Podcast
29 March 2018 3353 comments
Mark Mark
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Wildcards are very much active among the ScoutCast crew, and while only three of us make this latest episode, all five are in play ahead of the Double Gameweeks.

Not surprisingly, our rebuilding programme dominates the discussion as Jonty and Andy join me to reveal our current squads and our chosen strategy leading into the remaining seven Gameweeks.

In an exhaustive and in-depth episode, the three of us also look back on the success of the Free Hit in Gameweek 31. Then we attempt to offer a balanced view on the variety of chip tactics from this point on, with a team-by-team analysis of the player targets to consider.

We fail miserably of course, with our own bias no doubt shining through, though the conclusion is an uplifting one: whatever your chosen route with the chips to Gameweek 38, we will all win out in the end.

Unless you don’t have your Wildcard and Free Hit, in which case you’re now consigned to spending the next two months behind the sofa and hate us all anyway.

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.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

  1. VardysParty
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Which two out of Mkhi, Son and Willian for 2 GWs?

    1. mcsteely
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Mhiki

  2. ooooo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Which one?
    A) Mustafi + Tark + Gross
    B) alonso + Tark + King
    C) Vert + Millo + Robertson

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Concrete
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      A

  3. La vida FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Morgan or Chilwell?

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Captain Morgan

    2. Viper
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Morgan. Chilwell too risky with Fuchs available too

    3. *sigh*
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Morgan by some distance.He was unlucky in cup game not to score.

    4. Buzzy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Morgan nailed,Chilwell risk of rotation

  4. Viper
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Right, I'm settled

    DDG Ryan

    Alonso Bailley Mustafi Morgan Lowton

    Salah Mahrez Son Willian Gross

    Aubameyang Vardy Barnes

    Gwk 34: Mustafi & Aubameyang - > Verthongen & Lukaku (Bench Boost)

    Gwk 35: FH

    Gwk 36: Lukaku & Gross - > Kane & King (-4)

    Gwk 37: Triple captain Kane

    1. Weeb Kakashi
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Template exact

      1. Viper
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Yep. For a reason

    2. GreenArrows
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      This is my plan too, got 13/15 players, Azpil and Smalling instead of Alonso and Bailley

    3. WVA
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Hate to say it but i think thats perfect, very jealous.

    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      come on, still time for some extra tinkering 😉

      1. Viper
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Nah. Sick of it now 😆

  5. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Pick one

    A Hazard Christensen Lowton
    B Son Alonso Vertonghen

    Have Willian

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      b

    2. Johnny 8
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      B

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers all

    3. Viper
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      B

    4. Buzzy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      B

  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    morning all

    a ausin and hazard

    b auba and gross

    i feel a 15 points at home to w ham to hazard, are we putting too much faith in auba ??

    thank you 🙂

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Austin is returning back from injury, so B

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks. if fit would you still say b ?

    2. Buzzy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      B

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        thanks

  7. GreenArrows
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    How does this look? 0.7itb, usual Lukaku for GW34 move

    DDG Ryan
    Azpil Smalling Mustafi Morgan Lowton
    Salah Son Mahrez Willian Gross
    Barnes Auba Vardy

    1. Weeb Kakashi
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Why Azpi and No Alonso?

      1. GreenArrows
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Trying to go different and do something else. Still on GW32 now and nothing in it, 1 point over the season so far....rather save the 0.3

        1. Weeb Kakashi
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Azpi does well in bonus and more nailed than Alonso too.

          You could as well replace Azpi DDG Smalling with Courtois Bailly Valencia for nailedness at the same price.

          1. GreenArrows
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            Hmm good point, will look at that

  8. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Here is a nice little activity....

    What event in FPL has made you seethe the most?

    For me, it was when I captained Coutinho last season and he came off injured after 10 minutes on MNF

    1. Knowledgeable meerkat
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      TC kane in January - when I saw him named on the bench vs Swansea....

    2. jimmyskyblue
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      This season: Dropping Kane for a brief spell of tricky fixtures, for him to immediately score 2 hat tricks in 3 days. I think he had even blanked a number of times in the run up.

    3. Rash
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Selling Alonso before his brace against Leicester. Selling Kane before his explosion against saints and Burnley. Selling kane after he blanked against hull birnley at home then went on another rampage. Captaining Jesus then broke his foot after 5 mins at Bournemouth. The list is endless

      1. jimmyskyblue
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Haha you win

        1. Rash
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Bar the jesus incident they were all just very poor decisions and I got punished to the max

    4. Viper
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      When I decided (after long deliberation) to not sell Ibrahimovich for Lukaku.

      Lukaku scored 4. Everyone captained him.

      This season, its a small one but drove me mad. Mee first sub with 8 points & Davies came on for about 30 seconds to block it

    5. mookie
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I captained Dzeko a few seasons ago, who was the only fit City striker. He got injured in the warm up.
      The same happened to my RvP(c) as well. Maybe the same season?

      1. andy85wsm
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        That was rubbish at the time but then great because I brought in this young £5.5m forward called Harry Kane for him the next GW. The rest is history.

        1. mookie
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Yep, not sure i got him exactly after that but i was very early on Kane as well.

    6. Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Aguero being benched by pep last season when I captained him.

    7. Ciro Di Marzio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      It’s a long time ago now but I remember selling Berbatov right before he scored 5 for United. I’d held him through countless blanks and as soon as I sold him he scored 5!

    8. Buzzy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      bringing in Fuchs for a string of 1's and 0's last season

  9. jimmyskyblue
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Start Gudmundsson or Austin this gameweek?

    1. Buzzy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Gudmundsson

      1. jimmyskyblue
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks

  10. Knowledgeable meerkat
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Seeing a lot of attention here being paid to the likes of gross, Gudmundsson, lingard etc in that 5th mid role for dgw34

    But is there not someone we’re forgetting? A player with 4 goals and 2 assists in his last 8 matches....

    Stanislas’ next fixtures:
    wat
    cry
    Dgw (albeit tough fixtures)

    Good fixture vs Southampton in 36 too for those post free hit in 35

    I’m on WC this week but Stan is going nowhere. Not with that form and his fixtures/DGW

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      He's ok but injury prone plus Bournemouth are dire

    2. Weeb Kakashi
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      High Injury risk.

      Great talent and will probably do well but i think Gross on set pieces and more nailed edges it for me.

    3. jimmyskyblue
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Agree. If hed been 1m cheaper I’d have kept him despite having no DGWs.

      1. Konig Luther
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        he has one.

        1. jimmyskyblue
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Ha so he does. Thanks

    4. Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Good call meerkat, his free kicks last gameweek were fantastic.

    5. doublyG
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      If DGW was better I'd have him in

    6. Buzzy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      tougher dgw fixtures

  11. chelseabrad
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    How am I looking? On a wildcard with no FH chip

    DDG Fabianski
    Otamendi Monreal Morgan Lowton Ward
    Salah Son Willian Mahrez Kenedy
    Auba Vardy Barnes

    Cheers!

    1. Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Looks pretty good, I have the same attack

  12. Tronity
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Which two for the next two weeks?

    a) Lukaku and Vardy
    b) Lukaku and Aubameyang (Aub > Vardy in 34)
    c) Aubameyang and Vardy (Aub > Lukaku in 34)

    1. doublyG
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      C

      1. VardysParty
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        You’re saying you’d prefer vardy over Lukaku in the next two?

        1. doublyG
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          I think so. Doubt he'll do much against City. Vardy could easily score in both of his

  13. ooooo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    prmwct
    DDG
    Bailly Mustafi Lowton
    Salah Mahrez Son Willian Gross
    Auba Lukaku

    Ryan Barnes Tark Morgan

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Aubu and Mustafi to Kane and a cheap defender for DGW34 ? If so your defense is looking weak for the rest of the season.

      1. Jeremy Corbyn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I don’t think that’s the intended plan. Also you need roughly 2m for the upgrade. I’d get him for a hit, downgrading Mustafi and possibly Willian.

  14. PlayPercentage
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    I am benching Kane for this GW.
    Sounds like he will be back next week against Stoke, one of the worst teams in the Premier League.
    Also, he will be fully rested for the run-in.

  15. Triple Crap
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else wet for Charlie from GW36 or just me?

    1. CloudSky
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Will be injured come 36.

  16. Stokelona
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Rate my wildcard team. FH 34, BB 37 no TC.

    Ederson
    Walker Mustafi Lejeune
    Mkhi Sane Salah Mahrez
    Barnes Aubameyang Vardy

    Hart Morgan Vertonghen Clucas 0.1m itb

    Plan to get Kane in 37 by upgrading Vardy and downgrading Salah

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      How much more will it cost you to buy Salah back for GW35 FH ?

      1. Stokelona
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I haven’t sold Salah. Reply fail?

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Your planning to, and when Kane plays this GW or next, getting him for DGW34 rather than DGW37 will be a necessity.

          1. Stokelona
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            I’ll do the change after gw36. I can have Kane in gw 34 anyway with my free hit.

            1. Stokelona
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              Sorry if it wasn’t clear

              1. bitm2007
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 8 months ago

                it's me I missed the DGW34 FH

            2. bitm2007
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              so you can, only concern on Salah would be Brighton in GW38 then.

              1. Stokelona
                • 9 Years
                7 years, 8 months ago

                Yep that could be a big haul especially if he’s going for the golden boot and Brighton have already survived!

                1. bitm2007
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  7 years, 8 months ago

                  I'd leave enough ITB to get him back.

  17. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    If your planning to have Kane for DGW34 BB, do you prefer

    A) Son and Lewis Cook on bench

    or

    B) Willian and Gudmundsson on bench

    1. Johnny 8
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. Buzzy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      B

  18. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Pick one

    A Gross Smalling(Double United defence)
    B Lingard Christensen (Double Chelsea defence)

    Will be having Gross for 32 and 33

  19. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Morning all! Care to rate my team? Plan is exact funds for Auba -> Kane for GW34

    DDG
    Bailly Tarkowski Alonso
    Salah Mahrez Willian Gross
    Lukaku Auba Barnes

    Ryan Albrighton Lowton Morgan

  20. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Today's press conferences
    0900 Bournemouth
    10:30 Everton
    12:30 Newcastle
    13:30 Liverpool
    13:30 ManCity
    13:30 WHam
    13:30 WBrom
    14:00 ManUtd

    1. Viper
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      How these wildcards are going to be ripped up 😆

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        only two of those 8 (United and Bournemouth) have a DGW34, so I doubt many will need ripping up.

        1. Viper
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Mainly Smalling backers then 🙂

          1. bitm2007
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            I surprised he's in so many WC teams with Jones due to return.

            1. melvinmbabazi
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              His on my WC

    2. FC Lackless [BALEGIUM]
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      cheers

  21. Jaok
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Repost: Been fpl afk this easter..
    Would you wc this team now? Or wait for 32?

    Courtois*
    Ota Mee Robertson Shindler
    Salah Mahrez Stanislas
    Auba Firmino Mounie

    Elliot Daniels C.moting* Walcott
    6.1 itb ^^

    Was thinking just do niasse -> auba and maybe a -4(?), just to do the wc when it closer to 34. The team feels sh.it tho..

  22. Mikkman
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    For budget options on wc team, which do you prefer:

    A) Gross and Barnes
    B) Murray and Gudmunsson
    C) Lingard and Barnes

    1. VardysParty
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      A

      1. Mikkman
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers!

  23. Ryan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Perhaps its ill advised but think I'm going to FH34 and back Liverpool, Arsenal and City assets over Leicester, United & Chelsea. Purely a form thing, United struggling, Leicester nothing to play for and Chelsea being a bit meh. I can see it definitely paying off over the next 2 GW's anyway. Also it would be a differential team from the mainstream with potential big rewards.

    1. Viper
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Good luck. You'll need it 😉

      1. Viper
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Ah, could well pay off. WC, BB & TC available?

    2. Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Welcome to the FH 34 club!

      1. Stokelona
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        You know it makes sense.

    3. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      like the idea of Liverpool assets - particularly if not WCing. Bournemouth looks a terrific fixture with Liverpool attack & the way Bournemouth give up chances
      Arsenal can take through to GW34, use in FH GW35. They progress in Europe & Auba looks the only decent option.
      Issue really is game time & rotation for City & Liverpool with CL and the fact both have derby games GW33 in between CL games.
      Key Leicester, Utd & Chelsea assets probably offer steady rather than spectcular returns.

  24. VardysParty
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Son or Mkhi for next two? Will turn into Gross to find Kane in 34.

  25. Philip Jones's Diary
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    What do we think about Alderweireld? Worth a punt for the run in?

    1. CloudSky
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Im waiting on him for 34. Toby + 0.2 over Vert any day. Just need some confidence that he will play most of the games with Sanchez and Vert there.

    2. Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I had him in but switched to Vertonghen because some people told me Poch may freeze him out

  26. CloudSky
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    With Clyne back, thats a no for TAA for the next two, right?

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, he was already a big rotation risk either way.

  27. openerhm
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Rate my Wildcard Team! BB34, FH35, TC37.

    Courtois
    Vertonghen Smalling Lowton
    Salah Son Mahrez Gross Willian
    Aubameyang Lukaku

    Ryan Austin Stephens Morgan 0.9m itb

    Plan to do: Gross and Auba -> King and Kane in GW34

    1. Euro Raiders
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      7/10 imo

      1. openerhm
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        How could I improve it?

        1. Euro Raiders
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Austin? Courtois, he is a doubt? Auba... not for me. Good defence. Helps if you provide a link to your team.

    2. Concrete
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      6/10

      Too much Soton

      1. Stokelona
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Two double gameweeks though and cheap...

      2. openerhm
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        For me Austin wouldn't play til GW34 and after I can keep him or go J. Ayew. I agree with Stephens, he's gone for Dunk.

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Your D's a concern for this GW and next. Stephens to a Brighton defender would help and obviously Austin is a risk given how long he's been out.

      1. openerhm
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks! So Barnes and Dunk might be better?

    4. Stokelona
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I’d say it’s better than a 7/10, his attack for 34 will be Lukaku, Kane and Aubameyang! And the rest of the team is still solid. And he has all his chips and a good plan. I reckon your team value must be pretty healthy

      1. openerhm
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks yh I like it but sill concerned about my def. So hard to get nailed players from good teams without spending a lot.

        1. Stokelona
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Teue

      2. Stokelona
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        My bad, realised you’re doing auba to Kane so obviously won’t have all three!

  28. tisza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    MY WC

    DDG-Ryan
    Alonso-Monreal-Smalling-Lowton-Chilwell
    Son-Salah-Willian-Mahrez-Gross
    Auba-Vardy-barnes.

    Maybe be play with Chilwell option.
    2 Arsenal out in GW34.

    But 2m itb. One eye on getting Kane back in.
    Am I missing anything? Anything obvious to use some of the 2m on?

  29. Concrete
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Those with gross and Barnes. Who are you starting?

    On Barnes at the moment. Have to back any team v WBA at the moment?

    1. bluemoon05
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I was planning on Gross as an all-round better points scorer, but WBA has to be a factor, tough one

  30. EWH2020
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    On my WC and stuck on Son vs Mkhi.

    Anyone else got a dilemma with this?

    1. Concrete
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Yea, but I’ve gone Son as need to think of 34

    2. Euro Raiders
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Son all day.

      1. Kloppage Time
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Ditch Son if Kane is back, or have both?