FPLH's GW 9 Team*
Transfers (OUT): Cech
Transfers (IN): Begovic
*FPLH reserves the right to change this team at any time. Any changes made will be confirmed on FPLH's Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Team Selection Reasoning
Following a bumper Gameweek 8 you would think that my team selection for Gameweek 9 would be easy? Well no! After much toing and froing I have decided to only make one transfer, which may come as a surprise to some. I have sold Cech and brought in Begovic. Despite Chelsea being top of the league they haven't kept many clean sheets. With Terry's suspension I don't think that task will become easier for them. Thus I decided to cut my losses and bring in a cheaper alternative. Begovic appealed to me due to Stoke's dogged defensive "park-the-bus" system. Moreover their upcoming fixtures are fairly kind to them as follows:
Sunderland (H) - High clean sheet potential
Norwich (A) - Moderate clean sheet potential
QPR (H) - High clean sheet potential
West Ham (A) - Mild clean sheet potential
Fulham (H) - High clean sheet potential
Newcastle (H) - High clean sheet potential
West Brom (A) - Mild clean sheet potential
Aston Villa (A) - Moderate clean sheet potential
Everton (H) - Moderate clean sheet potential
I can't stress how much I pondered over the second free transfer. Defoe was an option, but I was worried he might tire after his European encounter. Berbatov, Ben Arfa, Crouch, Aguero and Lennon were of interest too but I wasn't fully convinced. I really want to get rid of Podolski but have decided to give him one more chance v QPR. Fellaini has also lost favour with me, but I will bench him for now. I then thought of beefing up my defence, but the overall lack of clean sheets this season was a put off. In the end I opted to maintain the free transfer, despite the lack of captain options in my first XI. I decided to captain Van Persie (even though he will face up to Chelsea), as he is a big game player. Remember his hat-trick at Stamford Bridge last season? I doubt I will score 80 points again for Gameweek 9, but never say never...
Recommended Player for Gameweek 9
Asmir Begovic
(Stoke)
Why?
Has kept 2 clean sheets from his last 3 matches
Stoke play a very dogged defensive system
They have generous upcoming fixtures
Priced at sub 5.0 - Bargain!
Stoke's Solid Metal
FPLH's Hot Picks XI for GW 9
Begovic (STO)
Vermaelen (ARS)
Riise (FUL)
Kompany (MNC)
Nasri (MNC)
Bale (TOT)
Ben Arfa (NEW)
Sterling (LIV)
Defoe / cpt (TOT)
Van Persie / vc (MNU)
Aguero (MNC)
Subs:
Mannone (ARS)
Mertesacker (ARS)
Lowton (AST)
5/15 Hot Picks' feature in FPLH's GW 9 Team