KDB for GW9 and 10. If you have a face like a welders bench come GW10’s Black Box, I’ll know it’s gone tits up

        • Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Nice article, thx. Yet even without Kane fitting both KdB and Bruno can be an issue. Ditching Salah for KdB, is it going to be worth it? Kane to Jesus or Vardy are easy moves with one transfer less and there are many other options to have in midfield also. So the question of optimal 7 attacking players is not solved yet imo.

      4. Party time
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Not football but it’s quite hilarious 😆

          (During the BBC 20:45 news bulletin on 18 April 1930, the news announcer said “ There is no news” 😆 and piano music was played for the next 15 minutes.)

        • Slitherene
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          RMWCT?

          Martinez Forster
          PvA Lamptey Justin Taylor Lewis
          Salah KdB Bruno Berge Soucek
          Vardy Richarlison Watkins

          0.4 ITB

          1. Party time
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Chelsea

          2. manu4life99
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Any thoughts on whether Mitchell will get his spot back or is that over for him now with pva back?

            1. Slitherene
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Over

            2. Ze_Austin
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              He might replace Clyne on the other side, or it might be wishful thinking and he's back to his "young backup" role

          3. Nanoelektronicar
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Key questions for me this week. Should I do (1FT):

            A) Son to Rashford
            Before the Bruno's haul vs Everton I haven't really consider him as an option, tbh. Maybe it's because I was focused to get DCL in for the Fulham game, and getting DCL last week left the money only to upgrade to Rashford. I could make this move if I want to captain Rashford, but the move seems to me like I'm going for coverage.

            B) Sterling to Bruno
            Captaining Bruno next week might be one of the best things this season, and Stering has been suffering, but 1) Getting rid of MCY attacker before the great fixtures, or to put it differently is Bruno and KDB better than Sterling and KDB? 2) Do I trust United to really put the teams to the sword in the upcoming fixtures? Is Bruno going to haul vs WBA? 3) If I want to get KDB in GW 10 it will have to be for a hit (taking out Kane and Son for KDB and striker).

            C) Save
            I keep Sterling hoping for the upturn in form with the fixtures. I get one more week to decide on Kane and Son. In GW 10 I could swap Kane and KDB with two free transfers. I could even make sideways Sterling to KDB and keep the other transfer or use it to downgrade Son.

            1. Slitherene
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              C

            2. drughi
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              C is the most sensible

          4. ZAMUNDA
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            After Gomez injury, what are the odds of Neco Williams or Philips playing?

            1. Sheffield Wednesday
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              For me the questions are:
              1. Rhys Williams or Philips to replace Gomez in central defence?
              2. Neco or Milner to replace TAA?

              Robertson has international duty so he's at risk of being overworked or picking up an injury like TAA with the crowded match schedule. So there's a good chance Neco will get some game time but it's unrelated to Gomez injury.

              1. Sheffield Wednesday
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                (Q1 assumes Fabinho injury makes him unavailable to replace Gomez)

          5. Krupinho
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Torn on what to do with 2 FTs

            Mccarthy Martinez
            Robbo Mitchell Kilman Chilwell Coufal
            Salah Zaha Son Soucek Foden
            Kane DCL Bamford

            A. Bruno & Justin 4 Son & Robbo and then Bruno 4 KDB following week

            B. KDB, Justin & Grealish 4 Son, Robbo & Zaha

          6. 272MK
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I read that Spurs offensive statistics have decreasing recently.

            Curious to know why

            1. lugs
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              scoring 5 & 6 goals in games is never sustainable

            2. Rasping Drive
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              After they let in 3 in the last 15 mins against West Ham, José changed tactics

            3. jimmyabs1987
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Put simply, spurs can’t break right compact teams down. They haul on the counter or with space behind which is why I am keeping both Son and Kane for their fixtures. No doubt they will concede but I fancy them scoring more as well

          7. One Man
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I’m not doing great, but started better than other years. In top 350K now, aim is top 50k, by end of season.

            How is everyone doing ?

            1. ilikewud
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Started 4.8m now 1.7m slowly making it up. Dreadful start to the season was bottom of all my ML. Realistic goal is top 100k me thinks.

              Last year I started at 77k and basically stayed around there the whole year. It was even more frustrating that this bad start.

            2. Buck The Trent
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              170K, WC active
              Aim is 4th consecutive 10K
              The crap thing is my TC chip is gone (accidentally), returning a measly 2 pts on KdB vs Leeds

              *FPL should move the TC button somewhere and not just above the Save Team button !

              1. Garam MOSALAH
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Sad to here about it

                1. Garam MOSALAH
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  *hear

              2. davidfromkent
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                They are around 3/4 of an inch away from each other, 7 million plus other managers have no problems with it, maybe last minute moves that required haste were responsible as the TC can be activated and deactivated just as quickly. It's your own fault own it!

                1. ilikewud
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  wow that took a turn

                  1. davidfromkent
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 4 months ago

                    Some people just can't take responsibility for anything, it seems always to be something or somebody else's fault, I just find that irritating, hence own it!

                2. Buck The Trent
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  Yes my own fault .. probably either not enough light in the room or just fatty fingers !

                  1. davidfromkent
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 4 months ago

                    Fatty fingers, lmao Haha! 🙂

              3. Sheffield Wednesday
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                I have more points but lower OR compared to this stage last year.

            3. ZAMUNDA
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              For 5 years I have always been chasing players having hauls without a proper plan, getting hits and focusing solely on MLs. (ending with ranking between 100k and 1m). This year I started with a better plan, having more patience and not rushing to change my players every week. I'm on 53k now (no chips, no hits and just activated my wc to cope with the uprising need to use 5 mids instead of 4)

          8. andres
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            so it is not possible to have them all.. salah, bruno, kdb & kane....

            Which of them are you having / planning to have gw9/10

            I am on WC so tempted to go for the 3 mids and bin kane but somehow it doesn't feel right...

            1. ilikewud
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              I'm trying for a front 7 of:

              Grealish, Salah, Bruno, KDB
              Vardy, Bamford, DCL

              Finding it very difficult. I could fit it if Bruno becomes Rashford otherwise I need to find 0.5 from somewhere.

              1. andres
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                I am currently working on a version with 5th mid ziyech and brewester as non playing forward in a 3-5-2...

                Kind of like your approach as it maintains the ever important team structure.

                1. ilikewud
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  I think a 3-5-2 can be very successful now. It would just take me too many transfers to get the players I want in and switch formation.

                  I'm likely going to punt on Rash over Bruno (strickly down to $) and hope that he can find some form.

              2. Ze_Austin
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Full squad?

              3. Buck The Trent
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                This is my current wc team too

            2. Dosh
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              I think it comes down to your rank. I've had a bad start so binning Kane seems like a good opportunity to turn it around. Someone with a decent rank around 100k could keep Kane to play it safe.

            3. lugs
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Kane is my most expensive player, then Bruno, Rashford & Son, i haven't owned Salah all season, i'd like to have him but he's just a bit too expensive atm,

              i have no interest in KDB yet having owned and being underwhelmed by him earlier in the season, + he's been crying about fatigue and fixture congestion so his upcoming easy run of games are ideal games for him to be rested, so i'm just not going there and plan on keeping the players i have

          9. Dosh
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Martinez Button
            Chilwell Cresswell Cancelo PVA Mitchell
            Salah KdB Bruno Grealish Soucek
            DCL Watkins Antonio

            GW10 Wildcard good team?
            No Ziyech could be a problem.

            1. Ze_Austin
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              This is a 453 team

              Skin that bench

          10. Garam MOSALAH
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Over the long term, who will you pick

            A) Bruno + Bamford + 2.4m
            B) Ziyech + Kane

            1. Magic Zico
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              B

              1. Garam MOSALAH
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Thanks

          11. dunas_dog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Best option to fit in KDB- really Kane or Bruno!

            A Bruno +Watkins
            B Kane + Max 6.4 m fifth mid-not sure who but possibly Barnes or West Ham

            1. dunas_dog
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              * forget Barnes he is 6.9 m

            2. Tonyawesome69
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              A for me. I don't think there is any mid under 6.4 I would consider bringing in unless it's a 4.5m 2 points bench fodder

          12. FPL Doctor
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            What to do here? 0 ITB and 1FT. WC still to use.

            Ryan
            Chilwell Cresswell KWP
            Salah Son Grealish Podence
            Kane Jimi Werner

            McCarthy Justin Bissouma Ferg

            A) Jim + Son —> Watkins + Bruno (-4)
            B) Jim —> DCL (free)
            C) Son —> Ziyech (free)
            D) WC

          13. Champions League Varane
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Son and Saïss ➡️ Bruno and N.Williams -8?

            1. Tonyawesome69
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Not for me

            2. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              No

            3. ilikewud
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Mate, do you ever make a transfer without posting it here?

          14. JONALDINHO
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            A. Ziyech and Son
            B. Bruno and Zaha.

            For option A I would never have Bruno but with option B I can get Ziyech too in 2/3 weeks for -4

            1. JONALDINHO
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              So it would be Zaha to Ziyech once I have the funds

          15. dbeck
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Feel a bit stuck and at a cross roads, I could WC but feel I’m only a hit away from a close to WC team (ish).

            Mendy
            Dallas Bellerin KWP
            Son Salah Sterling Grealish Lookman
            Werner DCL

            Button Saiss Mitchell Brewster

            I was thinking def holds ok for one week before Dias in for Saiss. Lookman is my weak spot so was thinking Brewster and Son to ziyech and Watkins -4
            But if I can carry lookman, son can become Bruno or KDB, no hit

            Any thoughts?

          16. The Mandalorian
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            It looks like Az is switching to a 3 5 2 formation to accommodate KDB and Bruno.