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. ronpateluk
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son to Ziyech for -4? I have Kane but no other Chelsea mids/fwds.

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

      No

    2. FPL-Albion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not for points

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

    And maybe Son > Grealish for a hit?

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

      Fail

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

    Lol @ people without a plan to get Salah back

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

      there is always a plan 😉

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

      How can you plan when you don't know when he's back? 😉

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

        extra funds in the bank 🙂

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

        Salah will be back for Brighton, he's made of stern stuff !

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

          He might not be. It's a guessing game.

        2. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Weren’t you the guy who said he’d be available for this gameweek 😉 ?

  4. I Love Lamp
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford good Man U cover if one can't afford Bruno?

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

      Impossible to cover Bruno

      1. I Love Lamp
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Reckon Bruno and Brewster better combo than Rash and Watkins?

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

          Brewster will get 2 points but Bruno alone could make up the difference as captain.

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

          Nope Rash & Watkins can haul at any time.

          1. I Love Lamp
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Thanks to both for the input, gonna weigh it a bit more, might come down to a coin toss

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

    So stressful this week, probably gonna end up with this. G2G?

    Martinez
    Semedo, Kilman, Lamptey
    Bruno(C), Son, Ziyech, Grealish
    Kane, Vardy, DCL

    Steer, Dallas, Mitchell, Stephens

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

      Gtg

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

    Any reason so many people are shifting Foden? Is he out?

    1. I Love Lamp
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sounds like rotation concerns with Torres and Mahrez in the mix

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

      Nope, just isn't guaranteed starts. I still have him and will keep for City's good run of fixtures.

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

    McCarthy
    Chilwell, Justin, Lamptey
    Bruno (C), Son, Grealish, Zaha
    Kane, Werner, DCL

    Forster, Saiss, Mitchell, Stephens

    £1.9 itb.

    G2g?

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

      £1.9m*

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

      Gtg

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

    Bench one:

    a) Jota
    b) Son
    c) Rodriguez
    d) Werner

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

      wow wish i had your headache lol

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

      A then B

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

      b

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

      if you're having to bench one of those you should probably downgrade someone else in your team because that's a ridiculous decision to have to make

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

    Need some help with this team please?

    Martinez
    Chilwell, KWP, Coufal
    Grealish, Son, Salah*, Rashford*
    Kane, DCL, Bamford

    Forster, Podence, Justin, Mitchell

    0FT, 1.4itb

    any advise appreciated pls.

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

      Salah to Bruno (c) I guess

    2. I Love Lamp
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Rashford to Bruno (think you can afford that), but as above shows I think Rashford is a decent shout. Saving Salah personally as it sounds like will be back next GW and they might need a lot of goals to cover weaker defence

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

        saving Salah means playing Podence

        1. I Love Lamp
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Not the worst option against Soton. Salah could be somewhat of a differential next week with many transferring out

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

            thanks for the feedback all the same 😉

            1. I Love Lamp
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              you as well, leaning towards Rashford and Watkins myself. Best of luck!

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

      thats what i am thinking too but that also means doubling up on United

  10. RyanMK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pick one for a mid term option to replace TAA.

    1. PVA
    2. Cancelo

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

      2

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

      Both good options...PVA slightly more attacking and gets in the box more often, but more chance for Cancelo to get clean sheets from GW10 onwards as fixtures are so good. Cancelo edges it for me....just

    3. FPL-Albion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I went for Cancelo

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

    Cresswell or Vestergaard? (already have Coufal)

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

      Cress

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

      Vestergaard

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

    Last 2 spots of the wildcard team:

    A) Grealish and cresswell
    B) Watkins and digne

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

      A

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

      A but tough one.

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

      Barkley is on set pieces over grealish which puts me off grealish. Also Watkins is on pen duty...

    4. FPL-Albion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Think I like B more. Although not having Grealish is a worry

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

    Best midfielder up to 9.4 for a one week punt?

    Plan to WC next gw

    1. FPL-Albion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Zieych?

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

        Already have Werner. Is double Chelsea too much?

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

    Do we know if Salah is going to make the Brighton game yet?

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

      think he has another test today and if that negative there is a good chance

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

    Is Everton gonna score more goals than Villa in this gw?

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

    Do people expect Reidewald to stay in the team or is he just there to save cash?

    Currently on WC with Bissouma and wondering if it’s worth saving the 0.1 which would come in handy for getting Salah back in!

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

      * Riedewald

    2. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I've switched Bissouma to Riedewald to save cash for the same reason to make it easier to get Salah back

  17. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No point doing Salah to KdB for -4 is there?

    Already on a hit bringing in Bruno (c) but it’s the unknown of how long Mo is out for that’s bugging me.

    1. FPL-Albion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Who do you play instead of Salah? KDB likely needs 6points or more to justify it. Likely mo back next gw

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

      I don't think so

  18. FPL-Albion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hey Folks

    Martínez (Nyland)
    Chilwell, Cancelo, Dallas, Mitchell, Lewis
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Hamez, Biss
    Kane, Watkins, Brewster

    1FT 2.4 in bank

    Plan was Son to KDB, but with Salah out do I do Salah to KDB and then Son to Salah next week?
    Very tight on prices to do

  19. HVT
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pick 1;
    A - Ziyech
    B - Rodriguez

    Thanks

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

      A

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

        You not think B has better fixt?

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

      Had same dilemma.....I've gone A.

  20. RyanMK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is taking TAA out this week worth a -4 hit? I'll have to play Dallas.

    If I move him out, it'll likely be for Cancelo, and they are playing Spurs this week.

  21. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Do I pull the trigger on these moves??

    Martinez
    Chilwell • Semedo • Masuaku
    Bruno • Son • Ziyech • Grealish • Zaha
    Kane • DCL
    (Steer / KWP / Dallas / Brewster)

    Salah, Maupay and Stephens to Bruno, Ziyech and Brewster(-4) gives me this in a 352. Thoughts??

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

      Solid for a -4. Go or it. Any plans to get Salah back?

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

        Son and Semedo to Salah and Kilman. Have enough itb to do it without hassle

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

    Start Lamptey or Kilman? Grealish(c)

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

      Killy

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

      Kilman

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

      Lamptey, more likely to play

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

    Can someone please update me on the Salah situation? Do we know when he is likely to play next and which games he is definitely out for?
    Cheers!

  24. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any rashford news?

  25. Max City
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Will bringing in Bruno/Ziyech/Werner (and Grealish) worth a -8?

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

      Depends on who are you getting rid of 🙂

      But I'd steer away from Werner.

  26. kime67
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    gonna be weird to watch liverpool without any fpl players.

  27. ItOnlyTook9Years
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Keep Kane on WC? Or switch to KDB?

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

      I'd personally keep Kane. City are not all that convincing atm

  28. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Liverpool fans is Neco Williams going to start, how nailed is he whilst Trent is out?

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

      Milner to play RB imo, for his experience.

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

      Neco will play imo

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

        Yes pretty sure it’ll be Neco starting. Milner will be play midfield

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy party in my pants.

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I'm bringing him in GW10, hoping he blanks

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

      Milner RB, love to see it

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

    Richarlison IN / Maupay OUT ?

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

    Resisted the FH

    OUT Salah Jimenez Foden
    IN (F)ernandes Grealish DCL - 8

    I'm going to get burnt aren't I...

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

      Not this week but you'll want Salah back next week.

      Will likely be a big payoff this week

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

        Well, enough to pay off the 8 pt hit and give you a couple in return.