Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 258 – Freebie

Arriving in the midst of a lukewarm Double Gameweek, the latest episode of the ScoutCast is more intent on looking ahead as the entire five-man crew press the button on the Free Hit chip.

We’re back to full strength, as Granville, Jonty, Andy and Az join me to discuss our approach to Gameweek 35’s slimline schedule, inspired by another round of your community questions.

That attacking riches on offer from Manchester City and Liverpool dominate the early chatter, as we give our take on the run-in targets least likely to suffer from rotation to feature for Free Hitters and the “chipless” this weekend.

We then pan for Gameweek 35 gold in less familiar territory, as we re-open the Coleman vs Baines debate ahead of their meeting with a Newcastle outfit perhaps already in flip-flops after four straight wins.

End of season template busters help round things off before we career into the regular weekend preview to offer early thoughts on the Gameweek armband.

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.

2,431 Comments Post a Comment
  1. semiconductor
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    I just need ur opinion on that question please. I am WCing next week anyway and probably will get Vardy as my 3rd striker.

    This week I have 12 players but there are rotation risks. I can do Vardy+Vert to Jesus+ (cpl/new defender) for -4.

    Is it worth the hit? In this case I will lose 0.2m to get vardy back next week on WC

    Thats my current team
    Butland
    Robertson-Baines-Lowton (Long)
    Salah-Sterling-D.silva-Ozil-Milo
    Auba-Firminho

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      The question is, why would you want Vardy back with Leicester being utter garbage?

      1. semiconductor
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Maybe i will reconsider but he was consistent the past few weeks honestly. You think I should take the hit?

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          In my opinion, yes, in a heartbeat, but there will be ay sayers, but i say go for it, Leicester are on the beach already.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 15 days ago

            nay*

          2. semiconductor
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 15 days ago

            Thanks for ur opinion. Should i get tomkins or lascelles in ur opinion?

    2. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      I would take the hit

      1. semiconductor
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks. I think I will. Tomkins or lascelles u think?

  2. ceerus
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    Lukaku > Jesus (-4)?

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      I would.

    2. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Yep

  3. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    Hearing rumours that TM might resign as a mod because of a changing schedule. Who do we want as a replacement? I think we need a breath of fresh air, someone who dares to challenge the collective group-thinking. My vote goes to FPL Virg.

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Are you having a laugh

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      No resignation.

    3. Nascimento
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Show TM some respect.

    4. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      There's no way I could fill even one quarter of one shoe of TM.

      FFS would be an infinitely poorer website without him. This place would genuinely seriously suck without him. I don't even want to think about it. ** Shudder **

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks for the vote, though 🙂

    5. BRFC1883
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      We all love TM, get back in your box.

    6. Point-one short
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Virg's 2nd account confirmed.

  4. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    Last Man Standing GW34 🏆

    Safety score = 90
    Top score = 117
    LMS average = 91.34

    76 : 33 eliminated
    43 through to LMS QF.
    50% or minimum 22 out next GW.
    Well done to all the survivors. 🙂

    1. RED HOT CHILLI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      91 points 🙂 and into the top 50,000 at last. tough year 🙂

    2. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Got to hot for me, good luck to those still in it. Thanks again TM... 🙂

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Great run Fitzy 🙂

    3. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 14 days ago

      Phew 94 (-4) so I guess I'm through to QF if there won't be any players out with that same score

  5. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    Rank updated

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Time to smash up the computer.

  6. Alan The Llama
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    OR updated

  7. Viper
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    OR updated

  8. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    Just confirming if I did say Mahrez>Sterling FT then activated free hit the Sterling transfer gets wound back??

  9. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    What's the consensus here between Jesus and Auba?

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Jesus > Auba.
      Let's see if tomorrow's Pep talk changes things.

      1. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        That's how I'm leaning too but Jesus is set to rise tonight.

    2. Ibracadabra
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Auba likely to be rested according to Wenger, many not including him at all.

      1. Ibracadabra
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        *Rotated

    3. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Both essential

  10. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 15 days ago

    How many points did you get today and how happy are you with it?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      12 and not very.

      1. Rik Waller
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Yeh me too. Could've been worse. Small rank rise for the day

    2. Nascimento
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      104.

      Not at all

      1. Nascimento
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Feel like I let my fans down

    3. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      17 from 3. Hoped for more from Mahrez tbh.

    4. Licious Lizard (delete acc)
        6 years, 15 days ago

        18 points from 7 incl. Alonso

      • TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        6 and no.

        1. Rik Waller
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          😀

      • che
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        28 from 7, including Willian now show. Mostly differentials, so over the moon.

        1. Rik Waller
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          Nice. Who were they?

          1. che
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 15 days ago

            Barnes, McCarthy, Chilwell. Didn’t see that nil nil coming though

      • Robben Mee Blind
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        21. Very!

        1. Robben Mee Blind
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          *make that 20. Still happy!

      • Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        5 points today from 6. Bit gutted. But a good weekend overall with a nice green

      • ignis88
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        20 and not very. Vardy goal or Burnley CS would have been great

      • firetog
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        6 players 12 points. Horrible

        morgan =0
        alonso=0
        willian=0
        vardy =2
        mahrez = 3
        barnes = 7

        moved up to OR 384 though so could be worse.

    5. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      First time in top 10 k this season at 9400 . No free hit will usher me back out at weekend though I expect.

      1. Rik Waller
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Who knows mate. FH for GW34 equalled a red arrow for many

    6. FPLShaqiri
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Is there is no Liverpool lineup leaked earlier, where is the best place to find it a minute before deadline?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        The same place.

    7. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Wow. I had a horrendous start with 28p from 15. But ended up with a green arrow! 13k 😎

      1. Point-one short
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Nice! Up to 17.4k from 26k here. 🙂

    8. bennyp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Few potentially unpopular opinions this week:

      1. Newcastle will beat Everton, so drop pickford/baines/coleman.
      2. City v Swansea won't be a whitewash. Swansea will score, they also have so much to play for, whereas City don't. I think tripling on sterling/kdb & jesus is overkill. Don't take Kompany/Ota/Ederson.
      3. Westham also need 3 points for an added buffer. I think Arnie is a good pick and I wouldn't be taking any Arsenal defenders. Drop Mustafi/cech.

      Side note: Stoke v Burnley is very tough. We all (myself included) are expecting Burnley to win. Both teams have a lot to play for, arguably Stoke a lot more. I think both will score. Shaqiri is a good shout.

      Defence: I think Liverpool (i'm biased), Newcastle and Palace offer the best defensive options this week.

      Mids: Salah + Sterling/KDB. Then Arnie/Shaqiri/Zaha/Ritchie

      Forwards: Wood + Firm + Auba/Jesus/Perez

      A rule I give myself when punting is to never bet against teams with a lot to play for. I think we have seen the results of that in the past few weeks with the bottom 5 sides, West Brom in particular.

      That said, punt of the week: Burnley win + over 1.5 goals at $4.50.

      1. BRFC1883
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        what are these odds? you are advising staking $4.50?

        1. bennyp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          No the odds are 4.5/1. Australian betting companies show odds as a dollar value. So 4.5 to 1 is shown as $4.5 odds.

      2. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Wise words. I'm inching closer to a triple up on city for a -12, but at the back of my mind is what you just pointed out. I'll double-down and say:

        Jesus might be the most disappointing transfer after the dust has settled this weekend.

        But I'll probably still end up getting him, just to follow the herd. *sigh*

        1. bennyp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          I'd split the risk a bit more. I see Wood/Perez just as likely to bag one as Jesus.

      3. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        City will crush Swansea

    9. drughi
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      45k hmm think I will have to settle with a top 20k rank this season

    10. minges
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      bench points for those who BB this week?

      23 for me, Gudmundsson starred. Disappointed in the actual starting 11 tho.

      1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        17. Acceptable

      2. Point-one short
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        11 pts, but starting 11 did well

      3. Expected Toulouse
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        14 that included Adrian (0). So i will take that.

      4. ignis88
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        20 with a 0 from Hennesey

      5. TallestJohn
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        23 with Gudmundsson here too, highest bench score of season.

        My lowest 4 scorers that I could've benched would've scored 12 which is also my highest of the season (highest BB for my team before this week would've scored 10).

      6. Nigel Tufnel
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        26 from Foster, Milivojevic and Schindler.

    11. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      OR updated

    12. Aubaaaaa
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Who will you sub out?
      A. Hazard
      B. Sanchez

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Owned both, both on the choppimg block. But I sold Sanchez this week as I needed the funds released. Hazard is still in my team for now.

    13. AxeMinion
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      How essential is Salah this week?

      Who would you prioritize between Salah & KDB?

    14. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      free fall

      1. Robben Mee Blind
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Is that a new chip?

    15. Point-one short
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Almost certainly will change, but thoughts on this lot? Too risky?

      Pickford
      Baines Robertson PVA
      KDB Sterling (S)alah Zaha
      Auba Firminho Jesus

      Nordfeldt | Milivojevic, Chambers, Long

      1. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Looks good, shame you can't squeeze Milli into the starting 11, but leaked Liverpool news might change that.

        My only suggestion would be to avoid going triple city in attack, choose one between KDB and Sterling and upgrade your defence. There's a fair to reasonable chance Swansea could make life difficult for them.

        1. Point-one short
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          Thanks for the reply. I think City will play it as an exhibition match and smash Swansea.

      2. barracuda
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        FirmiNo

        1. Point-one short
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          You think he's rested?

    16. Manani
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Alonso > Otamendi

      or

      Son > Sane??

      already got Sterling

      1. Duffy Dunk
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        B

      2. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        both

    17. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Dropped 20,000 places on a DGW free hit.

      I'm holding my head up high, though. Anyone could of got the Mahrez-Willian-Son-Gross GW32 Wildcard Template. I'm proud to have thought independently and tried something different.

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Do all you jackets tie at the back?

      2. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        You still have your WC, right?

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          Wildcarding around noon on Saturday.

          1. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 15 days ago

            Might be best to leave Sanchez out of it.

            1. FPL Virgin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 15 days ago

              😆

      3. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Brave and might still work out for you with the remaining unique chip strategy.

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          Unless I break into the top 5K, it's a season of abject failure for me. I set myself high standards.

          1. DAN DARE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 15 days ago

            Youre yet to get a top 5k finish. You must hate your life

      4. Hoofedgod
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        same same! got an aweful 60 on my FH. Captain Sanchez and Long on the bench.

        O well, Bench boost 37 on it's way!

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          Lots of high profile GW34 FHs had a mare. Alex Ball. FPL Kat. And more.

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 15 days ago

            Who?

      5. Rik Waller
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        There were 430 (top10k) other poor sods who used a FH this GW. You weren't the only one with such a poor plan 😉

      6. minges
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        TBF the idea of WC in 32/33 BB34 FH35 TC36 is only half done, so cant be judged completely yet, and neither can your strategy... stick to your guns and follow your plan and it may work out

        just don't be a smug a hole about it if it does 🙂

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          I stay quiet when I do well. I avoid posting a good score on here because I know it can make people who are having a mare feel low.

      7. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        plenty of people chose Sanchez they just don't bang on about it

      8. barracuda
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        You can easily finish top 10k

    18. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Climbed 80 odd k with my 93. Not too shabby.

      Nail FH and il be laughing.

    19. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      What are people making on the Wenger comments on Auba? Wildcarding next week, is it worth a hit to make Auba into Lacazette or an alternative?

      1. Duffy Dunk
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Auba was almost a certainty up to Wenger's comments. Kane + Jesus seems to be the way to go.

        1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          A certainty to play? I thought he was saying he was unlikely cause they want to get ready for the Europa game so will play a similar side? Unless i just misread

          1. Duffy Dunk
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 15 days ago

            That's what I said. Auba was favourite until Wenger said he wants to play a similar XI to the one he'll play on Thursday.

            1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 15 days ago

              Ah right, i misread your comment then

      2. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Defo not worth a hit to Laca.
        To someone else? need to see your entire team to judge that.

        1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          Pope
          Long, Monreal, Dummett
          Salah, Milivojevic, Sterling, Arnautovic
          Firmino, Jesus, Aubameyang

          And then all my bench arent playing! But i have plenty of money in the bank too, could afford anyone

      3. Manani
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        what's the cokmment?

        got auba in my team, probably won't change him to jesus though

        1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 15 days ago

          Wenger will use Sunday as preparation for the @EuropaLeague SF meaning Aubameyang may miss out: "He cannot play on Thursday. I am not sure to play him at the moment. Most of the time [after Europe], it was a help. But when you prepare, it is a handicap that he can’t play." #AFC

          according to Ben Dinnery

    20. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Close to 200k rise after this gameweek! Now on to tackling gameweek 35... who needs a free hit anyway!

    21. che
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      How’s this for a Bench Boost transformation. 4 points yesterday, 26 today! Note to self: It’s not over till the fat lady sings

    22. Kasper the ghost keeper
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Anyone taking a chance on Tosun for the free hit?

      1. minges
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Personally going big up forward on FH.. Tosun might be a good sneaky differential tho

      2. DAN DARE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        As it stands, yes, but will upgrade to Firmino if we get a confirmed start

      3. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Could be an interesting differential espec. with the uncertainty about Auba. My only concern would be that Newcastle seem to be playing much better and Everton truly are dire. I have Walcott (no FH) but wish I didn't.

    23. semiconductor
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      Just for this week
      1. Tomkins (or any other cpl defender)
      Or
      2. Lascelles (or any other new defender)

      1. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        2.

    24. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 15 days ago

      No replies on last page 🙁

      I have no idea what to do with my team this week. Or rather so many ideas I'm paralyzed by choice. Already on a -4 :
      Foster
      Mawson VVd Long
      Sterling Salah Walcott Milli
      Firmino Auba

      DDG Willian Alonso Wilson Ake
      3.1itb
      ?
      Team doctors, any advice greatly appreciated.

      ???????

      1. semiconductor
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        I would sell alonso or wilson for a playing one

      2. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Upgrade Wilson, plenty of template options up front.

      3. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks alonso to kompany and wilson to jesus it is.