Podcast

Scoutcast Episode 275 – Floored

Points ceilings and floors dominate proceedings on our latest Scoutcast as Joe, Az, Luke and Neale look over the key issues facing managers ahead of Gameweek 13.

A chief concern is who to replace red-flagged Benjamin Mendy with, after the Frenchmen underwent surgery last week. The enticing points floor of clean sheet returns offered by the full-back’s Manchester City team mates, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, appeals to Luke.

Meanwhile, Joe prefers the higher ceiling offered by the likes of Everton left-back Lucas Digne, who has been posting some impressive underlying statistics lately to suggest attacking returns are on the way.

As well as defensive issues our community questions section also cover the value offered by Toffees assets across the pitch, and whether 12.4m priced Harry Kane is worth the outlay when Spurs fixtures turn.

Whether Anthony Martial’s six goals in his last five matches is a sign the Manchester United attacker is  in form, or merely overperforming, is also discussed.

We also find time to look back at the previous set of matches and ahead in detail to Gameweek 13, including the best differentials, strongest clean sheet prospects and our transfer plans.

Captaincy options are also considered, with the maverick selections of Az, Luke and Neale leaving dullard Joe stunned.

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 or the first player below. Or you can take in the full visual experience via the second player below.

It is also worth mentioning that FFScout moderator Rotation’s Alter Ego has collected this latest episode’s timestamps to help find particular sections. This can be found as the top comment in the Youtube version.

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

1,297 Comments Post a Comment
  1. mdm
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Richa or Martial?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Martial

    2. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Martial

    3. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Rich 100%

    4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Rich 2000%

    5. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Both

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Now we’re talking.

  2. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Any news about Docherty?

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

      Pressers yet to come.

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Doherty*

  3. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Must have striker for the next few gameweeks, iv 12.4 itb

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Aguero

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Just got rid

        1. Dosh
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          To get whom?

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            To strengthen my mids.
            I want Laca Arnie and Ings/Wilson and started the changes now for GW16 onwards. I will have Sane and Sterling. Big risk I know

    2. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Probably Aguero

    3. skully
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Lakazette

  4. noquarternt
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Fabianksi
    Doherty Alonso Robertson Bennett
    Salah Sterling Mané Fraser
    Agüero Arnautoivc

    Stek, Success, WanB, Stephens*

    2FT 0.0 ITB

    Any thoughts? Stephens is banned for 3 weeks but is my last bench option most weeks.

    1. dylano21
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Would get rid of mané, maybe for Richa or Martial. You could upgrade Success or Stephens. Success to Jimenez maybe.

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

        Yeah cheers was thinking along those lines. Keen on Martial, maybe with Fraser -> Richarlison?

        Like the Success -> Jimenez move as well.

    2. Merlinsnose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Can you do Mane to Martial, Sucess to Jiminez?

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

        Yes indeedy

  5. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Fraser + Wilson
    or
    B) Jiminez/Rondon + Martial -4

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

      Think B with Jim if it's for a while.

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      A surely

  6. Sndeshdhkl
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Start bennet or neves??

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

      Bennett

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

    ppl here joke about a bennett goal, we shouldnt rule it out..

    at the age of 28, he has had 16 career goals and scored twice in the premier league before when he played for norwich.

    bennett(c)?

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

      Don't see why not. The myth on here about Van Dijk's goal threat persists so why not Bennett's?

  8. mdm
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Digne or Smalling?

    1. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      One plays for a mid-table team with an awful goals conceded record. The other plays for Everton.

    2. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Neither

    3. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Digne

    4. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      none of them imo

    5. skully
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      digne dominating the left side ...and his stats also very impressive...

  9. jose1
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Has anyone read anything on gundmundssons injury?

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

      Don't think you'll hear anything until the pressers.

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

      I think I read somewhere that he was pictured back in training... so should be fit to play

    3. George James
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Whatever you do don’t trust what Sean Dyche says

  10. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    City have kept the maximum cleanies this season (alongwith Liv). But with there upcoming fixtures of WHU (away), BOU (home), WAT (away), CHE (away), is City defense "essential"?

    I think all these games should see a lot of goals and I feel that City attacking assets may fare better than their defense. So may be a double up on their attack is much better than a def + mid/fwd... thoughts?

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No defender/defense is essential except goalalonso

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

        Agree with Alonso... would have Robbo up there too

    2. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Agüero + Sterling owner and very happy. Without Mendy I'm not crazy for any of the rest of them with Alonso and Robertson about.

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

        Thinking on similar lines but with Sane instead of Aguero...

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

          Should be good, you know the risks though!

    3. NOMONEY
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      without mendy, it feels like there is better value in city attackers, so yes i agree with what you are suggesting

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

        Thinking on similar lines but with Sane instead of Aguero...

    4. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      not 'essential' but pretty much expect 3/4 clean sheets in the games you mention so suggest having one imo

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

        Interesting... IMO I can see city conceding at BOU, WAT and CHE too...

    5. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Looking at their stats and xG they could potentially get clean sheets in all of those. If it weren’t for Ederson’s antics in the box they would have had 2 clean sheets in their past 2. Defence is necessary if you want to maintain rank imo given their ownership levels

      1. George James
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        You lost me at xG

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Why? Expected goals conceded

          1. George James
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Load of rubbish that’s why

            1. IRBOX ⚽
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Statistics are rubbish? Doubt you are any good at FPL in that case

              1. George James
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Didn’t say that just xG. You have made my point in your first comment. All it takes is for an “Ederson mistake” to mess the stats.

            2. noquarternt
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Propa football

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

        I agree to the ownership and impact on ranking... not having a city def and if they get a cleanie could be bad...

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Agreed

        2. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          not if your pick also keeps a clean sheet

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

            Ofcourse then it negates... the thinking is that City are more likely to keep a cleanie than perhaps some of the other teams...

    6. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Just get one City defender and stick with it, one less issue to consider and potential transfer to ignore ... you won’t regret it when the mids & forwards are rotated 🙂

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

        Thanks!

  11. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    4 years until the World Cup starts

    No FPL over Christmas

    Boo Hoo

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

      There'll be a breakaway Super Euro Liga by then anyway :'(

  12. George James
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Best option for this gameweek?

    A) Doherty + Arnie (Bennet first sub)

    B) Bennet + Digne (Arnie first sub)

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      A

  13. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Would you do
    Mendy + Brooks to Schlinder + Martial(-4)?

  14. skodaole2
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Waiting for press conferences, since Maguire and Lascelles are definite issues and dont want to take a hit to drop any of them, is Andre Gomes worth it? Havent watched Everton lately but i keep reading that he is a great player, improved the teams gameplay etc. His history proves he has goals to give but dont know if he is worth the fourth position in midfield. Any EVE fans maybe know more about it?

    1. minges
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Just... no.

  15. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on this?

    Patricio
    Robbo Alonso Stones
    Hazard Martial Rich(vc) Fraser Salah(C)
    Aguero Arnie

    Hamer, Bennett, Kamara, AWB.

    0.FT.

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

      Looks strong... Bennett over Arnie?

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Was considering this. Arnie isn’t likely to score well.

    2. George James
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Looks great

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

  16. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    morning dzz, No idea what to do with my 2fts and 0m itb...plan to WC in gw16

    Patricio -- Foster
    Alonso • Robbo • Doherty -- Schindler Awb
    Salah • Hazard • RIch • Maddison -- Camarasa
    Kun • Arnie • Ings

    some options include:
    A: Maddison + Ings >> Wally/Schurrie + Jimenez. Will play Awb in gw14 when Wally/schurrie have a tough fixture

    B: Maddison + Ings >> Martial + Success..and then play 442 with schindler/awb rotating

    C: Schindler + Maddison + Ings >> Duffy + Martial + Kamara (-4). Similar to B but play Duffy who has better fixtures till gw16

    D: Maddison + Ings >> Paterson + Murray/Mitrovic

    E: Schindler + Maddison >> Smalling + Patterson

    1. bhamz_pride
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I would look to get in everton cover in defence this week maybe digne for schnidler

  17. bhamz_pride
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Fab, foster
    Alonso, Doherty, Robertson, WanB,Digne
    Haz,Rich,Albrighton,Mane,Shaq
    Aguero,Arni,Wilson

    Who to start and who to bench?? In a dilemma...all help is appreciated.
    Also would you do Mane to Sane for -4
    Already done mendy to digne this week

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

      Fab WanB and then up to you...probs Albrighton and Arnie? Unless you think Arnie will score?

      1. bhamz_pride
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks thats what i done so far could you justify mane - sane for 4 point hit

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

          Probably not this week.

  18. DeVuk
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Fraser --> Martial for -4?

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

      As long as you're not upset about getting him back for big cash later in the season- then yes.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Aye. This is why I decided to go 352 and ditch Mitro.

        I feel there’s more value in midfield than a 3rd mid priced forward.

    2. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Contemplating the same

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      big noo

  19. Riders of Yohan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Current team after taking out mendy, any obvious upgrades for a hit?

    0FT £1.9ITB

    Patricio / Foster
    Alonso / robbo / Digne / bennet / AWB
    Salah / Hazard / Anderson / Fraser / hoijberg
    Aguero / arnie / jiminez

    Would like richarlison or martial in soon.

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

      Anderson to one of them could be justified this week...

    2. bhamz_pride
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yee think alot of people will be captaining rich this week

      1. Riders of Yohan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah could definitely justify the hit

    3. Ray In Bruges.
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Anderson to Martial might be worth the hit.

      1. Riders of Yohan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        What about David silva?

        1. Ray In Bruges.
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          That's a good shout but I feel you may be better served having some cover for other teams.

    4. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks all, then it’s a case of martial vs richarlison? Wait until Friday too?

  20. Merlinho
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Mendy and Berkley to Stones and Martial for a hit - what do you think chaps?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Good moves

    2. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Stones rest a concern.

  21. Ray In Bruges.
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Patricio (Fabianski)
    Doherty Alonso TAA Laporte (AWB)
    Richarlison Salah Hazard Fraser (Stephens)
    Wilson Aguero (Arnie)

    1FT, 0.3ITB

    GTG? Bench someone else in place of Arnie? Appreciate any feedback.

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Good to go

    2. Evanlution
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      For me I would bench one Bournemouth player. 2 is abit risky imo.

      1. Ray In Bruges.
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I feel this one's going to be a goal fest; Bournemouth way more likely to score than West Ham.

        1. Evanlution
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Got this feeling Arnie will score 1 and Laporte won’t have clean sheet

  22. jia you
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    A Huddersfield goal and a Richarlison blank would be nice this GW!

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      This is hate speech

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Haha, prob the only manager on this site with no Wolves defence and no Rich!

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      huddersfield is pretty muck locked to happen with all these double-triple Wolves defense flying around 😆

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Seen a few triple ups alright, bloddy 'ell, and loads and loads of double ups! Doherty OG and Patricio RC is on the cards 😉

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      pipe downn.Likely triple wolves defense and rich owner

  23. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    GTG?
    2FT + 0.6m to sort things out.

    Ryan
    Alonso, Robbo, Laporte, Doherty
    Haz, Salah, Rich
    Kun, Arnie, Jimenez

    Button, Fraser, Murphy, Balbuena

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      To sort what out?!

      1. SPorting
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I know. It's like the 3rd week in a row I'll be burning an FT.

  24. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Would you rather have Martial or Jimenez for the next 3?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Martial

      1. KUNingas
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        This

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      surely martial of these 2

  25. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Which option:

    1. Wilson >> Jimenez (frees up funds for Luiz >> Alonso next week)

    2. Tomkins >> Doherty (bench Luiz)

    Thanks.

    1. Ray In Bruges.
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I like 2 better.

  26. bigbudgie
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Worth a hit to do one of these (and which one)?

    A) Mendy/Yedlin/King > Alonso/Vinagre/Jiminez -4
    B) Mendy/Cairney/King > Alonso/Camarasa/Jiminez

    The quality of the 5th mid is irrelvant, need to leverage the money to stretch to Alonso

    Or rather

    C) Mendy/King > Alonso/Ings (no hit)
    D) Forget Alonso

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Thing is I'm quite fond of King, and not sure if he's fit yet

    2. bhamz_pride
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Hard to forget alonso imo

    3. bhamz_pride
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      C for me

    4. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      C

    5. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      C here

    6. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      if king is confirmed fit i am keeping i think.Arsenal gave away 2 pens vs palace.Here's hoping

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        king to zaha vs burnley next week could be a huge differential the week later and is what i am keeping an eye on

        1. bigbudgie
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          But if he's fit then he's got HUD the week after too

          1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Have my wc so looking at short-term punts

      2. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        yeah...it's a niggle...getting rid of him. I still think he's such great value.

  27. PvA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Maddison and Success ➡ Camrassa and Jiminez -4

    Would be a switch to 343... thoughts?

    1. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not sure it is worth a hit, but Maddison have to go

    2. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I would keep 5 playing mids and sacrifice a forward. Defenders hold the best value per point by quite a margin ATM

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not for a hit imo

    4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      no chance if mad is fit

  28. BIGREDDOG
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Who's doing Mendy to Trippier now

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Would be a mistake imo because of spurs fixtures

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No one with a bit of sense 🙂

  29. mash
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Morning all, kept 2FT for the international break, what do you reckon is best use of them?

    Patricio
    Alonso Mendy* TAA Doherty
    Salah Hazard Richarlison Fraser
    Aguero Jiminez

    Fabianski Arnautovic Hojberg AWB

    0.2 in the bank

    A) Mendy and TAA to Robertson and Digne
    B) Mendy to Laporte and save an FT (leaves 0.5 in the bank)
    C) Something else

    My first choice is A - not sure if the TAA to Robertson swap is too sideways, but Robbo seems like he'll be better value and (hopefully?) less prone to rotation...

    1. Evanlution
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I would Mendy to Robertson, keep TAA save ft. GW 15 downgrade hazard to 5.0 up Jimenez to Kane. 🙂

      1. Evanlution
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Mistake... Won’t have enough fund. Maybe have to downgrade hazard to even lower mid or swap mendy with someone els.

  30. spikkis
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    fab (hamer)
    alonso dohterty robertson TAA (balbuena)
    rich fraser salah hazard (guendozi)
    mitro aguero (arnie)

    2FT 0.4ITB
    What would you do with this team?
    Planing to get jimenez for mitro
    Should i consider something else?
    I dont know if TAA would be rotated very soon so mabye digne?