Podcast

Scoutcast: Lukaku and the FPL ‘form versus fixture’ debate

Joe is joined by Andy and Seb to help Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers prepare for Gameweek 9.

After mastering the art of nappy changing, Seb and Andy return to the Scoutcast from paternity leave to attempt to get the better of Gameweek 9.

But the next set of fixtures presents several problems to add to their sleepless nights.

Chief among the challenges is the worrying form of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku (£11.7m), who is enduring a goal drought in the league ahead of a fine run of fixtures starting with relegation-bound Norwich.

The poor form of another captaincy candidate this season, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5m), is another concern.

Meanwhile, there are several form premium picks vying for the armband.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) and his sensational form is certainly catching Joe’s eye for the captaincy in Gameweek 9, while Andy and Seb are adamant that fixtures will give birth to fine form regarding Chelsea’s wayward striker.

During a heated debate, the Scoutcast crew put across their arguments regarding form versus fixture.

Elsewhere, there are cheap midfielders to consider as changing fixture runs and form see a number of FPL managers look to shake up this central area of their team.

Before ducking out early to resume baby duties, Seb runs through the latest over and underachievers.

Joe battles with a new pair of glasses as well as a troublesome microphone lead.

There’s a particularly interesting rough with the smooth round-up of the community’s Gameweek 8 tales of woe and joy as well as several viewer and listener questions to consider.

The Scoutcast’s community team, which they are managing on behalf of a top manager who is taking a break this season, is looked at.

In a packed show, there are also fixtures to frisk, differentials to consider and the crew finish off with a final look at their Gameweek 9 transfer and captaincy plans.

This week’s episode was aired live via Youtube on Tuesday 20 October. Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel to get notified of future live episodes. It is also available as a podcast.

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

374 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    How come there's Europa League games on Tuesday and Wednesday this week? I know it's just a couple but is this a new thing or a one-off?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      league cup bruh

  2. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Start 2 this week:

    A) Jota
    B) Semedo
    C) Livramento

    1. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      AC

  3. jackruet
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez
    Trent christensen rudiger cancelo
    Salah sarr raphinha
    Ronaldo Antonio jimenez

    1 ft. What to do?

    1. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      ron to ron or vardy.

      1. acidicleo
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        ron to rom or vardy

  4. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Very much depends on Alonso minutes tonight but which do you prefer this week?

    Current team:
    Foster
    TAA / Alonso / White
    Raphinha / Salah / Smith-Rowe / Foden
    Jimenez / Ronaldo / Antonio

    Bachmann / Livramento / Semdo / BIssouma
    1FT 0.5 ITB

    A) Alonso > Dias / Cancelo
    B) Antonio > Toney
    C) Save transfer

  5. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What do you think? Ronaldo out for…

    A) Kane (free)

    B) Son (-4)

    I already own Lukaku if that helps

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      If you get Son who are you getting up front?

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        If it's Hwang, yes for me

      2. Ci Siamo
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Maybe Toney but then I have a benching headahce

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          This is the good bench season, as things stand

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

    On wc.

    What to do with Benrahma (and Antonio)?

    a) If I did Benrahma + Antonio to Son + Toney I would need 1.0m cut from somewhere.
    b) Just replace Benrahma with some max 7.7 priced mid (who)?

    Raya (Foster)
    TAA Cancelo Chillwell (Livra White)
    Salah Raph Mbeumo Benhrahma (Brownhill)
    Lukaku Antonio Jimenez

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Don't like Jimenez much tbh. Would rather play 5 in midfield.

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

      Antonio is not a fire sale. Current Spurs are good for him

  7. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Really feel for Bruce. His interview with the Telegraph is very sad, and he’s handled everything with a lot of dignity, imo.

    The weird thing is, that whenever I’ve watched Newcastle play, they’ve been attacking; it hasn’t been Benitez style men behind the ball. Perhaps he’s been naive in that sense, trying to give the fans what they want.

    They clearly lack a decent centre mid who can be a solid foundation. Shelvey offers the quality but too often is a liability. Add a commanding centre back and fullback and I think they’d be alright.

    There was a game the other week where (maybe vs Leeds?) where he was on the touch line discussing moves to make with his coaching team, and literally trying everything to help improve the performance. Fans were booing regardless and he looked exasperated. I was worried he may have a heart attack.

    Hope some Newcastle fans write him a letter thanking him for what he tried to achieve and he can rest up and enjoy a holiday. He’s a good man, from what I can tell.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Well said

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks mate, felt I had to say something.

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

      Cops an undue amount of flak. Respectable enough manager.

      The 12th placed finish last season may have been a touch flukey but in truth matched anything Benitez achieved in the prem. The 10th placed finish was quite as flukey and from a lower points total.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        The players were still playing for him too. Not sure how Danny Rose still makes a PL team, but other than that they were close to picking up results.

        1. zes
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Lies! He lost the dressing room when he dropped Darlow by leaking it the media. The players wanted him gone ages ago. Jones has been running training for ages. total, total nonsense

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            Really wasn’t aware of that. My perception of what I saw on the pitch was the players putting in a shift, but mistakes and naivety costing them. Almiron, Willock, Joelinton, Ritchie, and ASM (in possession at least) never downed tools.

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Couldn't agree more, he was hounded out of the job from the minute he took it. Of course any managerial job with such public scrutiny will be difficult and stressful but everyone was on his back from the very start, "fans" and media alike. He should have had a chance to prove he deserved the job at the club he watched as a kid but never had it.

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Unfortunately, it was his association with Mike Ashley that did for him. Anyone appointed by Ashley would have been given the same dogs abuse by Toon fans.

        They really had to get rid, though, and remove all links with Ashley that they could. Bruce will have received healthy compensation and won’t struggle to find future employment.

    4. zes
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      what a load of patronising nonsense. You haven't got a clue what's been going on at Newcastle - why does everyone have to give an opinion on things they know nothing about? We are bottom of the league for every stat you can imagine, 35% possession across his time in charge, 5 wins in the last 37, talked down the club from day one. Wouuld this stand anywhere else? Anyone who watches Newcastle regularly will know how badly things have slipped since Rafa left. 97% of fans wanted him gone according to a local newspaper's poll. 97%! When does that happen. The bloke hasn't got a clue. Hadn't managed in the top flight for 4 years before Newcastle and will never work in it again.

      If anyone wants to read a decent account of why he's gone and how his reign was, there's a good article on the athletic. It explains how the players have wanted him gone for ages. It'll be a better insight than that of teary Man U glory fans who watch two Newcastle games a season and think that makes them experts.

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 5 months ago

          THANK YOU! they all seem to know more than actual Newcastle fans somehow

        • Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Very well said. Newcaslte fan here who has watched our every game under Bruce. Absolutely shocking

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            It's nothing to do with what's been going on at the club, or people thinking they know more than fans, it's about a decent guy getting dogs abuse whilst trying his best. Maybe his best wasn't good enough and maybe he should have been fired ages ago, but nobody deserves that, including his family who have to read it..

        • zes
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          And for those banging on comparing him to Rafa - Rafa made a PROFIT at this club. Bruce took on that squad, got Joelinton, ASM and Wilson and took it backwards with a £100m net spend.

        • tallboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          It's the internet.

        • Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Wow, such vitriol. There was nothing patronising about my post. It was a comment regarding the type of abuse a man who loves the club and has been trying his damnest, has been getting. To the detriment of his health and family.

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

        and he doesn't need a holiday. He took a week off after we took one point from our first three games and got knocked out of the cup. First the players knew of it was when he didn't turn up for training. He then rearranged training to accommodate his flight back. While we were in the relegation zone... yh great coach

    5. DavvaMC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Thoughts on Jimenez I have been thinking of transferring for Toney.

      Good idea?

      Thanks

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

      Any chance Joe can give his whimpering request for 'likes' at the start of each podcast a rest for a few weeks.

      That's like clapping for someone just because they are there - if I like the content then at the end I'll give it a like.

    7. willos_wanderers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Any changes needed here:

      Ramsdale
      TAA - Dias - Cancelo - Rudiger
      Salah (c) - Saka - Raphina
      Jiminez - Lukaku - Antonio

      Foster - Livramento - Gallagher - Browhill

    8. dansully3
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Any update on dcl? Fixtures are gravy going on.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Suffered a set back apparently and wasn't due to return right away. So out for 2 or 3 at least in all likelihood.

        1. dansully3
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Disaster, he's being missed in the predictable teams by everyone at this stage!

    9. ADucksBehind
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Depending on 2 of:
      Alonso
      Cancelo
      Rudiger

      To play feels to risky.
      Alonso to Dias the move?

      1. dansully3
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Wait for Chelsea line up and mins tonight. Alonso could be savage the weekend!

    10. artvandelay316
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Keep Captain on Mbappe or move to Lewandowski?! I am struggling to decide!