Our first Scouting the Doubles article of the 2011/12 season sees Tottenham come under the microscope. Harry Redknapp’s side have a couple of home games on the agenda, as West Brom and Everton visit the Lane, and plenty of investment in the third-placed club can be expected, with their double gameweek clearly brimming with potential…
The Prospects
Having picked themselves up from the 5-1 defeat by Man City and installed Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor in the first XI, Spurs have been sensational at White Hart Lane. ‘Arry’s boys have won all but one of their subsequent home fixtures, with a draw against Chelsea the only stain on an otherwise perfect record. The London outfit have picked up 4 clean sheets in front of their own fans this term, too, demonstrating a resilience at the back in addition to some explosive performances going forward.
First up for Spurs is a clash with West Brom this Tuesday. Prior to today’s home defeat, Roy Hodgson’s side had picked up in form, having strung together a three-match unbeaten run, but a look at their results on the road suggests Tottenham goals are likely to be on the agenda. The Baggies have recorded a single clean sheet away from home this term, back in gameweek 6 at Norwich, and look unlikely to blunt the attacking threat on offer from Redknapp’s hosts.
Everton then make their way down to London on the 11th January for the final match of gameweek 20. David Moyes’ side have been resilient on the road, with just 10 goals conceded over their nine away fixtures and have lost an away game by more than a single goal just once this term. With just 4 goals in their last six games, the Toffees shot-shy attack offers plenty hope of defensive points for those Fantasy managers eyeing up Spurs cover at the back.
Likely Lads
It says a lot for his season so far that Gareth Bale is regarded as a near-essential pick ahead of the double-header. Bale, priced at 9.1, is the most-owned player in the Tottenham ranks, with 35% ownership indicative of his flourishing form as a solid Fantasy asset. With 7 goals and 6 assists this season, in addition to 15 bonus points, the Welshman looks a potential armband option and, regardless of whether he plays out wide or in his newly-afforded central role, Bale could well prove significant asset in gameweek 20. Can you afford to leave him out?
Emmanuel Adebayor has proven to be an integral part of Harry Redknapp’s side as Spurs maintain their drive for a top-four finish. With 9 goals and 7 assists, the on-loan forward has played a part in more of his side’s goals than any other Tottenham player and is also top for bonus points, with 18. Factor is his apparent spot-kick duties and 9.2-priced Adebayor clearly has the potential to rack up a substantial haul, having notched two double-figure points hauls at the Lane already this term.
Rafael Van der Vaart served a reminder of his capabilities with Spurs’ goal at Swansea yesterday. There’s no doubt the Dutchman has been off-form of late; his goal at the Liberty Stadium was Van der Vaart’s first in eight appearances, with only a single assist and bonus point thrown in along the way. His hamstring troubles are always liable to see him subbed off, with only one full appearance under his belt since gameweek 3. Jermain Defoe’s return to action also affords Harry Redknapp another option and with Aaron Lennon out injured, there’s always the possibility that Van der Vaart could be fielded wide right in a 4-4-2 to accommodate Defoe in the starting XI. No question he has the quality, though, and with set-piece duties in the bag, the potential is always there for the Dutchman to tear it up. With a lowly 7.5% ownership, the 9.7 price midfielder could prove a a handy differential.
With a single goal conceded in their last four home matches, the Spurs defence is looking ripe for investment. Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Kyle Walker appear the stand-out options here; the full-backs have pretty much guaranteed game time and offer near-identical prospects, with just 2 points between them so far this season. Given that the former is 0.6 less expensive, though, he’s perhaps the most obvious choice of the pair.
Cheeky Punts
If Redknapp keeps to the 4-2-3-1 formation, Luka Modric may be an intriguing proposition. With Scott Parker and Sandro providing a solid base in front of the back-four, the Croatian was afforded license to forage forward against Norwich at Carrow Road and producing one of his most attacking displays of the season, culminating in an assist for Bale’s second. He’s been steady, if unspectacular, of late with 3 assists and 4 bonus points in his last six games and at 7.9, is less of a strain on your budget than Spurs’ other big hitters.
Brad Freidel is proving to be a strong value option between the posts. Spurs’ attack-minded game means they’re prone to the counter on occasion and the summer signing has racked up the save points with some defiant displays. Recent gameweeks have seen Friedel bag the bonus points, awarded 4 in his last two appearances. Priced at 5.6, he’s the top-scoring defensive option in the Tottenham ranks. Friedel has returned 78 points, comfortably ahead of both Walker and Assou-Ekotto, with 66 and 64 respectively.
