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

    On WC..

    A) Jota / Coufal / Kilman
    B) Bissouma / Creswell / AWB (or Telles)

    Rest of team:

    McCarthy (Forester)
    Chilwell / Cancello / Target / xx / xx
    Bruno / KDB / Grealish / Ziyach / xx
    Vardy / DCL / Bamford

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

      A

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

      A will give you bench headaches so...

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

        True.. may be a bit too heavy on the defence in B but leading towards it given Jota is likely only starting when Salah is out..

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

        Too much money in def with B

    3. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Don't particularly like either option.

      A for now

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

    Final decision before I got to bed. Is Vassilev to Watkins worth a -4 to play 343? or stick with 442 for now?

    5.0itb 0ft
    Martinez
    Chilwell Taylor Cancelo Justin
    Grealish Son Rodriguez Bruno
    DCL Kane
    (Peacock Ayling Bissouma Vassilev*)

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

      No stick

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

      I would do it

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

    Any changes needed here?
    Martinez
    Chilwell, Cresswell, Ayling
    KDB, Rash, Zaha, Grealish, Ziyech
    Kane, DCL

    Forster, Lamptey, Mitchell, Brewster

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

      Nope

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

      Gtg

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

    Start 1:
    A) Mitchell
    B) Dallas
    C) Dias?

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

      C

    2. northernmuppet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C

    3. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C

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

      Thanks guys

  5. The Gambler.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Surprised so many falling for the Bruno trap.

    Literally useless at home.

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

      Well done for not being trapped

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He still scores boatloads of points...unconcerned.

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

      Lol, genius post!

      Have you checked who those 4 home games were against?

      And you do know this one is against West Brom right?

      And where are they in the league?

      And just checking the two games after that.....oh, 2 away games!

      And Salah IS our this weekend right?

      Trap? LOL

      Even if he doesn't score at the weekend it can hardly be called a trap. People are putting him in for all the right reasons....

      Just because you're not, or can't!

  6. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Start one:

    A. Taylor (CRY) - yellow flagged
    B. Saiss (SOU)
    C. Mitchell (bur)

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

      A

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

    Decision to make...

    A) TAA > Cancelo -4
    B) Play Justin away to Liverpool

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

      TAA will drop and cancelo is good longer term but Justin will be ok if you want to hold.

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

      You're probably going to bring in Cancelo at some point and most likely for a hit. TAA out for another 3 weeks. Take the hit

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

        Forgot to mention could also play Riedewald away to Burnley. Still TAA > Cancelo?

    3. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

    McCarthy
    Chillwell-WalkerPeters-Targett
    Salah*-Son-Rodriguez-Grealish
    Kane-DCL-Werner

    Nyland-Reed-Mitchell-Ayling

    A: Son+Kane -> Bruno+Watkins (-4)
    B: Son+Salah -> Bruno+Jota/Ziyech (-4)

    Plan is to possibly WC in KDB+City def next week, and get rid of possibly Werner, KWP, Reed, etc...any thoughts?

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Wouldn't really want to take a hit before a WC.

      Could you just change Salah to Bruno? Would you lose much value in that?

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

        I could, probably will loose 0.1m if Salah drops once over next week. But i think Ziyech will be way better than Son tomorrow, thats the reasoning (I might be wrong though ofc)

        1. In Bale We Trust
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          He could do, but with taking a hit before a WC you only have one week for it to pay off. It makes it a much bigger risk and kind of unnecessary. Still... you play this game for fun so might better to bring Ziyech in and hope he delivers. You'll be kicking yourself if he does haul.

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

            True...not certain I'll wilcard though...so possibly a gain in value for Ziyech also.

            If I am using WC, would be something like this:

            McCarthy
            Chillwell-Telles-Cancelo (Targett-Mitchell/cheap def)
            Mane/Ziyech-KDB-Bruno-Grealish (Bissouma)
            DCL-Watkins-Bamford

            Makes sense? Or am i just knee jerking myself?

  9. In Bale We Trust
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Targett or Coufal? Who better to take on WC?

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

      Targett IMO

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

      Targett

  10. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Will Sterling play?

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

      Probably

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think so

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

      Probably

  11. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Captain DCL or Grealish?

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      DCL

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Grealish

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

      DCL

    4. Sho-kun
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      DCL

  12. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is WC 10 still a good option?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Oh yes.

      1. Jones Kusi
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Or is there any better gw to use it?

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

      Depends on your team. Can you bring in players for the fixture turn with FTs

  13. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Guys,

    What is Son's name on FPL statistics site? Is he close to a drop at all?

    Thanks.

    1. DGW Sane TC Fail....
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He dropped last night

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I normally type son and find him on the third page.

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

      nah he is only on -40 atm

    4. Big Ping
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Son only at -40%

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

      Search by price or ownership.

  14. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah > Mane worth a - 4?

    possible that Salah could miss 2 GW's ?

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

      Not imo. I think given the timeframe he'll test negative before the next game and Klopp's already said he's feeling fine so shouldn't be much issue putting him back into the team.

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

      Nope

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

      so should I just bench him and play Podence then?

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

      If you want to captain Mane, i'd say yes

  15. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez
    Robbo Chilwell Lamptey
    Salah Son Grealish J rod
    Kane DCL Bamford

    4.0 Coufal Dallas Bissouma

    2FT and 0.5itb. Salah to Bruno(C)?

    1. King Sheep
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

  16. King Sheep
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Will Martial start?

    Yes
    No

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      For sure.

    2. The Gambler.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Indubitably

  17. Gunner1290
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rate this wildcard team out of 10. Any improvements just tell me.

    Martinez (button)
    Chilwell Cancelo Digne (coufal Mitchell)
    Bruno Ziyech(c) Kdb Jota (soucek)
    Vardy Watkins DCL

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Downgrade one defender maybe Digne

      Use funds elsewhere

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

      More than decent. How you getting Mo back?

    3. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Seems to have a lot of money tied up in defence which could be difficult to get out of there if it's needed elsewhere. Is there a plan to get Salah back in?

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

      Lose Digne - Eveton defence is not reliable and his attacking returns have been pretty poor this season. Too many competitors for set pieces etc.

  18. hogree
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play Dann (bur) or Targett (BHA)?

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'd play Dann for the goal threat. Is he defo starting?

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

        Risk with Cahill in picture, but I'm going for it - Palace looked solid at back recently

        1. In Bale We Trust
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah I like Dann, good memories with the lad. If he's starting I'd give him a whirl this gw

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

      Palace slightly better CS odds

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

      Targett for me

  19. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Richarlison to start?

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

      should do

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

      Yes

  20. timawflowers
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Captain grealish or bruno?

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

      Bruno

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      safe bruno, ballsy grealish 😉

  21. Sho-kun
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    is it worth to make rash --> bruno for a hit?

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

      No

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

      Why? Is Rash defo out?

  22. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play >

    A) Foden

    B) Justin

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

      The more attacking one if in doubt

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

    Gauita
    Semedo Chilwell Lamptey
    Burno Grealish Zaha Ziyech
    Kane DCL Vardy
    Reguilón Bissouma Dunne
    Who To C ?
    What about Team GTG ?

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

      Good

      Burno

  24. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which wildcard team to go for guys?

    A) The Keep Salah draft
    Mccarthy, Forster
    Coufal, Targett, Lewis, Cancelo, Chilwell
    Salah, Ziyech, Grealish, KDB, Fernandes
    Bamford, Brewster, Watkins

    B) The Salahless draft
    Mccarthy, Forster
    Dias, Targett, Bernardo, Cancelo, Chilwell
    Bissouma, Ziyech, Grealish, KDB, Fernandes
    DCL, Vardy, Watkins

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

      Even without looking, why pick a team with someone who won't be playing in it?

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

        I have value in Salah. If hes just missing one week its worth keeping him.

  25. Chuism
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A)
    Kane -> Bamford
    4.5 -> Fernandes

    OR

    B)
    Jiminez -> Bamford
    4.5 - > Ziyech

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

      B

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

      Easy B

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

    Foden to Grealish for a hit?

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I would

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

      I did it. Grealish guaranteed 90m+form vs Foden's Pep roulette's cameos

  27. FPL FAN
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Cresswell worth -0.6M over Coufal?

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He prob is, but depends what else you can do with the 0.6m

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nah, too injury prone

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

    GTG?

    Martinez
    James | Lamptey | Kilman
    KdB | Bruno | Son | Grealish | Rodriguez
    Kane (C) | DCL

    Steer | Dallas | Brewster | Mitchell

    Thanks

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

      Yup

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep. Who is your vice captain?

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

        Bruno

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

      Thanks both

  29. cfreel
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mitrovic to Watkins for -4 or just wait until next week?

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

      Don't think any Villa player (except Grealish) is worth a hit

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

      I'd wait. Everton not big on defending recently

  30. tinear
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Do we think Saiss could get a start?

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

      If Kidman isn’t ready after his father’s death, or Cody is still injured, yes