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. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez (Forster)
    Robbo, Chilwell, Saiss (Dallas, Mitchell)
    Salah*, Son, Ziyech, Grealish (Soucek)
    Kane, DCL, Bamford

    Which should I do with my free transfer?

    A) Salah > Bruno
    B) Salah > KDB
    C) Keep Salah and save FT

    Plan is to bring KDB + Cancelo/Cresswell next week for Son + Saiss

    1. Pickle juice
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Who you captaining if you do no transfer

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

        Probably DCL

        1. Pickle juice
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I would probably do the same

          1. Pickle juice
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Save free transfer

  2. Snapes on a Plane
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play C.Wilson or Saiss?

    1. Vlekz
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Saiss. Wilson might score just 1 point

      • Puncheon Guly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Is Saiss gonna play?

        1. Vlekz
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Probably, coady could be out and kilman I heard his dad passed away but I don't know the latest on that..

      • Pickle juice
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        My midfield is :

        Zaha Salah ziayek Grealish son

        Would you play son/Zaha or take a hit to get Bruno in for either Salah or son

        Please help

      • HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bruno Fernandes has scored more goals (13)

        Scored more non-penalty goals (7)

        Registered more assists (11)

        Created more chances (60)

        than any other Premier League midfielder since making his debut in premier league in February.

        Wow. Just Amazing.

        Is he in your team?. If not whats the reason to ignore the Portuguese magnifico?

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

          Poor home form

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

        I don't have any injury problems but have this urge to play my free hit chip. Really liking a triple up on Everton, Chelsea and United to gain some ground after a difficult start to the season... Maybe I should just stick the armband on Bruno and log out for the evening.

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

          Dont waste your free hit, can gain so many points in a blank / double game week, trust me

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

            Yeah I've always played my FH for blank and double gameweeks in the past but I'm not sure I've had a worse start. Slight progress in the last few weeks so I'll probably leave it off.

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

              Cheers BTW!

      • CelticBhoy1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Start Lamptey or Coufal?

        1. Neves say Neves
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Couf

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

          Coufal

      • Neves say Neves
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        When is salah expected to be back?

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

          When he's tested negative and back training

        2. Carefree Crew
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          It's all speculation at this stage. Until he obviously tests negative, which no one knows when that will be, he can't even return to training with his club yet alone play in matches.

      • The_FF_King
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thinking of getting Cancelo, but should I get Dias instead as more nailed?

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

          Depends on the rest of your defence. If you have 3 other nailed defenders I would take the risk on Cancelo. Higher ceiling

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

        1) Kdb or Sterling?

        2) Captain DCL, Grealish or Bruno?

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

          Sterling Bruno

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

          KDB
          Bruno

      • Ace Ventura
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Start 2 of Lamptey, Foden and Kilman?

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

          Lamp Foden

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

          If you have two.

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

            To.

      • Will J 256
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Mane or KDB in for Salah? Already have Rashford just incase people recommended Bruno!

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

          kdb

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

          foden saiss

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

            cheers Ben

          2. Mooster©️
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Saiss playing??

      • The Wizard of Ozil
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Which one to bench?

        A) Kilman
        B) Lamptey
        C) Reguilon

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

          C

        2. thom830g
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          c

      • HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Prediction: Spurs beat City and Son and Kane look great making people think twice about selling for City players.

      • Mo Mané No Problems
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Finally settled on a great WC team. Pretty excited about getting KDB, Bruno, Ziyech before a lot of people.
        The Salah dilemma works out well too, having Mane as a great differential for LEI and then bha, would allow me to get Salah with just one FT while not having to think about him missing bha as I can just keep Mane for that if Salah situation is still unclear. Thoughts?

        McCarthy
        Chilwell Cancelo Targett
        Bruno(C) Mane KDB Grealish Ziyech
        DCL Watkins

        Subs: Forster, Kilman, Brewster, Ferguson

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

          Great team on paper

      • JURGENAUT
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Start 2 from:

        A) Saiss
        B) Justin
        C) Lamptey

        1. Arctic monkeys
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Lamptey and justin

      • MMN
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Decided to sell Salah, best replacement? 1 FT 0m ITB.

        A) Bruno
        B) KDB
        C) Ziyech
        D) Other?

        McCarthy
        Bellerin, Zouma, Chilwell
        Zaha, Salah*, Grealish, Son
        Kane, Wilson*, DCL

        Forster, Kilman*, Riedewald, Phillips

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

          Bruno imo. KDB another good one due to fixture swing for City, but Ziyech fixtures aren't terrific after Newcastle.

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

            Bruno too with sou, whm, MCI after this week?

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

              Like United's chances vs Southampton playing balls over those CBs - Could also be good on the counter vs City too.

        2. thom830g
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          KDB in long run

        3. Carefree Crew
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          KDB based on fixtures & long term set & forget.

          City players returning from injury, attacking returns likely to be back to levels of the last 2 seasons.

          Not convinced on Man U or Bruno's fixtures.

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

            Would you go KDB over Sterling?

      • Davew88
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Start Cancelo or Coufal?

        1. Arctic monkeys
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Both ideally. Id start cancelo from those

          1. Davew88
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Digne & Chilwell taking up the other two spots in DEF so need to bench one. Was swaying towards Cancelo though so thanks

      • Winners900
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Who would you start?
        a) Cancelo(Spurs A)
        b) Kilman (Soton H)

        Appreciated!

        1. thom830g
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Kilman

        2. Carefree Crew
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Cancelo offers attacking threat, you've paid the premium for him, I'd play him.

          Both could easily concede, so no CS for either, Doherty out too.

      • thom830g
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        On this wildcard atm with 1,7 itb because planning to do bruno -> salah when salah is fit again.
        Should I spend the money instead?

        WC team is
        McCarthy - 4m
        Justin - Coufal - James - targett - Dias
        KDB - Grealish - Zaha - Bissouma - Bruno
        Kane - Bamford - DCL

      • lordkippe
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Is this a decent WC team ?

        Martinez - Button

        Chilwell - PVA - Telles - Cancelo - Williams(Neco)

        KDB - Sterling - Fernandes - Grealish - Jota

        DCL - Bamford - Brewster

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

          I have a very similar team
          Vardy instead of Sterling, Justin & KWP instead of Telles & Williams

      • boroie
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        On a wildcard, which one?

        A - James Rodriguez
        B - Ziyech

        1. JayKay1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          B, if you don't have Werner...

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

            This

      • JayKay1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bottomed(ish)!

        So:

        Martinez | {McCathy}
        Kilman | Chilwell | Coufal | {Lamptey} | {Braithwaite}
        Bruno (C) | Ziyech | Zaha | Grealish (VC) | {Salah}
        Wilson * | Brewster * | Werner

        Already used my 2 FT for Son -> Ziyech and Mitchell -> Coufal...

        £2.9m ITB...

        So:

        A) Hold and hope I can put 11 players on pitch (Lamptey 1st bench will play, but Kilman a doubt)

        B) Brewster -> Watkins (-4), leaves me enough cash for Werner to Vardy GW 10, gives me cover if Salah out for another week against BHA, then shift Zaha for AN Other GW11 to remove benching headache / free up funds going forward?

        Decisions, decisions, help requested! ;o)

      • boroie
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Which one scores more in the next 5 weeks...

        A - Vardy
        B - Kane
        C - Jesus
        D - Werner

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

          Scores more than who?

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

            Out of those 4 who scores the most points...

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

              Vardy or Jesus (if he keeps starting)

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

          Vardy

      • rozzo
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Martinez Steer
        TAA Chilwell Lamptey Johnson Mitchell
        Salah Son Rodriguez Grealish Anguissa
        Kane DCL Wilson

        1ft
        0.6itb

        A). TAA and Wilson to Kilman and Vardy -4
        B). TAA, Salah and Wilson to Cresswell, Bruno and Vardy -8
        C). Anything else

        Thanks

      • Z
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Start Mitchell or Dier??

      • Bennyboy1907
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Who to play

        Saiss or Lamptey

        1. Arctic monkeys
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Lamptey

      • boroie
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        A - Ziyech and DCL
        B - James Rod and Werner

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

          Coin flip....i have B

        2. Arctic monkeys
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Don't want to be taking that decision personally, so close.

          Mayba B

      • Nice to Finally Michu
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Can we expect anymore news about Salah before price rises?

      • Lignja
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        play Ayling or swap him for Kilman? need that 0.2m for next week move, do it this week or next?