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. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    All set and done now, what do you think about my GW9 team?

    Mendy
    Chilwell, Coufal, Targett
    KDB, Bruno(C), Ziyech, Jrod, Grealish
    DCL, Kane

    Button, Justin, Brewster, 3.9

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

      Same as everyone I guess 😀

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

      It’s a good team. I like it mate.

      Would you be able to reply to my post above please?

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Arise again, Sir Slavkob!

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

    Bottomed

    Best defender out of the following

    A. Telles
    B. Wan Bissaka
    C. Castagne
    D. Dias

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

      Gtg?

      McCarthy
      Chilwell Cancelo Konsa Taylor
      Fernandes Son Grealish Foden
      Kane Werner

      Peacock-Farrell Soucek Mitchell Davis

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

        Decent team, I like it

    2. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      D or A imo

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

      Dias with the fixtures probably

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

    Thoughts on the following WC team (to be activated with effect from GW10)-

    Martinez
    Dias, Chilwell, Cancelo
    Salah, KDB, Rashford, JRod, Grealish
    Watkins, DCL
    Forster, Lewis, Lowton, Brewster

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

      Wouldn't have Rodriguez on WC.

      Rodriguez to fodder, fodder to Bamford, Rashford to Bruno is worth considering.

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

        That’s a great suggestion. Didn’t think of that so thank you.

        Alternatively, what are your thoughts on Ziyech as a replacement for Rodriguez?

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

          Ziyech is also good. Haven't seen Chelsea play but I have read good things about Ziyech's performance.

    2. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good, I will go for something similar in a couple of weeks

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

    am i GTG?? WC Final!

    Martinez

    Chilwell Cresswell KWP

    KDB Bruno(C) Ziyech Grealish

    Watkins DCL(VC) Vardy

    Forster Lamptey Kilman Riedwald

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Arise, Sir C_G!

  5. DOCLES
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Barkley captain who is with me?!

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      His grandmother......perhaps

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

      I'm afraid that you will be alone

  6. C_G
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Watkins or DCL? on WC

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

      Watkins

    2. abhirup780
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hold DCL for next 2 weeks. Then choose between Antonio, Bamford, Watkins.

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

      DCL for the next 3.

  7. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    FFS how did KDB rise? Had WC active but kept Jota just to catch a possible double rise...

    0.1 lost for no reason now, messes with all my plans 🙁

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

      Maybe a blessing in disguise ?

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Not sure how though, I'll be getting kdb in anyway, but yeah could be maybe later on haha

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

    Watkins or Bamford? have Grealish

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

      What happened to Dominic? 😀

      Watkins for 3 weeks and then reasses.

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

      Kane
      Werner
      DCL
      Watkins
      Bamford.

      That's the order 😛

  9. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Didnt come here until I finish my brief wildcard draft and found out that everyone has got the same wildcard lol. Anyway here's the last puzzle on my wc:

    A) Jota+(Brewster)
    B) (Soucek)+Watkins

    Martinez (Button)
    Chilwell Cresswell Cancelo (KWP Bernardo)
    Grealish Bruno KDB Ziyech xxx
    DCL Vardy xxx

    Plan is to do DCL/Bruno to Antonio/Salah

    Surely Watkins is more nailed than Jota. Also playing 3-4-3 means i would get more escape route (Antonio/Bamford/Adams), while

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      ...while Jota is a better player and plays in a better team.
      In short, picking Jota means I could only get one of Watkins/Antonio at GW12.

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

      B

  10. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Expecting sterling and rashford to fire in the coming weeks having got the much needed rest....guess Sterling went on a rampage last season after a bit of rest similar to this

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

      Tbf, it was a 3 month rest.

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        haha

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

    A big Spurs win would be amazing for FPL with all the sells.

    Spurs won 2-0 last season.

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

      Should I do Grealish----> Son on WC

      I have Watkins

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

        Nah, but don't listen to me.

      2. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        No

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Do you have both Kane and Son?

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

        I did in GW8

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Which transfer(s) did you make?

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

            Still making them.

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      This. Not sure why everyone expect City to win here. Not impressed at all this season.

  12. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Season-keepers in my team so far:

    McCarthy
    Peacock-Farrell
    Mitchell
    Charlie Taylor
    Werner
    Soucek
    Davis

    Peacock-Farrell will probably be the only one that lasts all season

  13. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A) Captain DCL
    B) Son to Fernandes -4

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

      Tough one. I'd probably captain DCL.

  14. Ayew Holding Mee Cork
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench Kilman or Lamptey?

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

  15. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kane> Richarlison/Martial (-4) worth it if captaining Either?

    Otherwise Rashford (C)

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

      Don't really like any of those options, do you not have Grealish ?

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

      Rashford is a better captaincy pick than both Rich and Martial imo. No need to hit.

  16. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Final decision.

    A. McCarthy, Targett, Chilwell
    B. Martinez, Lamptey, Cancelo

    Need help!

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

      McCarthy, Targett, Cancelo.

      You can't have Chilwell and Cancelo?

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

        Can't have both

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

          Chilwell numbers superb but fixtures get hairy after Newcastle. Cancelo would be my preference along with the cheaper route into Villas defence.

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

            B looks fine then

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

      B , but i'd prefer Martinez, Lamptey, Chillwell

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

        Cheers

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

    Do free hits usually make a massive difference for blank / double gameweeks? Crazy tempted to use mine and triple up on Chelsea, Everton and United. I'm on the rise in my ML but still about 60 points between me and leader.

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

      Everyone plays differently and usually you'll get advised to save chips for DGW but this season is different maybe doing it now works, all my chips generally disappoint even in DGW anyway!!!

    2. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      i'd say it's worth holding.
      You can have 22 players playing in a double game week. Doubt there'll be any blanks this season but what do i know.

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

      Completely depends on how much do you think you'll outscore your current team.
      IMO, in a DGW/BGW, it is worth around 25-30 points .
      If you really think your FH team can outscore your current team by 30 points.. go for it.

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

        Currently have Bruno captain but I REALLY like Werner (c) along with Ziyech, Richarlison, Rashford... Tough one to call.

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

      Cheers fellas. As tempted as I am, I would absolutely dread not having a first 11 of DGW players when it happens... Need to log out of fpl I reckon!

  18. white heart pain
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Take a -4 Son/Foden to grelish?
    Bank 2.7

    Martinez
    Chillwell Coufal Kilmann
    KRB Fernandes Son Foden
    Kane DCL Bamford

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

    Thoughts on the following WC team (to be activated with effect from GW10)-

    Martinez
    Dias, Robbo, Cancelo
    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Grealish
    Watkins, DCL, Bamford
    Forster, Lowton, Fodder, Bissouma

  20. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anything worth a hit here or good to go? 1.7m itb. Thanks.

    Martinez
    Robbo zouma kilman
    Bruno son ziyech grealish zaha
    Kane dcl

    Forster lamptey Dallas Brewster

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

      Good team, all the best

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

        Cheers bud, you too

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

      GTG

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

        Thanks

  21. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A) Salah to Mane
    B) Trossard to Jota, play KWP for Salah
    C) Salah to KDB, Trossard to Jota
    D) Salah to Bruno, Trossard to Zaha

    Have Son to sacrifice to bring back Salah down the line

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

      D looks good to me. Bruno top captaincy option.
      Zaha for the next 3 looks good

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

      I like C

  22. Fantasizer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    when is salah likely to return?

  23. Purefection
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Robertson Chilwell Cresswell (MitchellDunne)
    Grealish Fernandes Foden Son (Podence)
    Kane DCL Bamford

    Who to change?

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

      Foden? He's played like 50 minutes in the last 3 games. Will never be a regular player in City unless there are a lot of injuries.

      You have some money ITB?

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

        2.5m. Been meaning to take him out just need to know who to though.

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

          You have 9 Million for a replacement, right?
          Plenty of options I guess then.

          Ziyech
          Hamez
          Zaha

          In that order for me.

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

            Ziyech it is. Nice one

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

    Who’s a better pick

    A. Jota (has a decent fixture schedule but is subject to rotation risk)

    B. Bamford (average fixture run, plays for an average team but nailed starter)

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

      I’m going for jota, but prob Nor more than 2-3 gws

  25. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Legitimately scared not owning Bruno this week. It's one of those feelings that you know you're getting a red arrow already before the week starts

    1. abhirup780
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I believe his EO will be around 50-55%. If he scores 10 the effective points against you will be around (-5). You can easily cover that if your captain gives any assist, if you get any cleansheet from 4.5 def, if you differential gives any return. Even now, if someone is a Kane or Son non-owner any goal involvement will cause a greater damage.

  26. white heart pain
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Take a -4 ?
    Son/Foden to grelish?

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

      Foden to Grealish for a -4 looks an easy decision

      1. white heart pain
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Makes it more difficult to get salah back though

        Martinez
        Chillwell Coufal Kilmann
        KRB Fernandes Son Foden
        Kane DCL Bamford

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

    I've waited till today to take this decision, but assuming most of you have already made it.

    What to do with Son and Kane?
    A. Son to Ziyech?
    B. Kane to Werner?
    C. None

    Everytime I try to look at stats for who to bring in instead of these two, I actually end up thinking it's criminal to sell them. Kane has 15G+A in 8 games!

  28. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Must be the first game week in 4 years that I don’t have a Liverpool player in my fpl team

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I only have Neco Williams 😛

  29. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    RMWCT

    Martinez(Forster)
    Chilwell Cancelo Coufal (Lamptey)(Neco Williams)
    KDB Fernandes Ziyech Grealish (Riedewald)
    Vardy DCL Watkins

    2.1 itb to do Fernandes to Salah whenever needed

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

      I’d steer away from neco. He’s deadwood in 2-3 weeks and not even nailed this week with Milner maybe taking that RB spot. Upgrade to a kilman? Otherwise pretty good team

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Could do that, but Coufal and Lamptey rotate so well that I would barely be using Kilman anyway...
        and those funds could be needed later on, maybe just get some other 3.9?

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

          Definitely get another 3.9. You might need that Liverpool slot.

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

    Bit irked about KDB rise but never mind. Was debating some changes that can still happen and would love some advice.

    Salah to KDB (-4) this week. I'll want him for their run of fixtures coming up anyway and he can score points against anyone if Man City get it going.

    Next week Cancelo in for Struijk, no brainer.

    Save transfer and then for 13 Salah back him for Rodriguez with Kane going out for a cheap striker, e.g. Bamfordor whoever looks decent in 3 weeks time.

    It seems to make sense to me but on the other hand I've never been a big fan of planning so many weeks in advance with so many variables.