Scout Picks

Gameweek 9 Scout Picks built on Chelsea and Everton attacking double-ups

Attacking double-ups for Chelsea and Everton form the spine of the Gameweek 9 Scout Picks XI.

They face Newcastle and Fulham respectively in two of the most favourable fixtures this weekend.

As ever, we have chosen our team from DavidNealeTom and Andy‘s Scout Squad submissions, released earlier this week.

We line up in the traditional 3-4-3 formation, coming in bang-on our budget of £83.0m.

Goalkeeper

Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) gets his first Scout Picks appearance of the campaign ahead of a Monday-night trip to Turf Moor. Will it prove to be his happy place? Well, Burnley remain this season’s lowest scorers after eight Gameweeks and, over the last four, are bottom of the league for shots on target (eight).

Defenders

During that same period, no club has registered fewer total attempts on goal than Newcastle (27), boosting Chelsea’s clean sheet chances in Gameweek 9. The Blues themselves have secured shut-outs in three of their last five while no Premier League defender can match Ben Chilwell (£6.0m) for key passes since Gameweek 5.

No team has conceded fewer big chances in the last four matches than Manchester United, which is why we’ve chosen Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m) for the Gameweek 9 Scout Picks. He stands in for Harry Maguire, who we initially chose but had to replace due to an injury doubt. Either way, Wan-Bissaka still stands to benefit from United’s improved defence and the fact that West Bromwich Albion are bottom of the league for big chances of their own since Gameweek 5.

Aaron Cresswell (£5.1m) went close to match Chilwell’s creativity output over the last four matches, registering just one fewer key pass than his Chelsea counterpart. A role in corners and free-kicks for West Ham is good news considering upcoming opponents Sheffield United have given up the most chances from set-plays and the second-most headed attempts since Gameweek 5.

Midfielders

Naturally, the Gameweek 9 captain poll winner Bruno Fernandes (£10.6m) makes it into the Scout Picks for a home match against West Bromwich Albion. Since Gameweek 2, no midfielder created more chances than Manchester United’s key man and he remains a persistent shooter, registering the third-highest number of shots over the same period.

Hakim Ziyech (£8.2m) has made a blistering start to life in the Premier League. In just two starts he already has four goal involvements, three of those assists. That output has looked sustainable too, considering that, in the last four matches, Ziyech is joint-top of the league for big chances created – and he’s only started two in that period. Meanwhile, he faces a Newcastle side in Gameweek 9 that has conceded the third-highest number of chances from set pieces in 2020/21.

James Rodríguez (£7.9m) could be back with a bang in Gameweek 9 as he faces a Fulham defence that has conceded at least twice in three of their four home matches this season. Crucially, no team has given up more headed attempts than them since Gameweek 5, perfect for Everton’s corner and free-kick taker.

Only Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah have more points among midfielders than Jack Grealish (£7.5m) this season and we expect him to continue his impressive form against Brighton. The Seagulls’ possession-based style means they don’t give up many chances, but their susceptibility to the counter-attack means they still only have two clean sheets from a possible eight this season. Meanwhile, Grealish has created the joint-highest number of big chances in the last four matches and is joint-third for big chances of his own.

Forwards

Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) could benefit from Liverpool’s defensive shortages in Gameweek 9. The Reds are missing key personnel at the back right now while Leicester’s main man is joint-top of the league for big chances in the last four matches. On top of that, only two players have registered more shots on target than Vardy in that time.

Timo Werner (£9.4m) is really starting to find his feet at Chelsea. In the last four matches, just two players have boasted superior xG non penalty figures than the German international, who has recently secured spot-kick duty anyway. He faces a Newcastle side that has averaged two goals conceded per match since Gameweek 5 and who have given up more chances down their right-hand side than any other Premier League club in that time, 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m) could have an enjoyable Gameweek 9 meeting with Fulham’s defence, which looks tailor-made to suffer at his hands. as already mentioned, the Cottagers have conceded the joint-most number of headed attempts in the last four matches, while the majority of Calvert-Lewin’s shots this season have come from the air.

Substitutes

Selected by three of our Scout Squad pundits for Gameweek 9, top-scoring FPL goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (£4.8m) takes a place on the bench.

Matt Targett (£4.5m) is a cheaper alternative route into the Aston Villa back-line. None of his defensive colleagues has matched his five key passes over the last four matches.

Vladimir Coufal (£4.5m) is another way to invest in West Ham’s defence for a trip to Sheffield United. He is second-only to Cresswell for crosses among all Hammers players over the last four matches.

Diogo Jota (£6.5m) looks more nailed-on to start than ever with Salah absent from Liverpool’s Gameweek 9 plans. The former Wolves man has found the net in each of his last three Premier League matches at Anfield.

THE CAPTAIN

Who are the best captain options for FPL Gameweek 36+?

We choose the Scout Picks captain using a four-way vote between our Scout Squad pundits.

Because the use of Fantasy Football Scout data is used so heavily in this process, the skipper we choose each Gameweek is known only to those with a valid Fantasy Football Scout subscription and revealed to the public only when the deadline has passed.

Here’s how we voted for Gameweek 9:

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Each week, one of the Fantasy Football Scout community takes on the Scout Picks by pitting their chosen XI against ours.

The Community Member who beats our team by the largest margin will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Moderators and Contributors League for the following season.

THFC4LIFE managed 62 points for the Community Champions in Gameweek 8 but the Scout Picks went 6-2 up for the season with a healthy score of 78.

claretparrot takes us on for Gameweek 9, opting for a 3-5-2 line-up of Guaita; Zouma, Cresswell, Wan-Bissaka; B Fernandes (vc), Rashford, Grealish, Richarlison, Ziyech; Calvert-Lewin (c), Vardy.

AA33 is the current leader, defeating the Scout Picks by a 53-point margin in Gameweek 2.

3,825 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Evening chaps,

    2 FT, looking for very short term punts before a WC

    A) Salah + Mitro to Bruno + Rich/DCL (and play Justin vs Liv)
    B) Son + TAA to Bruno + Digne (play Bissouma vs Avl)
    C) Salah + TAA to Bruno + Digne
    D) Mitro + TAA to Tammy + Digne (play Bissouma vs Avl)

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A with DCL

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A - Rich

  2. Egyptian Giza
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dcl or Richa?
    From what i understand, Dcl is more central but Richa has penalties, are there any other points that should be considered?

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Performance to date. Dcl outscored Richa even before richas red.

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

      Both at the same price now. Rich on pens and lower TSB. I would go with Rich

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

      I’ve had DCL since GW1. Have wanted to switch to Rich ever since. He will outsvore him soon

  3. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A) St Max -> Grealish for -4
    B) play Taylor (flagged, meaning I may get st max off my bench)

    WC next week so hit has to pay off this week

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

      I did A today and it feels great

    3. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Alright. Yolo. Thanks to both of you

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

    Richa For difference

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

      Yeah

  5. Easy Cheesy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son and salah -> bruno and grealish. Everyone doing it right?

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks gorgeous. Grealish would have to be for a hit for me so unsure about that part

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

      Goood

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

    Captain

    A) Werner
    B) Grealish

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

      A

      1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Plus 1

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

          Any concerns on playtime? First game C always puts me off from entertainment perspective 😀

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

            He plays for sure with Pulisic not available

            1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              I think so too. He played 2 out of 3 games for germany, 76 mins in each. There’s a small chance Tammy starts upfront with CHO on the left but I reckon Werner starts

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

                Ah he played only 2/3. Then it looks better definitely, thanks for the info

                Still minor scare mainly because the Burnley game (?) is haunting when he started only because Puli injured in warm up.

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

    Do i wildcard this lot... No FT (used up on TAA out). $4.8ITB

    Ramsdale Nyland
    KWP Zouma Kilman Davies Lascelles
    Zaha Salah Son Pereira Barnes
    Kane Bamford Davis

    to
    Martinez McCarthy
    Chilwell Kilman Vestergaard Coufel Lamptey
    Salah Zaha Grealish Ziyech Jota
    DCL Bamford Vardy

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yay

    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Needs Fernandes

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

    A soucek, watkins (3-4-3)
    B jota, brewster (3-5-2)

    Have grealish.

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Easy A

  9. Chilli Heatwave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Captain grealish or Bruno

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno

  10. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Do people think Foden will start? Predicted line ups says no but that hasn't been updated since the 8th Nov.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'd punt if I had

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No idea. Might do Foden to James for -4.

  11. Slim25
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    2 FT's
    Martinez
    Digne, Chilwell, Semedo
    Grealish, Rodriquez, Son, Zaha
    Brewster, Kane, DCL
    (Button, Lamptey, Salah, Mitchell)

    What option would be best? Looking at getting Vardy for Kane next week
    A > Salah & Brewster > Bruno & Watkins
    B > Digne & Brewster > KWP & Watkins (Keep Salah)

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

      You will have benching headeche with A

      1. Slim25
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        What would you do?

  12. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is there much in it between James and Chilwell? On Chilwell but looking to transfer to James on a WC and save the 0.9m

    1. Man Chest Hair United
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Chilwell worth the .5

  13. Man Chest Hair United
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Start one

    Foden
    Brewster
    Lamptey

  14. Zlatan F.C
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Podence to Ziyech worth it for a hit?

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

    Literally I could captain anyone and none out of my Front 7 !

    Who’d you (C) out of:

    A) Ziyech (new)
    B) Grealish (BHA)
    C) Hamez (ful)
    D) Son (MCI)
    E) Kane (MCI)
    F) DCL (ful)
    G) Watkins (BHA)
    ..?

    thx!

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

      DCL

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ziyech

  16. Tomas_brolin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Have to say I’m a bit surprised by the number of folk getting rid of Salah

    I’m just gonna play Soucek this week and Salah will be back next week. Already have Fernandes. city assets coming in next week.

    Have I missed something obvious?

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

      There's a good chance he misses two GWs.

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

        People are just guessing at this stage.

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

          yeah, but there's a good chance Salah is still testing positive in a week's time, other footballers tested positive for that long. Would rather make use of the money than play a 4.5 defender for 2 weeks with average/bad fixtures. I guess it helps that I have 2 FTs and can save one.

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

      No. But a potential Salah replacement should get you more points than Soucek.

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

      Same. Having Salah back next week without having to make a transfer will be a huge advantage.

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

        This. Also only way for me to play Soucek this week is that Salah is out and that is totally ok for me against Sheffield.

    4. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You know he has been found positive 3 times.

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

        In the space of 6 days...plenty of time for him to return a negative test before Brighton.

    5. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Totally plan on getting him back on Wc. Would have thought harder if I didn’t have the wc - not an easy sell

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

      Also keeping

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

      A lot of people taking hits to get him out will likely have to do the same to get him back in. And as far as the replacements go they might not get the points back for the hit plus the points a sub from the bench can get.

  17. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Do you reckon Digne & Foden to Cancelo & Grealish would work out for a -4? Ta.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I guess, but seems a funny time to lose Digne

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

        Only player I can really downgrade for the extra tuppence

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

      it could be but there would be nothing worse than Foden to start the next 2 plum fixtures and you had him and let him go

  18. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I'm sure many are in this situation, what to do? 1FT:

    Mendy
    Chill - Robbo - Dallas
    Salah* - Son - Grealish - Ziyech
    Kane - DCL - Bamford

    Steer - Saiss - Stephens - Douglas*

    A) Salah > KDB/Bruno
    B) Son + Kane > KDB + Martial (-4)
    C) Something else?

    Any help appreciated mates

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  19. Tsssst
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which is worth the hit more?

    A. Jimenez to DCL
    B. Foden to Grealish
    C. Son to Rodriguez

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

      Foden to Grealish

    2. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I’d say neither is worth a hit. I really like Foden in the long term. If I had to choose I’d go A

    3. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A if any

  20. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah to Bruno (c) and keep Son?

    2FTs 1.6ITB

    Martinez
    Robo/Kilman/Chilwell
    Salah/Son/Hamez/Grealish
    Kane/DCL/Bamford

    Martin/Reguilon/Mitchell/Stephens

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I have

    2. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yws

      1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes even

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah

  21. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pick 2 to start from
    Foden Saiss Lamptey Mitchell Brewster.

    Battle of the shitters. Thanks

    Martinez
    Chilwell Robbo
    Bruno Son Grealish Ziyech
    DCL Kane

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lamptey and Bewster

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

        surprised by Brewster. Any reasoning from I've seen hes been dross so far

  22. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench one
    A) Coufal (shu)
    B) Lamptey (avl)

    Or
    C) Keep Salah, save FT and play both

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I was trying to hold, but folded this afternoon - be strong

  23. speardrops
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Our first ever FPL Friday Deadline Stream is live! Come drop by and AMA: https://www.twitch.tv/spearmintspaff !

    (highest finished 18th FPL, 25th Sky and 2nd Mirror (back in the day...) - will be a chill time.

  24. Mane Mane Mane
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What’s the order for these three subs, Bissouma Dallas and Justin?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Justin highest ceiling

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

      J, D, B

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

        Cheers, I have Coufal Cancelo and Mitchell as cbs would you swap Justin for any of them you reckon?

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

          Maybe Mitchell out of those. Has the best fixture, but just back from injury with his spot taken by PVA.

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

            I agree I just feel that if there’s a slim chance he plays he is more likely to get a clean sheet. Just got to hope he doesn’t come on for a few mins at the end

  25. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell is gtg, right?

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

      Yea

  26. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who’s a better pick guys -

    A. Bellerin
    B. Creswell

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

      Bellerin if Partey can be fit soon.

    2. House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cresswell

  27. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who to captain here guys?

    a. ziyech
    b. kdb
    c.kane
    d.rash
    e.grealish

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

      E

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      D or A

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

      A/E

  28. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Don't want double spurs this week. Best option
    A) son to grealish
    B) Kane to werner / vardy

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Either or. A best.

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think Werner will do very well and tempted to (C)

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

      Kane to Vardy

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

      Ha, 3 different answers! Thanks guys

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

        I think Vardy runs riot with the defence Liverpool will have out, they were leaking goals with just VVD out, now practically all the 1st team CB cover are out

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

          Agreed and fixtures after that look great so may aswell get on him now before everyone else does!

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

      B Vardy

  29. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    My wildcard team, think I'm settled. Thoughts please chaps

    McCarthy Forster
    Chilwell Cancelo Justin Coufal Targett
    KDB Bruno Ziyech Grealish Reidewald

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

      Vardy DCL Watkins

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

        What’s your plan to bring salah back in?

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

          Probably vardy and Reidewald to Salah and Brewster and go 352. That could change though if Bruno and KDB ain't firing

  30. shearer9
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A. Salah -> Grealish
    B. Son -> Grealish; start Lookman

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A