Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 213 – Overthinking

Overthinking? It’s what we do – don’t dare ask us to stop.

Particularly now that our heads are swimming with thoughts of blank and double Gameweeks. All those variables, all that planning and strategising: we’re in our element.

Once again, thanks to another bout of community questions, Jonty and Andy join me for another ScoutCast dominated by chatter surrounding our tactics and transfers approaching the missing fixtures.

We break off to nominate the new Premier League whipping boys, while we ponder whether to proclaim Sigurdsson as “essential”, revisit Coleman vs Baines and assess whether the blanks are reason enough to be rid of Alexis Sanchez.

For my money, that’s one decision that requires very little thinking.

This episode of the ScoutCast was first beamed live via our YouTube channel on Wednesday night. Be sure to subscribe to get notice of future live episodes.

If you’re a traditional type, you can acquire the mp3 audio version via this link or the first player below, or take in the full visual experience via the second player below.

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

2,024 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Al Bundy
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Azpilicueta and Giroud --> Lukaku and Coleman (-4) ?

    1. Paul
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      nope

      1. Al Bundy
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I think I agree, but I need money to do Giroud out and cant find a better option to get it than selling Azpi

        1. Paul
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          rest of your team?

          1. Al Bundy
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Foster Heaton
            Brunt Holebas Friend Yoshida
            Sterling Firmino Sanchez Eriksen Allen
            Carroll Kane

            1. Paul
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Get rid of Allen

              Allen > T. Carroll gives u money as well as a gw 28 player

              1. Al Bundy
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                An interesting option that, cheers.

              2. Al Bundy
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                That would give me two Carrolls in my team aswell, big fan of that

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Keep Azpi?

      1. Al Bundy
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Funding issue, need money to get in Lukaku which is my preferred Giroud replacement. Other option is selling Sanchez, but that also feels wrong

    3. FPL ElasticO
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

      1. Al Bundy
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers. Not sure if im able to pull the trigger on it though

    4. harvard
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yes.

      1. Al Bundy
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers. 2 votes each now, maybe i'll flip a coin

  2. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is it worth loosing Hazard & Giroud to afford Lukaku & Siggy ????

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      For free yes

  3. AusBest11
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    What to do to with this lot? Keep or change? And who to bench?

    Foster Grant

    Azpril Jones Holgate Reid Chambers

    Erikson Sanchez Alli Phillips Stanislas

    Ibra costa crouch

  4. Phil Dagger ⭐
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Which one Guys ?
    Basically its between this for me

    A) Sanchez + Benteke/Carroll
    B) Hazard/ Mane + Kane

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B with Mane

    2. Zlat-man
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Short term Carroll, Hazard
      Long term Kane, Sanchez

    3. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B looks decent Haz and Kane

    4. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      could also have Costa instead of Kane

    5. Paul
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Still A. PD 🙂

    6. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Tough one... be hard to not have Alexis but he could easy score low in the next 4... the Mane punt looks better than the half injured, hooked off at 70mins, assisting the assister most weeks Hazard.

    7. MTPockets
        7 years, 3 months ago

        a

      • Phil Dagger ⭐
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        thanks All 🙂

    8. ♤TeddyBear♤
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I am curious. Man City will have a DGW at somepoint

      Would you even feel comfortable getting in 3 players considering the rotation situation? What about tripple captain as well - avoid?

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I'd be happy with 2

        1. ♤TeddyBear♤
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Not sure I would even go with 2 (if there was loads of games to choose from)

    9. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Shocking.

      For the second time this season a young lad from our league has been killed in an accident. Sad times. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-legend-jamie-carraghers-tribute-12533347

      1. Paul
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        really unfortunate:(

    10. Jubilanus / BSC Small Boys …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I have a big H2H game this week and my opponent had both Kane and Lukaku and i have neither.

      My planned transfer is Bellerin to Baines. Anthing else you see here could be worth a block of those two? Want Costa for next week and Ibra has two plum ties either side of 26 so don't want to sell really.

      1FT 0.2 itb

      Grant
      Bellerlin*(baines), Coleman, McCauley
      Sanchez, Ali, Eriksen, Philips,
      Costa, Ibra, Rondon

      Pick, Alonso, De Roon, Amat

    11. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Bench Holebas or Snoddy?

      Holebas

      Pros: Home against Burnley who have scored 4 goals in 10 away games this season. Attacking threat
      Cons: YC magnet. May not get back in team after he didn’t play in away win at Arsenal

      Snoddy

      Pros: Southampton without first choice CBs so a big assist threat with crosses/set-pieces
      Cons: West Ham are crap

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Bench Holebas of course

      2. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Bench snoddy who may not even start...

        Good chance of holebas clean sheet

      3. Phil Dagger ⭐
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Bench Holebas

      4. MTPockets
          7 years, 3 months ago

          holebas

      5. Azathoth
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Are you playing or benching your Che def?

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          playing... He's a winger and 1 of my best players!

        2. WVA
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Playing

        3. VS10_
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Coleman, Baines, Brunt. No room for Alonso, unfortunately.

          1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            I'm going 4-3-3

            1. VS10_
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              I wouldn't mind that but can't bench any attackers.

          2. El-Kloppico
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            So you're one of the 'Park the bus' managers? hehe!

            1. VS10_
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Getting rid of Kun and Haz just gives you too much money to upgrade defence 😀

              1. El-Kloppico
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                Why not Midfield?

                1. VS10_
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Alli, Eriksen, Sanchez, Phillips. Happy.

          3. FPL Puppy
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Have the exact same starting three defenders at the moment. 🙂
            Who are you benching (except for Alonso)?

            1. VS10_
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Pick, Roon, Amat.

              1. FPL Puppy
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                Well, you surely got it easier. 😛

        4. MTPockets
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Playing Alonso, but Chambers/Amat means no choice.

        5. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Just a thought...
          Is there a worry that we might be concentrating too much on this GW28 blank and loading our teams with players from the likes of West Ham, Swansea, WBA and Everton, who are not as good as some of our current players? It is still well over a month away so injuries, cup exits, suspensions will all effect these very early plans. Just worry that there are a hell of a lot more games to come before then, and so much will change.

          For example I am considering Hazard to Siggy.... is he really a good option??

          Looking closely at his fixtures I think Siggy will struggle to get more than 2 points in GW24 and GW26, pretty much negating the GW28 fixture. What are your thoughts guys?

          1. WVA
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Siggy is a season keeper imo and well worth it.

          2. MTPockets
              7 years, 3 months ago

              I wouldn't load up unless planning a gw29 wildcard. Siggy seems a reasonable pick, perhaps not this week though.

          3. Henry Hill
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Mark Hughes confirms that Berahino served an 8 week ban while at West Brom for use of recreational drugs, silly boy.

            1. Now I'm Panicking
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Maybe he should have tried performance enhancing drugs

              1. MTPockets
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Nice

              2. FPL Blow-In
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                So that was a club ban and not from the FA?

            2. _Gunner
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Which is better?

              A- Giroud + Aguero > Lukaku + Kane ( have no spurs attack)
              B- Cech + Giroud > Foster + Lukaku

              A allows me to do Holebas > Baines/Coleman the week after

              1. Chris_White
                • 12 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                A

              2. WVA
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                A

              3. harvard
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                A

              4. RAFA THE GAFFA
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                A, yeah

                1. _Gunner
                  • 9 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Thanks All, think I will do A after the pressers

            3. Zizou
              • 14 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              my team

              heaton jaku
              baines holebas evans chambers alonso
              sanchez alli eriksen phillips fer
              kane ibra carroll

              i'm looking to bring zaha in as differential this week but need a 4pt hit so do i

              a) fer and holebas > zaha & holgate (-4pt) exact funds
              b) just do fer > davies
              c) chambers/evans > 4.7m
              d) other

              1. harvard
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                Don't see any real change. Holebas is back iirc nd Burnley don't score much away. Holgate is a rr

                1. Zizou
                  • 14 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  doesn't have to be holegate but would only have 4.2m for defender or i could ship chambers/evans for a 4m def
                  its really to take a punt on zaha

            4. harvard
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              In a mini dilema. I want to sell giroud and rose is injured. I have 0itb

              A. Giroud to lukaku Rose to Davies(spurs) nd 0.4itb

              B. Giroud to lukaku Rose to PVA(palace) nd 0.1itb

              C. Giroud to benteke Rose to walker nd 1.2itb

              Really liking the lukaku nd pva option especially as luk has a sure gw28.

              Rest of team is Grant. Jaku.

              Baines. Mcauley. Rose. Chambers. Amat.

              Sanchez. Alli. Antonio. Philips. Rodwell.

              Ibra Kane. Giroud

              1. Chris_White
                • 12 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                B

                1. harvard
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Thanks

              2. Mr Flibble
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                B for me too

            5. Chris_White
              • 12 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              MS: “Both Kamil Grosicki and Alfred N’Diaye are available tomorrow. They are fit if I decide to include them in the team.”

            6. Rhodes your boat
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              After scoring 29 points last week I feel like I could do with some help! Can't tell if it's bad luck or if my team needs so serious changes!
              1FT 0.0 ITB
              Foster Pickford
              Azpi jones baines holgate Nyom
              Sanchez hazard eriksen lallana sims
              Costa ibra grabban

              Thanks a lot guys

              1. A.T
                • 13 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                Looks fine to me apart from Sims and Grabban. Maybe look to downgrade Hazard to improve one of those two.

            7. Besaid_Auroch
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Worth doing Costa > Kane on a FT? I already have Alonso and Eriksen from those teams.

              1. El-Kloppico
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                No

              2. MTPockets
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  no

                • Besaid_Auroch
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Finger off the trigger. Thanks guys.

              3. El-Kloppico
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                Cech + Ramirez >> Heaton + Zaha for a -4pt.

                Cech has 2 blanks upcoming and Zaha has the fixtures now!

                1. Chris_White
                  • 12 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Robles instead of Heaton, maybe?

                  1. El-Kloppico
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Is he nailed? Worried about Stekelenburg threat?

                    1. Chris_White
                      • 12 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      For now, but you never know...Do you have a back-up for Heaton?

                      1. El-Kloppico
                        • 8 Years
                        7 years, 3 months ago

                        Nope, Pickford!

                        1. Chris_White
                          • 12 Years
                          7 years, 3 months ago

                          Okay. Might want to get one without any blanks then...

                          Jakupovic could be a good shout if you want to save some dosh. Foster another option.

                2. MTPockets
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    No. Heaton: a, h (che), a, a, a, a, h (tot)

                    1. El-Kloppico
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      yep but he is a season keeper.
                      Who else?
                      WBA doesn't have the Defensive stats this year to consider Foster. I already own Brunt anyway.

                  • _Gunner
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Keep Cech for the next 2, he might get some saves against Chelsea

                3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
                  • 10 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Who is the best cheap non-blanking defender not from Everton?

                  1. Chris_White
                    • 12 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Funes Mori.

                    1. Now I'm Panicking
                      • 9 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      lol

                      1. Chris_White
                        • 12 Years
                        7 years, 3 months ago

                        😆

                        It's early..

                        Robertson

                        1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
                          • 10 Years
                          7 years, 3 months ago

                          Thanks

                    2. The Man Pastore
                      • 9 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      this

                  2. Now I'm Panicking
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Look at Swansea/Hull

                    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
                      • 10 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      Cheers

                  3. A.T
                    • 13 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Brunt

                  4. El-Kloppico
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Mawson

                    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
                      • 10 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      Monitored. Cheers

                4. Ëð
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Any news on Jevans from the west brom presser?

                  1. A.T
                    • 13 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Not fit. See scout tweets

                  2. Now I'm Panicking
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Crocked

                  3. how now brown cow
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Out. see tweets

                  4. Wild Rover
                    • 13 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    He's out. see tweets

                5. mgrea
                  • 12 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Koscienly ➡ ?

                  A) PVA
                  B) Baines
                  C) Williams

                  Any better options? Money no object

                  1. Chris_White
                    • 12 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Coleman or Baines

                    1. mgrea
                      • 12 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      Thank ya

                6. Chris_White
                  • 12 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Heaton/Jaku combo looking fantastic going forward

                  Jaku covers Heatons tough away games perfectly

                  1. RAFA THE GAFFA
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    and his possible blank! It's the ideal combo!!

                7. Wild Rover
                  • 13 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  When I first log on, the first thing i do is read the tweets for latest news and yet so many people seem oblivious to their existence 😕

                  1. Chris_White
                    • 12 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Kids nowadays... 😉

                8. slamdunk
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Is anyone from this lot worth a 4 point hit for someone else?

                  Heaton/Jaku

                  Jones/Alonso/Brunt/Gibson/Amat

                  Haz/SanchezPhillips/Alli/Stanislas

                  Lukaku/Ibra/Anichibe

                  Used 1 ft and have 0.6m itb

                  Many thanks

                  1. Gudjohnsen
                    • 7 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    I wouldn't take a hit with this team with the fixtures coming up this weekend.

                9. Gudjohnsen
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  I can't decide wheather to sell Aguero now and potentially missing a hatrick from him against Swansea. I am going to sell him either before this gameweek or after it.
                  I am going to go for either Kane or Lukaku.
                  If you were in the sam position what would you do?
                  A. Keep Aguero for this week. Get Kane after this week.
                  B. Get Kane for Aguero now.
                  C. Get Lukaku for Aguero now.
                  D. Keep Aguero for this week. Get Lukaku after this week.

                  I really don't know what to do. I got Aguero for the Burnley game and he's Given me 1 goal in 4 games wearing the Captain's armband so he's really hurt my lead in a minileague.

                  1. Now I'm Panicking
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    I feel your pain 🙁 Personally, I feel I am compelled to hold him - definitely this week, probably until the blanks. Home against Swansea and looking more likely than not to start just seems to good to let go of. But, it is a tricky one.

                10. StoichkovFPL
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Alonso, Holebas, Holgate, Evans*, Friend*

                  a) play Holgate
                  b) Friend > PvA / Funes Mori for -4

                  1. Gudjohnsen
                    • 7 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    A

                11. Azathoth
                  • 9 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Play
                  Heaton or Jaku?
                  Zaha or Philips?

                  1. El-Kloppico
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    HZ

                  2. willgriggsonfire
                    • 7 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Heaton
                    Zaha

                12. Dacra
                  • 9 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Does this make sense?

                  Grant (Jaku)
                  Rose - Brunt - Baines (Mustafi, Chambers)
                  Sanchez - Coutinho - Alli - Phillips - Antonio
                  Costa - Aguero (Diomande)

                  0ft
                  0.2itb

                  For week 26 2xft:
                  Rose/Aguero > Byram/Lukaku (Enough to field full team and 1 playing sub)

                  For week 28 2xft:
                  Coutinho/Diomande > Fletcher/Carroll (Fletcher will become bench fodder in 343 afterwards, 9 players in week 28, 7.1itb to rebuild.

                13. El-Kloppico
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Which of Coleman or Baines?

                  I know there was an article on them but still not sold.
                  Baines is on set pieces and penalties..

                  But I feel a Coleman-wagon here!

                  1. Phil Dagger ⭐
                    • 7 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    Coleman

                    1. El-Kloppico
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      y?

                  2. Christina.
                    • 14 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    let me guess, it was a members article?

                    1. El-Kloppico
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 3 months ago

                      Yep.. don't remember who though.
                      Who do you prefer and why?

                  3. Dacra
                    • 9 Years
                    7 years, 3 months ago

                    I have Baines and would pick him again. Pens.

                14. willgriggsonfire
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Hi all!
                  After that horror GW, contemplating next moves.

                  A. McAuley (Have Brunt)+Stanislas -> Holebas+Zaha
                  B. Grant+Stanislas -> Jaku+Zaha

                  Zaha and Stan have similar stats but given the upcoming fixtures and recent form I'm thinking Zaha.
                  Holebas, I know, not such a great choice, but have to free up funds and he's on set pieces.
                  Jaku, well, for his price and for one of the blanks.