26 Oct, 2024

Game Week 9: Saturday FPL Round-Up

Saturday FPL Round-Up!

Friday and Saturday delivered a mixed bag for FPL owners, but there were still plenty of key takeaways. Gameweek 9 saw many managers use their Triple Captain chip on Haaland—a sensible decision given the favorable fixture. Let’s dive into the highlights from the first round of games.

Got Wood?

Chris Wood isn’t the first name you’d associate with prolific finishing, but the Forest target man now has 7 goals in 9 starts this season—more than Manchester United’s entire team (yes, we went there). Interestingly, Wood has managed these 7 goals from a total xG of just 3.7 (0.46 xG per 90). While xG may indicate he’s been overperforming, his finishing has been clinical despite the limited chances.

Next up, Wood faces West Ham, a decent matchup where he could easily continue his scoring streak. However, a challenging set of fixtures looms on the horizon, with Newcastle, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City to come. For now, Wood owners, enjoy the ride—your striker is on fire!

Muy-Beumo

With Ivan Toney gone, Bryan Mbeumo has stepped up as Brentford’s main man—and he’s thriving. Brentford’s attacking philosophy is simple: outscore the opposition. Their combined 36 goals for and against rank second only to Wolves, reflecting their free-flowing, attacking style—a dream scenario for FPL managers.

Mbeumo has been in superb form, netting 8 goals in 9 games. His underlying stats are just as impressive, with an xA of over 2.2, showing he’s not only a finisher but also a creator. At £7.6m, Mbeumo is a must-own asset right now!

Keep an eye on our Hot Picks to see this man surging up!

Triple Captain Haaland

For those who triple-captained Haaland, it’s fair to say the returns were solid, if not spectacular. Against a weak Southampton defense, managers hoped for a huge haul. While Haaland “only” scored once, his 2.33 xG was the highest of the season by some margin, suggesting he was incredibly close to delivering a monster game. It’s hard to call it a poor decision—on another day, he would have easily had a hat-trick. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of luck.

The Wolves Dilemma

Wolves have an exciting run of fixtures coming up after a challenging start to the season. Their match against Brighton gave a glimpse of their potential against mid-table sides. Between Matheus Cunha and Strand Larsen, Cunha looks the better option going forward, scoring his 4th goal of the season in stoppage time. His role as a creator and penalty taker makes him worth the extra £1m over Larsen.

Another standout is Ait-Nouri, who rewarded his owners with a goal following a corner. As a £4.5m defender who loves to get forward, he’s as attacking as any budget defender we’ve seen. With Wolves’ favourable schedule, he’s a great option to consider.

By: George Lean

Last Updated: 26/10