Podcast

Scoutcast Episode 324 – The impact of coronavirus on FPL

The impact of coronavirus is being felt globally, with a number of countries taking measures to stop its spread via changes to the sporting calendar and other events.

Already this is affecting the Premier League, with Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City on Wednesday evening postponed as a precautionary measure. This is due to a number of Arsenal players coming into contact with Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who has contracted the virus.

In this latest episode, our Scoutcast trio of Joe, FPL Family’s Lee and Az discuss the impact of coronavirus on Fantasy Premier League and the possible scenarios managers face, such as behind-closed-doors games. Empty stadiums are now commonplace across Europe, including in UEFA Europa League and Champions League ties.

Meanwhile, the crew consider how best to handle the depleted Gameweek 31 schedule and the best players to target.

Kevin De Bruyne‘s (£10.6m) central role in FPL managers’ squads is also called into question as Chelsea’s form and favourable fixtures makes them ripe for investment.

There’s some very unfortunate teams featured in our ‘Rough with the Smooth’ round-up of your Gameweek 29.

Clean sheets and differentials are also considered and this weekend’s fixtures are a central focus as our trio reveal their transfer and captaincy plans.

This episode was streamed live on Youtube on Tuesday 10 March. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified of future live episodes.

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

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.

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

407 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tafrère
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    ML rival had KDB (C) and Walker.

    So of course he got Salah (VC) points and Lundstram off the bench.

    Sigh, sickening eyes. I can't with this season lmao. Can't wait to be over with.

    1. Long ago I drew a walrus
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Well it seems like the season as we know it will be over very soon.

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I never have such luck, only the opposite
      Last minute one pointer keeping someone benched for example

  2. Juza
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    They will stop the PL like they did in Italy with the Serie A, with the current situation playing FPL is a bit pointless, as the next GW might never happen.

    1. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I think this coming GW might be the last 'normal' one for a while.

      1. Juza
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Yeah, we could have some fun by playing FH or WC just for the sake of it 😉
        In Italy, they are thinking about ending the season with playoff matches for the top 4 teams and call it a day.

        1. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Yeah I saw that - I guess the chips may be even handier in case there's a massive DGW later on though.

  3. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    If Roma weren't allowed to land in Spain for EL match tomorrow, will Napoli travel to play against Barca next week? Uncertainties surrounding every sporting events!

    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Surely not.

    2. Juza
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Getafe do not want to play Inter Milan away, they are willing to accept the 0-3.

  4. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Is this enough for 31?

    C.Taylor, VVD, TAA, Doherty
    Salah, Traoré, Alli
    Jimenez

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      No point thinking about GW31 at this point mate.

      1. Juza
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        This

      2. Fit_to_drop
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Ha Ha!

  5. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Hypothetically, if one player or even staff member at a club tests postive for Coronavirus... does that mean that club can't play a game for 14 days? Along with any other club that has come into contact with them?

    The rest of the fpl season is going to be a complete shitshow, there's no planning for anything anymore.

    1. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Yep

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Pretty sure each club has been advised to test all staff by now. What happens after that is anyones guess.

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I guess that's what they are waiting for.

      I think games behind closed doors is very likely from next week could be as early as this week also who knows.

    4. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Let's go out in a blaze of glory - FLP Towers can allow us to play as many remaining chips in one week as we want.

  6. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Is the Liverpool v Atletico game being played behind closed doors tonight?

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      No

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      No

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Nope, all normal.

  7. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Rough....
    Firmino Cresswell(would have played Lundstram) Fernandes OUT
    2, 12, 6 plus Salah c +7 (27)
    Auba Saka Doherty IN -8 (12) net 4

    Moved captain from Salah to Auba
    Benched Lundstram for Doherty

    Lost 23 points 🙄

  8. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    In the middle of all the Covid19 posts, I love the occasional (and oblivious) "Am I GTG for GW31" poster! Shakespeare would be proud of that irony 🙂

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      So funny lol

  9. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Less and less and less cases in China of the virus, where it all started. 24 reported cases today in China. A country with 1.3 billion people. Not all of those 1.3 billion people are locked in their houses. Am I missing something here?

    Obviously this virus is bad and sadly people are losing their lives. But isn't this just being blown way way way out of proportion? Merkel just said 70% of Germans could get the virus. So 56 million people could apparently get the virus. There have been 100k cases in 2 months, 64k recovered. 4k deaths.

    This frenzy is crazy and I can't believe people can't see it. I'm not saying it's just a flu, but the numbers and misinformation is just showing how the media and social media has complete control over people. Utterly crazy.

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Obviously China is lying about the numbers lol , wise up

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        They are not. Their mortality rates are similar of those with other countries. And if they were lying, how come Japan and South Korea are managing the cases and mortality rates matching with China's.

        You should wise up and stop assuming everything related to China is bad or a lie. That's the terrible effect social media is having on people like you.

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      China quarantined millions and millions of people. There is every chance that if/when they lift those restrictions the virus will begin spreading there again.

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        They have not quarantined 1.3 billion people. Millions in China have been moving around for work and other issues. 24 cases of it today.

        Can you see what I'm trying to say?

    3. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Where the hell is that 70% coming from? Also if 70% of the population had it then how are the other 30% avoiding it?

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51835856

        Don't ask me sir. People are being brainwashed like mad. I'm not even a conspiracy theorist. But these numbers/predictions flying around are nuts when the situation is being completely stabilised in China where it all started.

        1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Wasn't saying you made it up, just seems mad that Merkel is throwing out numbers like that

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 18 days ago

            Yeah that's what I'm trying to say. And her saying things like that then creates mass panic and so on. And is definitely a great news headline too. People need to open their eyes.

            1. ppv
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 18 days ago

              Deniers like you are dangerous an irresposible

              1. Qaiss
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 18 days ago

                I'm not a denier, and I'm not a conspiracy theorist. What's more dangerous is the media control over sheep like you. That is much more dangerous bud. Look at the numbers.

    4. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      " ... Less and less and less cases in China ...". Globally, however, the rate of infection is increasing.

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        24 cases in one day where the outbreak all started though. 24. 24.

        1. ppv
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          166 dead in Italy yesterday. Iran out of control.

        2. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          It's too late though - COVID-19 is running riot outside of China.

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 18 days ago

            But you can't say that in a country with 1.3 billion people, having 24 cases in one day is a plague. And running riot? Well in Japan which is very near to China, there are just over 1000 cases in 2 months. How is that running riot?

            1. ppv
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 18 days ago

              Do you understand dictatorship governments and false figures?

              1. Qaiss
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 18 days ago

                Again, this is just rubbish you see on social media from some rampant racist saying how all Chinese people eat bats and that they lie about their figures. If they were lying, then wouldn't wayyyy more in other countries have it, like Japan for example? I just don't get how you can be so easily brainwashed like this. Not just you, it seems millions and millions are.

    5. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      If the goal is to have as few deaths as possible, I don't see the problem with 'overreacting'. It's better to have a worst-case scenario in a few months of 'oops, we may have overreacted a bit' as opposed to a worst-case scenario of 'we didn't react quickly enough'.

      I'm not advocating panic and frenzy obviously, those are different things.

      1. Fit_to_drop
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Exactly. That is how to deal with an Epidemic that may well become a Pandemic. You do the necessary things early - and then discuss it later.

    6. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      83 new cases in England today though.
      Maybe the China numbers aren't true.

      Also some seem to suggest that the virus spreads less in hot & humid conditions. Asia's temprature is rising every day the winter are completely gone whereas that's not the case in Europe.

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        The winter thing is a possibility as south america and africa isn't seeing many cases. UK, well maybe people here aren't taking it seriously. English people aren't exactly the most hygienic.

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Here in India it is not spreading at such a fast rate and I hope and pray it doesn't. We have a population of 1.3 billion too so maybe the heat & humidity factor is true. Out of the 62 confirmed cases most are foreigners or have travel history in the past 2-3 weeks.

    7. ppv
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Death rate 4% in China. Infection rates generally 2.2% per infected person. Common flu 1.3%

    8. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      China is a country where...
      Yes - It has the power to distort information. But on the other hand it has a government with the authority to made big calls and implement them quickly (not always good of course). Boris the clown simply doesn't have that in the locker and the state here is sufficiently at the behest of corporate interest. He's said himself, there is a school of thought that we should let the virus take its course.

    9. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Countries such as Italy just haven't put the same preventative measures in place in time as here in China... simple as.

  10. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Chinese people (coming from an authoritarian, communist regime) tend to do what their rulers tell them. Hence compliance and a gradual controlling of the virus. Westerners, on the other hand, continue to do whatever they want, having grown up in a life where freedom of speech, movement, etc are all part of life. Hence harder to contain in 1st world countries.

  11. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    24 points, almost 7m GW rank, 350k drop in OR, 44 points worse off after bringing in Mahrez(C), Auba and Pepe (for Mane(C), Vardy and Mount).
    I hate this game!

  12. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Best Chelsea mid?

    A) Willian
    B) Barkley
    C) Pedro
    D) Mount

    1. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Any one of them that hasn't come in contact with the CV and can take to the field @ 5.30 on Sat.

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      It's a lottery isn't it? I'd take advice on whoever has the best eye test and looks good on the stats I guess. A and D look safer for gametime, but I wouldn't be surprised for Barkley to have one of his brief streaks.

  13. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I just think there's far too many pessimistic posts on this site. Let's just hope for the best. I do think somehow, even if it means behind closed doors the remaining matches will be played

    I don't see why the TV companies couldn't provide a subscription service per match behind closed doors where the money collected goes to the clubs in place of tickets sold at the door.

  14. amit1964
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    hii everyone!
    i have steel have fh,bb,tc......what is the best way to go??
    thank you