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. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone know the latest on Chilwell?

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

      Trained and on the train

      1. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Ta

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

    Hi folks!

    Who would you play Soucek or Coufal?

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

      Coufal

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

      Soucek

    3. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If I’m doubt always play the attacker.

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

    Gtg? Thinking I want to hold Salah and bank the transfer

    Martinez
    Coufal Kilman KWP
    Salah* KDB Son Zaha Grealish
    Kane DCL

    Forster; Brewster, Lamptey, Ayling

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

      Your team is strong enough. Bank. Who is the C?

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

        Not decided yet. Between DCL and KDB

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

      Playing Brewster or Lamptey?

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

        Its a 50/50 imo. Don't think either will score more than 2.

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

          Surely Lamptey, as Brewster might not start

    3. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lamptey forst sub though.

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

      How long do you plan on keeping Kane & Son?

  4. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What to do with this mess? Haven't thought about FPL this break.

    Ryan
    Chilwell | James | Mitchell | (Dallas Dunne)
    Sterling | Podence | Son | Mane
    DCL | Watkins | Kane

    1.0 ITB. Podence to Jota possible but not fancying it. Thought about Son to Rashford, but he's flagged. Save?

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

      Save

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

      Just save and cap Sadio

  5. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son is going to punish sellers. Has a record of goals against city.

    I’ll be back tomorrow to gloat.

  6. Abhishek Chitre
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Richarlison/DCL?
    Maguire/Telles?

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

    Any suggestions? 2FT

    Martinez 4.0
    Kilman Robbo Lamptey Chilwell Reguilon
    Son Salah Hamez Soucek Grealish
    Kane, Calwert & Callum Wilson

    One idea is:

    Spurs-boys out? Mane or KDB in? Richarlison or Watkins in?

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

      Son to kdb

  8. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    For -12.
    Coleman,Jorginho,Salah,Wilson >> Dias,Soucek,Zeiych,Werner or Vardy.

    Leaving enough itb for Rashford or Son > KDB

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

      Could actually pay off

    2. Vlekz
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Could skip the jorginho to souchek part

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Would have to go Vardy instead of Werner.

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

            Do that instead for -8

            1. The 12th Man
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Dias or Cancelo?

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

                Dias

              2. Vlekz
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  If you have a decent bench..cancelo.

            2. Vlekz
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Vardy is fine. A great pick for next week

        2. Naby K8a
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Fabinho in full training would sugguest he's ready to start. Potentially could play in place of Henderson at the base of midfield. Phillips cb and Milner rb.

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

          One week punt people:

          - telles (WBA)
          - Cresswell (bur)

          ?

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

            Telles

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

          GTG or any changes needed?

          McCarthy
          Taylor Targett Chillwell
          Son KDB Fernandes (C) Rodriguez Podence
          Kane DCL (VC)

          4mill Saiss Brewster Mitchell

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

          Who’s a better pick guys -

          A. Bellerin
          B. Creswell
          .

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

            Long term?
            Very tough one. Maybe Bellerín eventually

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

          Is Kilman safe in the medium term or is his time almost up? Ta.

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Fixtures would say he is bench fodder.

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

              what do you mean?

              1. Forever In Our Shadow
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Poor pick. Irrelevant if he plays or not because surely he is bench fodder anyway. Wolves fixtures aren’t great.

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

          Who is best for next 4 GWS
          A- Kane
          B- BAmford
          C- Vardy
          I would sell one of A or B to Get C
          And it Cost -4 So Do it or Not

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Not this week. See how Spurs go against citee. I think he will carry on his good form.

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

              Thank You

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

          Does Coufal have any goal threat?

          Does he go forward for set pieces?

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

            Assist threath

          2. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Cheap version of Cresswell but without set pieces.

          3. Sir Edo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Masuaku seems more attacking, why Coufal in Scout Picks?

            1. Ice Bear
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Totally agree with you.

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

                Great Attacking defenders article by the way.. 🙂

                1. Ice Bear
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  Many thanks, Sir EDO.

        9. Forever In Our Shadow
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          No Black Box this week?

            1. Forever In Our Shadow
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Lovely. I have some more beer. Maybe Marks played his wc???

        10. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Bench 1:

          A)Brewster
          B) Taylor
          C) Saiss

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

          On wc, is it silly to plan having Bruno (c) for 1 week only then use ft to do bruno to kdb (c) next week?

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Not at all. Many will do the same. However, I think there is a case for having both.

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

              thanks .. Would love to but no room at the inn!

              1. Forever In Our Shadow
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Make room.

        12. Gunners in Haaland
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Werner or Vardy?

          1. Cok3y5murf
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Vardy from next week

          2. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Vardy.

          3. Right In The Stanchion
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I’m having both for the mo

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

            Vardy

        13. BremerHB
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          A) Salah & Trossard -> Fernandes & Rodriguez (-4)
          B) Salah & Trossard -> Fernandes & Ziyech (-4)
          C) Fernandes to Salah
          D) Trossard to Soucek/other up to 6m mid (not Villa)

        14. bruuuno
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          For this gw only:

          A. Johnson > Telles (-4)
          B. Play Lamptey

          (have grealish so I hope lamptey will not keep clean sheet)

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

            B. Might not get s clean sheet but attacking enough to get assist or goal

        15. Lucky Z
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Why Salah is only -95% with so many transfer outs?

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            In 2-3 weeks he will be going back up even if he drops.

          2. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Flags, Covid etc

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

            It’s fixed - always has been for big name players like Salah

        16. Heiro
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Other than training yesterday, do we think sterling starts?
          Already doing Salah to Bruno and Brewster is flagged as well .

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

            Yeah i think he starts 95%

          2. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I’d say yes. Sterling a very fit guy.

        17. Maddi Son
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Has Mitchell lost his place?

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Team sheet will tell us.

            1. Dr Dream
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Next one more likely. Hard to think he will be put straight back in even if he’s first choice...sub app a distinct possibility for this one.

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

          Salah + Son -> Grealish + Bruno for -4???

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            For this week yes but how do you get Salah back or KDB in next week?

        19. LLoris
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I am stuck
          A) Chillwell
          B) Cancelo
          If you could give a reason why as well that would help

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            A. Best full back currently in FPL.

            B rotation risk.

        20. TheSteel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Dias or Cancelo? I think Dias will win the long term nailed battle, but Cancelo surely more attacking returns.

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Dias more nailed

        21. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Haven't had time to sort this mess, prolly gonna activate WC, what would you do?

          Martinez,Nyland*
          TAA*,Chilwell,Justin,Mitchell,Buur
          Salah*,Sterling*,Son,Grealish,Bissouma
          Wilson*,Jimenez,Adams

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Activate.

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

              Thx

        22. BigKeith
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Captain Grealish or DCL?

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

            Of those, Grealish in this form

          2. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I’m on Grealish and DCL Vc. But it is is close. Fulham are so bad I see Everton romping in 5-0.

        23. McSauce
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Already taken a -4.

          Is Podence to Grealish worth another -4?

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

            Long term, probably.