Spurs crash out of Europe as a hot-headed Dele Alli sees red but a formation change and an easing schedule could yet be good news for Fantasy managers.
Tottenham 2 Gent 2 (2-3 on aggregate)
Spurs’ failure against Gent was both glorious and gloriously inept.
An early Christian Eriksen strike, from a Tony Alderweireld ball over the top, was just reward for a blistering start to the second leg, only for Harry Kane to miscue a header into his own net to gift the visitors a crucial away goal.
Spurs remained the far superior side, even after Dele Alli was shown a straight red card six minutes before half-time for a wild lunge that caught his opponent just below the knee.
The ten men dominated after the break and went ahead again when Eriksen cutely set up Victor Wanyama, but as the hosts poured forward looking for a tie-winning third goal they left themselves increasingly exposed to a counter-attack and that proved to be their final, and definitive, undoing.
Much will be made, and rightly so, of Alli’s recklessness, but the match contained a number of positives for Fantasy managers with Spurs players in their ranks.
Mauricio Pochettino had decided against utilising the successful 3-4-2-1 formation while both Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose were injured. But with the former now back and up to speed after a start in the FA Cup, the coach reverted to that set-up and Spurs were transformed.
Alli’s departure and the introduction of Son Heung-min saw a shift to a 4-2-2-1 on the hour-mark but, having started at wing-back, we may now see Ben Davies adopt handed that role until Rose is fit to return.
Eriksen, without a league goal in nine matches, thrived and Kane received sterling service from a team that played on the front foot throughout the match, even if the striker was unusually wasteful in front of goal.
Both players are among the top 12 for transfers-out this week, while only three assets have suffered more sales than Alli. But that exodus could prove to be a touch premature with home matches against Stoke City and Everton to come before a Gameweek 28 blank.
And however harsh the immediate comedown from a European exit might be, the longer term impact on Spurs’ over-stretched squad can only be beneficial.
They boast an excellent run-in, with home matches against Arsenal and Manchester United their toughest tests remaining.
If Spurs can improve upon their profligacy – they had 25 shots against the Belgians, but only three were on target – then there should be plenty of Fantasy mileage left in their key assets as the season reaches its climax.
Spurs XI: Lloris, Walker, Dier (Janssen 89), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies (Son 58), Wanyama, Dembele (Winks 75), Eriksen, Alli, Kane.
Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Sissoko, Wimmer.
