Scout Notes – Aguero Leaves It Late

A regulation Man City win includes an uncomfortably late goal for one key Fantasy asset, while crosstown rivals United are well off the pace at Spurs despite a blank for Harry Kane.

A telling 50% of Fantasy Premier League’s (FPL) top 100 managers chose Sergio Aguero as their captain for Gameweek 25.

As a result, they had to suffer for just as long as the 16.8% of us mere mortals who handed him the armband while City eased past West Brom but the striker went scoreless.

A 90th minute goal – his eighth in nine Gameweeks – changed all that, taking him ahead of Kane as the top-ranked forward for points per match (7.0 v 6.5).

Net transfers-in of just under 300,000 for the Gameweek took Aguero’s ownership to 29%, still well short of Raheem Sterling (37.9%) in the City popularity stakes.

The midfielder duly obliged with a pair of assists and two bonus points for his first double-digit haul in five appearances, although one of those was from the bench.

Aguero, meanwhile, missed out on bonus on what was a relatively quiet night involving just two shots, both from inside the area, in the 3-0 win.

The 14-point star of the show was Kevin De Bruyne, who scored his first goal since Gameweek 18. It was one of six shots he fired in against the Baggies – more than any other midfielder in Gameweek 25.

The Belgian, captained by 3.5% on the night, now has seven double-figure returns for the season as both he and Sterling continue to trail only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the midfield standings.

City’s other asset with major ownership, Nicolas Otamendi (31.7%), brought in clean sheet points for the first time in three matches, and with a different partner alongside him at centre-half.

New signing Aymeric Laporte (5.5) was handed a surprise debut as John Stones missed out through illness.

More than 16,000 managers have already swooped to buy the new man for Saturday’s trip to Burnley, putting him in the top ten for Gameweek 26 transfers-in, where he is joined by Sterling, De Bruyne and Aguero.

Otamendi has started 13 straight league matches and is long overdue a break. Vincent Kompany is currently fit again and should Stones recover from illness, Pep Guardiola will have four players chasing two centre-back spots.

Guardiola’s selection against the Clarets remains unclear, though we can presume that the Gameweek 27 home fixture – three days before the Champions League tie with Basel – will be the real hotspot for rotation. Otamendi and Stones – as the first choice pairing – are perhaps more likely to be preserved against the Foxes and could, therefore, get the start this weekend.

It might be unwise to throw Laporte into an away game debut at Turf Moor, with Kompany perhaps the more likely to feature.

Elsewhere, David Silva was booked and then had to leave the field after suffering a kick “in a painful area”, according to his manager. He will be an early doubt for Saturday’s encounter.

Kane blanks as Spurs shine

The most popular transfer combination of Gameweek 25 involved a switch from Harry Kane to Aguero, with 144,000+ managers ending the night content with their acumen – providing of course, no four-point hit was involved.

The England striker was, as ever, peerless for goal threat, firing in a Gameweek-high eight shots against Man United, five of which came from inside the box, but he still blanked for an eighth occasion at “home” this season.

Spurs won the match 2-0 thanks to a strike in just ten seconds from Christian Eriksen, who stroked home from a Dele Alli blocked effort, and a Phil Jones own goal, the United defender turning Kieran Trippier’s cross past the helpless David De Gea.

It was the Spurs right-back’s first start since Gameweek 22 – and only his third in nine matches – and he grabbed the chance to bring in 12 points, including maximum bonus, for his dwindling 3.6% ownership.

A calf injury to Serge Aurier might boost his chances of more consistent pitch-time in the short term, with security of starts now an issue again for fellow full-back Ben Davies (13.9%) as Danny Rose was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench on Wednesday.

It was an impressive performance for Spurs and a miserable night for United assets, most markedly Jones (16.9%).

The defender had been bought by 72,000+ for Gameweek 25 on the back of four straight clean sheets. His new owners were rewarded with that unwanted goal, a booking and -2 for their troubles.

Jose Mourinho’s attempts to incorporate new signing Alexis Sanchez into his side did not go well.

The midfielder, brought in by close to 75,000 new managers for the Wembley encounter, operated on the left flank for his league debut as both Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard kept their places, with Juan Mata the man to miss out.

That was a relief for Lingard’s 17.4% ownership, although the midfielder had a poor match and was replaced after 62 minutes.

Sanchez’s night was equally underwhelming and his inability to track back left Ashley Young horribly exposed to Spurs attacks, from Trippier in particular, all evening.

The Chilean also failed to produce a single shot or create a chance for team-mates.

Paul Pogba was another big name to struggle.

The 15.4%-owned Frenchman was uncomfortable in a defensive role alongside Nemanja Matic in central midfield and was subbed off by an increasingly exasperated Mourinho after 62 minutes.

United’s misery was completed by Marouane Fellaini, who was introduced from the bench, played nine minutes and then had to come off with a knee injury.

Spurs will now travel to Liverpool on Sunday in confident mood for what is a huge clash.

United entertain Huddersfield the day before for what should be an ideal match-up to rediscover their swagger – if Mourinho can find the right way to set up a side full of stars, but lacking balance.

United’s attack looks likely to deliver returns, though isolating the most worthy target looks to be a difficult task. Inevitably, Sanchez will be well fancied to introduce himself to the Old Trafford faithful with a bang, though Wednesday’s Premier League debut offered little encouragement.

Magpies miss out

United follow up the Huddersfield fixture with a trip to Newcastle, who missed a golden opportunity to record their first win since Gameweek 9 in last night’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.

Joselu had a tame penalty effort saved by the Clarets’ excellent Nick Pope before the Magpies took the lead when Jamaal Lascelles headed home debutant Kenedy’s corner.

The Brazilian, on loan from Chelsea, also earned Newcastle’s penalty and hit the post in an eye-catching display on the left of midfield which earned him two bonus and eight points. Matt Ritchie (1.8%) was the man who made way for Kenedy.

But the Magpies failed to build on their lead – in part due to Pope’s heroics.

The Burnley stopper made three saves and was awarded maximum bonus in an 11-point performance. He now has 15 bonus points for the season – more than any other keeper.

Pope’s ownership has simmered somewhat following the news of Tom Heaton’s return to training. The Burnley skipper would seem likely to succeed Pope in goal eventually, though when that will be is not clear.

As for Newcastle, they grabbed a point late on when Pope’s unfortunate counterpart Karl Darlow tipped Sam Vokes’ effort onto the bar, only for the ball to rebound off the goalkeeper’s head and into the net.

It would be harsh for coach Rafa Benitez to blame his man for the own goal, but with deadline day loan signing Martin Dubravka ready to take over between the sticks, the prospects for both Darlow (0.4%) and fellow keeper Rob Elliot (19.3%) look bleak.