Scout Squad

The Scout Squad’s best FPL players for Gameweek 10

The best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards for Gameweek 10 are discussed by Fantasy Football Scout contributors Az, Sam, Neale and Tom.

For those new to this feature, it’s a weekly piece that always takes the form of a ‘Free Hit’-type selection for the upcoming Gameweek.

All of our panelists propose an 18-man long-list of Fantasy players, explaining their notable inclusions and omissions in the article below.

The Scout Squad also serves as a precursor to the Scout Picks, as the players listed will then be narrowed down to a squad of 15 (with the starting XI not exceeding a total cost of £83.0m) for final our weekly selection.

Each writer must meet the following requirements:

  • At least one goalkeeper costing £5.0m or less
  • At least one sub-£5.0m defender
  • At least one midfielder listed at £6.5m or below
  • At least one forward priced at £7.0m or lower
  • No more than three players from the same club

SCOUT SQUAD’S PICKS OF THE BEST FPL PLAYERS FOR GAMEWEEK 10



AZSAMTOMNEALE
GKIllan MeslierIlan MeslierEdouard MendyIllan Meslier
Álvaro FernándezEdouard MendyJose SaEdouard Mendy
Ben FosterBen FosterBen FosterLukasz Fabianski
DEFTrent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-ArnoldBen Chilwell
Ben ChilwellBen ChilwellJoao CanceloTrent Alexander-Arnold
Joao CanceloAaron CresswellBen ChilwellAymeric Laporte
Antonio RudigerJoao CanceloKurt ZoumaPontus Jansson
Tino LivramentoTino LivramentoRico HenryMax Kilman
MIDMohamed SalahMohamed SalahMohamed SalahMohamed Salah
Phil FodenMason MountSon Heung-minRaphinha
Kai HavertzPhil FodenPhil FodenPhil Foden
Bryan MbeumoRaphinhaKai HavertzKai Havertz
Son Heung-MinMax CornetBryan MbeumoNathan Redmond
FWDMichail AntonioRodrigoHarry KaneMichail Antonio
Patson DakaMichail AntonioMichail AntonioIvan Toney
Ivan ToneyIvan ToneyIvan ToneyHarry Kane
Joe GeldhartHarry KaneRaul JimenezArmando Broja
Armando BrojaKelechi IheanachoKelechi IheanachoJoshua King

Most popular picks: Ben Chilwell, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Phil Foden, Ivan Toney, Michail Antonio (four), Illan Meslier, Ben Foster, Edouard Mendy, Joao Cancelo, Kai Havertz, Harry Kane (three)

AZ SAID

After a chaotic Gameweek 9, I’m not anticipating things slowing down this weekend, with in-form Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all enjoying decent games on paper. Not that it seems to matter at this point, given the disparity between these clubs and the rest of the league this season.

I’m still favouring the premium defensive triple up of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joao Cancelo and Antonio Rudiger, and think it will be a tough ask for Brighton, Palace or Newcastle to breach these defences. Rudiger looks a certain starter after having some time off in midweek, and Tino Livramento is off the mark now, knocking on the door for a start for many of us FPL managers.

In midfield, I’ve adopted a similar strategy to my defensive picks with Mohamed Salah, Phil Foden and Kai Havertz my go-to options to tap into the attacks of the terrific trio. I’m also hoping Bryan Mbeumo can shake off his minor hamstring to be fit for Burnley, and I’m backing Spurs to pile more pressure on Olé Gunnar Solskjaer, with Son Heung-min the main man in attack.

Up front, I’ll be keeping my eye on the Jamie Vardy news – a lengthy lay-off and Patson Daka could be a superb differential given his recent form. I’m also backing the budget options in Joe Geldhart and Armando Broja, who have come into their respective sides and done a great job.

SAM SAID

Why Duffy was benched and Foden’s fine form: FPL notes from Brighton v Man City 7

With Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool all having great fixtures on paper this week, it makes sense to invest heavily in those teams. Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are essentials, in my view, so they make my picks alongside the Man CIty duo of Joao Cancelo and Phil Foden and a Chelsea triple-up of Edouard Mendy, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount.

Outside of those games, Marcelo Bielsa seemed to suggest that Raphinha should be ok for the weekend and with Leeds playing Norwich, even though they are not in the best form themselves, he seems like a great option. With Patrick Bamford still out injured, Rodrigo up top could be a decent option, especially after his penalty goal last week. And given Norwich’s lack of attacking threat, Illan Meslier looks to be a great goalkeeper pick for Gameweek 10.

With David Raya out for four to five months and Alvaro Fernandez likely to make his Premier League debut, I have some concerns about Brentford’s clean sheet potential, therefore Maxwel Cornet could be a nice differential for the weekend.

With so much rumour and uncertainty around Manchester United at the moment, I am expecting both sides to be nervous at the weekend and that might just give Harry Kane the space he needs to attack well and turn his season around, so he makes my picks.

TOM SAID

The Rudiger injury latest as Lukaku's FPL appeal 3

Chelsea have now kept 17 Premier League clean sheets since Thomas Tuchel took charge, at least three more than any other side, and though it’s sometimes hard to pinpoint exactly which of their wing-backs will be handed successive starts, it feels like a risk worth taking given their points potential. This week, I’ve opted for Ben Chilwell, who has now scored in three successive league appearances for the Blues, and paired him with the excellent Edouard Mendy and Kai Havertz, who I’m tipping to deliver.

Meanwhile, Brentford have had an encouraging start to life in the Premier League and look a good team for bargain hunting this week. Their opponents Burnley have been poor so far and are still searching for their first win. As a result, they unsurprisingly rank 19th for expected goals (xG), and 17th for expected goals conceded (xGC). That leads me to Rico Henry at the back, plus Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney further forward, providing the former is passed fit of course.

Elsewhere, West Ham United supply two picks, Kurt Zouma and Michail Antonio, with Aston Villa’s ongoing issues defending set pieces in my thoughts. With that in mind, the last team you want to face is David Moyes’ Hammers, whose approach is largely based around crossing. Antonio will also ask plenty of questions of Tyrone Mings, having bagged his sixth Premier League goal of the campaign on Sunday.

After being completely outclassed by Liverpool in Gameweek 9, Manchester United will be low on confidence, especially defensively, which could be good news for Tottenham Hotspur duo Son Heung-min and Harry Kane this weekend. Both players struggled to make an impact last time out, but I think this match will be a more entertaining, open affair, as it was last season, with the attacking players benefitting most.

NEALE SAID

Just as FPL squads are starting to form around a core of Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool assets, the Scout Picks will surely be doing similar for the foreseeable future.

State-the-bleeding-obvious selections from these clubs abound, as they have to if we’re honestly picking out who we think will excel in the upcoming Gameweek, but it’s worth perhaps explaining my own preference for Aymeric Laporte and Kai Havertz this time.

I’m again looking at opposition weaknesses here, with Crystal Palace actually a rather tight defensive unit other than possessing an Achilles heel at dead-ball situations. The match at Anfield was the perfect example of this, with all three of Liverpool’s goals coming from corners or free-kicks. In fact, the Eagles have the second-best expected goals conceded (xGC) from open play in 2021/22 – and the joint-worst xGC from set plays. Laporte, second among FPL defenders for shots in the box this season, gets my vote, although we could easily switch to Ruben Dias if the EFL Cup teamsheets suggest a benching for the Spain international on Saturday.

My selection of Havertz may have a whiff of “don’t back down, double down” about it after Gameweek 9 but Crystal Palace’s aerially mobile attacking spearhead, Christian Benteke, caused havoc among the Newcastle backline last week, racking up seven attempts – four of them from inside or just outside the six-yard box. The Magpies have conceded seven goals from fewer than six yards out this season and these are more Havertz areas than Mount territory, so I’m backing the much-maligned German despite his Norwich blank. Mount, incidentally, has only delivered one attacking return or fewer in 76 of his 80 Chelsea league appearances, so he tends not to make a habit of explosive hauls.

Brentford’s aerial dominance and Burnley’s surprising concession of multiple headed goal attempts (only Leicester have allowed more) leads me to the vertically talented double-up of Ivan Toney and Pontus Jansson, the latter of whom has had three big chances in just the last four Gameweeks.

Max Kilman has matched Romain Saiss for efforts in the box this season, meanwhile, so with Rafael Benitez’s zonal marking system exposed against Watford, and with Wolves much less gung-ho than they were at the season’s start, I’m edging towards a low-scoring home win at Molineux in the Monday night game. Rayan Ait-Nouri would be my preferred selection but with Marcal set to return from injury, there’s too much uncertainty at left wing-back.

The Hornets are still without a clean sheet in 2021/22, so I’ve gone with two possible routes into the Southampton attack in my picks. Armando Broja is grabbing all the headlines with his two goals in as many Gameweeks but his strike partner, the out of position Nathan Redmond, has racked up more shots and key passes (nine of each) in that time and also gets my nomination.

1,548 Comments Post a Comment
  1. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Toney with a goal and assist so far

    Nailed on for a blank this GW

  2. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Minamino bandwagon. Maybe.

    1. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Essential.

  3. Amartey Partey
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Cancelo limping :/

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Marvellous.

      1. Amartey Partey
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        He's back up. Hopefully nothing serious.

  4. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Only just noticed Cancelo is on the pitch! The hell?!

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Came on for Walker on HT

  5. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku out for this weekend do we think?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      We do

  6. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Get ready for a load more 1 point cameos...

    https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/1453390118102896645?s=21

  7. Eddie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What happened to Walker?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Not watching but they are allowed 5 subs in the league cup so half-time subs could have been pre-planned

  8. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Hang on. Have spurs actually scored?

  9. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Any news on Vardy's fitness?

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah how is my favourite captain…

  10. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    If you could only have one playing for your team, would you pick:
    a) Paul Gascoigne
    b) Phil Foden

    ??

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A if it's Gazza from 88-91

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Gascoigne around 1989/90 at his peak was a great player in an average spurs team.

      Foden has always been in a fantastic team.

      Makes the comparison even harder, but I'd still say gazza. Foden should end up being a better player though.

      1. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Spurs finished third in the league that campaign and had loads of England players, including Gary Lineker.

        Not such they could be categorised as average.

        1. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Nonetheless, would also say Gazza.

        2. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Trust me, I was there. A good season and a few good players, but no comparison to current city team.

          1. Bennerman
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            I was there as well, albeit not as a Spurs fan.

            'No comparison to current City team' is saying something quote different to 'they were average'.

            I don't think they were average, nor did league table.

            1. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 5 months ago

              You know best

              1. Bennerman
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 5 months ago

                Sorry if you didn't like hearing an opinion on your opinion.

  11. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Foden on for Mahrez

  12. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which would you do here ?

    A. Sarr > foden
    B. Armstrong > Toney
    C. Roll

    Bachman
    Taa cancelo rudiger Christensen
    Mbeumo Raph salah sarr
    Ronaldo Antonio

    Foster livra Armstrong gilmour

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You got exactly the same bench order as me

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah not ideal is it !

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B looks good

  13. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Foden not moving very freely

  14. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Klopp to start all four of Salah, Mané, Firmino and Jota against Brighton?

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      If Thiago and Keita are both out it’s possible

    2. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      That's what I'm hoping. Very rarely happens though.

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Will need Fabinho to be back to do that. He is touch and go for this game. Against Brighton 3 back line i would think Klopp goes with 3 midfielders so he then can push his fullbacks high up so Brighton rw and lwb must stay close to own goal, then they will be less effective on counters. Maybe all 4 if Konate plays because he covers Taa better because of his crazy speed. If Fab out only Jones and Hendo left so could be forced too.

  15. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Do these ties go to extra time or direct to pens?

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Straight to pens.

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Direct to pens

  16. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Might just captain Grealish at the weekend

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Gundo in this position is the best option, if he stays there. Could easily have had 2+ goal contributions today

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Oriiiiigiiiiiii

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Nice

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Great goal

    3. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Which one to sell for foden?

      A) Raphinha
      B) Saka
      C) Sissoko (non playing mid, this would give me good bench but bad flexibility)

      1. Assisting the assister
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Saka

    4. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Toney playing full 90, could best rested on the weekend

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Lol

      2. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Not a chance

      3. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Nope, Who else they got?

      4. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        yeah, give marcus forss a runout

      5. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Lol, played every single Championship match last season iirc!

      6. F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Toney has spent enough time in the lower leagues not to be fazed by 3 games in a week

    5. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      83 minutes for KdB. Lovely stuff.

    6. OneDennisBergkamp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      soooo Chillwell or James?

      1. MOZIL
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        chill

      2. Walter White (WW)
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Ben

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

        every. poxy. week. !

    7. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Those with James, what you doing with him??

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        All Chelsea defenders will be rotated at some point. I would just start him and not worry about it.

    8. NJ MetroStars
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      better long term pick: cancelo or chillwell?

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Cancelo

        1. Gunners in Haaland
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Both

    9. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Any news on Christensen and Azpi? Have both.......

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Azpi looks fine based on a video of him celebrating on the Chelsea Twitter

        Christensen still waiting for a dental appointment, COVID still causing delays to see someone

    10. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Benrahma to Grealish for -4?

      1. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        LOL no

    11. Wilson1005
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Sa Steele
      Cancelo Rudiger Tierney Livra Williams
      Salah Saka Gray Benrahma Allan
      Ronaldo Antonio Vardy

      1FT and 0.3m ITB

      Was thinking Ronaldo + Tierney to Toney + TAA for -4 and Ron and Toney look like they move tonight (using fffix)

      A bit worried I’m moving too early for price rises/falls given no Vardy news and also if Raph is fit, it might be worth changing plans. What do you think? Any thoughts appreciated.

    12. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      PEP talk 101

    13. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Noble goal

    14. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Foden miss

    15. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Foden lol