Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 258 – Freebie

Arriving in the midst of a lukewarm Double Gameweek, the latest episode of the ScoutCast is more intent on looking ahead as the entire five-man crew press the button on the Free Hit chip.

We’re back to full strength, as Granville, Jonty, Andy and Az join me to discuss our approach to Gameweek 35’s slimline schedule, inspired by another round of your community questions.

That attacking riches on offer from Manchester City and Liverpool dominate the early chatter, as we give our take on the run-in targets least likely to suffer from rotation to feature for Free Hitters and the “chipless” this weekend.

We then pan for Gameweek 35 gold in less familiar territory, as we re-open the Coleman vs Baines debate ahead of their meeting with a Newcastle outfit perhaps already in flip-flops after four straight wins.

End of season template busters help round things off before we career into the regular weekend preview to offer early thoughts on the Gameweek armband.

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.

2,431 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Pardew sitting by the phone.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Tim Sherwood is waiting in his car in their training ground 🙂

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 days ago

        Is that a dogging hot-spot? 😉

  2. J T
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Wenger to leave atsenal at the end of the season

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Arsenal*

  3. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    https://www.arsenal.com/news/merci-arsene

    Wenger stepping down at the end of the season.

    1. Fantastisk
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Legendary manager.

  4. mcrayeps
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Hows my Free Hit Team guys?

    Pickford
    PVA / Kompany / Mustafi
    Salah / KDB / Mane / Ozil
    Firmino / Jesus / Tosun
    (3.9 / Bauer / Long / King)

    1. jamie1972
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      3 Liverpool big hitters 3 days before they play a CL semi-final is ballsy, I give you that

  5. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Kinda want them to win the Europa now, weirdly

    1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Deserves a good farewell

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Me too. Wenger may have stayed longer than he should have, but he was brilliant for Arsenal. Classy guy too.

  6. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    The grass isn't always greener. I think a sensible choice for Arsenal is Rafa Benitez, not sure Carlos Ancelotti would be interested. I think they'll end up with Brendan Rodgers or Eddie Howe though.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Eddie Howe seems like a Bruce Rioch to me - imagine they will look for a bigger name.

    2. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Yeah Rafa would be ideal for them

    3. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Jardim

    4. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Keep your hands off Rafa!!!!

    5. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Allegri?

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 8 days ago

        I don't think anyone in their right mind leaves Juventus for Arsenal.

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 8 days ago

          Might fancy a new challenge in a new league. Wouldn't be that crazy imo

    6. Urchin
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Viera?

      1. fiveyears
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 days ago

        Wenger talked him up the other day didn't he? Will be interesting for sure

    7. @FPL_liverbird (liverpoolfa…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      I would be worried as a liverpool supporter if Arsenal got Raffa, they would become hard to beat. Ancelotti will take over from Conte I think which leaves Rodgers & Howe & Allegri

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 days ago

        Suppose there's Luis Enrique

        1. @FPL_liverbird (liverpoolfa…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 days ago

          Chelsea will fight for Enrique or Ancelotti I think

    8. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Pardew

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 days ago

        This

      2. BERGKOP
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 8 days ago

        So uninspiring.

  7. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Any news on Kiko? Expected to start this gw?

  8. WVA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Yes yes Wenger is stepping down now back to the important stuff haha

  9. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Wenger finally retiring!

  10. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Would it be rude to ask Wenger his line-up right now?
    What does this mean for the match? Players going to step up?

  11. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    So with Arsene announcement and farewell game, should we rather go for Henry rather than Aubam or Lacazette this GW?

  12. Kryten
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    So next arsenal manager... I think they should go for Conte

    1. @FPL_liverbird (liverpoolfa…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      B rodgers or S Dyche

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Hopefully Pastdew will get the nod 😆

  13. Dugout
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Help - I have 7 starters and 0FTs:

    Fabianski,
    VVD, Lowton, Naughton
    Salah, Arnautovic,
    Jesus

    Non-starters:

    Ryan,
    Davies, Chillwell
    Mahrez, Eriksen, Willian,
    Murray, Vardy

    Who is worth a hit? Sterling, Mane?

  14. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Arsenal last home game is against Burnley

  15. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Definitely getting another Arsenal now - surely they will be seeking to push that bit harder for a win. Strangely Ozil seems like he could turn up, partly to thank the Boss for helping him achieve outrageous wages for ambling about the pitch every now and then.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Lol my thinking too

    2. kinghenry14
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      think so too

    3. Goalosaurus
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Yeah, same here. Would expect a full stadium and the fans behind the team and Arsene.

    4. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Ozil was the first name I thought of after hearing the news. He recently signed a new contract. Maybe help knows the new manager

  16. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Will be a good atmosphere for Arsenal's game this weekend. 5-0 Auba hatty plssss

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Laca ?

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      😆

  17. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    So Klopp presser was not at 9.30 as scheduled in that HT?

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Yeah 10:30 in the echo

    2. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Wenger hijacked it

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      It looks like it's an hour later - they do it live via youtube and it said 1030 there.

    4. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Too busy leaking a fake line-up to Anfield Express

  18. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Lacazette or Auba on a FH?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      No one knows

    2. Bubi
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Laca or Wellbz

    3. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Lacazette is probably more likely to start

    4. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Laca

    5. @FPL_liverbird (liverpoolfa…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Toughest call I think

      - Auba 6 in 8 in PL
      - Lacazette 11 in the whole season in PL

      I see what Wenger says about rhythm ahead of EL but surely Auba plays alongside Lacazette.

      Lacazette edges it I think and like that theres a chance Auba is rested and everyone not FH will suffer as they all have Auba and not Lacazette

      1. Goalosaurus
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 days ago

        Auba could still pick up minutes and outscore Laca though, a bit like a lot of single vs double GW34 players. Touch choice for me, bit of a guess.

  19. WVA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Power 5 the best option on fh?

    Butland
    Vvd Baines Pva
    Salah Sterling Kdb Mane Ozil
    Jesus Barnes
    Henn Perez Kiko Long

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Thanks

  20. boc610
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Troopz sitting in a pile of his own bodily fluids as we speak

  21. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Patrick Viera the obvious successor?

    1. RIDZ
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      No, it's Gattuso

  22. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    It would be funny if Wenger uses this to motivate his players to win the EL then he announces that he's not leaving, he was just playing mind games

    1. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Would love that 😆

  23. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Would love it if Arsene spoke to the press today and they said, "Yes yes, happy retirement etc. But are you starting Auba or not?!!"

  24. Kryten
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    with so much money in Premier league the squads are stronger not just starting 11. Anyone else been so frustrated with rotation it's feels its much more of a issue this year. Being dramatic it's starting to ruin the game for me

  25. RIDZ
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    I am appreciating Wenger with playing 3 Arsenal players this FH.
    Laca - Monreal - Ramsey/Ozil

  26. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    AFTV shares plummeting!

    1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      No wonder Robbie got a new show on C4

  27. Speédy
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Hope we can win Europa for a big farewell

  28. TLF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Triple up on Pickford, Coleman and Baines too much Everton ? Currently have latter 2 and Butland.

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 days ago

      Too much

  29. Kryten
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    Hahaha klopp not going to talk about rotation plans in his press conference as the media will want Wenger quotes of every manager

  30. boc610
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 days ago

    this makes me think Aubs has even less chance of a start now with Europa league his swan song