Opinion

The Knee Jerk – Gameweek 4

Are Harry Kane and Romelu Lukau about to make this season very dull?

Many of us marvelled at the array of attacking options we faced prior to Gameweek 1 and, even today, the choices showed up; goals for Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Jesus and Alvaro Morata demonstrated that.

But there is already a feeling of inevitability about the fact that Lukaku and Kane have dominated as the top two captain picks for four successive Gameweeks.

The Spurs’ striker’s “mini drought” ended today at Goodison Park – perhaps the least likely venue for a haul when we studied his opening four Gameweeks. But the Toffees were poor and simply folded to an impressive Spurs display.

Now, with the next four fixtures looking so favourable Mauricio Pochettino’s side, Kane’s bandwagon will surely gather pace, stalled only by the fact that 30% of Fantasy Premier League managers may be otherwise distracted by replacing the suspended Sadio Mane in midfield.

It now seems only a matter of time before Kane’s 26% ownership rises and starts to reach levels similar to that of Lukaku.

The Manchester United striker was hardly spectacular at Stoke but, again, he found the net and could have scored more. Owned by 58%, if he remains free of injury, it’s feasible that he could even span the entire season as the go-to captain option for the majority of managers; 37% backed him today, with Kane back on 11%.

With the Wildcard active, I pondered losing one of this pair – temporarily gambling on Lacazette outscoring Kane today and paying the price.

I’m not sure I want to taste that medicine again. Fortunately, the funds have been reserved to bring in the Spurs man ahead of Gameweek five, and he’ll be locked in from now on.

Indeed, I’m now wondering if that means that the scope of my attacking changes this season will be limited to my third striker and an occasional shuffle of three big-hitters in midfield.

My faith in Kane is pretty much unshakable once the goals start rolling. Meanwhile, Lukaku looks likely to keep scoring merely by turning up to lead a United attack powered by Paul Pogba’s physicality and fed by Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s guile.

We can flirt with alternative options, even experiment with the captaincy from time to time, but giving up on the security on offer from Lukaku and Kane won’t be easy.

The aforementioned Jesus, Lacazette and Morata all have their merits. The latter is now the top scoring striker but, presumably surrendering spot-kick duties to Eden Hazard, I’m not convinced he or even Jesus can live with the “big two”.

I’m preparing to watch Kane and Lukaku dominate, push 30 goals and battle for the Golden Boot. That would tie up 24 million of my budget over the season and restrict my ability to react to the big-hitter bandwagons in midfield.

My season might be limited to switching Spurs, Liverpool and United midfielders to form, and shuffling some defenders according to fixtures.

That doesn’t sound all that appealing, but I’m not sure when I’ll next have the balls to change it.

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

4,474 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Double Entry
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Bellerin v Kolasinac..? Who is the more threatening? Thanks

    1. Scotty B
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Kola I think

    2. Double Entry
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Kol 2 assists up at the mo i think

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Bellerin doesn't look threatening even in advanced positions, and he's also tasked with tracking back more due to his speed, it seems. Like he'll often hang back to sweep up with Cech during set pieces or as others are attacking. Kola still likely to be one of the most value-for-money players in the game imo

      1. Double Entry
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks for replying. Need to find that .1 it seems.

    4. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Coca Kola

  2. Scotty B
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Who is best captain pick for next GW from below?

    Eriksen
    Pogba
    Salah
    Morata
    Firmino

    1. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Eriksen

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

      Eriksen

    3. Double Entry
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Eriksen. Burnley been good on the road so far, tough ti break down.

    4. markdmwilliams
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Eriksen tentatively, worth monitoring minutes following the Champions League. Unlikely to play 90 next weekend but he may not need to in order to score well

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        eriksen doesn't get rested

    5. Rash
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Eriksen locked in for me his record against the swans is ridiculous

  3. Bialystrzelec
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Has anyone seen Richarlison oferty those few last games? Is he worth investing in?

    1. markdmwilliams
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Playing relatively well in a good Watford side, but fixtures aren't the kindest

  4. Shrimpy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Who's everyones replacement for Mane?

    1. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Alli is probably a go to or salah

    1. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      That's painful

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      chipper-wotsit fair enough, but if you bench the other two...

    3. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Hilarious

    4. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Love to see his team if he's benching Davies and sane

    5. stat
        6 years, 8 months ago

        His bench is 5 pts above the average points of the GW... that must hurt

    6. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Best use of 2fts with 0.5itb

      Foster
      Alonso Jones Stephens
      Pogba Salah Willian RLC Eriksen
      Kane Jesus
      Eliot Rangel Mcburnie TAA

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        probably shift stephens & willian

        1. nkhoughton
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          I was toying with switching to 343 get chicarito or Rashford

          But not sure

          That or strengthen midfield overall

    7. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      midfield options really hard. need to ship willian & tadic but struggling for ideas.

      Mahrez??

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Carroll + Ramsey?

      2. nkhoughton
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        It's really sparce I'm thinking I might need to go 343 instead to ship him off

    8. Bialystrzelec
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I decided I immediately need to get rid of Gabbiadini and bring Morata in, but albo there have to be other moves made to get funds.

      My current team: 2FT / 1.4 ITB
      Foster / Elliot
      Kolasinac / Cedric / Mee / Naughton / Dunk
      DeBruyne / Mkhitaryan / Willian / Ritchie / Carroll
      Kane / Jesus / Gabbiadini

      I was thinking about selling Willian, what leaves me 5.3. Unfortunately it's 0.1 short to buy Gross. Richarlison is also tempting, but it would require more changes. Is anyone else worth considering besides Atsu? I need to rush if Morata is rising tonight. Please share thoughts!

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        You only just realised Gabbi was rubbish. Wowcha

    9. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Harold welcome to my team

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        A steal at 12.4

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Indeed

          Got Lacazette in for a one week punt wish now that I had just gone straight to Kane. Expected more from Everton but they have been piss poor this season

      2. KingNidge
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        You moved already Syd?

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          No waiting until after the CL games

          1. KingNidge
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Good man same here

            1. Syd.
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              He bit me last season got him in before he had played and he got crocked. Not going to happen again

    10. Scotty B
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Would you keep Lacazette or swap to Jesus for free?

      1. nkhoughton
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Lacazette has good fixtures coming

        1. Scotty B
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          So you'd keep?

    11. rivercityransom
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      i believe the man's name is romeu lukaku

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        ha ha. no it isn't

      1. nkhoughton
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Amazing

      2. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        15 transfers

        Just some knob messing around trying to make a name for himself

      3. Horlicks esq.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        god.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          They were ahead of me 🙂

      4. Sánchez
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        😆

    12. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Last time I'm going to post this but really need to decide if I want to WC tonight as Hunemeier and maybe even Suttner falling would price me out

      Current team (3-4-3):

      Foster / Myhill
      Valencia Stephens Daniels / Suttner Hunemeier
      Mane Pogba Ramsey Ritchie / Carroll
      Kane Lukaku Gabbiadini

      WC Team (4-3-3):

      Fabianski / Elliot
      Mendy Kolasinac Davies Daniels Dunk
      Eriksen Pogba Gross Atsu Carroll
      Kane Morata Firmino

      Would rotate Gross, Atsu and Carroll every week and also rotate Daniels and Dunk.

      Should I WC?

      A. Yes
      B. No

      1. Pooodle
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Nope. Your team is fine. Probably just ditch Mane and Gabbiadini.

      2. _figu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        No need.

      3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        B not enough Manchester for my liking

      4. the snazzy viking
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers all

    13. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Awful week this week, 30pts with only Mounie left to rescue me. What to do with this next week? Original plan was Kaku > Kane, but have to admit I'm now worried about losing Kaku given how poor Everton apparently were. 1.9 ITB:

      Foster (Elliott)
      Alonso Stephens Jones Lejeune (Long)
      Pogba Salah Alli (Willian Carroll)
      Kaku Firmino Mounie

    14. Tiamani Warrior
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Choupu moting anyone?

      1. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Im interested. He is pretty hot and cold and injury prone from what I remember of him from Germany.

    15. St. Joseph
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Bottomed last page

      With
      1. Mane (susp)
      2. Willian
      3. Tadic
      4. JWP
      5. Stephens
      6. Hegazi
      In my team

      Should be a perfect time to use wildcard?

      1. Pooodle
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Tempting. Stephens and Hegazi are fine though - they can stay. The other 4 aren't great but maybe ditch 3 for -8.

      2. _figu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I'd use it

    16. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Best sites for price changes? Thanks in advance!

        1. kysersosa
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks

    17. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Recomendations for this team?

      Foster/Elliot
      Bavies/Jones/Cedric/Lowe/Mbemba
      Mane/Eriksen/Miki/TC/Chalobah
      Kane/Kaku/Chcia

      2FT 0.5ITB

      Mane has to go however what mix of moves will be best here? I'm even willing to take -4.

      1. _figu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Commented on the last post you made.

        1. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks, will read 😉

      2. william prunier
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        salah

      3. homoud0072
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        mane to salah and keep the extra FT you have a decent squad . good luck 😉

    18. FPL_Hazards
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Captain GW5? Tricky one. Might keep on Kane.

      1. _figu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Kane for me, no question. So many teams with Lukaku and only few with Kane in my mini league. Some might swap but I don't think Everton is going to be that bad two weeks in a row.

      2. GE
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Kane

      3. InSaneMan-e
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Is it tricky? Kane will be favourite for sure

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

        Any attacker facing Burnley or Swansea would be a good bet.

    19. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      FPL - 1.3m 🙁

      Sky FF - 445th 🙂

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Shit

        A bit less shit

    20. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Could Mason Holgate be the answer to all our 4.4M dreams? Now played 2 games in a row, think he's cover for the injured Coleman.

      1. william prunier
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        he didnt play today did he?

        1. The Mandalorian
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          He played Martina instead who is also 4.4M

          1. Prismism
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            I guess that answers your question then.

    21. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I think it's time to wc 😐

      1. GE
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        No..What's your team?

        1. Clintymints
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Foster/Elliot

          Alonso Stephens Jones Zanka Long
          Eriksen Mane Mooy Mkhit Carroll
          Morata Lukaku McBurnie

          2 red flags, sold kdb for mane and Kane for Morata this week so send in the clowns

          1. Pooodle
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Definitely wouldn't WC that.

          2. GE
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            No reason to WC - good team

          3. GE
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Don't let the moves you did in the past affects current team.

            Would do Mane -> Salah in your position

          4. Clintymints
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Stephens and Mane to Bavies and Salah make most sense but tempted to WC. McBurnie is loaned out too so and we have a 4.0 defender in Rosenoir now so it's a nice tidy up of players! 2 red flags and 2 other transfers warrant a wc imo

    22. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      What's the story with Danilo?

      1. william prunier
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Pep

      2. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Rotation risk

      3. InSaneMan-e
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        dont see him playing vs weaker opposition, although he was good today

    23. BullDogTevez
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      8th in FFS Members league. Free fall from here.

    24. Alan_T
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Best combo for one of my draft leagues?

      A) Ozil and Gray

      B) Siggy and King

      1. Pooodle
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        B

    25. GE
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Who to sacrifice for Kane?

      1) Jesus
      2) Lukaku

      1. InSaneMan-e
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        million dollar question that

      2. william prunier
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        2 if own pog or miki

        1. GE
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Own Pogba

      3. Alan_T
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        id be keeping Rom

      4. Pooodle
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Jesus. I have him and intending to ditch him for Kane but would like to see a bit more from Kane first. That first goal was beyond lucky today and if he'd only scored once you wouldn't want to be bringing him in.

        1. GE
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          So you are ditching Jesus or not? Little bit confused 😉

          1. Pooodle
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Not yet! Keeping for now.

            1. GE
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              So no Kane?

    26. _figu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Foster - Elliot
      Alonso - Davies - Bertrand - YOSHIDA - 4.0
      Eriksen - Pogba - Phillips - Atsu - Carroll
      Kane - Lukaku - Chica

      .4 ITB, 1 FT

      I haven't used my WC yet. And I don't think I need to. Likely waiting for 2nd internation break. Yoshida only player I think I need to move. I want Pool cover but don't have the money to do Chicarito -> Firmino even if I do Yoshida -> 4.0 (0.2 short)

      Any suggestions?

      1. TheCardinal
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Phillips to Salah looks like the one to do!

    27. Sánchez
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      🙁

      0.1 short of Willian/PVA to Groß/Alonso

      Why is it always 0.1

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Blessing in disguise?

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          You can afford Iwobi 😉

    28. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      2.4m to 587k

      2FTs

      2.5 ITB

      Wahooo

      1. Eton Rifles
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        gameweek isn't over

        😉

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Great I just need a decent Swanswea performance to reach a century for the GW then 😀 haha

    29. LIARS POKER
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      What takes priority here, Willian out (to Salah) or Yoshida out? Or both for a hit?

      Foster | Elliot
      Bertrand | Yoshida** | Davies | Mee | Long
      Eriksen | Mkhi | Willian** | RLC | Carroll
      Kane | Morata | Firmino

      1. william prunier
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        yoshi could easily come back in
        Willi has to go though really

        1. LIARS POKER
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Cheers