Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 9

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 9, and for once a standard Saturday deadline of 11:00 GMT.

To say it’s been a rollercoaster of an international break would be an understatement. Injuries coupled with coronavirus (COVID-19) is not a pleasant cocktail for Fantasy managers. Whatsmore, we are approaching a crossroads in the season with fixture swings encouraging many to play their Wildcards.

To help you with your crucial transfer and armband decisions, this Gameweek Guide will summarise the latest news from a turbulent couple of weeks.

The all-important Team News: Neale brought us the latest in his two round-up articles; one from Friday’s press conferences and one from Thursday’s. Further details can be found in his notes on each club along with his Predicted Line-ups.

Neale has also put together a comprehensive list of minutes played over the international break, along with the journeys undertaken by those playing abroad. Brazilian Thiago Silva (£5.5m) looks set to miss Gameweek 9 as a result of his late return.

Sell Salah?

The most expensive player in FPL contracted COVID-19 during the international break, leaving owners in quandary. For Career Hall of Fame No 1, Fábio Borges, the decision to sell or keep will partly depend on how long Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) is ruled out for:

I seriously doubt It’s worth to sell Salah for a hit if he is ruled out for just one Gameweek (which seems the most likely scenario).

– Fábio

The latest from manager Jurgen Klopp suggests everything is in place for Salah to resume training as soon as he tests negative for COVID-19:

Although whether he’ll be ready to face Brighton in Gameweek 10 – Liverpool play at 12:30 GMT on Saturday – is anyone’s guess. And any indication of a longer absence will spark further sales: the Egyptian is already the most-sold player ahead of the deadline.

Sadio Mané (£12.1m) could temp managers as a replacement, Pro Pundit Holly pointed out that the Senegalse has underperformed in recent matches:

Sadio Mané has just one goal in the last four Gameweeks, coming from four big chances. It is unusual for Liverpool’s winger to be so poor in his conversions and you would expect a big improvement going forward.

– Holly

However Holly does mention that Salah is superior for shots, shots on target and shots inside the box – almost doubling Mané’s tallies across the board. So when fit, the Egyptian would appear the better option.

Moving to Manchester

Some managers may consider moving early on Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) while Bruno Fernandes (£10.6m) currently tops this week’s captain poll. 

Both Manchester clubs feature in the ‘strong’ section of teams with the best upcoming fixtures.

Getting De Bruyne is perhaps a week too soon given that City travel to Tottenham Hotspur, although many on Wildcards are including the Belgian in their XV’s. But following their trip to London, Pep’s troops enjoy an excellent run starting with home matches against Burnley in Gameweek 10 and Fulham in Gameweek 11.

Pro Pundit Az researched De Bruyne’s record against the relegated teams last season:

In the four games he played against the last season’s doomed teams, De Bruyne produced three goals and four assists. A great return. City won all of these encounters convincingly, with the 8-0 rout at home to Watford probably their highlight of the campaign.

– Az

As our Tom Selleck look alike then pointed out, Fulham and West Brom (City’s opponents in Gameweek 13) are yet to keep a shut-out on the road, displaying some mid-table defensive statistics. They appear ripe for Manchester City to rediscover their attacking mojo – and chief creator De Bruyne will doubtless be involved.

But facing West Brom this Gameweek has made Bruno Fernandes the most-bought player, with just under 700,000 acquiring the Portuguese at the time of writing.  

Fernandes currently sits in both the Wildcard teams of Pro Pundit Zophar and Simon March.

Over the course of the season, Fernandes is joint second with De Bruyne for chances created (20). And form is on his side, as moustachioed Az revealed:

What is interesting here is that despite creating the same number of chances as De Bruyne, Fernandes has fashioned the majority of chances for players in the last two games (12), putting up just eight opportunities in the six games prior to this weekend. 

This suggests that Fernandes is growing in importance in the United attack and we could see him becoming even more instrumental in all the good things that the Red Devils do in the coming weeks.

– Az

But there are other options to consider from Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team, Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) has caught the attention of both Holly and Lateriser:

Marcus Rashford has had 14 shots between Gameweeks 5 and 8, despite delivering just one goal from two big chances. He also ranks highly for shots on target (six) and shots in the box (eight): he should present an intriguing option as Manchester United finally find some form.

– Holly

While Lateriser looked to a tactical shift that could benefit the FPL midfielder.

With Luke Shaw (£4.9m) out with a hamstring injury, Alex Telles (£5.5m) is set to return to the left-back slot following a bout of illness. This could dampen the prospects for Bruno, as he likely won’t be on all set pieces, and Telles is a lot more attacking which will allow Rashford to make more runs inside.

According to our upside-chasing Pro Pundit, the double pivot used by Manchester United in recent matches makes them better defensively, which in turn means Telles can hold the width on the left. Therefore Rashford is going to be playing further forward than Fernandes and making more central runs.

Both players featured in the Captain Sensible article for Gameweek 9.

But given top billing by Jan Sienkiewicz were Chelsea duo Timo Werner (£9.4m) and Hakim Ziyech (£8.2m).

Werner is included for his goal threat while Ziyech offers assist potential:

Over the last four Gameweeks, only Patrick Bamford (4.22) and Jamie Vardy (2.12) have recorded a superior figure for expected goals (xG) non penalty than Werner (2.08), remembering, of course, that he now takes the spot-kicks too; Since his debut in Gameweek 7 no player has created more big chances than Ziyech, helping him lead the Premier League for expected assists (xA), with a score of 1.10.

– Jan

Our double-points maestro noticed weaknesses in the Newcastle defence that could suit both Chelsea players – they have given up more chances down their right flank than any other side (22), while only Crystal Palace (37) and Sheffield United (33) have conceded more attempts from set plays in 2020/21 than Newcastle (32).

But, as ever in FPL, we are rarely free of all doubt. Describing Newcastle as a “head-scratcher”, Holly pointed out:

They’ve conceded the most goal attempts (74) in the whole Premier League, but are second-lowest for big chances conceded with three. They are frustrating attacks who are then producing low quality attempts.

– Holly

Is this enough to put you off captaining a Chelsea player? Not for “closet Chelsea fanLateriser, who currently has the armband on Werner.

However, there are a number of other armband candidates to consider. One player given just a brief mention in Jan’s article was Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m).

David, no stranger to captain success himself, highlighted the potential for Everton’s number 9 against a suspect Fulham defence in the Captaincy Video:

In the last four matches Fulham’s expected goals conceded is 6.01, which is the fourth worst in the league – they’ve only actually conceded four goals which means they’re over performing against their xGC: they should have conceded two more goals than they did.

And then if we go into the specifics of where these chances are getting conceded for Fulham, in that period they conceded 14 headed attempts which is actually the joint most in the league. So when you consider what Calvert-Lewin is best at – which is his aerial presence – it does seem like quite a nice matchup.

– David

Quite a nice matchup indeed. Pro Pundit Az went as far as calling Calvert-Lewin the “outstanding captaincy choice this week”.

Value Villains

Top of the season ticker for the next six Gameweeks, Aston Villa not only supply an armband option of their own in the shape of Jack Grealish (£7.5m), but also offer excellent value across their attack.

Picked out by Seb as his differential on the Scoutcast, Ross Barkley (£6.0m) could be an excellent complement to Grealish. The former Evertonian has been posting impressive underlying numbers. Writing in the Scout Notes for the Villa’s win over Arsenal David noted:

Barkley is putting that advanced presence to good use too. In the last four matches, no Premier League player has played more key passes than him.

– David

Pro Pundit Fábio Borges is even considering an attacking triple up, having added Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) over the international break to join Grealish in his squad.

Zophar debated Watkins v Patrick Bamford (£6.1m) on his Wildcard, favouring the Villa player given the fixtures. 

However, speaking on the FPL Wire, Lateriser questioned whether fixtures mattered for Bamford given that his impressive stats were put together despite playing against Manchester City and Liverpool. He suggested Bamford could be the better long term option. 

Comparing Bamford to Watkins and Che Adams (£5.9m), Holly explained what all the fuss is about:

Delving into the underlying statistics, Bamford is top among all players for big chances (seven) [over the last four Gameweeks] … He’s also the most impressive of the trio in terms of shots (18), shots on target (eight) and shots inside the box (16), posting the leading tallies of any player once again.

– Holly

With so many good players pushing for a place in our teams, sacrifices will have to be made. As Sam Bonfield concluded in her latest piece:

It is impossible to own everyone – but it is possible to set your team to return as many potential FPL points as possible by carefully distributing our FPL budget across the field.

– Sam

Community latest

For those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 9 can be found below:

Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

Finally, a quick heads up that the Gameweek 10 deadline is on Friday next week. 

And may your arrows be green!

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

2,161 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Desi Messi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play one:

    a) Lamptey (avl)
    b) Mitchell (bur)
    c) Cancelo (tot)

    Son & Kane owner so leaning towards Lamptey

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

      C

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

      c

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

    Seems like this gw turns to another boring one with everyone captaining bruno. But anyways happy pl is back.

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

      Who you captaining?

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

      bruno like everyone

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

    Play one:

    A) Cancelo (tot A)
    B) Mitchell (BUR A)
    C) Kilman (Sot H)

    A?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A or C

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

      a

  4. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Grealish league career goals are 1 in every 6 games.

    Including 3 seasons in the Championship.

    Is he a totally different player this season?

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

      Have you watched Aston Villa this season

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        A bit, i just think the wheels will stop turning but could be wrong.

        They could be transformed as a team.

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Last season 8 goals in 36 games.

      1 in every 4.5 games.

    3. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He improves every season but na his returns are unsustainable. He is always their best player but he isn't the clinical type

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

      no but the team is

      1. Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        This is the key but still villa as a whole won't sustain this.

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

      Villa in general are also playing better, which helps.

      Still early days though. Let's see if he can sustain it and stay injury-free.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He does pick up some bonus points too.

        I just think for the season a guy like Rodriguez will outscore him.

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

          Oh absolutely, provided Jrod can stay fit too ha.

        2. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Hames Rodriguez does all his work much deeper on the pitch. Grealish is more in around the box and makes runs into the box.

          I owned both and have sold Rodriguez for Richarlison.

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

    Play one:
    A) Justin
    B) Holding

    1. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. The Desi Messi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  6. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    (A) start Brewster
    (B) Telles (-4)

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

      brew is injury?

      1. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        doubtful yes

  7. discobiscuits
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So I'm 20 ahead of 2nd place and I know he's WC this week. This is my WC, pretty much a completely different team, any weaknesses?

    Martinez
    Cresswell - Chilwell - Van Aanholt
    Rodriguez - Grealish - Ziyech - Fernandez
    Watkins - DCL - Werner

    Still have 5.2 it to bring back Kane

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

      Why no Kane now?

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

        I just think Watkins is more likely to score against BHA than Kane is against City.

  8. NoName
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford or Son to Rodriguez -4?

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why would you sell Rashford? Has the potential to be the highest scorer this week

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

        Ole's press conference wasn't too reassuring of a start.

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

      rashford is injured

  9. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Captain 1:

    A) Bruno (WBA)
    B) Ziyech (new)
    C) Grealish (BHA)

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

      I have all 3 and going with Bruno

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Going with Ziyech - good luck

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

          Good luck

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

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

  11. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anything worth a hit chaps? 0.8 ITB.

    Martinez
    Chilwell, Zouma, Kilman
    KDB, Son, Fernandes, Ziyech
    Kane, DCL, Bamford

    (Steer, Justin, Bissouma, Mitchell)

    Plan is:

    GW10 - Zouma -> Cancelo
    GW11 - Son -> Grealish
    GW12 - Kane & Bissouma -> Salah & Brewster

    Cheers

  12. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Captain:

    KDB
    Ziy
    Grealish
    DCL

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

    Man I'm stressing about not having Bruno.

    Already on a -4 though... Is Salah > Bruno worth another -4 (making it -8)?

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

      Question is who are you playing in place of Salah this week? It's that player versus Bruno -4. Maybe even captain Bruno?

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

        Podence is the sub (yikes)

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

      yes it is

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

      need bruno this gw

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

      Don't stress. If you are investing for long term, go for it. Otherwise don't take hit.

  14. The Mighty I
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play Konsa (BHA), Lamptey (avl) or Kilman (SOU)

    Already have Martinez

  15. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play
    A) Bissouma
    B) Podence
    C) Tierney
    D) Justin
    Will Podence play?

  16. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Salah to Bruno worth a hit? Or i’m forced to play Kilman

    Martinez
    Coufal / Lamptey / Chilwell / Kilman
    Zaha / Son / Grealish
    DCL / Kane / Werner (c)

    Bench; Salah, Stephens, Douglas

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

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

    start Saiss or Lamptey this week?

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

      I'd start Lamptey for attacking threat. Saiss can be 2nd sub with Mitchell in 1st sub.

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'm starting Saiss against Ings-less Southampton

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lamptey

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

      thanks all

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

    what to do with Justin?

    on a WC, anyone worth grabbing for similar price, or hold? Ricardo back soon

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

      I think he’s good for another few weeks, at least until cag is back (assuming they keep 3 at the back)

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

        he has played so well

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hold. Fixtures are great and he may still play when Pereira comes back due to his versatility and other defensive injuries.

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

        thanks

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

      I’m ditching for C Taylor. Don’t want a rotation risk or transfer waiting to happen when Ricardo comes back.

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

        was looking at coufal too

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

    Play Brewster or Nico Williams?

  20. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Really don't know what defence I should play..
    Play 3

    A) Chilwell NEW (A)
    B) Coufal SHU (A)
    C) Walker-Peters WOL (A)
    D) Kilman SOU (H)
    E) Cancelo TOT (A)

  21. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Next week IF Salah plays vs Brighton:

    Son to Salah
    Saiss to Justin

    or

    Son to KDB

  22. Riggs
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is it worth Robbo and Wilson OUT to Justin Vardy IN -8?

    1. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No

  23. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Why is there virtually no love for ManC's Torres? At 6.9m seems a bargain and seems preferred to Foden & Mahrez at the moment.

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pepetation. Jesus and Aguero are back now

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

        Surely Torres on the right of the CF striker?

        1. Get up ya bum
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Yes but mahrez will play plenty too.

          1. Get up ya bum
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            His best performances have been as striker.

            He is brilliant though. Great player

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

              Cheers mate

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

      He is a good pick that people are afraid to go for because of rotation. I like him.

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

      Eyeing him up as my Podence replacement

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

    Don’t forget guys, deadline is at 11 not 11:30!

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

    McCarthy
    Chilwell, Cancelo, Lamptey
    Sterling, Son, Bruno, Zaha, Soucek
    Kane, DCL

    Steer, Brewster, Mitchell, Branthwaite

    2.6m itb, 1 FT, roll transfer or make a change?

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

      nice team

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

    Help I’ve hit wildcard and now I’m unsure.

    Team A:
    McCarthy (steer)
    *Chillwell lamptey kwp (Justin) (Mitchell)
    Grealish Fernandez son foden *jota
    *DCL Werner (*Watkins)

    Team B:
    McCarthy (steer)
    *Kilman lamptey kwp (Justin) (Mitchell)
    Grealish Fernandez son foden *KDB
    *Mitro Werner (*Brewster)

    Enough in bank to do son > salah next week in both teams. chilwell looks good atm but also want KDB long term and can’t seem to fit both without making sacrifices.

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

    Anyone using their free hit chip in an effort to avoid hits and avoid bringing Salah back?

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

      Some were considering

  28. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Best captain?

    A) Rashford
    B) Mane
    C) Vardy

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

      A

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

    Who to bring in for TAA?
    A. Cancelo
    B. Telles
    C. Dias
    D. Coufal

  30. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Worth considering Jota on a WC ? Could cement his place in the team with Mo out

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Good until mo returns. Then rotation imo