Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 202 – Delirious

Hands up, this ScoutCast is a bit scruffy.

Signed off work and delirious with man flu, we had to coax Granville to keep him from his sick bed. Fortunately, the fact he had a decent Gameweek helped persuade him.

However, he did insist on an early kick-off, with no pre-match warm-up. So Jonty and I were ill-prepared and it also meant that, head frazzled by a Lemsip overdose, Granville forgot to lock his children in the cupboard before we started.

Imagine the horror when they wandered in to hear Granville gloating about Yannick Bolasie.

Of course, you don’t have to imagine – you can join Jonty and myself as we risk contracting Granville’s affliction in order to talk about Fantasy Football for an hour.

Steered by another round of community questions, we also dip into Stoke assets, the captaincy, attacking defenders and, inevitably, with his transfers out stats climbing quicker than Granville’s temperature, we discuss Aguero’s fading star.

If you can bear to brave the chaos of this latest germ-ridden episode, then you can view the Google Hangout version, first published on our YouTube channel, in the second player below.

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for news on future live episodes.

You can restrict your sensory experience of Granville’s cold to just audio by clicking here or streaming using the first player.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

1,883 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Late article this

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Second this.

      1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        I See what you did there 🙂

        1. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          😉

      2. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        😀

  2. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    if you have to use your ft it would be

    a. kun to lukaku
    or
    b. tekkers to austin

    1. A.T
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      B for me

    3. Rhinos
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      neither. Benteke a great pick this week

    4. BananaNose Maldonado
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      What's the rest of your side?

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        lloris
        Bellerin Holebas Pieters
        Payet Firmino Coutinho Wally Arnie

        1. BananaNose Maldonado
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah, not much to do unless one of you benchers can be swapped out. I don't like the idea of using a transfer for the sake of using a transfer.

          1. Hy liverpool
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 6 months ago

            believe me if i saved my ft i will have a bad gw ...

            1. BananaNose Maldonado
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 6 months ago

              Well, who are your other defenders, your backup GK, your third striker?

  3. Rhinos
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Just used player comparison tool for the first time and its actually very informative. Would rather wait for tomorrow but bit worried Snoddy gonna fall tonight so welcome to my team Mr. Lamela

    1. Brap.
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Rotation nation, those Spurs

      1. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        only bothered bout this week, he should play

    2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Can't see Snoddy falling tonight especially with him being flagged. Spurs fixtures are a bit meh not sold on Lamela at all

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Any chance of Snoddy making it to Saturday at £5.7m?

        1. Rhinos
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          yeah coz drops hard to predict but chances are that he'll drop before deadine

      2. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        drops are hard to predict, has shot up from when i last looked, would be very unlucky if lamela injured now so no point risking it

    3. BananaNose Maldonado
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      I love that comparison tool, though it's getting in the way of me considering doing Aguero to Lukaku 🙂

      1. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        i put Pereyra in it and it shook some sense into me

    4. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      It's a great tool. I like the average position map, really cool part of the site which must've took a fair bit of work.

      Good luck with Lamela, hoping Son can do the business too.

  4. Four Four Boyz
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    SCOUTCAST! If only I could have found my damned headphones this morning.

  5. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Andy is clearly the glue that holds the scoutcast together ... The cracks start to show without his calming influence 😉

    1. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      It's Andy's absence and a half fit Granville. For a while that night, Jonty and I thought we'd have to just talk to eachother - that would have only ended in tears.

      1. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        do like the scoucast but also miss just the you and granville ones, loved the banter

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Ha!

    2. Bolivian Seaman
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      I thought it was still good though, interesting insights

  6. Netley Lucas
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Who is your 3rd striker, 4th midfielder and 3rd defender this week? tia

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Who is Tia?

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      diomande ... 4th and 5th milfs are Coutinho and Arnautovic
      3rd Def Holebas

    3. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Going 4-4-2. 4th midfielder is the bit punty Bolasie.

    4. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Benteke, Shaqiri, Walker

    5. BananaNose Maldonado
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Wilson, Walcott, Holebas.

    6. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Callum Wilson, Arnautovic, Holebas.

    7. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Benteke, Redmond, Friend

  7. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    How does Torresmajic always know there's a new post b4 anyone else. Baffles me every time 😀

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      i always think he's a machine

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Robot actually

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Lol

    2. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      I'm more surprised at the fact that he decided against posting first on this article. Is he alright?

  8. Sofarsogood
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    hi, currently on wildcard, have I missed anything obvious?

    Foster (Heaton)
    Clyne, Alonso, Holebas (Fuchs, Smith)
    Hazard, Walcott, Mane, Coutinho (Chadli)
    Wilson, Lukaku, Deeney

    Any comments welcome!

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Kun

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      austin over wilson

    3. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      clyne is a bad pick.. but the rest is top draw.walcott injured too so maybe swap

  9. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Best Bournemouth defender to own?

    A) Daniels (more attacking threat)
    B) Smith (0.3 cheaper with decent assist threat)
    C) Francis (save 0.5)

    1. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      I'm a fan of Smith. Always involved in the final third

    2. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Smith for me. Like Daniels but too expensive for Bournemouth.

  10. tarantino2005
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    why is everyone sellling Stones? Is he a risk with Kompany back from injury.
    Cheers

    1. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Yes, rotation risk, and they haven't been keeping CS anyway

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      because we are watching him play ... also look at his history 21212121212122121212121212121

    3. Ziegler1988
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Look at his scores and the options like Holebas, Smith, Pieters that are cheaper

    4. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Stones has been rank, and this is from an owner from the start of the season. City's one clean sheet this season, Stones was dropped. Making some high profile mistakes last few games, directly resulting in goals.

      That said I've held on to him so long, I'm gonna keep for the next couple of fixtures to get something out of him. I'll probably regret it though!

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        He's always been kak. He was kak at Everton as well...he made loads of mistakes. There's been a lot of Emperor's new clothing going on with that lad these past two years.

        1. bojack
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          The only thing I can really remember from the times I've watched him is being sold by that dummy v Watford on the first day last season. I don't think he's recovered. Think it was Ighalo.

        2. devils advocate
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          Have to agree with Wakey.

          I never understood the hype and think he is average at best.

          To be honest, I didn't even think he was good enough for EVE.

          He may still improve, but I'm not convinced he will.

    5. Sadio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      0 clean sheets on the season.

      He shall henceforth be known as: J0hn St0nes

  11. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    I have only one question left this wk.
    Should I do sterling -- coutinho?? For free.
    I have firmino, some of my rivals have both,some have just coutinho. When coutinho scores and I don't have him it hurts. On the other hand none of them have sterling.

    1. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah, I think so. Just got Coutinho in for Son to double up with Firmino. Optimistic about it

  12. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Team for this week.

    Pickford

    Walker Clyne Valencia (Mcauley Amat)

    Sanchez Firmino Shaqiri Coutinho (Bolasie)

    Costa Benteke Lukaku.

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Quality

    2. Rhinos
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      good luck sir. Surprised you benching Bolasie thought your man crush on him would be stronger than that

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        You're TV must be pretty big??

      2. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Aye...tough choice. No matter though, I like Shaqiri as well..

        1. RoysCallerAnne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          Your link is broken Wakey, I can find you in Old Farts though 😉

          1. Dr Dream
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 6 months ago

            Is it really. I'll redo it.

    3. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      aoa would be good if you had it ... bolasie instead of clyne (who plays vs your tekkers)
      anyway it looks good ... captain?

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Dunno. Sanchez probably.

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          what about early fixture theory ! 😀

          1. Dr Dream
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 6 months ago

            I know. It's not even if he scores or not...it's like half the gameweek is over before it's barely begun. Saturday tea time captains are the best.

    4. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Thumbs up!

  13. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Sounds like Rojo might play against Burnley and maybe beyond

  14. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    How many here have 3 Arsenal?

    Slightly worried that Bellerin, Walcott, Sanchez (C) might be too many eggs in one basket. Although, is there such a thing v Sunderland? 😀

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Same 3 here. It's gotta be good this GW shirley.

      1. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        walcotts out so ur down 2 too. dont call me surely

  15. Jo72
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Shall get Smith for Stones? Or save the transfer? And if not Smith, who?

  16. Rhinos
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Cech
    Holebas Clyne Cameron
    Hazard Payet Mane Lamela Sanchez(c)
    Benteke Lukaku
    Pickford Diomande Mcauley Amat

    Been a good couple of weeks for my man cityless team, come on west brom

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      sexy milfs ...

  17. kumast
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    What are the expected price changes tonight please?

    1. Sweetboi
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Nothing, maybe Aguero dropping.

      1. kumast
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Pieters not going up?

        1. Sweetboi
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          Doesn't look like it.

          1. kumast
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 6 months ago

            Thanks. I´m paranoid since I got stung by Baines fall (was -82 at 2.15am then fell 5 minutes later).

  18. Sweetboi
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Pick one to start:

    a) Stones (WBA)

    b) Williams (WHU)

    1. JAC THE CAT
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Geezer
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      a

  19. JAC THE CAT
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Return from a week in New Quay today so will check it out when home.

    Not got a good enough 3G signal to play the scoutcast 🙁

    1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Was a slightly shorter one than usual as Granny was ill and no Andy, so they missed a few of the usual bits out.

    2. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Minutes from this week's scoutcast FYI :
      Jonty still has lovely teeth but he's having a mare.
      Andy MIA
      Granville's season getting better and you can tell as he's doing more research before going on air.
      Mark : saving FT

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        mark wanted coutinho and have a great point about mane vs coutinho (bps)

    3. JAC THE CAT
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Beautiful reviews

  20. RoysCallerAnne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    My gut is telling me to go Arnautovic (C).
    The captain sensible article probably won't help as I doubt it will have a Stoke player in it and I'm too lazy to research Swansea defensive stats. Plus I don't do stats. Plus I feel like a punt before the whole world captains wee Kun Vs MID.

    1. Rhinos
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      my gut is telling me 24 jafa cakes a day isnt a good idea, your gut seems to be more on point

    2. Jay_
        7 years, 6 months ago

        And you'll be buzzing on Monday evening 🙂

        1. RoysCallerAnne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          oooh MNF, never kopped that. Cheers J, you may have sealed the deal 🙂

      • Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        good man .. i'm doing the same without researches or anything . may be MNF is the reason 😀

        1. RoysCallerAnne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          😀

      • Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        I wouldn't but I reckon he's quite likely to get a goal or assist

        1. RoysCallerAnne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          boo...
          yay

      • Geezer
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Decisions like that makes life more exciting

    3. Marquis-Cha-Cha
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Foster / Pickford
      Valencia / Holebas / Williams / Amat / Kelly
      Sanchez / Firmino / Sterling / Antonio / Fletcher
      Aguero / Lukaku / Austin

      Tempted to leave the mid as is and give Antonio one more week, again.

      Have 2ft and 0.0itb. Any suggestions? Maybe downgrade Williams and upgrade Kelly or Amat?

    4. Jay_
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Can't find myself on the entry list of the FFS cup. Tried entering my details again and it says they've already received my entry details. Anyway of finding entries by name or ID rather than scouring through the 1500+ entries? (Which I've just done 4 times). Cheers.

        1. Rhinos
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          took me a while too, not all the gravs have worked

          1. Jay_
              7 years, 6 months ago

              Yep that just done me too lol

          2. Mark
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 17 Years
            7 years, 6 months ago

            Drop me a line and I'll make sure you're in under the correct username. We always have some housework to do with the Cup entries - that's why I've left it spanning the break before we hit the first round.

            1. Jay_
                7 years, 6 months ago

                Thanks anyway Mark but I've just found it. Looking forward to it.

                1. Total Foot 5 - romario 11
                  • 10 Years
                  7 years, 6 months ago

                  Jay, please whats the link to enter FFS Cup? how to...cheers
                  whats the deadline?

            2. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              7 years, 6 months ago

              14. Jay_

              1. Jay_
                  7 years, 6 months ago

                  14 showing as 'Royal flush' on mine. Just see myself as 1300

                  1. TorresMagic™
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 14 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Hit refresh, it won't be 1300 😛

                    1. Jay_
                        7 years, 6 months ago

                        Didn't know you was a real life magician 😀 11 now

                • Jay_
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    It's ok, just found it

                  • Alan The Llama
                    • 14 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Using F3?

                • Geezer
                  • 13 Years
                  7 years, 6 months ago

                  Play Pieters (SWA) or Smith (mid)? Have Grant in goal

                  1. Najoman86
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Pieters

                    1. Geezer
                      • 13 Years
                      7 years, 6 months ago

                      Cheers

                  2. noquarternt
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Both.

                • Alan The Llama
                  • 14 Years
                  7 years, 6 months ago

                  I loved Jonty's Kamara-ism when talking about using the chips during the dgw. "We shot up like...torpedoes."

                  1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
                    • 10 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Fighting like beavers next week.

                  2. tokara
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Topedoes dont shoot upwards

                • Bolivian Seaman
                  • 13 Years
                  7 years, 6 months ago

                  Who would you want as your third striker this week? I'm thinking of getting Deeney or even Ighalo just for old times sake

                  1. JAC THE CAT
                    • 10 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Deeney

                    1. Bolivian Seaman
                      • 13 Years
                      7 years, 6 months ago

                      I remember him getting a lot of points against lower teams so I might

                  2. Rhinos
                    • 10 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    im very much a 352 man this season so its the punchy Diamonde for the forseeable

                  3. Dr Mantis Toboggan
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Deeney. Sitting on 99 PL goals atm so he will try harder to score 😉

                    1. Bolivian Seaman
                      • 13 Years
                      7 years, 6 months ago

                      ooo 😉

                  4. Jay_
                      7 years, 6 months ago

                      Thinking of Captaining Deeney. Of the mid-low bracket he's the man this week.

                  5. bennyp
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    Hey guys! Can I please get some transfer advice:

                    Grant - (Foster)
                    Kosc - Lovren - Holebas - (Baines* - Amat)
                    Payet - Wally(c) - Firm - Capoue - (Snoddy*)
                    Lukaku - Austin - Kun

                    1FT and 2.2ITB.

                    Snoddy or Baines out?

                    1. noquarternt
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 6 months ago

                      Snoddy, then you won't have to play Capoue.

                  6. Dr Mantis Toboggan
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 6 months ago

                    If you dont captain Sanchez playing as a striker against the bottom team in a week where theres no standout options, when do you captain him?

                    1. Jay_
                        7 years, 6 months ago

                        Loads did when he was at home to the 2nd bottom from the league team 2 weeks ago with no standout options. Even though he got an assist that still might be haunting a few people. Walcott stole the show.

                        1. Dr Mantis Toboggan
                          • 8 Years
                          7 years, 6 months ago

                          Yeah. I'm certainly not locking in Sanchez yet. Just thinking out loud

                          1. Jay_
                              7 years, 6 months ago

                              Between him and Deeney for me. Waiting for Captain sensible.

                          2. Kiwivillan
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 10 Years
                            7 years, 6 months ago

                            Is Walcott still a doubt?

                            1. Jay_
                                7 years, 6 months ago

                                Find out in about 12 hours. I reckon he'll be alright.

                        2. Kiwivillan
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 10 Years
                          7 years, 6 months ago

                          So in 42 mins against Chelsea Rojo was 2nd behind Ibra for PB touches (6) and had 2 shots 1 on target and was praised by Mourinho for his performance at CB against City. Where's the catch?

                          1. Sharpe Shuffle
                            • 8 Years
                            7 years, 6 months ago

                            Obvious catch is he's not nailed

                            1. tokara
                              • 9 Years
                              7 years, 6 months ago

                              Lol

                          2. noquarternt
                            • 8 Years
                            7 years, 6 months ago

                            42 mins.

                        3. Trae44
                          • 8 Years
                          7 years, 6 months ago

                          Stones to Holebas as my FT? 🙂

                          1. Bolivian Seaman
                            • 13 Years
                            7 years, 6 months ago

                            I was considering it but I think I want to be hurt by stones just one more time before I get rid

                            1. Trae44
                              • 8 Years
                              7 years, 6 months ago

                              Haha cheers, I'm hesitate to get rid of because they have good fixtures

                        4. Albrightondknight
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 8 Years
                          7 years, 6 months ago

                          Want to do Kun and Antonio now to KDB and Wilson before Kun price drop. Any news on KDB? The .1 is not critical but would rather not lose it.

                          1. noquarternt
                            • 8 Years
                            7 years, 6 months ago

                            Why take such an enormous risk?