Scout Notes – Gameweek 24 – Tuesday

Harry Kane scores twice as Tottenham sweep aside Norwich at Carrow Road. Jamie Vardy is also at the double as Leicester see off Liverpool, Sergio Aguero notches City’s winner at Sunderland, whilst Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial both bag a goal and assist in United’s home win over Stoke.

Kane at the double

Harry Kane registered his third brace of the campaign and second penalty in three outings as Tottenham ran out 3-0 victors over Norwich City at Carrow Road. The Spurs striker has produced four goals in three starts and racked up three more shots on target (12) than any forward over the last four Gameweeks, which bodes well for his attacking prospects when Watford visit on Saturday.

Shifting our focus to the Lilywhites’ midfield, Dele Alli grabbed a goal and assist for the second Gameweek, rewarding the 248,000 new owners who drafted him in last week. The youngster was then withdrawn at the break, with Mauricio Pochettino going on to say:

“At half-time he felt unwell and was a little bit dizzy so we took the decision on the advice of the doctor to make the change. It was in the last few minutes before we left the changing room so we quickly needed to make a change, but now he is okay. We will need to assess him tomorrow, but I cannot guess for the future – only that it is important that he is much better.”

Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen came up trumps as one of our differentials, serving up a brace of assists to bring his tally to 10 for the season. Eriksen’s pair of bonus points ensures he remains ahead of Alli in the overall standings by a single point.

At the other end of the pitch, Kevin Wimmer started alongside Toby Alderweireld for the first time in the league as Spurs recorded their first clean sheet since Gameweek 18. Pitched at 4.6, the Austrian centre-back is a sure-fire starter while Jan Vertonghen is consigned to the treatment room, rendering him an alluring route into the league’s tightest defence.

Gunners’ drought continues

Despite mustering four more shots on target (10) than any team so far this Gameweek, Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at the Emirates, marking the first time in seven years that they’ve drawn three successive blanks in league ties. Nonetheless, Alexis Sanchez’ 145,000 new owners will draw encouragement for the fact he notched the joint-most shots inside the box (five) among midfielders and is next pitted against a Bournemouth defence that’s conceded in all but five match-ups this term.

On the flip side, the Gunners posted their fourth clean sheet in six outings, augmenting the appeal of their defensive assets. Priced at 4.3, Gabriel would serve as an enticing budget route into their back line if he can keep Per Mertesacker rooted to the bench – the Brazilian has now started each of the last two league outings alongside Laurent Koscielny.

Defiant Foster serves up another clean sheet

Fraser Forster chalked up 10 saves as Southampton recorded their fourth consecutive shut-out last night. The Saints haven’t conceded since the England goalkeeper returned between the sticks, bringing the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte (both two goals) back onto our radar.

As for Matt Targett, the 3.8-priced wing-back had to settle for a five-minute sub appearances off the bench upon Ronald Koeman’s reversion to a four-man defence, illustrating his rotation risk.

After the match, the Dutchman explained the reasoning behind his switch:

“We had a good talk about this to change it because in the last few weeks most of the opponents played with two in front and then of course I prefer to play with three at the back. Arsenal is playing with three in front and if you put five defenders you miss one or two players to control on the midfield because they are so good and they don’t need a big space to create. It was not the system. Arsenal offensively had not the productivity but offensive wise they create a lot and they play fantastic.”

The Dutchman then conceded that his defence was particularly porous last night, though, which perhaps suggests that a switch to four at the back won’t be a permanent fixture:

“Not one team in one-and-a-half years managing Southampton create what Arsenal create opportunities today. Then you need to be lucky first, and then you need to have a goalkeeper who is saving everything, and that’s maybe what I need to explain about what happened. Normally it’s more difficult for opponents to create that kind of chances against us.”

Vardy brace keeps Foxes at the summit

Leicester retained their lead at the top of the Premier League by virtue of a Jamie Vardy double. With three goals and one assist in three outings, the 7.2-priced marksman has re-established himself as a force on the Fantasy scene following a six-match spell that yielded zero goals. Similarly, Riyad Mahrez – who’s combined with Vardy for seven goals this term (no partnership has managed more) – bagged his second assist in as many starts, encouraging his 64% ownership to sit tight ahead of tricky road trips to City and Arsenal.

On the defensive front, the Foxes produced a fifth shut-out in six outings, promoting investment in their cut-price rearguard starters – the 4.8-priced Christian Fuchs has earned eight bonus points over that run. That being said, interested observers might feel inclined to wait until the schedule eases up from Gameweek 27 (NOR, WBA, wat, NEW, cry) before investing.

Aguero streak continues

Sergio Aguero’s 16^th-minute strike proved decisive as Manchester City edged past Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Argentina international – who was captained by more than a fifth of all Fantasy managers – looks in ominous form, having amassed five goals and one assist across his previous three outings. With home clashes against Leicester and Spurs up next, though, he faces a tougher task to continue his recent showings.

Elsewhere in the Sky Blues camp, Jesus Navas laid on the assist for Aguero but had to be removed at the 76-minute mark with an apparent hamstring strain. At the back, Man City claimed their fourth clean sheet in six match-ups, rewarding Bacary Sagna’s 27% ownership, though the Frenchman missed out as Nicolas Otamendi, Joe Hart and Gael Clichy ended up with the maximum bonus points.

Antonio in the points again

In the wake of a goalless first half, West Ham struck twice in the second period to secure a 2-0 win over 10-man Villa. Michail Antonio delivered on our differential punt, netting his third goal in six starts. The former Nottingham Forest winger has produced attacking returns (three goals, five assists) in all but one of his previous seven outings so is sure to attract a new wave of owners in the lead-up to an agreeable trio of fixtures (sou, nor, SUN). Priced at just 5.3, he is owned by only 1% of FPL managers.

Having failed to score since Gameweek 7, Cheikhou Kouyate banished his barren spell with the Irons’ second of the evening. Mark Noble and Enner Valencia notched the assists, meaning the latter has posted just one blank in five league starts. Dimitri Payet, meanwhile, has now blanked in six of his last seven league appearances.

The Hammers’ second clean sheet in seven attempts earned Winston Reid and Aaron Cresswell maximum bonus at the back. Whilst the former’s 4.8 price tag is kinder, Cresswell’s points potential at both ends of the pitch means he has moved up to joint-eighth in the defender standings, just 13 points off the summit.

Afobe wins it for Cherries

Netting for the third Gameweek on the bounce, Benik Afobe bagged the winner in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Coming in at 6.1, the former Arsenal frontman represents an intriguing option in that third striker slot – he’s now served up 25 points in four appearances since arriving from Wolves, with five bonus points also accrued, and now faces three home fixtures in the next four (ARS, STO, wat, SOU).

Although they were without Junior Stanislas due to an ongoing knee complaint, Bournemouth’s wide men still picked up the points. Marc Pugh’s strike took his tally to a goal and two assists in the last three, while Matt Ritchie notched an assist from the opposite flank upon his return to the starting XI. The fit-again Joshua King was afforded a 23-minute cameo on his return from the treatment room.

Dann goal not enough for Palace

Scott Dann tallied his fourth goal of the season as the Eagles slumped to their fifth successive defeat. The 5.8-priced centre-back ranks second among defenders for goals scored – behind Patrick van Aanholt (five) – and moved up to fifth in the defender standings last night, despite playing within a back line that’s recorded just three clean sheets since Gameweek 12.

Wilfried Zaha continued his fine form for the Eagles; after teeing up Dann for the hosts’ strike, he has now supplied an assist in each of the last two Gameweeks and also bagged the FA Cup winner against Stoke at the weekend. Priced at 5.3, he could take advantage of a schedule that pits his side against Swansea, Watford, West Brom and Sunderland in the next four Gameweeks.

Rooney and Martial pick up the points

Manchester United produced a rare display of free-flowing attacking football as they put three past an underwhelming Stoke City outfit. Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial continued their recent resurgence, bagging a goal and assist apiece. The Red Devils captain flattered to deceive in the first half of the season – scoring two goals – but now boasts five strikes and two assists in five starts. United’s upcoming schedule, which pits them against Chelsea and Arsenal in the next three, may prove enough of a deterrent.

Looking at United’s budget pick-ups, Jesse Lingard (4.2) piqued our interest with his second goal in the last four Gameweeks and he has now started their last five in all competitions. At the back, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is also worth a mention, given that the 4.0-priced academy product recorded an assist and offers a tempting short-term route into a patchwork rearguard that racked up their twelfth clean sheet of the campaign last night – more than any other side.

Siggy nets again

Swansea extended their unbeaten run to three league matches with a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns. Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.0) found the target yet again for the Welsh outfit, scoring for the fourth time in five Gameweeks – with a 3% ownership, he’s looking a fine differential right now ahead of back-to-back home encounters with Palace and Southampton. New boy Alberto Paloschi had to settle for a place on the bench but came on at the break after Ki Sung-yeung was forced off due to a clash of heads.