Podcast

Scoutcast Episode 286 – Hopeful

Recorded during the last few minutes of Gameweek 28’s fixtures, the Scoutcast crew cling to the hope of huge points hauls right to the final whistle. 

For Az and Joe, though, the evening proved particularly frustrating as they are left to settle for a mere dribble of 11th-hour returns from the likes of Paul Pogba.

At least one of the crew saw their hope rewarded. Special guest Adam Hopcroft, who was filling in for the red-flagged podcast pair of David and Luke, ended the night on 62 points to set him on course for his sixth top 10,000 overall finish. 

Amid the excitement of a Gameweek finale, the crew also find time to mull over the key players, teams and talking points of the week.

Chelsea’s strong fixture run comes under scrutiny, as does the potential of a Leicester side under new management following the appointment of former Celtic and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. 

Chip strategy is also revisited with recent injuries to key players and the strong form of Newcastle presenting further challenges and opportunities as Fantasy mangers navigate the upcoming blank and double Gameweeks.

Gameweek 29 is then looked at in detail, with clean sheet and differential prospects put under the microscope. 

Proceedings take an unusual turn when Monty Python’s Life of Brian and He-Man earn mentions.

The crew finish the show by revealing  their transfer and captaincy plans. As the old football cliché goes “they can take the despair, it’s the hope that kills them”.

This Scoutcast was first beamed live via our YouTube channel on Wednesday 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

2,335 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Scoutcast!

    1. Union_Jacks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Listening now!

    2. Scotty B
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Is it a good one?
      Will listen tomorrow on my break

  2. MASTER ROSHI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which of these sounds better?
    A) Richarlison, AWB > Luiz, Barnes (-4)
    B) Richarlison > Maddison
    C) Richarlison > FAnderson

    Fab
    Robbo Pereira Doherty
    Salah Mane Pogba Son
    Vardy Jimi Arnie
    (Rico Richa AWB SCook)

    Thanks in advance!

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. vityovics
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

  3. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Chilwell or Pereira?

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      if .4 is important for u, then chillwell

  4. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Building for 31
    Fab
    Robbo TAA Doherty Bednarek
    Salah Sane Rich Son
    Aguero Rondon
    (Stek, Ings WB Camarasa)
    2.3Itb 2 FT

    A) Son -> Hazard, Save FT
    B) Sane, Ings -> Hazard, Barnes
    C) Son, Ings -> Pedro, Vardy
    D) Other ?

    1. S3
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B or C

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

    Which one are worth a hit? Considering to do all for -8

    A) Kolasinac (spurs, MUN) -> TAA (eve, BUR, ful)
    B) Son (ARS, sou) -> Hazard (ful, WOL, eve)
    C) Richarlison (LIV, new, CHE) -> Maddison (wat, FUL, bur)

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Struggling to see how Maddison is worth a minus 4.

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

        Thanks. Richarlison dropping tonight and dont like his fixtures

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Do the full monty

  6. Doolittle
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kiko and Son to Luiz and H Barnes? Desperately want Sterling or Aguero but not sure I can find a way to do it (I will be FH in 32 and WC 34).

    Fabianski/Steele
    Robertson/Digne/Doherty/AWB/Kiko
    Salah/Hazard/Pogba/Son/Anderson
    Rashford/Jimenez/Rondon

    2 FTs, 0.4 ITB

  7. Benditlike
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    King or Fraser for the blanks?

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      king in good form. i am getting king for jimenez after gw 29.

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      King but then Wilson could return

      1. Regin
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        even if wilson returns, king will start.

  8. DR0GBA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Wildcard??

    Fabianski
    Luiz Robertson Pereira
    Salah Pogba Anderson Jota Son
    Auba Jiminez

    Woodman Barnes AWB Kolasinac

    Into..

    Patricio
    TAA Robertson Luiz
    Mane Sterling Hazard Pogba
    Vardy Rashford Barnes

    Fabianski Hayden Schar AWB

    A) Yes
    B) No

    1. ROYALNUTT
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B.

    2. Johnny 8
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

  9. DanLynch
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) Digne > Luiz
    B) Aubam > Higuain
    C) try get hazard in

    1. markmcr
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Chelsea are too hot n cold

    2. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      a. chelsea looking better in defence than attack lately. and digne & everton are rubbish

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A or C.

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Luiz over Digne certainly - he simply has more ways of returning. Worth s transfer? Dunno.

      I’d go B

  10. Big Ping
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Are there likely to be more games in gw33 than gw31, or vice versa?

    1. MASTER ROSHI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      There will be less games played in 31

    2. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      def. more games in 33 than 31.
      gw 31 5 games confirmed.
      gw33 maybe 6 or 7 games..

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      5 confirmed for 31.
      6 minimum for 33.

    4. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      33 has 6-9 vs 5 in 31.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        6-8*

    5. Big Ping
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all. I think a fh31 makes most sense for me then. No wc so kinda screwed if I build for the blanks and at least I could use tc in 32!

  11. jorgenoj
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Son + Auba --> Mane + Higuain for a hit?

  12. ROYALNUTT
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    BARNES!
    If you could pick one Barnes to have the next 5 gameweeks who would you pick?

    Ashley or Harvey? No Johns please

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      ashley

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Harvey as s cheap filler - limited expectations though.

  13. Killitzer
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What’s a more pressing transfer-

    1. Sané —> Mane (have Salah and Aguero)
    Or
    2. AWB or SCook (both inj) —> Duffy or Diop

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      1. sane out of favor. even if he starts, gets subbed before 60 mins.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      1 if you don't think Sane starts on Saturday.

  14. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    My GW27 transfer of Pereira (-4) still have not reached breakeven after 2GWs and he will be on the bench this week

    Fanderson the same 🙁

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      What a disappointment

    2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Damn, Bednarek clean sheet last time out.

    3. Greek Flair
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Let’s hope for the infamous new manager bounce

  15. Goat
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on why hazard was subbed? Tired from the weekend?

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yep no news but that’s the general consensus- didn’t look at it

    2. Greek Flair
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He was just tired. Played 120 minutes during the Carabao cup final and ran all game He’ll be fine for Sunday

  16. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone come up with a convincing argument to decide on Vardy or Higuain yet?
    I presume they are both still near to price rises.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Neither is mine, prefer the money in midfield.

      Hope that helps 😀

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        True but I'm saddled with Auba and even if I take a hit it means say Hazard and a dirt cheap striker. I could get Barnes and then Hazard the following week I guess.

  17. andrewe63
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Scoutcast:

    Salah post Mortem incoming

    Higuain and Hazard gone from troll to essential?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      After HUD, Hazard & Hig were being bigged up for a double up, could be the time!

  18. The 5% Team
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Would you play Pereira (vs Watford) or Kolasinac (vs Spurs)don't see clean sheet in any match, so hoping for assist returns. Currently on Kola because of his last match assist

    1. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pereira probably, same boat

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        yeah...coin toss probably

  19. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Doing Auba to Higuain...
    Any reason to wait until tomorrow night or just do it now before Higuain rises?

  20. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Apart from Wolves and United, how many teams we can expect to have a double in GW32 ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Man City, Brighton and one of Watford/Palace for a start.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Another 4-8.

      Nothing confirmed till after GW31.

    3. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks

  21. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) Son&AWB to Hazard&Van Dijk for a hit
    B) Son to Hazard
    C) Son to Mane

  22. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else considering salah > mane

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Have both

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Got double pool defence

        1. Garth Marenghi
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah, I went Mane and Salah, with 1 Liverpool defender, your selections won this past gw

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            I only had Salah last week. I live in a dark place

        2. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Captain hindsight here 😀
          Or it is captain kneejerk

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Have both

  23. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Best of these through to GW33?

    a) Schmeichel
    b) Fabianski
    c) Dubravka
    d) Heaton

  24. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    genuinely dont know what to do, having a terrible season.
    usually i expect a few decisions to go against me, but pretty much every transfer has blown up in my face in the worst way.......feels like a losing battle
    I have two transfers, but dont know who is the priority

    AWB - red flagged
    Son - got no return since i got him in 2 gws ago and now hes dropping in price
    Pereyra - one of the worst buys ever
    Richarlison - ditto (sold siggy though didnt i 🙄 )

    have nowt in the bank, so what say you?

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Get TAA and or Mane for Son and AWB even if needs a - 4.

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        They cost near 2m more based on probable selling price

      2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        thing is i have VVD, i was thinking about doing VVD to TAA to free up money, but the 2 goals last match made me think otherwise now
        I have robertson and salah too, so cantt get mane.....unless i risk selling salah (which given my season would lead to back to back salah hatties)

        might just get schlupp in for AWB

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Schlupp is a decent call as oop but he’s not tied on even if Roy seems fond of him.

          You could keep Son - he still has 2 decent fixtures and may yet be an ace in the hole in 33. If you took Rich down to Puncheon say could you get to Hazard?

          Pereyra needs to go. Fraser seems best there - from next week anyway.

  25. Scotty B
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Any reason to not do Laporte > Luiz tonight?

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      seems like a good move yes

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I was going to post exact words 😆

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If a Laporte drop would price you out, nope.

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Presser could come and Luiz is Ill or hurt.

  26. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Fab
    Doherty Pereira VVD Robbo
    Salah Pogba(C) Jota Son
    Higuain Vardy

    Subs: Button, Camarasa, Llorente, AWB

    1. HD7
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      G2G mates?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        i'd say GTG pal, is Jota fit?

        Any advice for the below move 🙂

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      happy with Jota? Have him as well, but tempted to transfer him out

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Last GW for him and then Jota Llorente to Brooks/Fraser and King

        1. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          yeah...Cardiff is a nice fixture, on paper....but Huddersfield was as well

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            They also list to Cardiff last time out too - just as with Huddersfield.

            Think I may well move Jota on now - triple Wolves was always a folly really.

  27. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    This a worthy move guys for -4?

    Auba + Camarasa >> Barnes + Sterling

    Would captain Sterling for weekendif i do it.

    Thanks

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      yes go for it

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers bud

    2. HD7
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      My strategy is not to buy players who dont have GW 31 and 33 at the moment. But thats me. I FH in 32. Maybe you will in 31 🙂

  28. drughi
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Crazy to consider Aguero>Higuain for this week ? have sterling

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      risky, but at least you gain a player who has 31/33 fixtures, and a possible DGW32

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Higuain looks like he's running through molasses

  29. vityovics
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is there any good reason not to use the FH chip for GW31?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      DGW32.

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Plenty

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on your team set up mate

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      33

      Ic you can’t do 31 then 33 will also likely catch you.

      Arguably 33 I’d hhe week to FH anyway as the likely ceiling is much higher

  30. Daxus
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Are people keeping Son?

    Considering swapping him for Higuain, which would mean selling Rondon too.
    So Son —> Kanté/Brooks
    Rondon —> Higuain?

    Make sense? Or should I keep Son and Rondon?