Scout Notes – Kane Strike Not Enough

A goal from their talisman fails to drag Spurs from their slump as Leicester City inflict a third defeat in five matches on Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

Harry Kane’s seventh goal in as many away matches this season was, on the face of it, the sign of a good night’s work at Leicester City.

The strike was certainly a relief for the 17.4% of Fantasy Premier League managers, that’s close to a million, who captained him.

But they could have been excused for expecting more – his six-point return at the King Power Stadium was the first time this season he’s failed to earn bonus when on the scoresheet.

And then there’s the issue of Spurs themselves. How long can a misfiring side keep relying on Kane to bail them out, particularly when he has struggled to make an impact at home all season?

The 2-1 defeat last night was their third straight match without a win, and their third loss in five, with perhaps the only positive on the night the return from long-term injury of Erik Lamela (6.3), who was handed 13 minutes from the bench and still found the time to set up Kane’s goal.

However, from a Fantasy perspective, his return to contention only clouds the issue in the Spurs midfield, handing Pochettino more options to rotate.

Not that we have interest in that Spurs midfield right now.

Christian Eriksen missed a glorious chance to score his first goal since Gameweek 8 and continues to leak owners as a result. He lost 166,000+ in the lead up to last night, and a further 12,000+ since have made him the third most sold player heading into Gameweek 15.

Pochettino can’t even offer us defensive solidity to fall back on at the moment. They’ve kept just one clean sheet in six matches and the rotation issues surrounding their wing-backs – Serge Aurier and Danny Rose were given the nod last night – have further dented managers’ confidence in Ben Davies.

The Welsh international has lost owners in five of the last six Gameweeks and is already exceeding Eriksen’s sales going into the weekend trip to Watford.

That match precedes a Champions League dead rubber in which Pochettino will surely rest key assets, so Davies and Kieran Trippier could well play at both Watford and in Gameweek 16’s Wembley visit from Stoke City.

But despite a fine short-term schedule (wat STK BHA), investment in any of Spurs’ stars is an increasingly fraught affair at present.

Foxes back in focus

New Leicester manager Claude Puel has described his side as a work in progress, and that progress was there for all to see against Spurs.

Jamie Vardy’s goal was a huge relief for his 13.9% ownership, although more than 133,000 managers have jumped ship over the past six Gameweeks, with the England man having found the net just twice in his last eight starts.

The form of Riyad Mahrez is considerably more encouraging.

His winner last night was his third goal of the season, and all have come since Gameweek 8. During the same period, he’s also provided three of his six assists for the campaign.

Owned by just 4.2%, the midfielder could prove to be an excellent pre-Christmas differential as the Foxes prepare for a promising quartet of matches (BUR new sou CRY) up next.

However, Demarai Gray’s stock – previously buoyant under Puel when he started the last four – took a dent following last night’s encounter. The 5.3 midfield option was benched for the first by his manager, with Shinji Okazaki returning to the starting line-up.

At the back, things remain patchy. Leicester have kept a very unPuel-like one clean sheet in seven, but those short-term fixtures could help improve that.

Christian Fuchs missed out for the Foxes due to the birth of his daughter on Tuesday afternoon, while striker Kelechi Iheanacho was also absent through illness but is expected back in the squad for Gameweek 14.