Podcast

Scoutcast Episode 288 – Missing

Undaunted by a heavily reduced fixture list, the Scoutcast crew deliver one of their longest episodes of the season.

There may be only five matches taking place in Gameweek 31 but Joe, Luke, Az and David discover there is a wealth of different player options and strategies to deploy.

Discarding their usual player, team and talking point format for the community questions section, they focus in detail on the best assets to own position by position this weekend. 

While there is a consensus around goalkeepers, our Scoutcast regulars find plenty to disagree about among defenders, midfielders and strikers.

Luke is packing his team with differential ‘swords’ to attack the fixtures, while David is making sure he uses his two free transfers to include some ‘shields’ to keep up with the pack. 

Az is on the search for low-owned assets too and is even considering a notorious Scoutcast ‘magic bean’. Unsurprisingly, Joe is not keen.

The number of hits to take in a Blank Gameweek also get an airing, as does advice for those deploying a Free Hit chip to cope with player reduction. 

Regular features are also included, with the round-up of the previous Gameweek giving Az a rare chance this season to boast about a good score.

Best differentials, top clean sheet shouts and transfer and captaincy plans for the Gameweek ahead are also revealed. 

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.

In addition, the Scoutcast and all our other podcasts are now also available via our Soundcloud channel.

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

1,497 Comments Post a Comment
  1. grayedog
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 16 days ago

    Already have 11 players for 31, still have FH for 32 and WC 34.

    Is Fraser worth a -4 hit to start in place of Mitro (LIV) Chilwell (bur), or Rich (CHE)?

    1. Lav
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      No

  2. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 16 days ago

    Fab
    TAA Robbo
    Haz salah Fraser Hayden
    Barnes Wilson Rondon

    Speroni Sterling Doherty AWB Bedna

    Anything worth a hit here? FH in 32

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      Nope.
      No Defender outside pool Worthy of a hit.
      G2G

      1. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        so wrong

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Okay.
          Who are worthy transfer's then for a hit ??

    2. Lav
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      GTG

  3. Amey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 16 days ago

    Salah or Mane for © for you ??

    I know we have © poll but after yesterday's match people may be Leaning towards Mane.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      Salah

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        +1 atm 🙂

    2. Lav
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      Go with form - Mane.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Nice.

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      If I owned both I think I'd go Salah, he's due a haul as hes not a mediocre sub 7m asset, on pens and its Fulham!

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Absolutely agreed mate 🙂

      2. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Sounds like what Alonso owners were saying before Emerson started saying hi 😆

    4. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      Mane

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Thank you

    5. WVA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      Such a tough call which I get wrong every week, think I'm going to stick on Salah.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        #me too

    6. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 16 days ago

      Has to be Vardy

      1. Party time
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Hahaha. A party at turfmoor on Saturday would be lovely 🙂

      2. Party time
          5 years, 16 days ago

          You shouldn't be asking this buddy. You said was with Salah. My dog picked Salah also 😉 but I know Mané will return as well. Team Salah however

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            I'm Salah ©
            Just wanted to get consensus

      3. Lav
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Boruc
        Robbo TAA Rice
        Salah Eden Felipe
        Vardy (Crouch)

        Etheridge Schar AWB Pogba Son Jimenez

        Think Son obviously has to go. Anyone else you would shift for a hit?

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Pogba & Jimenez if you are FH in 32

          1. Benteke10
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Why would you shift Pogba and Jim for a hit if you plan to FH in 32?

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Because you get them back in 32 if you want and have their replacements in 31 & 33

              1. Benteke10
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 16 days ago

                Fair enough but Losing Schar and son is a better idea imo and maybe one of Jim and Pogba depending on where the least value value would be lost

                1. Hotdogs for Tea
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 16 days ago

                  Schar and Son may have a game in 33 though

        2. WVA
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Son and whoever you have less value tied up in out of Pogba and Jimenez

      4. grayedog
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        1 FT, need GK, plenty ITB. FH 32/WC 34

        Am I crazy to prefer Boruc to Kepa, Fab, or anyone else? (Maxed on LIV/LEI)

      5. Afghanistanislas
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Currently have 9 players for GW31, would you take a hit to do Pogba > Fraser (would lose 0.5m on Pogba :/)?
        Annoyingly I'm 0.1 off just doing Hojbjerg > Fraser.

        1. OptimusBlack
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          No
          Why you lose 0.5 on player that you get him again next gw
          That's my opinion and you can ask more

          1. the dom 1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            if you are FH GW32 then why not?

          2. Afghanistanislas
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            I know losing 0.5m doesn't look good, but Fraser looks a great pick for GW31/33 (NEW & BUR) and Pogba blanks again in GW33 (would free hit him back in for GW32)...

        2. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          can you downgrade someone else to afford Hojberg to Fraser?

          1. Klein
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            For -8?

            1. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              if it adds couple of decent players, not an issue

      6. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Captain one:
        A. Rice
        B. Robertson
        C. Fraser

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          c

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            cheers

        2. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          D. DCL

        3. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Fraser

        4. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          robbo

        5. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          B by far

        6. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Robbo

        7. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          I might go B

      7. Klein
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Probably been discussed a lot here but here we go again
        Wilson or vardy or higuaine and why?

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Vardy, plays for a better team than Wilson and in better form than Piginpain and on pens.

      8. JAYPEE
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Triple up on Bournemouth wilson, brooks and Fraser
        Or double up on Leicester Vardy and Maddison ?

        1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          2 from Bmouth and 1 (Vardy) from Leicester is enough imo. But if you have to, I'd pick triple bmouth

          1. JAYPEE
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            So far I have Wilson, brooks and Vardy

            1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Fraser is the only player I would get in addition

      9. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Which teams other than Mutd and Wolves are likely to have DGW 32?

        1. WVA
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          City Palace Chelsea Spurs possibly

      10. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        No talk of Arsenal assets, and understandably so with 31 incoming, on here at all of late but their fixtures from 32-38 are absolutely superb!

        1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Laca could be a great option

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            agree

        2. Speédy
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          No solid assets though. Emery rotates his attackers,defence not worth it. And Europa will play a role too.

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            That is the big concern

            1. jia you
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Kola is so attacking, he's the only viable defender or mid really.

        3. Buck The Trent
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Do they have a double in 32 ?

        4. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          laca should be enough

        5. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          They have 5 away games. They've only won 5 away games all season in the league and haven't win only won once away since GW13 and that was v Huddersfield.

          The away games they have are not gimmies by any stretch either.

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            something to consider alright

        6. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          WC32 FH33 is still an option for me.

          GW33 could be quite high scoring with a FH compared to the teams being sling shot into 33 from 31 with the FH in 32 that many are playing

        7. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          But best to look at it in 33, one blank and a double before 33 is enough to deal with at the moment

        8. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Fraud !!
          Loosing TV & points !!

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            You what??

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Never touching Arsenal attack again
              Can get Kola though.
              Emery is an upgrade over pep in terms of rotating the attackers so can't trust anymore

        9. EMBOLOFAN
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          their 35 double could be nuts

        10. Bggz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          I’ve got kola still he’s gong ok. Aubas too hot and cold maybe laca but he’s awkward price
          They will be pushing for 3rd/4th which is a plus

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Kola is a good option he's so attacking! Vardy to Laca at some stage for me perhaps but Vardy has good fix up until 36.

        11. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Because it's all about 31.

          Auba/Laca
          No mids nailed/consistent
          Concede all the time so defence and GK out of the picture.

          What more do you need?

        12. WVA
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          I'm keeping Kola

      11. melvinmbabazi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Thoughts on what to do?
        Thinking Son and Rashford to Hazard and Wilson?
        Anything worth a hit?
        2FT 1.5ITB

        Fabianski
        Robertson I VVD I Digne I Pereira I
        Salah | Felipe I
        Barnes I

        Button I RashfordI Pogba I Son I Doherty I Jiminez I Hojberg

        Cheers

      12. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Painful for Celina

        https://youtu.be/49wH7NdQr0k

      13. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Aguero and Jimenez to Wilson and Vardy. (-4) gives me 10 for 31 with free hit in 32 and sets up like this

        Fab
        VVD TAA Pereira
        Hazard Mane Brooks
        Vardy Wilson Rondon

        Should I pull the trigger?

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Wait for the Chelsea game, no rush now

      14. theodosios
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Captain Salah or Wilson?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Wilson © & Salah haul would be brutal !!
          Salah for me

          1. theodosios
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            cheers Amey

      15. Zebras
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Still struggling to see why Antonio is no longer starting for WHU. Has been their only consistent scorer and even with the return of Lanzini and Arnie, surely there you'd take out Anderson for Lanzini and keep your in form striker up top.
        Obviously annoying as a fantasy owner, but from a west ham perspective, I still cant make sense of it.

        1. Bggz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Antonio is second place for about three postitions in their team, but not first for any. He’s got a half decent home scoring record but still a punt

        2. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Yeah I see what your saying but he is too much of a risk for me to buy

          1. Zebras
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            fortunately for me, after eyeing him as a differential or a while, i got him just in time for his first of his series of benching

            1. panda07
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              That's bad luck, I've had Arnie for the last while too which is pretty annoying

        3. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Nobody can make sense of what Pelle is doing at the moment. The whole Arnie situation is equally baffling. Avoid WHU.

        4. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          West Ham is a weird team in general. But you sign someone for big money at a club like that and you have to play them.

      16. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        So who is gonna be rested for Livp this weekend?

        Taa?
        Mane?

        1. Bggz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Who knows

        2. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Nobody.

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            now you have jinxed it

            1. jtreble
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Nah, I just looked at a calendar: a Sunday game means three days rest. :).

        3. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          With title race ON, both will start imo.

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            both of them are crucial to livps chances. Might start Mane on the bench...it's Fulham after all.

        4. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          I can't see much rotation seeing as the game is on Sunday

        5. wernerhedgehog
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Could be Robertson, who knows?

        6. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Stop trolling 😉

          Neither ... but both may get a ‘niggle’ before the international break, actually the entire Liverpool team may come down with flu or something

        7. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Dunno, can see Shaqiri or someone getting decent mins though.

          They'll all pull out of the internationals though.

      17. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        I don't have any Bournemouth front players and I'm seriously considering getting one in. Anderson and Arnie are on the chopping block. What do you reckon?

        Boruc
        Robbo TAA Luiz Emerson
        Salah Hazard Anderson Rich
        Vardy Barnes

        Guaita Arnie Pogba Doherty

        1. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          It'd be for a hit btw

          1. waldo666
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Definitely not for a hit, imo.

        2. theodosios
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Rich ==> Fraser

        3. Rochak0107
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Worth it over 2 GW I reckon

        4. JustPark
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Rich to Fraser/Brooks really.

      18. Rochak0107
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Considering a -4 for Wilson and Azpi (Laca and Duffy). Worth it?

        1. waldo666
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Could very well be.

        2. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          It depends on how many players you can get out already. If you can't get 11 then it's defo worth it

          1. Rochak0107
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Will have 10 with the hit. So leaning towards it. Don't necessarily want to take a hit for a defender though.

            1. panda07
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              I think it's worth it, you'll have them for 31 and 33 so you could make your money back on appearance points alone. I'd consider another hit to get 11 out...

      19. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Captain king of captain Wilson?

        ATM with Robertson. But if at all he is benched or given a rest, it'll hurt

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Or"

        2. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Wilson

      20. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        With Mane's foot hanging off the end of leg after the final whistle, does it worry owners and in particular cappers?

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Doesn't look serious and no mention from Klopp post match presser. But who knows.

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            hopefully non-issue

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Yep
              Hopefully mo issues otherwise gw over 😀

      21. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Best DEF to own for next week? Money no issue.

        Actual DEF is like:
        Alisson - Robbo - Diop

        Is CHE likely to get a CS?

        1. Rochak0107
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Not likely to be honest. Have been conceding almost in every game lately.

        2. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Rice or a punt on Maguire. I see EVE scoring.

        3. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          I'm listening to Scoutcast & according to that Eve are on par attacking wise to Hudds (stats) @ home.
          So Chelsea defense could be good differential
          Azpi looking good to me

        4. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Wolves only managed one shot on target against them last week ... their luck must change sometime

      22. jbenny1107
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        If no free hit left, should I hold some players for 32 and be good with 9 this week? Still thinking Aguero/Jimenez to Vardy and Sterling/Pogba to Mane for hits.

        Fab*
        Robbo* TAA* Doherty Periera* Schindler*
        Sterling Hazard* Pogba Fraser* Hayden*
        Aguero Jimenez Wilson*

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          do It, you can always bring Sterling back for the DGW32

      23. b91jh
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Haz or Fraser for both GW31 and 33?

        1. YEAH PITCH!
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          F

      24. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 16 days ago

        Any good free hit teams about?

        Higuaín flagged could be troublesome...guess we'll see after tonight.

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          3 Bournemouth,3 Liverpool , 2 West ham ( maybe 3 if you want . Def is tempting) . Barnes, Vardy

          1. noquarternt
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Fabianski
            Robertson Luiz Chillwell
            Hazard Mané Salah Brooks
            Higuain Vardy Wilson

            Speroni, Tarkowski, Hayden, Schindler

            What I've got so far...

            1. The Overthinker
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              I would go Barnes instead of Higuain.

              Not tempted by double pool def instead of double attack?

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          If on FH, I'd be tempted to go for Bobby+Salah+Mane against Fulham.

          1. The Overthinker
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Bobby massively under the radar .

        3. Pinturicchio10
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Fabianski
            Diop TAA Rice
            Fraser Salah Mane Hazard
            Vardy Wilson Barnes

            Boruc Tielemans Azpilicueta Digne

        4. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Don't think Salah will be rested. Klopp would like this drought to end and hence give him chance by starting him against Fulham. Coz who better than Fulham to gain confidence?

        5. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          Better double up on chelsea defs If your chasing and rival has hazard higuain right?

          feel like i wont close him up by getting chelsea attacker

        6. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 16 days ago

          * moves armband to Mane

          1. Holmes
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            UCL deadline was yesterday 😉

          2. Party time
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Mesmerizing performance from him last night. I hope he takes that inti the Fulham game, however, Salah(c) locked and loading

          3. We ain't got no histor…
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Already wasted my FH after getting sloshed one particular week.

            How's this team, anything for -4?

            VVD TAA
            Salah Hazard Fraser Richarlison
            Vardy Barnes

            Ederson Hamer Benett AWB Lindelof Pogba Jimenez

          4. EL tridente
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 16 days ago

            Van Dijk or Robertson on FH?

            1. The Overthinker
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 16 days ago

              Vvd.
              Will surely start