Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 220 – Manic

Now that the international break is behind us and the fixture list is bulging, the pace to the end of the season promises to be relentless.

It’s even enough to force us into the indignity of a “manic” Monday night ScoutCast.

Having endured the most mediocre of Gameweeks, it’s a blessing in disguise that the next is already upon us. Despite that, we still take time to cast an eye back at the weekend, including a revival of “Rough with the Smooth”, recounting your own contrasting fortunes.

Elsewhere, your community questions have us conducting the now weekly stock check of Manchester United’s double Gameweek wannabes, while Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez’s mood swings also come under scrutiny again as we chew over the likely replacements for the stricken Sadio Mane.

Palace get some love, those teams without a double Gameweek get appraised, and we even take time to explore a new phenomenon: the raiding right-back and curious bonus point darling that is Jesus Navas.

Oh, and much as we tried to shut down Jonty’s attempts to gloat about the latest spectacular success of his goals imminent table, Wilfred Ndidi still gets a mention.

This ScoutCast was first beamed live via our YouTube channel on Monday 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 on the first player below, or take in the full visual experience, plates and all, via the second player below.

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

812 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    WC help:

    A. Yoshida+Hennessey

    B. Stephens+Valdes

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      B

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Think B is safe enough.
      Stephens seems pretty nailed.

  2. Beanz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Heaton
    Walker McAuley Valencia
    Coutinho Siggy Alli Stirling Lanzini
    Vardy Lukaku

    Jak Nyom Llorente Amat

    4.5m ITB - am I good to go.

    Already done Mane -> Cout. Should I...

    a.) Stirling -> Sanchez for -4
    b.) Lanzini -> Zaha for -4
    c.) Other transfer (please state)
    d.) Stick

    I really cant decide this week, feel like Sanchez could punish....

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      D

  3. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    RMWCT Please!

    Valdes/Pickford
    Valencia, Yoshida, Chambers, Bavies, Holgate
    Coutinho,Sanchez,Alli, Zaha, Tarroll
    Ibra, Lukaku, Vardy.

    Should I go Vardy+Zaha or Eriksen+Origi?

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Team is good
      No glaring mistakes that I cant see
      Can't decide between the 2 if i'm honest.

      1. sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Thanks. Not sure which combo I am going to end up with!

  4. Shirokov(c)
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Have problems this week, lots of them.

    Foster, Pickford
    Alonso, Valencia, Davies, Pieters, Amat
    Sanchez, Mane, Eriksen, Sigurdsson, Capoue
    Lukaku, Llorente, Defoe

    I'm guessing Mane is out, and neither Llorente or Sigurdsson have appealing fixtures even if they do play. Thoughts

    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      I'd start replacing the ones with the least chance of playing. Mané.

      1. Shirokov(c)
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        It should be noted that I do have my WC still. Should I use it?

        1. tibollom
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 27 days ago

          also still on my WC and not sure to use it now or wait for GW36

        2. Gaz Downright
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 27 days ago

          I'm using mine to set up for double gameweeks.

  5. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Got 8.4 to replace Llorente. Suggestions?

    1. TheEgyptianKing
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Origi for short term fix?

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Benteke and Origi are popular, you can try Carroll

    3. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Negredo

      1. Gaz Downright
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        haha

    4. Samurai Blue
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Benteke.

    5. RustyBz
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Divock

    6. Chris_White
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Benteke

    7. Musicholic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Origi, Only and only if you are using your FT. I have 8.4 to replace Llorente as well but no FT. Hence avoiding it.

      1. Gaz Downright
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        I'm doing it for a hit.

    8. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      carroll for me

  6. TheEgyptianKing
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    What do you think of this WC team? any changes

    Valdes (Jaku)
    Davies - Valencia - Mccauley (Holgate - Stephens)
    Alexis - Alli - Hazard - Zaha (Davies)
    Aguero - Lukaku - Origi

    Opinions needed

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Good Team!

  7. cassanata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Thinking of making Son captain over Sánchez. Chasing a small lead in my mini league and rival has neither of them. Good or bad idea?

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Bad
      if he has neither, then captain Sanchez lol

    2. Shirokov(c)
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Nah, has to be Sanchez

    3. Samurai Blue
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Bad.

    4. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      I'd captain Sanchez especially if your rival doesn't have him.

  8. xHolmesyx
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Who to play?

    A) Defoe leicester (a)
    B) Pieters burnley (a)
    D) Mawson spurs (h)

    1. cassanata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Defoe

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      A
      despite sunderland struggling for goals

  9. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Is it crazy to Wild Card Sane in and then bench him this week for ndidi against Sunderland at home?

    1. RustyBz
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      yes

    2. ROOTY7
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      ridiculous

  10. JÆKS ⭐
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    King not one of those injury concerns Howe was talking about I hope?

  11. Pinky Blinders
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Better to start Valencia, with Robertson first off the bench or is there a risk that Valencia could come on for a cameo? Thanks for any thoughts.

    1. rivercityransom
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      i'd start robertson over valencia anyway

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Start

    3. Oi! Shadders!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      If he's not in the squad he won't come on...

    4. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Can't bench Valencia for me

    5. Mr. Perfectionist
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Valencia is most definitely not in the squad according to all the reliable sources. No chance for a cameo.

  12. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Morning all, big week this...

    Heaton-Jaku
    Walker-Alonso-McAuley-Bertrand-(Ake)
    Mane-Siggy-Barkley-Alli- (T Carroll)
    Lukaku-Aguero-Llorente

    How does Mane to Sanchez and Llorente to Origi look for a hit? I've learned not to sit and wait on injuries.

    May well also play McAuley over Barkley?

    Any thoughts welcomed...

  13. Andrew
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Good to go guys?

    Heaton (Pickford)
    McAuley Pieters Ward (Kelly Kingsley)
    Alli Siggy Sterling Coutinho (Fletcher)
    Aguero Costa Ibra (c)

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Ibra captain! Nice!
      G2G
      Tbh i think defence needs investments (spurs/utd) and Costa needs downgrading, but it's not urgent

      1. Andrew
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Yeah plan on doing that next

  14. Distinctly Average
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    GTG? On this with a -4:

    Jaku
    Alonso, Baines, Valencia
    Sanchez(c), Alli, zaha, Siggy,
    Costa, Lukaku, vardy(vc)

    Pickford, king, holgate, Amat

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Yep - big cash front 7!

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Reply fail to one above! This is gtg though too

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      I'm in a situation where i may never use AOA (De Roon my 5th mid)
      I probably would use it if I were in your place

      1. Distinctly Average
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Annoyingly I've already used it!

        Bench headache between Siggy, King and Zaha for me. Atm I'm on King, but may well decide to switch to Siggy...

  15. Razmataz
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Which looks better (won't play either of them next week)?

    A) Negredo (hull), week 33 (ARS)

    B) Zaha (sou), week 33 (LEI)

    C) Benteke (sou), week 33 (LEI)

    1. Olee
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Zaha for me...Boro doesnt score, and Benteke did nothing before the Chelsea game

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      One of Palace - I'd say Wilf

      1. Razmataz
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Thanks and if you include the double week?

  16. Olee
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    G2G? Correct order on the bench?

    Heaton
    Valencia-Alonso-Walker
    Siggy-King-Eriksen-Ward.P-Sanchez(c)
    Barnes-Ibra

    Randolph-Lukaku-Yoshida-Chambers

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Benching Lukaku is dangerous

    2. Egyptian Giza
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      some balls to bench Luk, I'd play yoshida instead of Ward, but other than that G2G

    3. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Yeah
      Dont bench Lukaku.
      Bench Barnes

      1. Olee
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Yeah, I know...but i honestly cant see him scoring away at Man Utd. Barnes might get one at home vs. Stoke. And im not sure about Soton CS, thats why Ward-Prowse is Playing over Yoshi...Is it that mad to do this?

        1. JÆKS ⭐
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 27 days ago

          Lukaku has e better chance against Manu than he had against Liverpool. That Manu team looks awful

          1. Olee
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 27 days ago

            They defenitly do not look worse defending than that terrible Pool defence, so I have to disagree.

            1. JÆKS ⭐
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 27 days ago

              Liverpool doesn't concede that much against the better teams though

              1. Olee
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 27 days ago

                Still look terrible at the back, Man Utd doesn't concede much against anyone exept that one CFC game before Christmas. Only Spurs that have conceded less, Man Utd has only conceded 23goals in 28matches

  17. Totti
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    need your help guys
    who to play?
    A) Pickford
    B) Boruc

    1) Siggy
    2) King

  18. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    RMWCT 🙂 Any changes?

    Valdes (Jaku)
    Walker • Valencia • Stones (Chambers • Stephens)
    Sanchez • Alli • Coutinho • Sane • Eriksen
    Ibrahimovic • Lukaku (Barnes)

    1. Egyptian Giza
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      why would you bench stephens and play stones, stones will conceed

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Sorry Stephens will play tonight. Just Stones will play more often. Thoughts on the WC? 🙂

        1. Egyptian Giza
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 27 days ago

          g2g i'd play vardy and swap to ibra next GW

    2. Ciro Di Marzio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Nice team, will chambers come straight back in when he's fit? I'm also on wc and thinking about boro defence.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        I'd imagine yeah. Hoping for news today.

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Alonso to Stones
      Costa to Barnes
      Lukaku to Aguero
      Stephens to Yoshida

      Gylfi for Eriksen, King for Sane as 5th mid home/away rotation

      FT to edit as DGWs approach, Kane etc

      Valdes (Jaku)
      Walker • Valencia • Alonso (Chambers • Yoshida)
      Sanchez • Alli • Coutinho • Gylfi • King
      Ibrahimovic • Aguero - Costa

  19. makaveli123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Liverpool increasingly worried by Sadio Mane knee injury. Unsure how much he will be able to feature in run-in. [@_pauljoyce]
    https://twitter.com/_pauljoyce/status/849011306925617152

    Guess we will now more after the 1pm presser.

  20. RustyBz
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Simple question: whats the general consensus of when WC should be played? (with BB available)

    1. ROOTY7
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      GW35/36 I believe mate.

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      BB37 for me
      WC before
      But if your team is in a massive mess, could do it sooner. Dont think it's that awful an idea

    3. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Simple answer: When your team needs it :D.
      No point in being stubborn to use it only on GW36. Well that is what I said to myself and used to this GW.

  21. Mr. Perfectionist
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Any chance Jesus could start vs Hull on the weekend?

    My Aguero>Ibra move hinges on this

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Nah

    2. RustyBz
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Gabriel? no chance

    3. luke25
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Of course he won't

  22. Shirokov(c)
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    How does Mane to Alli and Llorente/Defoe to Benteke sound?

  23. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Need advice on best boro defender? Is it wise to have Valdes and a defender? Cheers

  24. Egyptian Giza
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    done some tinkering, RMT.

    jaku
    stephens alder gibson
    sanchez alli cout zaha son
    luk vardy
    valdes barnes stones ake
    next GW i will do vardy > ibra

  25. LucasD
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Been out of the loop. Any changes to make out of this lot? Or G2G?

    Jaku / Grant
    Holgate / Bavies / Valencia / Maguire / McAuley
    Haz / Alexis / Grosicki / Alli / Carroll
    Kun / Luk / Carroll

    My F/T was used on Mane > Alli

    Thanks

  26. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Is Martial a decent option?

    1. Shirokov(c)
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      No

    2. makaveli123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      No

  27. Razmataz
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Which looks better?

    A) Negredo (hull), (ARS), (bou & SUN)

    B) Zaha (sou), (LEI), (liv & TOT)

    C) Benteke (sou), (LEI), (liv & TOT)

    D) Two of the above for a 4pt hit

    1. Shirokov(c)
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Zaha

  28. GreatCarragherReef
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Worth a -4 to get Ibra in for Aguero?

  29. FPL_DON
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Best replacement for Mane? Money no object.

    Have Sanchez, Alli and Siggy already

    1. xHolmesyx
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      Sane/Firmino.

  30. Scheister
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 27 days ago

    Heaton
    Walker Valencia Brunt Maguire
    Alli(v) Sanchez(c) King Siggy
    Costa Lukaku

    Pickford Holebas Llorente fletcher

    Gtg?