Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 197 – Rom-antics

Romelu Lukaku saved my Gameweek and put a new spring in my step.

More importantly, it denied Granville the opportunity to indulge in one of his most favourite hobbies – picking holes in my “wasted” Wildcards.

Silenced by the Everton striker and early technical issues, Granville nonetheless returns to join myself, Jonty and Andy as we pick the bones out of Gameweek 4 and look ahead to the next.

With Lukaku and Diego Costa firing, this week’s raft of community questions are dominated by talk of going without Sergio Aguero or Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

I’m more than happy to add further fuel to that fire by testing an anti-Zlatan maverick theory, only to be shot down by my co-hosts.

Does Etienne Capoue present another route to packing cash in our forward lines?

Can Jonty really find a good reason to justify having Jason Puncheon?

Will Granville’s cat make an appearance?

You can get the answers to all this and more by tuning in.

This episode of the ScoutCast was first beamed live via our YouTube channel on Tuesday night. Be sure to subscribe to get notice of future live episodes.

You can view the full Google Hangout verison on the second player below, or opt for the old fashioned audio via this link or the first player.

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

2,760 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Professor Red
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Anybody read Koemans quotes on Barkley?

    What do you think he means by them. Looks to me like hes giving him another chance

    1. Cecil The Lion
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      What did he say?

    2. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Doesn't mean you have to 😉

      1. Professor Red
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Hehe naughty boy.

    3. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      He will start

    4. Ibracadabra
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Agreed. He said he could change Barry or Lukaku too if they were poor, meaning Barkley is still seen as one of his 3 top star / reliable / players... I have him and am getting rid of SOUARE or GRAY as a top priority...

    5. mattk lfc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      "I had individual talks with Ross. He needs to improve and we will see at the weekend"

      Sounds to me he will start, but needs to show an improvement

  2. PassMeTheSwedge
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Foster Heaton
    Valencia Baines Davies Collins Amat
    Hazard Firmino Antonio Snodgrass 4.5 Enabler
    Kun Ibra Deeney

    How does this look for a WC next GW?

    I'm curious if going without Arsenal for their good fixtures seems dangerous and whether or not Davies, Collins and Amat is the best combo I can manage for the defense. Should I even downgrade a keeper and some of the defense to get a better 5th mid. I don't want Capoue, especially with Deeney up front.

  3. GuillermoDickero
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    A or B gentlemen for one week only!

    A) KDB + Nacho
    B) Lukaku + 8.5m (Eriksen or Antonio maybe?) - already have firmino

    1. Cecil The Lion
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A

    2. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A since you'll be ditching Nacho after this week. I think Man City could destroy Bournemouth

    3. chilli con kone
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      B with Sterling

      1. GuillermoDickero
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Not worried about sterlings minutes at all? Especially after the rotation mid week?

        1. chilli con kone
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Long term yes but not this week. He has been their form player to date (other than Sergio) Rested midweek and will play atleast 80mins IMO. Scored in the 90th min in their last home game

          1. GuillermoDickero
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 14 days ago

            He wasn't rested midweek - he played 80 minutes

  4. Cecil The Lion
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    One more. This GW only:

    a) Hazard (LIV)
    b) KDB (BOU)

    Cheers 😀

    1. chilli con kone
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A

      1. chilli con kone
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Difficult to call though. Both have huge potential to explode

    2. 24hrstudent
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      B, scared with no CIty this week

  5. Niemi
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Hard to pick a captain this week. Has been on Ibra all week, but now starting to consider Lukaku. Looks like he has hit form, could easily have scored more than 3 goals on Monday. Also the better fixture on paper.

    1. Cecil The Lion
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Form and fixture. Captaincy gold surely?

      1. Niemi
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Yeah, that's my thinking.

    2. chilli con kone
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Lukaku comfortably for me. Even with his trolling past

  6. chilli con kone
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Bench one:

    A. McAuley (WHM)
    B. Snoddy (ARS)
    C. Valencia (wat)

    1. Cecil The Lion
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A

    2. PassMeTheSwedge
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      McCauley

    3. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A. I piggin hate WBA at times. I only got him for the rise really, I'll be glad to get shut of him.

    4. chilli con kone
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Thanks all. Do we think Arsenal clean sheet still likely or no?

      1. Shori1311
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        No cs for Arsenal!

  7. David Luiz is Back
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Thoughts on if James Collins will start or not? Who should my first choice sub be Pieters (cry) or Amat (sou) ?

    1. Cecil The Lion
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      That's a tough one. I'd say Amat simply because Stoke defence is currently worse.

    2. chilli con kone
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Amat first sub. Collins could lose his place imo

  8. Knowledgeable meerkat
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    I'm stuck and befuzzled 🙁

    A) gray > deeney/Defoe/Benteke
    B) pieters > Baines

    1. chilli con kone
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A - Tekkers

    2. Shori1311
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A-Deeney

    3. Ibracadabra
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Very tough but I am doing B (Souare not Pieters) as don't think Morgan/Huth are quick and Gray is, plus recovery time from playing in Belgium a few nights ago, think he is not a terrible pick (Gray), while Baines has a good chance of a clean sheet. Very tough though.

  9. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Antonio and Lukaku rising again tonight 😎

    1. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Oh wait, that means they're less of a diff 😐

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      capoue too

      1. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Yep, three doubles

  10. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Hey guys -

    Does this sound like a sensible route?

    Barkley and Diomande for Lukaku and 4.5mid (-4).
    Then Ozil and Ibra for Aguero and Firmino next week.

    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Depends if that 4.5 mid is gonna be your 4th mid, if so then yes

      1. DV8R
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Sorry I meant 5th

        1. tm370
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 13 days ago

          Yes, it will be my fifth. Cheers for the reply 🙂

  11. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    do you think C.Austin will be a starter from now on?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I think he will start this week with Redmond but after that who knows

      1. Ibracadabra
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Redmond could go wide midfield instead of second striker and both could start...

        1. Wild Rover
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Well I'm saying they both will start 😛

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      thanks guys
      its quite crowded for positions up top for Southampton.
      personally I would give Long a stint on the bench. play austin/Jrod 60/40mins for a while.

  12. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Which pair do you prefer?
    A) Costa & Lukaku
    B) Ibrahimoivć & Benteke

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      still dont trust lukaku , so B

    2. Shori1311
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A

    3. Kante Be Bothered
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      A

    4. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Thanks all 🙂

  13. Shori1311
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    1 ft-0.3m in bank

    Heaton (Pickford)
    Williams Valencia Evans (Friend, Amat)
    Ozil Hazard Snodgrass Antonio (Capoue)
    Ibrahimovic Costa Lukaku

    What to do?
    Am i good with this or to use transfer?
    And do i want to play Capoue in or bench?

    1. Shori1311
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Bump

  14. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Sterling or Nolito for one week? WC to be played this weekend

    1. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Sterling

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      sterling

    3. Shori1311
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Sterling

  15. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    This is the wildcard team I'm gonna hit on tomo night.

    Had ibra since the start so keeping till gw8 at least.

    How does it look?

    Heaton jaku
    Valencia williams Evans holebas amat
    Hazard firmino Antonio bolasie capoue
    Kun ibra benteke

    Leaves 0 itb
    Comments appreciatdo....thanks

    1. Energetics
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I like it a lot!

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Cheers mate!

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Good, strong, template

  16. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Can't believe Mark didn't go for "Saved By The Belgian" for his caption.

  17. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Defoe > Lukaku worth it for a -4?

    Both in the context of WC next week or holding off for a few more weeks.

  18. Cecil The Lion
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    How often do we expect Ibra to actually deliver 'haul' performances? Lukaku and Benteke atm appear to be more than adequate 2/3rd strikers and will regularly chip in wit goals

    1. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      All season. He's a top player.

      Just because he scores though it doesn't mean somebody else won't.

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I suspect not that often. but he's a good bet for keeping the goals ticking over

    3. Acquafresca
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      He can get a brace every now and then, has a hattrick or two in him as well IMO.

  19. PassMeTheSwedge
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    I don't think anybody without city cover this week needs to be too worried. Only 1 player in their midfield/upfront area other than Aguero has more than 8% ownership

    1. Ser Davos
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 13 days ago

      Good post, thanks.

  20. Jay_
      8 years, 14 days ago

      --------------------Foster-------------------------
      ------Valencia Baines Stones------------
      Sanchez Hazard Antonio Redmond
      -----Ibrahimovic Lukaku Benteke------
      ---------------------------------------------------------
      Pickford Capoue Amat Wilson

      1.1m ITB, 0 FT.

      Worried about Redmonds gametime and unsure who to captain.

      1) Captain Sanchez, Lukuka, Ibra?
      2) Play Redmond or Capoue?

      1. chilli con kone
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Lukaku and Redmond

      2. chilli con kone
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Bertrand and Fonte didn't start for Southampton either. Redmond will come back in

      3. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Lukaku
        Redmond (he will start imo)

      4. Shori1311
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Captain Lukuka and plax Capoue=easy points

        1. Wild Rover
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          He's talking about this week, not last

          1. Shori1311
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 14 days ago

            They will shine again

      5. CABAYE4
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Sanchez and Redmond

      6. Jay_
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Cheers gents

      7. chilli con kone
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Most likely to keep a clean sheet in your opinion?

        A. Utd (wat)
        B. Arsenal (hul)

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          A

        2. CABAYE4
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Arsenal

        3. Shori1311
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Nobody

        4. John Nerdelbaum
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          B

      8. okan58
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Foster
        Walker - Stones - Shaw
        Özil - Lamela - Hazard - Sterling
        Lukaku (c) - Ibrahimovic - Gray
        Subs: Heaton, Collins, Amat and Höjbjerg.

        Bank: 0.2.
        Any change of my team? What do you think?

      9. CrouchDown
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Play Pieters or Evans? Already have Foster

        1. John Nerdelbaum
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          tricky that one. I'd actually go pieters

      10. Sánchez
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Just messed about with possible WC team to get Aguero gw8 .... Looks awful

      11. UCL Fantasy
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Absolutely no clue whether to wildcard and if so who to bring in 😆

        1. Acquafresca
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Save it until tomorrow night Andy. Will be worth it.

          Get Kane(c) like planned, IMO.

        2. Jay_
            8 years, 14 days ago

            Just save it mate. Pointless the night before deadline. Wasted mine post gw2. Massive regret.

        3. Hargo
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Sterling or Antonio for this GW?

        4. Kante Be Bothered
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          So is Aguero not going to drop to 12.9?

          1. Sánchez
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 14 days ago

            Nah price is rigged

          2. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 14 days ago

            Tomorrow probably, but then maybe not as people can bring him in after deadline tomorrow too

          3. Dr Dream
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 14 days ago

            No chance if the maths are right on the predictor sites..

            So maybe....anything over 80% seems fair game for a change.

            1. Kante Be Bothered
              • 8 Years
              8 years, 14 days ago

              Hopefully my whole squad is ruined if aguero isn't 12.9 haha

        5. John Nerdelbaum
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          As a Barkley owner - 'I know the first step is admitting I have a problem...'

          Make of this what you will - quotes from Koeman on F365

          http://www.football365.com/news/koeman-no-escape-for-barkley-from-poor-form

          1. Professor Red
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 14 days ago

            See my post top of page

            1. John Nerdelbaum
              • 11 Years
              8 years, 14 days ago

              Yep, what's your thinking. I'm leaning towards keeping

              It was a horror show tho, I genuinely couldn't believe how bad he was. There was a bit in the first half in his own corner when he made about 5 mistakes in 30 seconds

              1. Ibracadabra
                • 15 Years
                8 years, 14 days ago

                Keeping for one last game and then about 75% chance I wildcard anyway. Worst case scenario he doesnt play and Evans comes in off my bench. Best case scenario he scores two direct free kick goals and I keep him and don't WC... at least a man can dream.

        6. Duffy Dunk
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          De Gea (Jaku)
          Bellerin Williams Shaw (Amat Paredes)
          Ozil Barkley Hazard Tadic Antonio
          Ibra Negredo (RobsonKanu)

          wildcarded 2weeks ago. already used this week's FT for Holgate to Williams

          what are your thoughts?
          mine are to Tadic->Capoue after this weekend, next to Robson->Deeney, next maybe Bellerin->Koscielny, next Barkley->Firmino.

          Also, if Shaw keeps getting injuries to replace with Walker, if cheap keepers get many points to replace De Gea, I'd like to have Payet for Ozil but this makes double westham mid

          Thank you

        7. GuillermoDickero
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Who would you rather have out of these as a one week punt?

          Lukaku and sterling

          Vs

          KDB and nacho

          The latter feels more differential 🙂