Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 249 – Puppetmaster

Granville is the latest of the ScoutCast crew to be struck down by man-flu, and while Az manfully continued last time out, like myself the week before, my old rival is forced to sit out.

But he makes sure he has his say, priming Jonty beforehand to push my buttons on the “honeytrap” that was Jordan Pickford. Jonty plays a blinder on his behalf as Granville pulls the evil strings from his sickbed.

Elsewhere in this latest episode, your community questions steer us to assess whether we should call time on Marcos Alonso to consider cut-price alternatives. We appraise the Arsenal renaissance, get Az all riled up on “JLingz”, while Jonty has his say on “whipping boys”. That, of course, are those teams that are easy to beat and guarantee big returns.

I still believe that this topic was just another excuse to have a go at Pickford, with Granville sniggering over his Lemsip (other cold remedies and goalkeepers are available).

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.

1,672 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Carvalhal buttering up reporters with homemade tarts 😆

    Genius.

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

      #cute

    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Seems like a nice guy

    3. Prøfeßör …
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Pastéis de Nata from the right place (Pastéis de Belém or Carvalhal's home) are heavenly.

  2. Jayben23
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Help a brother out

    Fabianski
    Mee Kenny Jones
    Pogba Salah (c) Sterling Mkhitarian Son
    Firmino Kane (v)

    Adrian Quaner Monreal Mbemba

    GTG?

    Thanks in advance

    1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Good to go, except Kenny unlikely to play.

    2. CaptainKeita
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Kenny will not play

    3. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      G2G if no FT yet but Kenny unlikely to play

      1. Jayben23
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I have 1ft 0.9 itb. Could Change Kenny for someone?

        1. The Left Duke #3
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Kenny to Daniels is an option but prob best to save FT to have 2 after the FA Cup break. Know better then who blanks in 31

          1. Jayben23
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            thanks alot

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

      Id play Monreal over Quaner

    5. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I'd play Monreal - bad fixture but a man in form

  3. Joggers Nipple
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Avoided here most of the week due my 30 odd point score last week!

    My dull plan this week was
    Kenny to cheap Swansea (cant afford Mawson)

    Adrain
    Alonso jones kenny
    Salah son sterling lingard
    Kane aguero Wilson

    Woodman ibe gomez chilwell 0.5 itb 1ft

    Any, I mean any other ideas, welcome! Dont mind a hit if needed

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Salah C
      Aguero vc

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

      Good move.

      1. Joggers Nipple
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Ta

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

    Ryan
    Kenny - Daniels - Maguire
    Salah - Pogba - Sterling - Walcott - Mkhi
    Aguero (c) - Firmino

    Stick or twist?

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Dont think Kenny plays?

  5. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Play 1 DF & bench 1 Attacker this GW only?

    A) Gomez (away to Sou)
    B) Mee (away to Swa)
    C) Daniels (away to Hud)

    1) Lingard (away to New)
    2) B.Silva (home to Lei)
    3) Wilson (away to Hud)

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

      Daniels and bench Jlingz

    2. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      C1

      1. The Left Duke #3
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers this is what I'm currently on so will stick

  6. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Last decision, play Pope (Swansea away) or Adrian (Watford at home)?

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I have Adrain. I hate Adrian. Prob dont play Adrian

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

      Pope

    3. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Never play Adrian unless there is no other alternative. Every time I've benched Pope for him I've regretted it within minutes.

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

        this

    4. yer old da
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Pretty categorical views from the community!

    5. Neville& Sons
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      POPE

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

    Jones Ota* Daniels Mbemba* Goldson*

    With Ota rotation risk, should i pick replacement for mbemba / goldson :
    A) Robertson (no blank in GW 31)
    B) Lowton
    C) Save FT

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

    Kenny singlehandedly saving Ota from a price drop this GW...but I guess the masses will sell after Leicester.

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

    Today's press conferences

    9:00 - Howe
    9:30 - Gracia
    13:15 - Conte
    13:30 - Guardiola, Klopp, Moyes, Pardew, Benitez, Wagner, Pellegrino
    14:00 - Mourinho

    1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks Ozil

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

      Noice

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

      Cheers. Out of interest, how do you find these Out?

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

        A magician doesn't reveal his secrets 😉

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

          Knowledge is power!!

      2. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        SkySports build-up

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

      cheers

    5. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers fella

    6. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Wow bottleneck at 1:30pm

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

      Hoping for some positive Alonso chat!!!

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

      Thanks Ozil

    9. FC Lackless [BALEGIUM]
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      cheers Ozil

  10. fijuhmon
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Which one would you choose and why?

    a) Pope, 3.9, Alonso, Jones, Chilwell, Duffy, Ogbonna, Salah, KDB, Sterling, Shaq, RLC, Kane, Firmino, Wilson
    b) Pickford, Elliot, Otamendi, Mee, Kenny, Naughton, Maguire, Salah, KDB, Sterling, Gross, Ibe, Kane, Firmino, Diouf

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Try it this way!
      a) Pope, 3.9,
      Alonso, Jones, Chilwell, Duffy, Ogbonna,
      Salah, KDB, Sterling, Shaq, RLC,
      Kane, Firmino, Wilson

      b) Pickford, Elliot,
      Otamendi, Mee, Kenny, Naughton, Maguire,
      Salah, KDB, Sterling, Gross, Ibe,
      Kane, Firmino, Diouf

      Is this pre/ post WC as A has a few players who dont play and B has 1.
      Prob B overall

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

        or this

        fab 3.9
        jones fernandez mee gomez mariappa
        salah kdb sterling ramsey walcott
        kane firm wilson

        ?

  11. NachoMan
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Stick or Twist? 1FT, 0.1 ITB

    Adrian (Elliot)

    Ota, Alonso, Daniels (Chilwell, Edwards)

    Salah, Lingard, Shaq, Sterling (Sako)

    Kane, Kun, Wilson

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Dont know how much Edwards (?) plays and Sako injured long term? If can just sort one of them as, I think, you have a non playing bench

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

      Stick or twist what?

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

    GTG for this gw? 0ft

    Pope
    Jones Ward Duffy
    Salah Sterling Walcott Lingard
    Kane (C) Firmino Wilson

    Pereira Ogbonna Maguire Mahrez

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

      Deal with Mahrez

      1. Ber2k
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Mahrez has returned to training and made himself available although I would be surprised if he is included.

        1. Joggers Nipple
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Confirmed out for this week.

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

        As he wont drop this week, i dont want to get rid for a hit when i have 11 starters.
        Also, he might be back for next week, so dont mind keeping for now.

  13. Jayben23
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Help a brother out

    Best replacement 5.3m defender for Kenny.

    Thanks in advance

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

      mawson

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

      Depends on who else you have

      1. Jayben23
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Monreal Jones Mee Kenny Mbemba

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

          Mawson

    3. 1569Tippins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I like Mawson

    4. joeydelucchi
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      if you dont have jones then smalling? or otherwise Mee or Ward (hes back!)

  14. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    All set?

    DDG

    Alonso / Daniels / Kenny

    Salah / Sterling / Lingard / Walcott

    Kane / Aguero / Daniels

    Speroni / Ogbonna / Dunk / RLC

    0 FT, 0.2 ITB

    Thinking of Salah captain or Aguero

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Daniels playing at the back and up top. Nice.

      1. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Opps! Meant Wilson up top

      2. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        That's Magic,

        1. 1569Tippins
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          hahaha

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

      Maybe Dunk over Kenny? Or at least first bench over Ogbonna. West Ham are toilet

      1. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        yep good shout, will put him first on the bench

  15. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    If you were getting a Liverpool defender. Which would be best?

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

      vvd

    2. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Urgh, VvD. But really dont appeal to me that much

    3. ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      VVD

  16. Pigsinblankets
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Ddg
    Jones Alonso Dunk
    Sterling KDB Salah Shaqiri Son
    Kane Wilson

    Speroni Ogbonna Quaner Hunemeier

    2FT and 2.0 ITB, looking to bolster my defence and get Ogbonna out:

    A) Hegazi
    B) Mawson
    C) Mee
    D) Any other suggestions?

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      b

      1. Joggers Nipple
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Though Qarner to Wilson would tempt me

    2. Neville& Sons
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Mawson looks like a good option

  17. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    If anyone's missed the WHAT IF I STOPPED PLAYING machine in hot topic then check it out http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2018/02/08/the-scoutcast-episode-249-puppetmaster/?hc_page=3#hc_comment_17647755

    I wonder if the creator can enlighten us how it deals with CHIPS. Does this mean if I stopped playing in 30 with all chips intact that it would measure the progress of that team completely isolated from the effect of future chips?

    If this is the case, from the point of view of examining our early season this is a good bit of fun but it will get really interesting look back at from the end of the season. Experienced managers managers tend to play all or most of the CHIPS in the space of 4-6 weeks; this may be our first, albeit crude opportunity (for those who haven't been 'preparing' and who use the chips to make swingeing cuts) to actually isolate the effect of these late chips and begin the assign a value of sorts

    big stuff

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      It can’t read the future 😉

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

        OFC but the power of it is that it quickly and easily ascribes a value to the changes you made. TC and FH can easily be removed from this, leaving bench boost and WC2. This means people can easily assign a value to the changes they make, and if that's easy to do then more people will do it. It can't obv tell us the future chip-free comparison but it's still important information

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

      Could make for some sad post WC readings if things don't go to plan

  18. Neville& Sons
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Final tweaks to my wild card team. What do you guys think about the following changes?

    Current Wild Card-

    GK- Schmeichel, Pope
    DEF - Bauer, Francis,Lowton, Davies, Jones, Fernández
    Mid- Mkhitaryan, Sterling, Salah, Delofeu, Milivojevic
    FWD- Kane, Wilson, Agüero

    Changes-

    Sterling-> KDB
    Schmeichel-> Foster
    Davies-> Simpson

    Reason behind this is KDB is on fire. Have Leicester cover with Simpson & Can always ship out Aguero for Aubameyang in a couple weeks.

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I think i would do the changes you mention.
      Aguero move later gives cash

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

      you have 6 defenders

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Benching headache

      1. Neville& Sons
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Current WC team is..

        GK- Foster, Pope
        DEF - Bauer, Lowton, Simpson, Jones, Fernández
        Mid- Mkhitaryan, KDB, Salah, Delofeu, Milivojevic
        FWD- Kane, Wilson, Agüero

        (yea mistake with Frances), Benching headache?.. bit like Russian roulette right?

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          What’s your starting 11 and bench ?

          1. Neville& Sons
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Starting 11:
            Pope
            Jones, Bauer, Fernandez
            Salah, Deulofeu, Miki , KDB
            Aguero, Kane, Wilson

            Bench- Foster, Milivojecic, Lowton, Simpson

            Captain will be Salah or Aguero.

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              looks good

            2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Would prefer Fab over Foster if you have the cash

              1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 3 months ago

                Nvm just saw you own Fernandez

  19. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    DCL > J Ayoo
    Lingard > Doolfayoo

    Sounds good, so I've done it.

  20. Bleach †
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Mbemba & Adrian → Fabianski & C.Taylor

    Most boring transfer ever? 😆

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I'm close. See above.

      1. Bleach †
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Your's better.

  21. Perthite
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    So does Gw31 still have a Friday cutoff if the Tott v New game is postponed due to the FA Cup game or is the cutoff shifted to the Saturday?

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

      it will be saturday

  22. Joggers Nipple
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Who has C Taylor from BUR been covering?

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Ward

  23. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Can Aguero help out his patient owners with a hattrick tomorrow, while Kane & Salah get 2 pointers?

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Hope not... doing Aguero to Kane

    2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      2-0
      Otamendi ('23, Sterling assist)
      Otamendi ('89, Sterling assist)

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      would be epic but aguero probably blanks while salah gets another 15 pointer, rarely any suprises anymore

  24. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Liverpool have very nice fixtures upto and including gameweek 31. Surely Mane should be an option (even if you have Salah and Firmino) ? I haven't seen anyone mention him. Most good players will have a rotation risk so this shouldn't really be taken into account I think

    1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Mané out of form.

      1. Saka Rice
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        In the last 6 gameweeks Mane has returned points in 4 of those games.

        1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Fair enough, a decent option for the coming few. Options like Son and Mkhi are more exciting / explosive however.

        2. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          He has still looked rubbish though

          1. Saka Rice
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Fair enough. Im thinking Eriksen/delafeu/Mikhi would be a better shout after this gameweek? I have Salah Sterling Hazard Lingard and Choupa

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              All look good options

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

      1 shot on target every 180 mins on recent form

  25. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Start.. Mee or Ogbonna or Gomez?

    1. Mini Mane Mo
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Mee

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

    Morning chaps,

    A) Kenny > Bauer (Play Mili in a 3-5-2)

    or

    B) Kenny & DCL > Bauer & Wilson (Bench Mili in a 3-4-3)

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Mili penalty potential too much to ignore.. don bench him

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

        Is he a better option than Wilson away at Huddersfield though?

        1. Bonus magnet
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          i think so

          Wilson has yet to be consistent ,i think most have him purely on potential to deliver which for me is not enough

  27. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    morning all
    Bench order and captain choices ok?

    pickford
    valencia duffy martina
    mane lingard hazard(c) shaqiri eriksen
    aguero(vc) king

    coleman niasse maguire mbemba

    really tempted by Sha(c)qiri as I`m chasing .

  28. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Which pair do you prefer longterm?

    A) Firmino Eriksen

    B) Aubameyang Son/Theo

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      b

    3. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B I guess, but wouldn't make any changes this week

    4. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      cheers all. leaning towards B aswell as it seems the more maverick move (chasing in ml)

  29. Whattheheck!
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Cheap defenders for GW31. I'm thinking the best bets are Zeegelar and Bauer. Any others spring to mind?

    1. Saka Rice
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      why zeegelar and not Mariappa?

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Watford defenders against Liverpool ? You are better not having any one start 😉

      1. Whattheheck!
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Ha, yeah maybe you're right.

  30. weaver93
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    My defence is boogered.. 1.7m ITB

    Otamendi, Duffy, Christensen* ,Chilwell* ,Rosenior*
    add in Depoitre is 50/50 as well

    Adrian/Elliot*
    Otamendi,Duffy,Christensen* Chilwell*Rosenior*
    Salah,Sterling,Son,Lingard.Walcott
    Kane,Firmino ,Depoitre*

    Was thinking of taking a -4
    1 Christensen & Rosenior - VVD & Bauer or Lawton (Any other suggestions????)

    Next week
    Otamendi to Monreal..

    what you think guys??