3764
Podcast August 8

Scoutcast Episode 263 – squads and strategies for FPL Gameweek 1

3,764 Comments
Share

The start of the new season is just days away and the Scoutcast crew are still full of doubts about their 15-man Fantasy Premier League squads.

Andy, Az, David and Mark join me to mull over our likely strategies for the start of the 2018/19 campaign as well as reveal our current line-ups.

Across our 82-minute chat, a consensus emerges on backing Manchester City and Liverpool premium assets. But that could all change depending on tomorrow’s transfer deadline day deals and surprise team news.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth look set to supply our teams with a supporting cast of bargain enablers due to favourable fixtures. Well, for now at least.

But the groupthink soon breaks down when we discuss forward options, with Mark looking exclusively for value up top, while the rest of us are more keen to splash our cash.

The hive-mind soon returns at the end as we reveal our top choice for the Gameweek 1 armband, so to help those daring to shun a certain Egyptian we also offer up a host of alternative captaincy options.

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.

Also, this week we are publishing a series of videos looking in detail at each of the Scoutcast regulars’ current Gameweek 1 line-ups.

Rate My FPL Team #1 – Bargain Hunting at Crystal Palace

Rate My FPL Team #2 – Maximum Man City and Liverpool

Rate My FPL Team #3 – Daring to be Salah-less

Read more with Scout

Visit our PRE-SEASON PAGE to get the latest pointers from pre-season friendlies and read scout reports on new players by CLICKING HERE.

Pick your FPL team for 2018/19 using our list of best available players, sorted for your convenience by position and price:

Goalkeepers | Defenders: Budget | Defenders: Mid-Price and Premium | Midfielders: Budget | Midfielders: Mid-Price | Midfielders: Premium | Forwards: Budget | Forwards: Mid-Price |Forwards: Premium

Also check out our detailed statistical analysis articles on every team comparing data for the last two seasons to highlight the players to sign and the players to avoid:

Arsenal | Bournemouth | Brighton & Hove Albion | Burnley | Cardiff City | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Fulham | Huddersfield Town | Leicester City | Liverpool | Manchester City | Manchester United | Newcastle United | Southampton | Tottenham Hotspur | Watford | West Ham | Wolves

Read them all in one place

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the pre-season price of just £12.50. This will increase to the regular price of £15 after the first Gameweek of the season.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

3,764 Comments Post a Comment
  1. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Rate this squad please 1-10?

    Allison (Ryan)
    Azpilicueta, Cédric, Mendy (Boly, Wan-Bissaka)
    Neves, Sánchez, Salah, Richarlison (Cairney)
    King, Aguero, Zaha

    Open Controls
    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      How sure on Neves
      He does score worlds but he plays quite far away from goal..

      Open Controls
    2. Jackie Moon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Where has all you money gone? Having Cedric and Neves as starters doesn’t look great to me with all the ‘good’ mid price options available. Sánchez probably costing your depth, but hey if he scores big it will pay off.

      Oh and should be posting RMT’s in the RMT articles.

      Open Controls
    3. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      6/10
      Very week Midfield beside Sanchez and Salah.
      Way too much in defense and still end up playing Cerdic.

      Open Controls
  2. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Chaps help me fill the gap please max 8m.....

    ______ - Mane - BSilva - Salah - Stephens
    King - Aguero - Arnie

    Open Controls
    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      rich

      Open Controls
      1. Jackie Moon
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Agreed. Use the extra to improve defence.

        Open Controls
    2. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Lol I have those 7 players.

      Im deciding between Rich and Jota for the 8th spot

      Open Controls
    3. Flowsick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Structure wise a 6.5 would fit nice and you can use the extra in DEF. Jota, Richarlison, Maddison seem to be the best choices at 6.5M.

      Open Controls
  3. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Will hughes good choice for 1st 3 ?

    Open Controls
    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yep

      Open Controls
  4. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Zaha, Arnie, or Mitro + £0.5?

    Open Controls
    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3 but don't know he face palace and spurs in opening 2

      Open Controls
    2. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Would rather King + 0.5

      Open Controls
      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Already got him

        Open Controls
    3. Jackie Moon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Zaha! Palace fixtures are very good and he’s always involved in their goals. (But wait for transfer deadline to make sure he stays)

      Open Controls
  5. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    a) 5m (Costa/Cairney) and Bilva
    b) 2 x 6.5 (Mili & Jota/Rich)

    Open Controls
    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Why Costa over Neves ?

      Open Controls
      1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Neves DM. Costa flair.

        Open Controls
  6. Typo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    My conendrum got bottomed, sorry.

    Cant deside if I want 1 or 2 attacking Pool players.
    Think there will be alot of 60 min subs for firmino/mane/salah.

    Salah is obv in my squad, but I am considering a nailed 90 min eriksen over mane/firmino. Also helps that the risk is spread without going 3 LFC, 3 City.

    Thoughts?

    Open Controls
    1. Jackie Moon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I love Eriksen, but just don’t know what to expect with Spurs early games with so many late back from WC. So I have gone Mane. If he ends up with penalties he could be great.

      Open Controls
      1. Typo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks

        Open Controls
    2. AlexDelPiero
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I've been thinking about the eriksen/mane dilemma (Also have salah). I'm leaning towards eriksen just because he's always been so consistent and I don't have any other Spurs cover and he should be central to everything they do against a shaky Newcastle

      Open Controls
  7. Team Forza
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Is salah a must?

    Or could I risk splitting that cost across Mane & sane with a lower strike force?

    Open Controls
    1. Locarno
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      No player is a must.

      Well, except maybe that Salah bloke.

      Open Controls
    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      He’s OOP, nailed, lovely fixture... just broke FPL scoring record... about 1.0 underpriced... has an awful lot going for him.

      Open Controls
    3. Jackie Moon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I don’t think Salah will do as well this year (as my name suggests) but I still have him in my team. I see it as too risky to go without him! If he goes well and you don’t have him it will be hard to get him in with that cost, but if you have him and he doesn’t go well you can always downgrade after a few weeks.

      Open Controls
  8. ALIVE AND KICKING
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Can't decide guys

    A) Taa mane aube

    B) Robbo Sanchez firm

    Open Controls
    1. Deli Alli OxenFree!
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Those are really tuff, imo...
      I don’t rate Sanchez at all, so will go with A!
      *[LFC Supporter, and I actually like TAA more than Robbo! Trent is def a worse defender, but think he has the best service on our entire squad!
      In FPL, Trent has better attacking Potential (Crosses, long-shots, on Salah’s side for short Assist, Corners, and Freekicks); doesn’t get half as much bonus as Robbo; but is 1mil cheaper!
      ...if he didn’t get back into team late, he’d def be in my team from jump!

      Open Controls
      1. ALIVE AND KICKING
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks for your opinion, fully agree. A it is then. Fingers crossed & god luck - you need a head start in this game

        Open Controls
  9. DantheManinaPan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Is Neves on pens?

    Open Controls
    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Want to know this too

      Open Controls
      1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Yes, but wait for VAR next year. costa 18/19 flair pick.

        Open Controls
      2. Kemosabe1
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        He I wanna know as well

        Open Controls
    2. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      As far as I know he is even though he missed two in pre-season.

      Open Controls
  10. Mini Mahouse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Wildcarding early, playing 3-4-3, any suggestions?

    DDG (4.0)
    Shaw - Robertson - Bednarek (Peltier - Bissaka)
    Salah - Sánchez - Richarlison - BSilva (McDonald)
    Aguero - Arnautovic - Zaha

    Bednarek/Peltier/Bissaka rotate for the third defensive spot.

    Open Controls
    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Looks solid

      Open Controls
    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      If you downgrade Goalie - you can upgrade Shaw. I wouldn't have player like him with those 3 (4.0)

      Open Controls
      1. Mini Mahouse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        You're right, I think that's better. Thanks!

        Open Controls
  11. Am sorry to say again it�…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Quick Poll

    Richarlison or Jota?

    Open Controls
    1. Typo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Ive gone both. Think I would choose Richa if I had to

      Open Controls
    2. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I got both. It's too close to call! I'd pick whichever has the lowest ownership.

      Open Controls
    3. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Richarlson

      Open Controls
  12. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Jose Mourinho says @ManUtd 'ready' for new season. "From what I read + hear it is difficult to believe we finished 2nd. You (media) are capable of making people who finished 2nd look like they got relegated + people who finished below us look like serial winners."

    I think (media) should be replaced with (Manchester United fans) 🙂

    Open Controls
    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Sanchez hattrick tomorrow night?

      Open Controls
    2. Agger
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      He is right though.
      We finished 2 places behind them.. and apparently we're 10x better? Same goes with Spurs, biggest bottlers in English football.

      There's a huge agenda when it comes to United. They could win their first 10 games this season 4-0... And once they lose a game, everyone slaughters him saying he's killing football and killing young players. It's all mythical!

      Open Controls
      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        I just couldn’t get over the 19 point gap, it was surreal.

        Open Controls
    3. Typo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Donald Trump of Football

      Open Controls
  13. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    A) Salah + King
    B) Mane + Firmino

    Open Controls
    1. DDD909
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

      Open Controls
    2. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

      Open Controls
  14. Fantasynørden
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Pick one please.

    A) Luiz and Jota
    or
    B) Tomkins and Bilva

    Open Controls
    1. DDD909
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

      Open Controls
    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    3. Deli Alli OxenFree!
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      B
      (Luiz looked rusty, and Chelsea defense suspect)

      Open Controls
  15. Robbie Slater
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    A. Cedric
    B. Jagielka
    C. Steve Cook

    1. Zaha
    2. Tosun
    Don’t want Arnie

    Open Controls
  16. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Hopefully we can find out who is Arsenal’s penalty taker. If it’s Auba, then he really does start to look good come GW3/4-ish.

    If it’s Laca though, he should score quite close to Auba, for a lot less budget.

    Open Controls
    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      It's going to be Aubameyang.

      Open Controls
      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks Unai!

        Open Controls
  17. RossoneriHammer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Neves or Cairney?

    Open Controls
    1. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      C

      Open Controls
  18. The Mantis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    LAST DRAFT - please tell me it's OK? I can't chop & change anymore...

    DDG (Begovic)
    Davies / Robertson / Daniels (Wan-Biss / Bednarek)
    Salah (c) / Richarlison / Bilva / Cairney (Hudson-O)
    Aguero / Auba / King

    Thanks in advance!

    Open Controls
    1. Poppa Klopp
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Looks good except I think DDG is not going to earn his point value but that’s IMO

      Open Controls
  19. Red-United
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Please pick one from these players, FPL is driving me mad, so I'm letting you guys be in control of my destiny 😉

    A) Salah (13.0), Kamara (4.5), Tomkins (4.5), Tosun (7.0), Jota (6.5) = 35.5

    B) Mane (9.5), Firmino (9.5), Luiz (5.5), King (6.5), Stephens (4.5) = 35.5

    A or B?

    Thanks! 😀

    Open Controls
    1. Kemosabe1
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Dislike bothkamara and tosun together.... no thanks

      And the other team has no Salah...

      Open Controls
  20. Gol D Roger
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    No Dalot, no Matic, no Herrera, no Pogba, No Rojo

    no players who returned on Monday will play against leciester

    that leaves a very weak defence and midfield, defence and keeper options for united looking very bad at the moment, surely a risk for fpl

    Open Controls
    1. Gol D Roger
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      also no valencia

      Open Controls
    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Who the F are they starting in central midfield? Mctominay, Perreira & Fred?!

      Open Controls
      1. Gol D Roger
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        most likely

        DDG

        Darmian Bailly Lindelof/Smalling Shaw

        Fellaini Fred Pereira

        Rashford Sanchez

        Martial

        Open Controls
        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Maybe Mata instead of Martial? I got the feeling Martial might play because of the birth of the kid thing. How do you think Sanchez will do... to punt on him or not for GW1 is a big call

          Open Controls
    3. Link
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Not what he said: "They returned on Monday. They trained Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and today [Thursday] so you can imagine they are not really fit and ready but we have needs," Jose said of his players who were on World Cup duty.

      Didnt rule out Pogba/Lukaku etc

      Open Controls
      1. Gol D Roger
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        considering that no new players will be coming in, they may feature but probably off the bench, and maybe not at all if united get a comftable lead

        Open Controls
  21. ManTree(v2!) or just JAY!
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Best 4.5m goalkeepers for first 3 games?’

    Open Controls
    1. DDD909
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Begovic

      Open Controls
    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      It would be a Palace one if we were certain which was going to play. I'm still on Patricio - bit of class and easily first choice. I like Fabs, but fixtures and Adrian's surprising ability to dislodge competition in the long run puts me off a bit.

      Open Controls
    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Foster, Patricio

      Open Controls
  22. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    thoughts on going Mane over Aguero?

    Open Controls
    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Good call imo

      Open Controls
  23. Beatle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Any mention of Bailly being fit our injured in that presser??

    Open Controls
    1. Gol D Roger
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      no, but he did give a list of players that will 100% not feature, and bailly was not on it

      Open Controls
      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        thats good sign for us Bailley owners

        Open Controls
  24. Tornado
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    A) Aguero and 4.5m biling as a sub in a 442

    Or

    B) Eriksen and mitrovic in a 451

    Really just an eriksen vs aguero question

    Open Controls
  25. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    nyone got a spreadsheet with all the pre-season results. Trying to check who played how many mins

    Open Controls
  26. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I think Bernard is almost an Everton player. Richarlison's starting place is under threat then? Or Walcott?

    Open Controls
    1. Scotty B
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Not rich he's just signed for 40m haha

      Open Controls
  27. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Two players I'm looking at for last ditch defensive tinkering.

    Ben Davies - how good an option is he if Rose leaves? I suppose that might not happen right away to be fair.

    Callum Chambers - not mentioned much, but cheaper than Mawson and a decent goal threat.

    Thoughts?

    Open Controls
    1. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Will Chambers be nailed?

      Think Davies is one of the stand out options at 6.0 along with Robbo and VVD.

      Open Controls
  28. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    A) Mane + Jota + 0.5(Incase I need to upgrade AWB/Peltier/King or get KDB for Mane)

    B) Mahrez + BSilva
    Last decision left to make really.

    Open Controls
    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      B for me

      A) if Mane + Richarlison/Mili

      Open Controls
    2. Poppa Klopp
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

      Open Controls
  29. noquarternt
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else dreaming of Kovacic at 6.5 as a playmaker in front of Kante and Jorginho?

    Open Controls
    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      no

      Open Controls
    2. Agger
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Kovacic couldn't be a playmaker, even if his life depended on it!

      Open Controls
    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      With his one goal a season average? No thanks.

      Open Controls
  30. Frank Koscielny
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    A) DDG/4.0+ Bilva
    B) Patricio/4.0 + Mahrez
    C) Patricio/Foster + Bilva + 1itb
    D) another 17,5 mill combo

    Open Controls

You need to be logged in to post a comment.