Pro Pundits

My FPL Gameweek 9 transfer plans and whether I’ll be keeping or selling Salah

Three-time top 5k finisher Az reveals his current Gameweek 9 plans in his latest Pro Pundits column.


So after my article last week, I’m back to give my thoughts about the, quite frankly, chaotic international break and what it means for my own team going forward.

I’m writing this on Tuesday evening and I currently have three “flags” in my team: Ben Chilwell (£6.0m), Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) and Tyrick Mitchell (£4.1m). This could all change in the next few days but I’m feeling quite lucky, as I know plenty of managers have the likes of Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), Marcus Rashford (£9.6m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) and even Andrew Robertson (£7.1m) and are sweating on their fitness and availability for the weekend.

It’s a difficult time, and if you’ve made early moves, don’t beat yourself up. While it is generally advisable to wait as long as possible to gather as much information as you can, sometimes price fluctuations mean that you have to take a risk to avoid being “locked out” of the moves that you want to make.

In the October international break, I made some early moves that made me a tidy profit of £0.6m on my team value. Okay, it meant that I had to play the Wildcard the same week when issues started to arise, but I still think that it was an acceptable risk for that kind of team value. It was only the late injury to Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) that really forced my hand, and without that, I’d probably still have it in my pocket.

Those without Wildcards or even Free Hits need to factor this into their decision making, but as always, sometimes the early moves can pay off and set you up nicely for the weeks ahead. I cannot say I wouldn’t have moved early to dump the likes of Alexander-Arnold, Callum Wilson (£6.6m), Mitchell or Danny Ings (£8.3m), who we are all fairly sure aren’t going to make miraculous recoveries for the next Gameweek.

Is now the right time for some restructuring? 2

Armed with only one free transfer this week, I have shown patience over the international break. In my previous article, I talked up the upcoming potential of the likes of De Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes (£10.6m) but have yet to make an official move for either player.

Salah’s fitness status is weighing on my mind.


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

1,114 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Voodoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wildcarders unite.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      o/

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

      Hear hear!

    3. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Aye

  2. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Can't wait to save my FT 🙂

    Mccarthy
    Chilwell Konsa Coufal
    Son Greal Hamez Bruno
    DCL Werner Vardy
    (Martin, Podence, KWP, Mitchell)

  3. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah positive again after today's yeast according to NBC

    1. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Test*

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Will drop further 0.2 before the Brighton game then

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

        Yeah i'd imagine so

      2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Might actually consider going for him for the first time this season if it looks like this will happen, lower ownership and not continuously rising

  4. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on this plan for next 2 GWs?

    GW9:
    Salah + Foden > Rashford + Zaha

    GW10:
    Son + Kane > KDB + Vardy

  5. Totti
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    who should i sell for grealish for -4?

    A) son
    B) barnes

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

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

      b

  6. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah has tested positive again. Do I sell?

    Currently got this line up:

    Martinez
    Chilwell Ayling Coufal
    Son Grealish Zyiech Rashford
    DCL Brewster Kane

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Salah to Bruno / KDB

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yep. Probably gonna do this. I have Rashford already and double United is scary. Got to be KDB...

    2. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yes to bruno or de bruyne
      this what i will do

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Can’t decide between the 2

  7. zLaTaN@uNiTeD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on aubameyang as gw9 captain?

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No answers guess answered but so Due hey

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      1 shot on target in last 4 (that was a penalty). I can't say I don't see Arsenal getting chances against Leeds but with them scoring only that penalty in the last 4 games I'm not convinced they'll score

  8. The Rumour Mill
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Attention mods, fixture ticker is broken.

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

    Thoughts on WC team? Route to get Salah back would be Bruno & DCL to Salah & £6.1m forward although fully expect things to change. Could move Soucek to Bissouma to give myself a bit more leeway when bringing Salah back.

    Martinez, £4m
    Chilwell, Cancelo, Coufal, Justin, Lamptey
    Ziyech, KDB, Grealish, Bruno, Soucek
    DCL, Watkins, Vardy

    1. Vlekz
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Wasn't the text scheduled for Thursday?

        1. Vlekz
            3 years, 4 months ago

            *test

          • Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Apparently not! Confirmed by the Egyptian FA.

      • Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Salah to Ziyech for another hit? Then he'll play instead of KWP

      • Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        "You get a flag! You get a flag!! Everybody gets a flag!!!"

      • JURGENAUT
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        McCarthy
        Chilwell / Justin / Lamptey
        Salah / Son / Grealish / Zaha
        Kane / Werner / DCL

        Forster / Saiss / Mitchell / Stephens

        0.4itb.

        Salah to?
        A) Bruno
        B) Ziyech
        C) KDB
        D) Sterling
        E) James Rodriguez

        Thanks

      • Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Captain:

        A. DCL
        B.Grealish
        C. Bruno
        D. Ziyech

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Bruno imo

        2. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          B

        3. WWW.
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          A

      • FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Son to Fernandes (C) for a hit?

        1. Simon69
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          If you're captaining then I would

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Other Captain options are Kane, Grealish, Ziyech and DCL

        2. Dexters Laboratory
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          If you plan on (C) it's always worth a hit.. whether it pays off is that other thing. Lining up something similar myself

      • drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Salah >

        A: Bruno
        B: KDB

        1. Werner Bremen
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Bruno

        2. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          A

      • Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        There is no doubt that as at this moment Chelsea are the best attacking team out there . Yet and if Man City click soon it's a no contest with the upcoming fixtures. Hmmm I see some big rank swings in the next few GWs

        1. Baines on Toast...
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Sterling owners in GW35: 'If Man City click soon he'll haul this week!'

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            lol I like

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

        Jesus or Werner?
        Have ziyech, no city mid

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Werner

        2. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Werner for sure. Personally keeping Kane for one to toy more gameweeks

      • CrouchDown
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Rumours Bruno picked up injury last night before being subbed at HT

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

          Tactical sub.

        2. Baines on Toast...
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          where

        3. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Rumours ? but ok we wait

        4. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          rubbish

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I like

        5. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Source?

      • Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Mane time?

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Half of the liverpool team is out.. Not sure he is worth 12 mil atm

      • Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Given Everton's next 3 fixtures, is going Hamez over Ziyech a good idea?

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

          Maybe

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Yep who knows which way the wind gonna blow

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

          I already have Hamez so sticking with him for these fixtures, seems silly to get rid at this point especially with so many other injury concerns

        3. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Over Ziyech. No. With him? Yes

      • The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        1FT, 4.0 ITB:

        Martinez, Peacock-Farrell

        Chilwell, *Saiss, Lamptey, Coufal, *Mitchell

        Salah, Son, Rodriguez, Grealish, *Alzate

        Kane, Calvert-Lewin, Bamford

        A - Saiss out and play 4 at the back
        B - Salah to Bruno / KDB
        C - Something else

      • WWW.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        With Salah sat on my bench, who replaces him in my starting 11?

        A) Brewster (WHU)
        B) Saiss (SOU)
        C) Justin (liv)

        Rest of team:

        Martinez
        Chilwell Coufal Lamptey
        Son Grealish Zaha JRodriguez
        Kane DCL

        Cheers!

      • Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Things getting a bit dicey for salah benchers

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          not sure how people expected a magical recovery tbf

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

            Yeh, squeaky bum time now 2 games out then he must go

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

          I'm just hoping to get through this GW with only one more price drop and then reassess for next GW...

          1. Steve The Spud
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah, pretty much my plan, not enjoying the prospect of hedding into Gw10 with 1FT and no city, no Leicester and salah with Covid

            1. WWW.
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Certainly not ideal, although if Salah is definitely out for GW10 as well it makes Salah -> KDB much easier

        3. Assisting the assister
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Must be out for 2 games at least. WC now seems the best option again

      • No Salah
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Have 2 FT, 0 ITB and below team

        Martinez
        Chilwell Justin Robertson
        Grealish Bruno(c) Rashford(vc) Son
        Kane DCL Maupay

        Steer Bissouma Davies Mitchell

        A. Davies Robertson to Cancelo Cresswell
        B. Davies Kane to Cresswell Vardy

        1. Basil1977
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          b i wouldn't bring in cancelo this week city are playing spurs

        2. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Davies to Creswell and save?

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Scratch that.. Do Maupay to Watkins

            1. No Salah
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              One last east game for Maupay, other issues are more pressing.

              Not enough fund to do David to Cresswell alone.

      • drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Think a - 4 or - 8 wont be to bad this week

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          -8 might give you a minor green arrow before first game is even played lol

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

            Atleast wont be a massiv red as most weeks

            1. Stranger Mings
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              I am thinking of holding son Now for this week then using him & delap to get jota and Vardy next GW but for -4

        2. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Sure most on a -4 at least so time to get creative

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

            Exactly, thinking Salah and son out for Bruno and KDB for a - 8 to cover all wildcarders

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Same plan exact

      • Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I hear that you are not gonna captain Kane between gw9-gw15 but I could easily captain him Vs LEI(H) his favourite opponent

      • caldracula
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Salah to Bruno is the most uninspiring transfer but looks like it’s going to have to be done.

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          It's a shield

          1. caldracula
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            It is but it’s the move that most people will make, the split decision of benching or selling was what was exciting and could have made a big difference.

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

          says who? You can buy lots of alternatives.

          1. caldracula
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            There aren’t really many alternatives considering Son will be going to KDB/Sterling the following week and then Zaha to Ziyech after that. Grealish is my other midfielder and playing 343.

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

              Up top? Vardy? Werner?

              1. caldracula
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Currently Kane, DCL, Watkins. Was looking at benching Salah and doing Kane to Vardy (c). May just do that move anyway.

        3. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Yep

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

        People not being able to make up their own minds regarding Salah.
        Very funny.

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Why? Can't blame them, can you?

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

            they need to grow some balls. It's a game. Everyone is guessing. Not like someone needs to get a brain transplant.

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              One of the most hot topic in every FPL stream for a reason.

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

                🙄

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

          Its easy for me now with him missing 2 gameweeks, will get him back for fulham

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

            its always been easy, considering his replacement will prob be your (c) this week

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Some people already have Bruno 😉

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

                I'm not even sure I want to own him.
                lol

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

              Still DCL captain for me

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

                nice, should do well

          2. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Who is your replacement?

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

        Kane ➡️ Werner -4 (-8)?
        Can afford any striker and have Vardy and DCL.

        Hear me out.. need to get Mo back in GW 12 and was planning to do Kane ➡️ Jesus -4 next week anyway to fund this ( also only keeping Werner/Jesus for GW 9,10,11)

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Nope..

        2. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          And Jesus is still not a good option..

        3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Not for -4