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

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    NEWCASTLE : Darlow, Clark, Lascelles, Fernandez, Manquillo, Hayden, S Longstaff, Lewis, Murphy, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton.
    Subs: Gillespie, Schar, Krafth, Hendrick, Shelvey, Almiron, Carroll.

    CHELSEA : Mendy, James, Rudiger, Zouma, Chilwell, Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Ziyech, Abraham, Werner.
    Subs: Kepa, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Emerson, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud.

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Wheres wilson

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

        still injured

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

        Hammy injury

      3. R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Injured

        1. GOTHAM City F.C.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Thought he trained and had a chance to start, well atleast he isn't on bench..

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

      Nice one, thx

    3. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Mendy, Chilwell and Ziyech (c). This first game will likely make or break my week.

      1. Stockport Hatter
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Zouma, Chilwell and Ziyech for me.

    4. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Newcastle back to the famous double decker formula...

    5. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Double Chelsea def and Ziyech

    6. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Triple Chelsea defence, could really do with a cleanie

  2. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Come on Werner captino

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

    James and Chilwell, here we go! Two CS and attacking returns would be a lovely start.

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

      I thought that last week and it lasted 5 mins

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

    Chilwell James and Werner start

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

    GET IN!! James starts 🙂

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

    Ziyech and Chilwell come on !

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

    Looks like Werner on the left again..

    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      It really doesn't matter for his output.

      The main thing with an attacker drifting wide is - what does the full back look like?

      So when Sterling drifts left and City have no natural width (i.e. no Mendy), he fades away. Same with Son - always better when Spurs have a proper left back.

      As long as Chilwell is playing, Werner will find room in the box.

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

        I would tend to agree with this assessment, although I still think he needs to be playing up front.

        Lets see though.

  8. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wilson 🙁 Good start

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

      Very expected, no?

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

      Double Chelsea defence here

      Love it

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

    Zouma, Chillwell and Werner let's go

  10. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I think this sort of game suits James quite well. His crosses have to lead to goals at some point. But I'll take another screamer like the opening day too.

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

      I hope you're right! I have double Chelsea defense with Zouma andd James.

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

    Ziyech Chilwell Zouma check!

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Same!

    2. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Likewise.

    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Check

  12. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    That Chelsea front three should be capable of creating some damage

    Cue 0-0

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

      Lascelles and Chilwell (only) owner here. Id love this!

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      That would be fine too 🙂

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

    Rolled my transfer.
    Mitrovic surely on his final game for me. Give me a farewell gift!

    1. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I finally had enough and swapped Mitro for richarlison after letting Scotland to the euros. Gonna be fun watching Fulham v everton game if mitro scores, my TV may end up out the window after owning Mitro since day 1

  14. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    That Newcastle team looks horrible, I think Chelsea will destroy them today.

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

      That's what we believe every week

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

      Seen worse. Captain Lascelles to get a brace!

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      They know how to pull a defensive display.. and by the looks of it that more attacking approach Bruce put in place after project restart is... done.

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

      Looks like a a park the bus team

  15. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    There goes the Thiago James Azpi nonsense theory

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

    Lewis playing as WB?

  17. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Just don't tell me that Rashford is not playing

  18. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No Wilson

    James, Chilwell and Ziyech start...

    2x Cleanies and a few assists will be lovely to kick the week off (am a Chelsea fan as well)

    What could go wrong?

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

      The fact that I hope for the same

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

        Yep

  19. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    a Fernandes blank against a West Brom who will defend all game, will make those buyers want to sell for next week.

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

      Lol enjoy your red arrow.

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

        What if the players I have score a lot of points? Ever thought of that. I have had big green arrows in recent weeks without having Kane and Son for most of that time.

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

      Hoping for a blank or a sneaky missed penalty!

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

      I brought him in and capped him
      Probably that means a missed penalty and YC

    4. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He'll generously hand the ball to Rashford to take the pen.

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

    One can dream...

    @OfficialFPL
    Goal - WERNER
    Assist - JAMES

    Newcastle 0-1 Chelsea (6 mins)

    #FPL #NEWCHE

    ...but knowing FPL it will be

    @OfficialFPL
    Goal - JOELINTON
    Assist - NONE

    Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea (6 mins)

    #FPL #NEWCHE

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

      Ziyech cuts in, allows James who crosses for Chilwell to bang it in! Let's hope.

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

        Au contraire - in a close game Zouma leaps like a salmon to nod a pinpoint Ziyech free kick into the net.
        Newcastle 0-1 Chelsea (90 mins)

  21. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Only Mendy in this game - 0-0 and a Mendy baps would be lovely but literally the furthest thing from possible !

  22. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No Chelsea at all, time to find a large sofa

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

      Triple Chelsea defense, horrible to watch.

  23. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Site updated

  24. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    why no wilson?

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

      Hamstring still

  25. Good Times
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    UPDATED!

  26. johnboy23
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Werner or ziyech as captain??

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

    Oof the Fernandes EO% is enormous. Please blank!

    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      What is it? Site crashed for me.

      Glad I'll be able to watch and enjoy United again...

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

        I'm looking at just my mini leagues and it's over 100% in all of the competitive ones.

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

      Now there's a worry!

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yep, blank please
      in fact if utd can loose 5-0 too that would be great

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

      Not even 100%?

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

    Magnus Carlsen

    OUT Kane Son
    IN Martial Fernandes

    (Made both transfers on 9 Nov)

    Martinez
    Kilman Robertson Chilwell
    Fernandes (c) Salah Bowen Rashford Grealish
    DCL Martial
    Steer Brewster Dallas Mitchell

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      So basically he tracks fixture swings better than most, and probably looks closer than red or blue. Considers what the likely outcome of each game is.

      If he got a real job he wouldnt have enough time for this

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Martial though? He must be busy watching Queen's Gambit.

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Teams they play are susceptible to attacks down the centre.

          1. Baines on Toast...
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Just wondering if he'll start. Guess so with Rash out.

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

              Has Rash officially been ruled out?

              1. Baines on Toast...
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Don't think so. So more of an if...

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

      Casual moves.

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Quadruple up on United attack... nice.

      I thought I was being aggressive with Bruno(C) & Rashford... he's outdone me!

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

    Top 10k captaincy stats:

    Fernandes 28.3%
    Kane 26.2%
    Calvert-Lewin 12.4%
    Grealish 7.1%
    Werner 4.7%
    Ziyech 3.8%
    Vardy 2.9%
    Son 2.7%
    Mané 2.5%

    #FPL

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

      Kane! :0

    2. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Finally proof of how many inactive teams are there with Kane perma-capped. Those Metrics articles...

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      watkins 😎

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

      Woah. Harry.

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

      DCL at 12.4%? Not as much of a differential as I thought

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

      Top 10k EO:

      KANE 111.43%
      FERNANDES 77.23%
      SON 75.62%
      GREALISH 75.09%
      CALVERT-LEWIN 72.59%

      Bruno up from just 10% EO in the top 10k last week but so many sticking with Kane is surprising!

  30. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kane EO still 110%.