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. BobTarquin
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Ignoring their price, who do you think is the better West Ham option - Antonio or Snodders? Really can't decide between them!

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

      Ant

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

      Antonio

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

      Antonio.

    4. Toure The Route
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Antonio has one of the highest goal threats in the entire league.
      For that reason, easily him . Takes few shots every game without fail.

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

      Ok thanks all!

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

    Toughest decision I've had in a long while... what you experts reckon?

    1. Hazard+Amat > Siggy/Antonio+Coleman

    2. Hazard+Carroll > Zaha+Lukaku
    (leaving funds to do Amat > Coleman/Baines the week after)

    3. Hazard+Carroll+Amat > Zaha+Lukaku+Coleman (-4)

    4. Other?

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

      2

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      1 for Siggy and Coleman imo

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

      Wouldn't lose Carroll so A. Siggy.

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

        Do you not think Siggy might blank this week and GW26? City and Chelsea away?

        1. Hybrid.power
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Maybe, or maybe he gets a penalty

    4. MTPockets
        7 years, 3 months ago

        1

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

        Do you guys think Coleman+Siggy+Carroll outscore Pieters+Zaha+Lukaku this GW?

        1. Toure The Route
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          I don't
          Zaha and Luk have plum games

    5. Baz
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Already on -4. Worth a -8 for Negredo to Benteke? (think negredo is looking at a 2 pointer!)

      1. Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Nah. Can you not just bench Negrado?

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

          If I play deRoon/Pieters. Fancy 2s for them too!

          1. Hybrid.power
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Play Pieters. I think that game will be 0-0

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

              thanks man

      2. Toure The Route
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Would play Pieters
        Stoke have improved so much defensively this second half of the season

    6. SGTMacaroni
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Holebas -> Funes Mori and save the other transfer?

      Rest of team is
      Mcauley Alonso Pieters (Smith)
      Sanchez Firminho Stanislas Philips (Capoue)
      Ibra Kane Lukaku

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

        Yep

      2. MTPockets
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Thhink I'd hold that transfer too.

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

          Nice team 🙂 I'd keep Holebas this week at home to Burnley who can't score away for toffee, and bench Pieters. In terms of transfers, what about your keepers? Get Jaku in as a second keeper if you don't have any non-blanking keepers?

          1. SGTMacaroni
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Have foster already who I can play - but I could do Pickford -> Jaku, thanks

        • SGTMacaroni
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks all

      3. Liastro ⭐️
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Anything worth a hit lads? 1.1m in the bank....

        Heaton Pickford
        Williams Francis Chambers Pieters Amat
        Sanchez Firmino Siggy Phillips Fletcher
        Ibra Kane Lukaku

        1. Hybrid.power
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Defense is a bit iffy for me

          1. Hybrid.power
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            But then I dont think id be taking a hit to fix it

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

          Amat to Brunt?

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

          wow that defence
          Amat to Brunt may work Yes

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

          Amat > Brunt

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

        Need help. Keep or change? And who to bench?

        Foster Grant

        Azpril Jones Holgate Reid Chambers

        Erikson Sanchez Alli Phillips Stanislas

        Ibra costa crouch

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

          Keep. Bench - Grant Reid Chambers Stan Philips/Crouch

      5. cjw176
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Ok this might sound like a daft question but what are the chances the gw28 blanks will just be moved to midweek instead?

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

          No, they won't.

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

        Morning chaps - need a little bit of help with this one please!

        A) Walker and Carroll

        or

        B) Valencia and Benteke

        Cheers,

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

          Close, but I think B.

      7. Coaly
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Will Aguero start?

        If yes I'm captaining, if not, Alli or Lukaku the best bet?

        1. Hybrid.power
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          You wont know if hes starting until the line ups are released

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

          Only Pep knows the answer to your question.

          Both are good options for the armband, but Lukaku seems to be the favorite this GW.

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

        Unless Lukaku's injured, my second FT will be Giroud -> Lukaku. Problem is, WHO SHALL I BENCH??

        Heaton - Foster
        Alonso - Walker - Baines - Coleman - Brunt
        Sanchez - Phillips - De Roon - Alli - Eriksen
        Ibra - Defoe - Lukaku

        Thinking of benching Heaton - Walker, Alonso, De Roon

        Any suggestions?

        1. Hybrid.power
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Bench Defoe, De Roon and....ermmmm...walker or philips i guess

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

            So, you're saying play Alonso instead of Defoe?
            Isn't it a bit nuts to bench Phillips over a defender (even though we're talking about Walker/Alonso in this situation)?

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

          lol don't bench walker

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

            Who should I bench instead? lol

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

              Alonso/Brunt/Phillips/DeRoon/Defoe all ahead of walker on the bench list

              Id bench Alonso/deroon & probs philips

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

          Yes Good move

          4 with a cheaper option in defence is good and using that extra money for Defoe to bigger upgrade in future.
          Would not bench Walker for sure
          Don't know will go wrong whichever you choose :L

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

            I know, I put myself in a real benching headache this week. But I had the exact money to do Friend -> Coleman, which I did a couple of days ago.
            My long term plan is to either lose Walker (to be able to bring in Kane after his blanks) or Brunt (after GW 28) and downgrade to a 4.5 (or lower) defender.

      9. boc610
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        So saido berahino failed a drugs test at West Brom and no one told anybody?

        surely the fans of West Brom, or any supporters of football for that matter, should have been told this when it happened...am I missing something here??

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

          First time I'm hearing this.

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

          I'm just amazed anybody bought him.

      10. St. Joseph
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Why no confirmation about George Friend's injury

        No date, how long? no details at all.

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

          Maybe they don't know yet how serious his injury is? Surely they must provide the press with more information in the beginning of next week.

          1. St. Joseph
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            This uncertainty makes it harder to decide
            to keep or to ditch

            well it looks like i'll have to wait

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

          Seems like calf injuries are often very tricky to predict.

          1. St. Joseph
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            3x injured this season

            i think its not good for us owners

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

        Sorry, bottomed on last page.
        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.

        1. Toure The Route
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Hey
          Rather get Delaney over Holebas.
          Getting Holebas in is a huge luxury without good fixtures.

          Zaha for Stan look good, Zaha is miles ahead of him tbh. Not even a debate that , I'm getting rid of Stan ASAP myself, too inconsistent compared to what Zaha has shown.

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

          Won't two Crystal Palace be a bit much?
          I mean they've just started to show some form.

          1. Toure The Route
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Oh right , could be. Didn't think of that but good value in defence if big Sam can pick up, also a Zaha, PVA double up doesn't sound too bad sometime this season.
            Find someone else instead of helabas?

      12. TheBabyfacedAssassin
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Any Jones news?

        Got jones, evans and amat all issues. Jones > Coleman for a hit worth it? Got Funes Mori already thought.

        Foster
        Alonso, Funes, Jones, Evans, Amat.

        1. Shirokov(c)
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Presume we'll find out more today

        2. Toure The Route
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Wait for a bit
          if he is out then I might just take the hit if I want a little excitement .

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

        WISH there was a good midfield option under 8.9m 🙁 Too worried about Siggy!

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

          Worried about what?

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

            He blanks this week and GW26. Two 2 pointers likely, not think?

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

          Siggy
          Sterling
          Barkley
          Antonio

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

            Not think he blanks this week and GW26? Two 2 pointers likely, not think?

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

              *Siggy

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

          eriksen...phillips?

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

            have those 2!

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

          Team is this sorry..

          Heaton - Jaku
          Alonso - Walker - Evans - Pieters - Amat
          Sanchez - Eriksen - Hazard - Phillips - Capoue
          Kane - Zlatan - Carroll

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

            sterling siggy firminio walcott lallana antonio

      14. jdogg
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Giroud and capoue to lukaku and carroll for free?x

        1. Shirokov(c)
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Go for it

        2. Toure The Route
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Yes

        3. jdogg
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers guys.x

      15. Shirokov(c)
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Foster Pickford
        Alonso Rose Jones Pieters Amat
        Sanchez Eriksen Pogba Phillips Capoue
        Ibrahimovic Giroud Defoe

        2 free transfers, 0.9m in the bank.

        Question marks over Rose, Jones, Pogba and Giroud. Wouldn't be adverse to taking a hit after 26 points this week.

        Rose, Pogba and Giroud to Coleman, Sigurdsson and Lukaku? (-4)

      16. Tansey
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Have 2FTs. Lallana + Giroud -> Antonio/Barkley and GJesus?

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

          Lukaku over Jesus.

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

            Have Lukaku

        2. MTPockets
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Liv vs Hull
            Wenger: "...Giroud has a test but should be alright".
            Jesus already played 2 games in a week.

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

          What's the Aguero consensus?

          A) get rid now
          B) one more week

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

            B

          2. Sweetboi
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Gotta be B, although there's a good chance he'll be on the bench again.

          3. Shirokov(c)
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Always seems to be B on here

          4. Hybrid.power
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            You'd have to keep him for this game. Although I said the same about Hazard for the Hull game...

          5. MTPockets
              7 years, 3 months ago

              B (including me), but been wrong, right, wrong, wrong, very wrong so far.

            • Toure The Route
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Just trust your gut
              Multiple times people here have said B and the like and it should have been A .
              Everything are just opinions now, on what pep would do .

            • George James
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Im keeping. Will be an amazing differential if he explodes.

              He just needs to start first.

            • Cojiro
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Thanks all

          6. Live Lad
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            I'm a bit lost on captain choice. 1 FT, 0.1 itb, GTG? Captain?
            Foster
            PVA, Coleman, Holebas
            Sanchez, Hazard, Phillips, Snoddy, Alli (vc)
            Aguero, Ibra (c)

            Subs: Pickford, Ward (Burnley), Anichebe, Amat

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

              g2g, but i would captain Alli

            2. Toure The Route
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Ibra safest away from home, they ll need this win very badly.

          7. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Loving the Women's AFL game. Great intensity and raw talent. Feels refreshing and like a proper local game of footy. Love it!

          8. Wimmer winner chicken dinne…
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Foster
            Coleman Williams Cedric Holebas Lovren
            Siggy Stanislas Sanchez Eriksen Firmino
            Ibra Giroud Rondon

            2FT 0 ITB

            Option A
            Giroud - Lukaku
            Stanislas - Carroll

            Option B -4 HIT
            Giroud - Lukaku
            Firmino - Sterling
            Holebas - Robertson

            Any other suggestions?

            1. Shirokov(c)
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              A

            2. Sweetboi
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Option A

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

            Hi guys

            I'm currently on this with already 2 transfers made, -4p..
            Foster
            Baines Walker Jones (unlikely to play) - Evans (unlikely to play) Amat (probably benched)
            Sanchez Eriksen Mirallas Phillips - De Roon
            Ibra Kane Lukaku

            Should I make another transfer to avoid only 2 playing defenders? is it the extra -4 points? That makes is -8 in total...
            Help!!

          10. RSe
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Heaton
            Coleman / Brunt / Valencia
            Sanchez / Firmino / Erikson / Zaha
            Lukaku / Ibra / Rondon

            Pickford / Alonso / Pieters / De Roon

            GTG? Valencia over Alonso is a tricky one.....

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

              Agree with that XI

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

              G2G

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

            Blackburn vs Man United tickets trousered. Nice.

            1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              What does that mean? Bought?

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

                Yes.

                1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Enjoy!

          12. Cash'nBurn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            There's nothing like a good bench conundrum :-

            Heaton (wat)

            McAuley (STK) - Coleman (BOU) - Baines (BOU)

            Sanchez (che) - Eriksen (MID) - Alli ( MID) - Phillips (STK) - Antonio (sth)

            Lukaku (BOU) - Ibrahimovic (lei)

            Jakupovic (liv) Alonso (CHE) Defoe (cpl) Fabio (tot)

            Would it be better to just draw names out of a hat?

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

              Look at it as a nice problem to have 🙂 I'd probably bench Antonio instead of Defoe, but very tricky.

            2. Toure The Route
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Would bench Phillips for Defoe
              Stoke are a better team now at the back from what I've seen, won't be a breeze for WBA just because it's at home.
              Could be easily wrong though, this season is crazy to predict stuff .

              1. J0E
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                Don't bench Phillips. The Potters have shipped 11 goals in their last six league matches. He's on lots of set pieces and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in GWK 23.

                1. J0E
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Granted its a tough benching choice though.

                2. Toure The Route
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 3 months ago

                  Good point jonty
                  Maybe it's madness to bench Phillips but it's madness to bench Defoe.
                  Probably Defoe away isn't great while Phillips at home is.
                  Reckon you're right

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

              Have a look at my defenders, it's going to be tears at the end of the GW (I guarantee it.)

              Alonso - Walker - Brunt - Baines - Coleman

          13. teki0s
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Heaton
            Brunt Baines Alonso
            Lallana Zaha Sanchez Alli(C)
            Ibra(VC) Costa Defoe

            Pickford/ Phillips, Yoshida, Jones

            1. G2G?
            2. Who to captain?

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

              Phillips over Defoe?

              1. teki0s
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 3 months ago

                I am struggling to decide. I fancy defoe to score.. dont really know what to do there.. haha

          14. Moose™
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Get rid of Kosc instead of Pedro?

            1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              I got rid of Pedro since he's not guaranteed to start

            2. Sweetboi
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Pedro will start on the weekend, so yeah.

            3. Toure The Route
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Yes
              Pedro will start this week

          15. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Considering playing Holgate(BOU) over Sanchez(che). Am I an idiot?

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

              Yes

            2. Toure The Route
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Yes

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

              No. Stats gives eve almost 40% of cs. And ars has 1.01 goal expected vs che and only 20% of cs. The only concern is ownership. If Sanchez scores he will get baps.
              Playing safe is Sanchez. But probability gives Holgate the nod.

          16. Lone Wolf
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Heaton, Pick
            Brunt, Rose*, Cedric, Friend*, Amat*
            Sanchez, Hazard, Alli, Antonio, de Roon
            Kane, Lukaku, Carroll

            Any suggestions guys with 1FT, 0.3 itb?

            1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Rose to Coleman/Baines

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

                Philips and Giroud > Carroll and Lukaku?

                This is the only way I can get Lukaku in.

            2. Toure The Route
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Rose to Coleman is crying out