Podcast

Scoutcast Episode 263 – squads and strategies for FPL Gameweek 1

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.

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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

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Join now to get the following:

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

3,764 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Big Jari Litmanen
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Best forward for £6m or under?

    A: Wilson
    B: Jimenez
    C: Other

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

      a

      1. Big Jari Litmanen
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Deli Alli OxenFree!
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Get 0.5mil from somewhere mate!
      Mitrovic & King both look great shouts—prob double the returns of anyone under 6.5 imo

      1. Big Jari Litmanen
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks

      2. Frank Koscielny
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        This

    3. SGTMacaroni
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I think its Austin

  2. Team Forza
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    New to FPL...
    RMT......!!!!???

    Patricio
    Robertson Bertrand Mendy
    Salah sane Richarlison mhki
    King Aguero zaha

    Boruc neves bissa Peltier

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

      nice team good luck

  3. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    hey guys.. can any of you please help me with the following dilemmas -

    1.
    a. De gea + 4.0
    b. Foster + Fab

    2.
    Already have salah. Should i go -
    a. Mane
    b. Sanchez

    3.
    a. Coleman
    b. Bavies

    4.
    Best 5.0 midfielder -
    a. Wilshere
    b. Cairney

    1. Frank Koscielny
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      B
      A
      B
      B

    2. Deli Alli OxenFree!
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      1) I like Set-&-Forget... So, A
      2) Mane
      *3) Bavies! *Strong Opinion
      4) Cairney...also like Kennedy(but bad fixtures for NEW)

      1. subhojit123
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        thank u so much guys

    3. Pascal Struijks Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      1 - A, but you might get more value for a 5.5 + 4.0 split.

      2 - How's your man city coverage in midfield/attack? From those two A.

      3 - A as more nailed for pitch time for me, but Everton look shaky at the back so you're relying on attacking returns. Clean sheets don't look likely.

      4. B. I'd also look at Costa or Neves (if he doesn't miss another penalty!)

  4. Our Man Charlie
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Formation at moment is 4 3 3

    originally set on Salah (c) BSilva Mane now switched to

    Sanchez (v) Gross Salah (c) with Cairney and Kennedy on bench

    not sure on gametime for Silva and Gross is man man for Brighton

    thoughts ?

    1. athreya
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Brighton fixtures are horrible. So not sure Gross is good enough for a 3 man midfield. I would still go with Bilva. He’s nailed on for first two matches I think:

      1. Our Man Charlie
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        thanks Athreya

        Silva did look good on Sunday Mane or Sanchez is now the question 🙂

    2. Greek Flair
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Bsilva is locked into pep's 11 for the first 3/4 weeks.

  5. Frank Koscielny
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Please advise
    A) Jota Richarlison Firmino + 0.5 itb
    B) Jota Mane Arnautovic
    C) Richarlison Mane Arnautovic

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      A if u have Salah

  6. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Sanchez or Mane for the first 2 GWs?

    Will turn into KDB afterwards.

    1. Our Man Charlie
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      sanchez would be a straight swap if no money mane would need money ITB or via 2nd transfer

      1. DV8R
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yes, I have 10.0m

    2. Big Jari Litmanen
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Mane. Liverpool score for fun & he will be involved

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

      Mane! Not sure Sanchez back to his top performance

    4. King Carlos
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Easy Mane

  7. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    aguero or mane

    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Aguero 100%

    2. Big Jari Litmanen
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Aguero

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

      that's not apple to apple, 100% aguero

      it could be mane if you show your team

  8. RIDZ
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Shaw or Jones?

  9. ABK_94
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    RMT
    Patricio Fabianski
    Cedric Bellerin Duffy Smalling Alexander-Arnold
    Eriksen Sanchez Schurrle Neves Sane
    Kamara Aguero Firmino

  10. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Have I finally cracked it?

    Pickford
    Mendy VVD Shaw
    Richarlison Salah Sanchez Mane
    Kamara Aguero King

    Stekelenburg AWB Peltier McDonald

    1. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      yes

    2. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Almost perfect... I’d gamble on TAA and upgrade Pickford to Ederson Allison or DDG

  11. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Sanchez or Eriksen+1.0

  12. The Man With The Plan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Shaw or Bailly?

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Bailly if he’s fit and you can afford him as he’s nailed long term

      1. The Man With The Plan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah i have the .5 spare for the option so it's just fitness and preference really between the two

  13. HAMMERTIME107
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    AUBAMEYANG & NEVES (3-5-2)

    OR

    LACAZETTE & ARNAUTOVIC (4-3-3)

    HELP PLEASE???

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Aubamayang and Neves for sure

  14. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on Kovacic at only £6.0M ??

  15. Team Forza
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Please RMT.... new to FPL!!
    Staying away from salah. Trying something different to everyone...

    Patricio
    Bissa Bertrand TAA
    Mane sane Sanchez Richarlison
    Zaha firmino auba

    Boruc neves pereira Peltier

  16. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Would you rather have Jota 6.5m midfielder or a 6m defender i.e. Davies?

    1. Team Forza
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Jota

    2. Markus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Davies

  17. HAMMERTIME107
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    What's Stronger Please ???

    Ederson
    Ben Davies | Tomkins | Robertson
    Richarlison | Lucas Moura | Salah | Neves | Bernado Silva
    Aubameyang | Aguero

    or

    Ederson
    Ben Davies | Tomkins | Robertson
    Richarlison | Lucas Moura | Salah | Bernado Silva
    Lacazette | Aguero | Arnautovic

    I think Lacazette will end up with roughly the same pouints as Auba? And Arnie more points than neves?

    1. AndrewTavey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Second team is much better IMO but i'd go Firmino instead of Lacazette for first two fixtures.

  18. ABK_94
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    A) Aubameyang vs Augero
    B) Hazard vs Sanchez

    1. GianniBanani
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      GW1: Aguero and Sanchez

      Longrun: depends on Chelsea form, Aubameyang ROOP possibility, Aguero rotation risk

  19. TwiggsJameson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Is Joe Hart going to play for Burnley, or Heaton?

  20. ABK_94
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Laporte is nailed??

  21. Leeds2116
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Arnie, zaha or tosun

    1. Sourav_07
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Tosun

  22. Leeds2116
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    anyone going arnie zaha and tosun up front. allows for a epic mid

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      And a shite front 3 😉

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Harsh but true

      2. Leeds2116
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        depends all could bag goals haha

    2. GianniBanani
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      No single hit possibility in front is biggest issue here

  23. GianniBanani
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Probably my last headache:

    A) 5.5 DEF (Luiz/United def) + Richarlison (6.5)
    b) 4.5 DEF (Boly or Kabasele for rotation with AVB and Peltier) + Bilva (7.5)

  24. DanLFC1
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Richarlison or Jota? Or other 6.5?

  25. HAMMERTIME107
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    PLEASE RMT

    Ederson
    Ben Davies | Tomkins | Robertson
    Richarlison | Lucas Moura | Salah | Bernado Silva
    Lacazette | Aguero | Arnautovic

  26. Siggy in the Middle
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    So according to Jose's press conference, Bailly will be fit. He mentioned the players that would miss out through injury and Bailly isn't one of them.

  27. Sourav_07
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on lovren, cedric and holebas?

    1. BRONALDINHO
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Lovren should be good gw3. Cedric plays for a bad Southampton team, Holebas could be good

  28. chair28
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    best 5.5 defender?

  29. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Martial now an option again ? Looks like he’s going nowhere??.....

    1. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I don't think he'll start tomorrow

  30. BRONALDINHO
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Zaha and a 4.5 mid in 3-4-3, or Pedro and Kamara in a 3-5-2?