Feb03

The ScoutCast – Episode 29 – Croissants And Footy

The latest ScoutCast episode is now live for your aural pleasure. Listen in as I recount my Paris trip diet of croissants and football, and a closely fought contest between Wifey and WIFI. I seem to have absorbed some French luck too, as I continue on my ‘Fantasy Cup’ run. Maybe it’s due to Le Chat Noir that ran in front of my car last week. Mark on the other hand is desperately trying the differential blagging game and failing miserably. There might just be a contest this season after all.

As well as the usual podcast regulars, the pair of us visit the familiar “Fantasy Island” destination with a passenger that at first seems like a case of mistaken identity. A shared surname created the confusion, giving me all the opportunity I needed to dwell on United’s latest triumph over Mark’s Gunners. He can harp on about Forest all he likes. I know the truth.

Download or stream the episode via this link or grab it, along with all our other episodes via this page.

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A: Hey Granville, you look all sinister and Hungarian. G: I've got the blood of poets and lovers in my veins. A: Yes, and at least one electrician.

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661 Responses to “The ScoutCast – Episode 29 – Croissants And Footy”

  1. lawman says:

    McCarthy @ wigan i reckon.

  2. Yidfan says:

    What is this Rooney to be rested talk???? where has it come from please

    who is benching someone else because of this rumour?

    • lawman says:

      Its all speculation. SAF has said Rooney may need a rest at some point. Not saying when though. So everyone has taken that as Rooney will be dropped against Pompey.

    • Alank says:

      For more Rooney scroll up

      • Yidfan says:

        Thanks both

      • RmS says:

        Problem with Rooney is he will get a rest sometime. SAF said he would and promised Owen more game time. If I already had Rooney this wouldn’t worry me but to get him in will cost me four points (need to free up cash). A rest would be sh*t but then I guess if he plays not having him will be sh*t also.

        • SAF was about the possibility of Owen actualy starting a match in a 4-4-2, and mentioned that he could do the same with Owen and Berbs as Rooney might need a rest at some point. Given that he played 90 minutes at home to Hull in between 2 midweek CC semis, he’s just had a weeks rest, and will get another rest after the Vila game, I think he might well start.

          Hopefully that’s that one put to bed….

    • Marknlard says:

      Same thing happens every week, people have ‘feelings’ that so-and-so will be rested. Rarely happens, and it won’t stop me buying him.

  3. Adebayor or Rodallega for this week and the double? I was favouring Ade but the more I think about it, the more I like Rodders… Thoughts?

    • Yidfan says:

      Ade over Rodders for me mate

      • I favour Ade this weekend and for the double its too close for me to call.

        Ade I think wins it for me too, by a short head. Hopefully he’ll be fresh, hungry and eager to prove himself after his tragic spell away at the ACoN.

        By the way, Togo getting banned for the next two African tournaments is an absolute disgrace.

        • frogville says:

          indeed. tribal mentality of the caf organisers is to blame.

        • si says:

          I have the same dilemma, Bba. I was looking long-term and both fixtures get tricky but I think the bottom line is I just don’t trust Wigan at all, whereas you always fancy City to score, against anyone.

          Yeah, nice touch re:Togo.

          • I know what you mean si. Rodders could do alright, but can we trust Wigan? They are so unpredictable. And if Ade is on song he could be awesome.. But I will be wary of disappointment though, hes let many of us down before after all!

  4. Yidfan says:

    Adeybeyor or Tevez for Anelka this week people? common sense tells me Tevez but instinct tells me Ade

    • keith says:

      Tevez, because even if he doesnt score he is a BPM

    • Gio says:

      same dilemma for me. 70ish points off mini league leader which im guessing is not too bad at this stage (its my first season). have come to the conclusion that i need to start taking calculated risks as the top 5 (i am fifth) all have a very similar team. i think ade could easily outscore tevez over the next 2 gws but tevez is the form player. all my rivals have tevez so the question is whether to go with tevez and not fall any further behind or get in ade as a differential. either way i will upgrade to drogba in a few weeks.

    • CRUSHER says:

      I went for Adebayor. It’s more a gut feeling thing, but also because I’d rather have the big target guy than the weird small guy around him.

  5. keith says:

    Any mileage in Viera as a cheap midfield option for next 3 games, guys?

  6. xabi_14 says:

    Just to check i’m not forgetting any of the imminent DGW’s do the following teams all have doubles in the next few:

    GW26: Stoke, City, Wigan, Bolton
    GW27: Man United, West Ham
    GW29: Sunderland, Bolton
    GW30: Wigan, Villa

    • keith says:

      Wk 29 Bir Bol Bur Ports Stoke Sun

    • Gameweek29 may not have any doubles. In fact, it may only have about 4games. Time will tell.

      • xabi_14 says:

        please explain?

        • Andy says:

          Sunderland and Bolton only have doubles if Aston Villa & Bolton get knocked out of the FA Cup (very unlikely, and possible).

          Other clubs (Villa, Fulham, Blackburn, West Ham, Chelsea) could definitely have no fixture that if they (or their opponents) progressed through the FA Cup 5th round.

          GW29 also has doubles for Burnley (which is the only guaranteed one), and Stoke (which is likely to become a single once more), Portsmouth (which is likely to become a single) and Birmingham (which could go either way).

          Clubs like Spurs & Man City would have to postpone their GW29 fixture too, but if the fixture gods are kind that game could be rescheduled for the midweek to follow so they would still have a fixture that week – just at a different date.

          • Cheers Andy,I didn’t have the time just then!

            • Andy says:

              Indeed bounceback… basically, the fixtures (doubles/singles/none) beyond GW27 need to be kind of ignored for now as far as I’m concerned, as it’s all completely up in the air – there’s no point planning when so much can (and will) change.

              I’ll keep an eye on them and provide proper updates when we have them – but for the sane people, best to just avoid until after the FA Cup games.

  7. rotator says:

    Any suggestions on below team:
    Hart (Myhill)
    Evra, Ivanovic, Dawson, Ridgewell (Dunne)
    Nani, N’Zogbia, Bowyer (Milner, Fabregas)
    Rooney(C), Drogba, Tevez

    Also, I thought Ivanovic should not play because of a fifth yellow? Am I missing smth?

  8. requiemof dream says:

    Ok i really am clueless on who to start currently as it stands

    Hart ( Sorenson )

    Insua Evra Dann ( Dawson and Zayate )

    Lampard Kuyt Eagles N zogbia ( Valencia )

    Rodelleda Drogba Rooney

    So should i play dawson or valencia instead and if so for who?

  9. Jimi says:

    drogba & McCarthy in
    bent & modric out.

    any reason why i shouldn’t?

    • The Saffrons says:

      na seems like a good move

    • Evs says:

      Yes. Why Bent out Jimi?

      * Scored 4 goals in last 5 games
      ** 14 in total this season
      *** 4 Assits
      **** hes great Value for money
      ***** Sunderland got a nice run coming up, check the season ticker !

      Hes doing all this and playing for an underperforming team.

      I can uderstand why lots of people on her want to get shot of him?

      Sorry mate, rant over :-)

      • Jimi says:

        I like bent but drogba is better imo.
        bent plays for a team that is going to lose a lot more games, drogba is a key man.
        i’d prob have bent as my 4th striker if i could.

        • Jimi says:

          was a good rant, i too wonder why some players get axed, but bent needs to make way for drogs in my team, just my strategy.

          • Evs says:

            Thats fair, I will be bringing in drog for GW27 onwards but keeping hold of bent. Especially if the DGW29 comes up (pending fa cup)!

      • SammyC says:

        He did most of that before they were underperforming though

  10. The Saffrons says:

    ok as i want to get drogba and rooney back in my team, i’m thinking rooney this week as they play pompey and will give drogba an extra week to get match fit (plus the fact they play arsenal) so does the following sound ok:

    Hart Sorenson
    Dunne Ivanovic Ridgewell Baird Stearman
    lampard fabregas Kuyt Diaby Gera
    Bent Anelka Tevez

    was thinking to get anelka out and rooney in and diaby out and mccarthy in??????

  11. bojan says:

    saying bridge is going to start this weekend?
    not a bad one for the next 3 games with the dgw??
    bad idea or …?
    also gives me money to upgrade anelka to drogba.

    • Johnny Unitas says:

      he will want to show that he can rise to the occasion aswell with recent events, could be a good one, still not match fit though surely so he would only be able to play 1 or two games, and not sure if he would be the type of defender that is good playing away from home, a la Terry

  12. diego says:

    going for Diamanti, Rooney, Tevez as my forward line…or should i get Drogs in for Diamanti, i’ll have 7.2 to spend on a midfielder if i do….decisions decisions.

    • trickyharris says:

      think you need to think who you would get in as a midfielder first, then you know how much £ to play with..

      • diego says:

        hmmm, cahill is tempting…solely because i’ve just watched sky sports compare him to a flea…his jumping ability and what not, surreal.they really don’t have much to report today.

  13. trickyharris says:

    Can anyone recommend a defender for 4.9, need to get rid of warnock for the next few gw’s.
    Already have richards, ivan, hughes & dann

    • jakemu says:

      Gary Cahill, 4.9, perfeck.

      • bojan says:

        well richards doesnt look like hes playing this weekend?
        collins ,cahill ,nelsen

        • trickyharris says:

          I know, seems im going to have a dodgy team this week. But thinking of keeping richards in the hope he’ll be ok, and play, for the following gw.
          Not sure on cahill. Its bolton after all.. but he does score 1/5 it seems

  14. The Saffrons says:

    ok as i want to get drogba and rooney back in my team, i’m thinking rooney this week as they play pompey and will give drogba an extra week to get match fit (plus the fact they play arsenal) so does the following sound ok:

    Hart Sorenson
    Dunne Ivanovic Ridgewell Baird Stearman
    lampard fabregas Kuyt Diaby Gera
    Bent Anelka Tevez

    was thinking to get anelka out and rooney in and diaby out and mccarthy in??????

    • Johnny Unitas says:

      sounds good to me, I have N’Zogbia but would be looking at McCarthy if I didn’t

  15. Johnny Unitas says:

    So, the burning question, is Drogba likely to go up tonight or tomorrow night? I have two free transfers so it’s not that big a deal for me to do Anelka OUT and Drogba IN tonight before Anelka goes down and Drogba goes up

    • Dark Horse says:

      Sounds like you answered your own question, buy him now, dont pay later

  16. jjb4780 says:

    Did anyone watch MCY v POR at the weekend?

    Surely Stephen ‘Superman’ Ireland has gotta be worth a shout for the MCY dgw? Played the 90 mins, 3 bps and 1 assist!

    • diego says:

      yeah,he’s cursed for me, as soon as i put him in.he doesn’t play. im staying away, maybe Petrov instead

  17. go_chelski says:

    Thinking sending Fabregas and Dunne to bench!? Don’t think Alrsenal and Villa will have good next two weeks. Should I be looking to sell instead?

    See ManU and ManC doing well in midium term but can’t afford Rooney so Bent as Captain. With Wigan’t defence away from home he is propably the best bet even against Manu’s double.

    • diego says:

      yeah,he’s cursed for me, as soon as i put him in.he doesn’t play. im staying away, maybe Petrov instead

  18. jakemu says:

    When is Diaby back?

  19. Sheldon says:

    This weeks team as of now:

    Hart
    Dunne, Ivanovic, Nelsen, Dann
    Fabs, Milner, Modric
    Tevez, Drogs, Tooney (c)

    Sørensen, Pienaar, Dawson, Cohen

    Not really sure on who to bench and not.
    Input?

    • Dark Horse says:

      Im debating Sorenson /Hart myself. I think BIR will get cs against wolves but i always like to speard the defenders over diiferent teams to divisify the risk. Ive got Carr so thought Sorenson / Carr would be sensible. Hart will enevitable save a few and get loads more points, but that is my keeper selection policy for this season.

  20. BobB says:

    Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Petrov….what would be your pecking order for the double-game week (money no object)

    • seluj says:

      Petrov, Ireland, SWP maybe?

    • Johnny Unitas says:

      Personally I would only consider Petrov but have been scared off with the rotation situation there, hard to know where Ireland stands right now aswell, same goes for SWP, but if I had to I would probably say Petrov/Ireland/SWP (SWP is too flaky a fantasy player for me)

      • Dino says:

        if you are going to gamble on citeh midfield and have loadsa dosh then might as well go with ireland (as long as it is short term gamble) as he is prob the most capable of bringing in a big haul)

  21. Johnny Unitas says:

    Is Drogba protected tonight still can anyone say with any certainty?

  22. Yak says:

    Thinking of going with a Adebayor/Tevez strikeforce for the double GW(aslo have Rooney). No Man City mids are reliable enough to start. Hoping Richards makes it also.

    Bad idea putting eggs into one basket?

  23. requiemof dream says:

    Ok i really am clueless on who to start currently as it stands

    Hart ( Sorenson )

    Insua Evra Dann ( Dawson and Zayate )

    Lampard Kuyt Eagles N zogbia ( Valencia )

    Rodelleda Drogba Rooney

    Not alot helped me on these so i am here asking for help again So should i play dawson ( spurs ) or valencia instead and if so for who?

  24. PDM Allstars says:

    Fran what`s going on with your season

    I think so far you`ve made about 90 point hits
    Not really paid off has it ….
    A very poooooor seasons effort from you so far considering last years excuses !