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. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah to Grealish planned. Should I do it before the price changes or wait for more info on salah?

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

      DO IT

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

      Yes. Quick.

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

      If you lose SV by Salah dropping, do it now!

    4. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks guys, at least I caught the Grealish rise. Should have done my planned -4 move for KDB as well. didn't see that coming

  2. Teahupo'o
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Lose Son or Rashford for James Rodriguez?

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

      Neither?

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Everton's next 3 fixtures, especially this gw, are too tempting to ignore him.

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

      No

    3. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not for me..

    4. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Holding fire seems the consensus. Thanks all.

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

    Good to go? 0FT and 0.5itb.

    Fabianski (shu)
    Digne (ful) - PVA (bur) - Targett (BHA) - Masuaku (shu)
    Fernandes (WBA) - Zaha (bur) - Ziyech (new)
    DCL C (ful) - Kane vc (MCI) - Watkins (BHA)

    Steele - Kilman (SOU) - Anguissa - Salah

    tHanns

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

      gtg

    2. wilsonito
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Might be tempted to start kilman over masuaku to spread the bets (with fabs in goal)

  4. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kings of the GW, their GW score and score in the following GW:

    GW1 Salah (20 - 3)
    GW2 Son (24 - 1)
    GW3 Vardy (17 - 2)
    GW4 Grealish (24 - 3)
    GW5 Werner (16 - 2)
    GW6 Bamford (17 - 2)
    GW7 JWP (17 - 3)
    GW8 Bruno (17 - ???)

    Hopefully Bruno becomes the one to break this blanking trend!

    Also for each time a player was King of the GW, they had net transfers out that GW (apart from JWP who had a handful of net transfers in) - so much for wisdom of the crowd!

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

      Different each week, who will it be this time

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

        Mane

      2. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Wouldn't be surprised to see Son with a repeat appearance! His scores in GWs where he has fallen in price: 24 and 18. GW9... he has fallen in price.

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

      The pattern has to break sooner or later. Why not tomorrow?

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

        I just brought him in, so missed penalty and YC incoming.

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

          i'm captaining him. United will smash the baggies.

    3. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yikes. Nice find.

      Don't let us down Bruno.

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

      More bad omens - it was bad enough before that joyful bit of history - but still tempted to stick with the herd

      Even though I also have Vardy, Werner and Grealish, I'm half tempted by Bamford

  5. baines is god
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Start Lamptey or Mahrez or take a hit?

    Mahrez could just get 1 point coming off the bench for 10 mins and Lamptey has some clean sheet/attacking return potential?

  6. Scout15
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What do we know about Rashford fitness? Is it too risky to get him in over Bruno?

    1. Scout15
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      *Rashford's

  7. Ray In Bruges.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy (Nyland)
    Chilwell Zouma KWP (Justin, Kilman)
    Fernandes JRod Grealish Son ASM
    Werner DCL (Brewster)

    Am I GTG here?

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

    Salah -103.1 - Now most likely player to drop in 12 minutes

    1. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      -106 now..

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

        Wow

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

          The mail-in ballots are being counted. 😀

          1. PL Ball
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Obligatory 'Stop the Count' comment Ha.

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

              And keep counting for the player you have on 100 😀

              1. PL Ball
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                All 'Legal' Votes must be counted 😉

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

      He survived the drop

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

    Would you get Bruno in? Already have Rashford, would captain Bruno or just get KDB in now? For Salah by the way!

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

    Chilwell and Cancelo already locked into WC team. Which of the following do you prefer as 3rd defender?

    A. Dias
    B. Zouma (got in cheap previously)
    C. Cresswell

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

      C

    2. Boo Ya Ka Sha
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Probably Dias .. if anything happens to Cancelo, you can drop for Telles if he impresses

  11. Boo Ya Ka Sha
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    guten evening lads
    1 FT and $1.5 itb - What would you do with this lot? Thinking changing out the players in caps

    Chilwell, SEMEDO, Lamptey
    KDB, Bruno, SON, Grealish, Soucek
    KANE, DCL
    (BREWSTER, Dallas, Mitchell)

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

      Wouldn't change DCL

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

        or KDB

      2. Boo Ya Ka Sha
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        haha I revisited that before your comment, knew someone would point that out. should've know it'd be you

        1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          known*

  12. Ciarant20
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wildcard or not?
    Team currently -4
    McCarthy
    Chilwell Lamptey Dallas
    Rashford Son KDB ASM
    Adams Kane DCL
    (Button KWP Burke Ferguson

    Post wildcard
    McCarthy
    Chilwell Lamptey Balbuena
    Grealish Ziyech Jota Bruno KDB
    Vardy DCL
    (Button Cancelo Kilman Brewster)

  13. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rash 5.6 def. (Or) bruno 4.5 def. ?

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

      bruno

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

    Do we know if Sterling is injured or likely to play tomorrow?

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

      He trained.

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

    All done! Set?

    Martinez
    Cresswell Chilwell Robbo
    Son Ziyech Grealish Zaha Rodriguez
    Kane DCL(C)

    Martin Kilman Brewster Mitchell

    4.5m itb for Salah back next week

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

      Great team, DCL captain could go either way.

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

        Cheers. Other thought was Grealish!

  16. sozopol
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    and what do we make of their scores the prior week?

    GW2 Son (2 - 24)
    GW3 Vardy (2 - 17)
    GW4 Grealish (8 - 24)
    GW5 Werner (2 - 16)
    GW6 Bamford (2 - 17)
    GW7 JWP (11 - 17)
    GW8 Bruno (2 - 17)

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

      Reply fail to SUN JIHAI's excellent post above

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

        Richo the winner next.

      2. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Shows how random this game is!

        I do wonder if the trend of star players then blanking might be part due to opposition teams specifically planning to counter that player because he was so good in his previous fixture. For example West Brom getting two players to mark Bruno at all times!

    2. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Haha. FPL in a nutshell..

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

      I think it shows the importance of having faith in your picks and not knee jerking after one bad GW

  17. HellasLEAF
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Steer to Martinez for a hit, then start over McCarthy genius or foolish.

    I like Martinez/McCarthy going forward until Jan as well.

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

      Get a defender instead of a keeper. Martinez and KWP or McCarthy and Targett.

  18. mash
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy Steer
    Chilwell Davies Justin JWP Taylor
    Salah* Son Barnes Podence Bissouma
    Kane Werner DCL

    2FT, 1.5m in the bank

    Which would you do?

    A) Salah and Barnes to Fernandes and Grealish
    B) Kane and Barnes to Watkins and Fernandes
    C) Kane and Son to Vardy and Fernandes
    D) Salah and Kane to Fernandes and KDB

    A and D stand out to me, which would you pick?

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

      I like A but I'm also thinking of keeping Salah for a single GW out

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

        It's a tough one! I kind of want to hang on to Salah in case he's back straight away in GW10, but also want to get Man City players in from next week. Think I'll have to sleep on this... (luckily the price changes haven't ruled any options out!)

  19. mabz1303
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    1 FT

    Martinez

    Coufal Lamptey Zouma Saiss
    Grealish Son Fernandes
    Bamford Kane Calvert-Lewin

    Bench: Salah Burke Ferguson

    A) Saiss to Chillwell
    B) Salah to Ziyech/Mane/De Bruyne/James Rodri
    C) Bamford to Watkins

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

    Would you get Bruno in alongside Rashford? Would captain Bruno. Or just get KDB in now? For Salah by the way!

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

      I'd go Bruno

  21. Tripleh123
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Repost,need advice guys. Have Kane, Salah, Robbo. Any pressing issue to address for a hit (-4)

    1. Salah to KDB
    2. Kane to Vardy
    3) Robbo to Chilwell
    4) Stick

    Martinez
    Robertson - Kilman - Lamptey - Taylor
    Bruno - Zaha - Grealish
    Kane - DCL- Bamford
    (Steer) (Justin, Salah, Bissouma)

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

      4 tbh mate, Normally you shouldn’t take a hit on a defender as the reward against the risk is low compared to that and the returns of a mid/forward.

  22. FPL Laurenzo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hi all: Sitting on Sterling. Have Bruno, Son, and Foden in midfield. Should I get rid for -4? Any suggestions?

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

      Depends on money in bank. Son or Foden out depending.

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

        yeh got 2.1 ITB

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

          Grealish/Ziyech are options.

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

        Not sure if now is the time to ditch Foden for a hit imo TM, I could sell for free but am keeping after his performance over the IB. I know that doesn't mean Pep will start him, but if he does, could do very well indeed over the next few.

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

          Too much competition there. Even Torres scores for fun.

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

            It's true, I don't see him as a long term hold but if City click into geat and he gets mins with those fixtures ! I'll see what happens this GW and reassess I think. GL.

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

              Thanks boys

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

    2 minutes or so before price changes.

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

      Prediction on number of changes ??

      Expecting 20 plus in total ?

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

        Haven't looked tbh.

  24. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Captain?

    A) Ziyech
    B) DCL
    C) Rodríguez

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

      Mine is currently on B. But C could gain more from Richarlison return

      I think B is least likely to blank

  25. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Quivk plz most nailed cheap CPY def.

  26. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Too risky to captain Rashford?

    1. Scout15
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      That was my intention, but after reading comments here now it sounds like madness...
      I might as well do it 🙂

  27. lifes a pitch
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play Kane or Adams?

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

      Kane

  28. Espen8
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Jota or Zieych in now?

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

      Ziyech

    2. lifes a pitch
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Jota

    3. Klopp's Kids
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ziyech

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

      Ziyech

  29. ZLNR
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    1. Foden- -> Ziyech play KWP
    2. Salah -> Ziyech play Foden (I already have Mane)

  30. Klopp's Kids
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench one.

    a) Castagne - LIV(A)
    b) Lamptey - AVL (A)
    c) Taylor - CRY (H)