After an excellent weekend it’s time to turn our attention to my FPL Gameweek 9 squad and there’s one obvious area to start given absences in the team. The 61 pointer was much needed and this week’s transfer gives me plenty of room to manoeuvre with an international break on the horizon. Let’s see where the team needs addressing.
Current Global Rank
2,444,202 (UP FROM GW8)
Goalkeepers
With Brighton heading to the Etihad to play Manchester City, Konstantinos Tzolakis keeps his place between the sticks with Bart Verbruggen on the bench. Hull’s form has dipped but a home game against fellow strugglers Ipswich is a far more appealing fixture than the Seagulls have.
Defenders
Arsenal head to Liverpool and after he was benched for the Gunners’ last game against Everton, Ricardo Calafiori drops to my bench. Ezri Konsa was one of my standouts against the Toffees with a goal, clean sheet and two bonus points, so he keeps his place.
Tarik Muharemovic got a very pleasing nine points against Sunderland, so he also stays in for Leeds’ tricky trip to Bournemouth, and Marc Guehi comes back into the side despite an off-day last weekend against Aston Villa.
Maxim De Cuyper stays on the bench as I’m not keen on Brighton’s prospects against a City side who’ll be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat in Birmingham.
Midfielders
Marcus Tavernier picked up his fourth double figure points haul of the season at Old Trafford on Saturday and he keeps his place for the home game with Leeds. I’m hoping Phil Foden gets a start for City against Brighton, and after a poor display from the entire City team last weekend, you’d have to think he’s in contention.
Johan Manzambi only got one point against City but looked threatening so he is another surefire starter for Villa’s home game against Fulham, while in Saturday’s early game, Morgan Rogers can pour more misery on Manchester United who continue to lurch from one disaster to another.
On the bench stays Pascal Gros, who has dipped in the last couple of weeks but remains a huge value pick and worthy of his place in the squad. The one at risk for me will be Foden if he doesn’t start this weekend.
Forwards
Not much of a dilemma here. Joao Pedro is injured and I don’t have the funds for Alexander Isak, so Nicolas Jackson is the transfer this week and comes into the side alongside Erling Haaland, who scores even when City lose, and Thiago, who got a handy assist for Brentford as the Bees host Nottingham Forest who have struggled somewhat so far this campaign.
FPL Captaincy
Erling Haaland keeps it for the visit of Brighton who face another tough away game in the space of week. Nicolas Jackson takes the vice captaincy for the home game against Fulham, having regained his form and confidence under his old manager Unai Emery.
FPL Watch List
Djordje Petrovic – Bournemouth’s improved form makes the Serbian stopper a decent keeping option in the 4.5m category.
Sandro Tonali – With Tottenham hitting back-to-back wins and a nice run of fixtures, the Italian looks a good value enabler in midfield for just 5.3m. He’s racked up 16 points across the last three games and assured of minutes.
Alexander Isak – The Swedish striker is starting to show why Liverpool forked out so much money for him last season and looks a much better premium forward than Joao Pedro at the moment, with Chelsea struggling for consistency.
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