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. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    5.1 to spend on one more player in the backline, who should I go for?

    Chilwell Konsa Dallas Coufal ?

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

      James

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

      do you mean Cresswell?

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

        No that's a list of who I have now,

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

      Bellerin is being overlooked imo.

    4. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Someone as cheap as possible. No reason whatsoever to spend the full 5.1 here.

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

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Cancelo Kilman
    Son Grealish Soucek Bissouma
    Kane Werner DCL
    (Steer, Salah* Shaw* Ferguson*
    0FT 1.2ITB

    Went early on TAA, Podence -> Cancelo Grealish which I don’t regret tbh

    Currently playing Bissouma, Kilman may not play.

    A) Shaw -> ? (-4)
    B) Salah -> Bruno (-4)
    C) WC

    Leaning towards just taking a hit but feel like it still leaves my team close to needing WC and likely another hit next week, thoughts ?

    A) Shaw -> ? Play over Bissouma

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

      Dunno what happened at the bottom

  3. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kilman will miss this GW then?

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

      Hard to say, my complete guess is that it’s 50:50 at best, maybe more toward not playing

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

      People handle grief in different ways and theres no right or wrong way. He could still play but of course increased chance of absence now.

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

      What's this about? Source?

      1. R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Lost his father, post on his insta page.

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

          Cheers

    4. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      My dad would want me to play, not risk losing his spot to Saiss.

      I would tell my son to play. Win one for the Gipper.

  4. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Help appreciated chaps - 1 FT, 2.5 ITB.

    Martinez
    Chillwell*, Zouma, Kilman
    Salah*, Son, Fernandes, Barkley
    Kane, DCL, Bamford

    (Steer, Justin, Bissouma, Mitchell)

    Thinking:

    Now/GW9 - Salah -> KDB
    GW10 - Zouma -> Cancelo
    GW11 - Barkley & Son -> Ziyech & Grealish
    GW12 - Kane & Bissouma -> Salah & Brewster/5.8 FWD

    Assumes/hopes Salah is out GW9 and GW10. Gets KDB & Cancelo in for good City fixtures, Ziyech in for Leeds at home and Salah back for Fulham.

    Cheers

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

      Why not do Salah to Grealish now and then get Kdb for Son next week?

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers. Already have 3 Villa.

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

    Once these internationals are over and depending on further Salah news... If he DOES need to go, I think I've settled on

    Salah to James Rodriguez.

    Free up a tonne of money ready for next week. Watch Kane, Son and KdB in GW9 before making any rash moves. The Spurs assets could turn out to be keepers, City could not show up or even lose a player to injury. I'm not convinced there isn't a bit more going on there than meets the eye

    Cautious approach is guess. Has taken a week of thinking and monitoring

    1. zman575
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      would you still go rodriguez if you already had lewin? im thinking of jumping on bruno. still a 2 mil saving

  6. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez
    Robo* Chilwell* Semedo Mitchell* Dunne
    Salah* Grealish Son Zaha Burke
    Wilson* DCL Jiminez

    0 FT and 2.4 itb
    What Should I do here?
    5 Flags no idea what to do

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

      Also Salah to Bruno or KDB?

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

        Bruno.

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

          Should I take another hit too?

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

            No.

      2. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bruno

  7. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So Fofana is flagged now saying it's a knee injury. What happened and what's the latest on this?

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

      Heard at the end of last week from the France u21 he was having a scan - not sure what the results of that were

      If it’s a knee and he’s had a scan then been flagged that doesn’t sound great but have to wait for more

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bound to happen, playing rugby on his days off 😉

  8. The Fantasy Doctor
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    On WC, Jota and Vardy for Salah and Bamford? Aim to get Salah back in near future.

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

    How does this plan look?

    GW9:
    Salah + Foden > Rashford + Zaha

    GW10:
    Son + Kane > KDB + Vardy

    Leaving me with this team going into GW10:

    Martinez (Steer)

    Chilwell Saiss Justin (Taylor, Mitchell)

    KDB Rashford Grealish Zaha (Bissouma)

    Werner Vardy DCL

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

      Do you really want Zaha long term?

  10. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    1FT 1.6m ITB WC available

    McCarthy (Button)
    Chilwell Zouma Taylor (Justin Mitchell)
    Salah Son Sterling ASM (Bissouma)
    Werner DCL Watkins

    Will wait until Friday pressers, but Salah + ASM > Bruno + Grealish worth a -4 or just Salah > Bruno?

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

      Not worth a hit

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

        Absolutely worth a hit

  11. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pick the best replacements for Robbo + Ferguson (mitchell will be 5th defender)

    A) Cancelo + Coufal

    B) Cresswell + Lamptey

    C) James + Dier

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

      C.

    2. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

        My issue is cancelo being nailed

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

          And City conceding goals. Nice attacking threat if he is nailed on though.

        2. King Kohli
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Dias is a safer choice

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

            Sporting Lisbon fan, I'm not adding Dias lmao

    3. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

      A

    5. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    6. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

        You think cancelo is nailed even with mendy back to training?

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I think he's preferred over Mendy, yes. Nailed, no, but don't care too much. I'd rather have a non-nailed Cancelo than a lot of nailed other defenders.

  12. sovietrockettes
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who do I transfer out?

    A) Robertson
    B) Saiss
    C) Foden
    D) Wilson
    E) No Transfer

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

      C

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

      B

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

        So I've just logged on to FPL for the first time since last gameweek to see a multitude of coloured flags on my players. I absolutely despise international football. Why on earth are we playing friendly matches in times like this? Madness.

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

      B

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

    A) Bissouma, Mitro, Grealish (C), keep Salah
    B) Bruno (C), Werner, Grealish, sell Salah (-8)

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

      -8 is way too much for me

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

    From gw11 onwards:

    A)Robbo + Watkins/Antonio

    B)Any 6.0- Def + DCL

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

      Maybe B with chilwrl

  15. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on this plan for next 2 GWs?

    GW9:
    Salah + Maupay + Robertson > Bruno + Vardy + Coufal (-8)
    GW10:
    Son + Konsa > Grealish + Dias/Cancelo (-4)

    Martinez Steer
    Robertson Chilwell Konsa Kilman Mitchell
    Salah Sterling Son Jrod Anguissa
    Dcl Maupay Bamford

    1 FT 0.5 itb

  16. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell on the bench for England. He's fine then?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      woop woop

  17. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So I've just logged on to FPL for the first time since last gameweek to see a multitude of coloured flags on my players. I absolutely despise international football. Why on earth are we playing friendly matches in times like this? Madness.

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

      Good thing you waited until now to log on and haven't been tracking the madness everyday!

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

      Because national teams have a tournament in a few months ?

  18. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Am loving the Richarlison yellow flag. Should put off a few.

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

    Hi Guys, what are the chances of Saiss starting at the weekend?

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

      I'd imagine fairly high given Coady might still be self isolating and Kilman may not play due to personal reasons

  20. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    In for Salah for the next 3 weeks:

    A) Ziyeh (new, TOT, LEE)
    B) Bruno (WBA, sou, whu)
    C) Rashford (WBA, sou, whu)
    D) Mane (LEI, bha, WOL)
    ..?

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

      Mane

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

      Magnifico

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

      Bruno

    4. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I've got B already and will probably add A in place of Salah.

  21. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Gt two FT, sell salah for bruno? And see how son do for this week, if he do nothing then sell son for mane next week?

    Also shld i use another FT to sell saiss for cresswell/digne?

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

      Use only 1FT. I expect Saiss to start

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

        Rlly?”

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

          Maybe "expect" is a bit strong. Kilman a doubt due to family bereavement and Wolves were poor on the left side when both Kilman and Nouri start against LEI. I think Nuno will want to tighten up that left side with Saiss

      2. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        But i got kwp and saiss to start then. Or shld i start dallas instead of kwp?

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

    Vassilev to Watkins or Salah to Bruno with the FT? I'm leaning towards both for a -4

    3.5itb 1ft
    Martinez
    Chilwell Taylor Ayling Cancelo Justin
    Grealish Son Rodriguez
    DCL Kane
    (Peacock Bissouma Salah* Vassilev*)

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

    Best striker for the next 3 games?

    Thinking Jesus?

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

      Vardy

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

      Probably vardy. Aguero close to being back from injury

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

        Sorry all my bad have Vardy and DCL already

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

          Werner/your Display

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Richarlison

  24. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Does Salah miss one or two prem games?

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

      No one really knows

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks, very difficult because if it’s 2 I’d sell but with just 1 think I’ll keep

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

      At least 1

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers

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

      2

    4. NejiHyuuga01
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If test is made tomorrow and he is positive, he is out for 2 GWs. Would need to isolate for 10 days according to UK COVID rules.

      1. NejiHyuuga01
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He tested positive today. 10 days from today is 28th November vs Brighton so it is unlikely that he plays there too

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes. Could be out for a few weeks, nobody knows.

        Could test negative and then if he's symptom-free can play against Brighton. But nobody knows.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks all

  25. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kwp saiss chilwell dallas lamptey, choose 3 to start this week?

    1. NejiHyuuga01
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Chilly Saiss and Lamptey/Dallas, leaning towards Dallas maybe because ...Arsenal

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        So u think wolves will win saints?

  26. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So Chilwell hasn't trained rip

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

      He’s on the bench for England

    2. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nvm he's on the bench but wasn't part of the training?

  27. FOMFF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone got some inside info on Rashford's injury? Think he plays at the weekend?

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

    Noticed that my captain really succeeded when his team scored 3+ goals so I will try to understand which of Chelsea Everton Aston Villa is gonna score 3+ goals this gw and then I will captain one of Ziyech DCL Grealish.
    It's Chelsea probably... right?

  29. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    a) Vardy, Ziyech
    or
    b) Bamford, Sterling

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

      Too close to call

      1. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I know 🙁

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

      1. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        cheers