Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 246 – Smashing

The ScoutCast quintet take on established Fantasy thinking in this latest episode, as we debate the quest to smash the current template squad.

What is the template? How can we break it? Should we even bother?

The discussion that unfolds is predictably sprawling and often heated, as once again the conflicting philosophies on Fantasy management in the ScoutCast crew are laid bare.

Elsewhere we let the rest of your community questions steer the conversation, as we contemplate Sanchez at United, battle Firmino vs Aguero and even find time to check in on Stoke.

Try as we might, even we struggle to argue about Stoke.

By the way, off the air we carried on the debate and, in the end, everyone agreed that I was right and that I also had the best beard.

This ScoutCast was first beamed live via our YouTube channel on Tuesday evening. 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 via the second player below.

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

2,779 Comments Post a Comment
  1. GreenArrows
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    gtg?

    Pope
    Otamendi Jones Kenny
    Salah Sterling Lingard Arnie Son
    Kane (C) Firmino

    Elliot Ogbonna Duffy Quaner

    2.5itb 0FT

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Gtg

    2. Virgil Hilts
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Very nice.

      Good TV?

      1. GreenArrows
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Squad value is 102.3 with 2.5itb

  2. Mrjamman
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Should my priority be
    a) new GK this week.
    B) ditch hazard to Arnie and upgrade def with alonso for -4
    1ft .2itb
    Fab
    Otamendi, Masuaku,Christensen
    Salah, Hazard, Lingard, Richarlison,sterling Kane,Firmino,
    B:Elliot. Crouch, Kiko, Duffy

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Elliot to Pickford?

      1. Mrjamman
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah think that's good. Been a long time coming.

  3. Nesvy
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Better combo ?

    a/ Lingard + Mahrez
    b/ Pogba + Albrighton

    1. Ahtikullervo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. djapebronx
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. Rex Lapis
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    4. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

  4. Virgil Hilts
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    1.2 itb, 1 FT

    A) Pope to Pickford (to sort out the returning Heaton issue out nice & early)

    B) Kabasele to Maguire (would have to play Dunk or Zanka this week if not)

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. Virgil Hilts
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers, it does seem the more pressing issue.

        Can do the GK transfer later I guess.

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Heaton (or even Pickford!) might suffer a recurrence of his injury - anything could happen. Delay the decision until you can be certain what's going on.

  5. RIDZ
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone dare to captain Arnautovic?

    He made 2 goals against Bournemouth last game

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      you mean Huddersfield

      1. Bavarian
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        there's a lot of better shouts this week, but if you're chasing it could work well...

        1. RIDZ
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          I would play safe

      2. RIDZ
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        no, I mean H2H

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Kane kun or salah for me

      1. RIDZ
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        who's the winner? I am still on Kane with better h2h records between three of them

        1. Bavarian
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Kane all day

        2. Pranav Santhosh
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Kane for me but all 3 are good picks and you most likely won't go wrong

      2. A Betting Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Aguero has 11 in 11 vs Newcastle, averaging a goal every 59.73 minutes

        1. Pranav Santhosh
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          He seems to be playing differently under pep and has a different role.

  6. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Morning dzzz, 3 slots to fill as i remove sanchez,gross,son..20.2m. Main main question is how much to invest in defence. Already have two prem defenders in Alonso/Jones...worth getting a 3rd one (i.e. stones/maguire) or go for a cheapie (i.e. kenny/cedric) who both have good fixtures long-term and rotate well with other cheap defenders.

    Pope Adrian
    Alonso Jones Duffy Gomez XXX
    Salah Sterling Arnie XXX XXX
    Kane Firmino Quaner

    A: Cedric + Lanzini/Ramsey + Mahrez
    B: Stones/Maguire + Lanzini + Pogba/Silva
    C: Stones/Maguire + Lingard/Richarlison + Sane

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. djapebronx
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Go cheap. Ramsey mahrez

    3. Virgil Hilts
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Put Son back in, then repost options with just 2 transfers.

      Don’t lose a player on fire

    4. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah don't think I'd lose Son this week.

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Not sure what Defender you are ditching.
        Maybe bring in Poggy + Maguire/VVD.

      2. UnitednationsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah planning to remove Sanchez and gross this gw and son next gw

    5. FC nelo
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I went with Ramsey and Mahrez. Just hoping Ramsey will play now, not 100% he will with Wilshere in form. But should be able to bench Welbeck, Wilshere or Xhaka. Hopefully Xhaka for the Arsenal fans.

  7. Cocky Spaniel Alves
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Arnautovic or Mahrez?

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Mahrez

    2. djapebronx
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Both good picks

    3. RIDZ
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Arnautovic for sure

    4. Virgil Hilts
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Arnie especially as Carroll injured again.

      Extra money will help rest of your team too.

  8. 1895Reds
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Play Duffy, DCL or T Carroll?

    1. djapebronx
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Duffy

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Duffy

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      TC, but only because i think he will get 2 points over 1 points or worse for the other-). At least you have will have some glimmer of hope when Swansea have the ball... always a chance that Chelsea blanking but on every set piece Cheslea gets you will be crossing your toes and fingers (Chelsea very good on set pieces while Brighton reversely bad at defending them). DCL is second choice at best so possible sub late in game which gives you a somewhat 20 minutes of hope.

  9. djapebronx
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    After deliberating for the whole week finaly transfered out eriksen and dcl. went with firmino and ox over mahrez and wilson. A bit of a gamble on ox but will take it. Wilson on my radar in 2weeks time.

    Henessey
    Alonso kenny masuaku
    Sterling ox salah arnautovic
    Aguero(c) firmino kane
    Speroni mee dunk rlc

    Gtg?

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Gtg

  10. Rex Lapis
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Adrian
    Ota Azpi Jones
    Salah Sterling Pogba Son Arna
    Kane Wilson

    Ellio Mee Lascelles Quaner
    1 FT 1.2 ITB

    Which one?
    A. Adrian > Pickford
    B. Mee/Lascelles > Kenny
    C. Save FT

    1. Virgil Hilts
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I’d be all over A

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      C

    3. djapebronx
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A with that defence

      1. djapebronx
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Or save. Whu have nice fixt

    4. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      C

  11. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Any way to find Arnautovic's ownership in top 10k, 50k and 100k?

    1. MTPockets
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Don't think so. fpldiscovery for last week's overall & top 10k stats

    2. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      picking between kane kun and salah for captain is pecking my head ha ha

      1. djapebronx
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Cant beleive that kun(c) seems to be a differential maverick pick so im going with that

        1. Norman Conquest
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          i'm edging towards kun myself 11 goals in 11 games against newcastle hard to ignore

          1. djapebronx
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            They're in for a bashing i think. Can see sothon losing only 0:1 0:2 maybe. And have too many liverpool players to go with salah 🙂 and the fact that kun is the least owned of the 3 is a big + for me

            1. bench boost for every gamew…
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              ownership has little to do with points this week. but Kun is nonetheless a good captain choice although Lascelles comes in with a warning from the side (Newcastle concede no more than a goal when he plays and he looks to be playing).

      2. Pranav Santhosh
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Kane

      3. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Kun for me.
        Brought him in on my wildcard with the next 2 fixtures in mind.
        Would like to think that it will give me a much needed O/R hike, as the rest of my team is pretty template...

      4. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I'd probably go Kun if I had him.

      5. MTPockets
          6 years, 3 months ago

          salah

      6. Alan_T
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Pep surely won't change a formation that has been working will he?

        If not, surely Danilo is nailed with Delph out?

        1. Virgil Hilts
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          “Pep surely won't change a formation“

          🙂

        2. MTPockets
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Pep surely...

          • navin
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            just transfer in danilo. hope he plays

        3. ChadW98
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Best defender 4.5 or less?

          1. Virgil Hilts
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Dunk for long term

          2. navin
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            dunk, bruno, naughton

          3. Birds of Prey
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            martina holding ogbanno

        4. Sickboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Forgive my ignorance on this, but can't you just play your free hit chip in GW28 when the majority of 'big' teams could well have blanks rather than plan ahead, or is there likely to be another blank?

          Thanks.

          1. MTPockets
              6 years, 3 months ago

              GW31 & 35 will also have blanks, so ideally save for as long as possible.

            • Pranav Santhosh
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Much bigger blank gameweeks 31 and 35

            • Virgil Hilts
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Another 2 blanks at least

              Fa Cup quarters and Semis

              1. Sickboy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                6 years, 3 months ago

                Thanks all.

            • Birds of Prey
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              it's more nuanced, if you are in a ML, hold and build ITB for last GW if critical. Otherwise treat it as a differential, granted advice from a 150k dude.

              1. Sickboy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                6 years, 3 months ago

                Cheers mate

          2. martyhan
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            2ft and not sure what to do
            Christensen to Jones maybe? And carry transfer? Team is
            Pope Adrian
            Christensen otamendi ogbonna Kenny Alonso
            Salah sterling lingard Arnie Erickson
            Kane Firmino quaner
            1.8itb

            1. djapebronx
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Eriksen to mahrez?

            2. Pranav Santhosh
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Christensen to jones is a good transfer

            3. bench boost for every gamew…
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Cahill is the question i think, monitor if he is beeing out or not. Christensen likely to start if he is out and then i would´nt bother-)

          3. K.F.C
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Ready to roll?

            DDG
            Ota, Jones, Christensen,
            Salah, Sterling, Son, Arnie
            Kun, (K)ane, Ayew

            Speroni, Ogbonna, Long, RLC

            0FT 0.1 ITB
            Cheers!

            1. Pranav Santhosh
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Gtg nice team

            2. Weasel Boy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Yeah Good team

              Kun might be a good (c) this week.

            3. K.F.C
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Cheers lads!
              Could be a good differential

          4. Chiellini
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Guys!
            Currently without city coverage.. what to do?
            A. Get sterling for free?
            B. Get Aguero for -4?

            Team: 1FT 2.0 ITB
            Adrian
            Ogbonna-Jones-Christensen
            Salah-Son-Arnautovic-Alli-Richar
            Kane-Vardy
            (Pope-Duffy-Daniels-Quaner)

            1. K.F.C
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              A

            2. djapebronx
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Rich to sterling?

            3. Pranav Santhosh
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              A

            4. MTPockets
                6 years, 3 months ago

                A, but Rich + 2m isn't enough & not sure about selling the others.

              • Chiellini
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 3 months ago

                Thanks for feedback.
                Can't afford Rich to Sterling. Considering Alli->Sterling or Alli->budget mid+Vardy->Aguero (-4). Might be better to wait 1 gw?

            5. Jon Bones Jones
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Play?
              1) Robertson
              2) Kenny
              3) Ogbonna
              Captain?
              A) Kane
              B) Salah
              C) Sterling

              Thanks

              1. djapebronx
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 3 months ago

                2B

              2. MTPockets
                  6 years, 3 months ago

                  2,B

                • The Wanton Trader
                  • 6 Years
                  6 years, 3 months ago

                  2A

                • Pranav Santhosh
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 3 months ago

                  2A

              3. StoichkovFPL
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 3 months ago

                Fabianski, Elliot
                Alonso, Otamendi, Ogbonna, Holgate, Mariappa
                Salah, Sterling, Lingard, Arnie, Mahrez
                Kane, Firmino, Ayew

                How is that look for -4? Also 2.4 ITB

                1. MTPockets
                    6 years, 3 months ago

                    Almost template-tastic.

                  • Pranav Santhosh
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 3 months ago

                    Looks solid

                  • Weasel Boy
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 11 Years
                    6 years, 3 months ago

                    Pretty darn good.
                    Who's your captain?

                    1. StoichkovFPL
                      • 8 Years
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      Salah

                2. teneighty
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 3 months ago

                  Eriksen + Naughton ->

                  A) Mahrez + Alonso
                  B) Pogba + Alonso

                  Can't make up my mind!

                  1. Pranav Santhosh
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 3 months ago

                    B

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

                  Please Score at your will...any changes?

                  1 FT and 0 in bank

                  Hen
                  Ota Alonso Shaw
                  Sterling Salah Son Arnie Lingard
                  Aguero(c) Kane

                  Speroni Kenny DCL Roseiner

                  Thanks

                  1. Pranav Santhosh
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 3 months ago

                    Save the FT

                    1. schmileyg
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 7 Years
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      Thanks

                4. YoungPretender
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 3 months ago

                  Richarlison to;
                  A) Ox
                  B) Lingard
                  C) Shaqiri
                  D) Albrighton

                  Favouring a punt on Shaqiri at the moment as I'm chasing. Too risky?

                  1. jackhammer1
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 3 months ago

                    Id go shaqiri from those i think

                  2. MTPockets
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      I'd want to see a Shaqiri goal/assist before getting him (that's my hopeful plan for next week), but don't really fancy any of the others either.

                    • Pranav Santhosh
                      • 7 Years
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      B

                    • bench boost for every gamew…
                      • 7 Years
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      Tricky one, having the same conundrum except from Ox as i have Robertson which prevents me from having that option, i´m going Shaqiri but it´s only because of fixtures and new manager and it´s punty and it allows me Alonso as part of the deal. Hm, in terms of fixture i would say all four ticks the boxes, maybe Lingard slightly beneath the other, nailedness i would say they are pretty nailed but i think atm Lingard and Albrighton is a little bit more treathened in their positions, first one esp if Sanchez arrives. But while saying that Shaqiri and Ox is more prone to get injured, so could be risks that way. Set pieces edging Ox and Shaqiri, while Albrighty has some set pieces, Lingard none. While Albrighty, Ox and Lingard plays for team thatare well functioning, that can´t be said of Stoke, but with new manager it could sparkle them. I might have gone for Ox myself if i had the chance, but Shaqiri it will be, if that´s anything to go by

                    • IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
                      • 6 Years
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      Ihave done rlc to Shaq. Worth a punt. The main thing is he has good fixture following up unlike Lingard last week.

                  3. jackhammer1
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 3 months ago

                    Transfer final mid spot. RLC out but who in?

                    A. Arnie
                    B. Shaqiri
                    C. Willian

                    The rest of my team is basically the template

                    1. YoungPretender
                      • 9 Years
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      Arnie

                    2. MTPockets
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        a

                      • Weasel Boy
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 11 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        Gotta be Arnie.

                        Ox could be a nice differential

                      • Pranav Santhosh
                        • 7 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        A

                      • Virgil Hilts
                        • 7 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        A by a mile

                    3. DV8R
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      6 years, 3 months ago

                      Depoitre -> Wilson?

                      Or wait a week? Could Depoitre be benched?

                      1. The Wanton Trader
                        • 6 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        I’d do it now.
                        Wilson a great pick...

                      2. MTPockets
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          To play? I would.

                        • Weasel Boy
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 11 Years
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          Get Wilson.

                        • Pranav Santhosh
                          • 7 Years
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          Good move

                        • Virgil Hilts
                          • 7 Years
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          As they all say above, get Wilson

                      3. Sotamendi84
                        • 7 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        Pope
                        Christensen kenny oggy
                        Sterling haz salah arnautovic ling
                        firmino kane
                        Elliot

                        1. Sotamendi84
                          • 7 Years
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          Any suggestions? 1FT 2m itb

                      4. makaveli70
                        • 9 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        Kane or Salah for the armband ??

                        1. Sotamendi84
                          • 7 Years
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          Kane for me

                          1. makaveli70
                            • 9 Years
                            6 years, 3 months ago

                            why??

                      5. R.C
                        • 6 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        Time to get Sane in this GW?

                        1. Sotamendi84
                          • 7 Years
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          No way. He plays very wide Against parked buses

                      6. Weilong7
                        • 7 Years
                        6 years, 3 months ago

                        Kun or firmino this gw? Will need to take a hit..

                        Any suggested replacements for hazard in order to fund the move?

                        Thanks

                        1. Wetdream
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 9 Years
                          6 years, 3 months ago

                          Full team ?

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

                        Alli>>Mahrez or hold for this week ??