Opinion
10 August 2017 2682 comments
davidwardale davidwardale
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In the words of Cockney prophets Chas & Dave: ‘Spurs are on their way to Wembley, Tottenham’s going to do it again’.

This season, in a move that even a dreaming Ossie Ardiles might tire of, they’ll be on their way to Wembley many more times than usual to fulfil 19 Premier League home fixtures while their new stadium is being built.

And the fear is that what Tottenham’s going to be doing again is struggle.

The precedents are not good – West Ham suffered when they moved into their new home last season, while Spurs lost two and drew one of their four European matches at Wembley in 2016/17.

A strong second-place finish last campaign, fuelled by key assets Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, would usually demand our Fantasy attention.

But will the move to Wembley change all that? Will it prompt a right old Knees Up or a case of Ain’t No Pleasing You?

We canvas the opinion of some leading Fantasy Premier League managers and Fantasy Football Scout staff to ask for their verdict on the fourth of this season’s Burning Questions: Is the Wembley factor really a concern when considering Spurs’ assets?

Peter Kouwenberg (Hall of Fame #1) Says…

A confession: I was one who skippered Kane for the Hull City and Burnley blanks last December before a rare rage-transfer out – just in time to ‘enjoy’ his festive haul of six goals in four matches.

I also became something of an expert throughout the season at swapping Eriksen in and out for Alli, just in time to miss each other’s goals and assists, before finally admitting defeat and bringing in all three players.

As a result, I am the last person qualified to comment on Spurs.

Much has been written about why they do, and may continue to, struggle at Wembley and if I was a Spurs fan, I probably would be a little bit nervous about this.

However, I would be far more fearful of not having Kane in my team, with a match away at newly promoted Newcastle and a home fixture against Burnley sandwiching the Chelsea clash.

I agree that there are viable alternatives – the Manchester City strikers and new boys Alvaro Morata and Alexandre Lacazette could all justify excluding Kane – but I’ll be riding out the first three games at least, after which the fixtures suggest it would be a brave or foolish player not to have at least one Spurs attacker.

Where I think the Wembley wariness will influence me is in not trebling up from the off. Alli was the first name on my first draft team sheet and I still think he (and Eriksen) could continue where they left off last season.

However, wagering over a quarter of my £100m budget on Spurs (including the injured Kieran Trippier) to beat their Wembley hoodoo may be a gamble too far.

Uwais Ahmed (FPL Runner-Up 2016/17) Says…

I believe that playing at Wembley for 19 home matches will make a difference, but how much this will affect the Spurs players is impossible to tell.

We simply don’t have a decent sample size of data to confirm how much of a factor Wembley will be. What we do know is that Spurs won 21 of 23 matches played at White Hart Lane last season across all competitions, and you would expect this will be difficult to match this time around.

Given Harry Kane is the most expensive player in FPL, at £12.5m, you have to take into account all factors when fielding a player who uses up such a significant portion of our budget. Playing at Wembley is one such factor.

Kane is England’s number one striker. He’s played at Wembley on a number of occasions, so we’re not talking about a novice with a complete unfamiliarity of his surroundings. What also works in Kane’s favour is that he is a nailed-on starter for Spurs so there is no rotation risk around him.

I believe that in considering Spurs’ assets, you have to play it by ear. What you can hang your hat on is that last season in the Premier League, Spurs had the joint-best goal difference at home and the best goal difference away. This tells you that they’re a very well-balanced team with FPL options across all positions.

They’ve earned the right for us to ignore the Wembley aspect to begin with, particularly with their favourable opening schedule.

But we might need to re-visit the issue once we have more evidence and information.

Ben Crabtree (Reigning FPL Champion) Says…

Stadium moves generally negatively affect performance.

Couple this with Spurs, and Kane in particular, being slow starters and there should be caution around their prized assets.

The 6-1 and 7-1 maulings they handed out in the spring were nearly three months ago. Their form – and that of all the other teams – is re-set for the new season and no-one has half an eye on the beach anymore.

I feel Spurs are less likely to win the title this season. Today’s Danny Rose story is symptomatic of the frustration at the club, with some players concerned that rivals have strengthened so much while their only business has made them weaker, ie losing Kyle Walker.

Then again, I’m open to the possibility of my thoughts deriving from confirmation bias.

Pretending Spurs have no options saves a lot of money and makes picking a team easier. There is a stadium move, but they’ve played there before so it’s not completely new. Kane hasn’t scored in August before, but that could mean he’ll score three months worth of goals this August to average it out.

Then there’s Eriksen and Alli who, as a rule, score more points each year. Even if they get ‘only’ this season, I don’t want to be missing out on that.

At the start you can only have so many top players. The tactic I generally use is to see what factors rule players out rather than in. I think Wembley is a big enough concern to put Spurs on hold for now.

Simon March (FPL Champion 2014/15) Says…

My theory when it comes to Spurs and the ‘Wembley factor’ is that their recent malaise there has less to do with the size of the pitch or the unfamiliar surroundings and much more to do with the fact that it is simply ‘Wembley’.

The venue is synonymous with ‘an occasion’ and, for the visiting teams and their fans, fixtures there take on a cup final atmosphere, irrespective of their actual significance. As a result, Spurs’ opponents typically bring along a larger, louder following and their players raise their game accordingly.

If this is true, then Spurs may have 19 ‘cup finals’ on their hands next season and this could, of course, impact on their players’ performances.

Though I expect Spurs to eventually adapt to their new surroundings and the greater pressure that comes with them, I might be concerned about their results early on in the season.

I’m less concerned, however, with the impact on Spurs as an attacking force.

Even if the results aren’t going their way, I think their usual suspects of Kane, Alli and Eriksen will still find opportunities to score.

The atmosphere might even work in their favour at times, with opposing teams less inclined to ‘park the bus’ in front of a more vociferous than usual away following.

So, while I might avoid their defence for a few Gameweeks at least, I’ll still be backing their attacking assets.

Jonty Says…

Spurs were an unstoppable force at White Hart Lane last season, racking up more shots than any home side and scoring 47 times – a tally only bettered by Chelsea.

In defence, they conceded just nine times in front of their own fans and kept 12 clean sheets – another two records for their 2016/17 stats cabinet.

Given that they effectively play 38 away matches this season, due to Wembley being their temporary home, the theory is that this fine record will suffer.

Leading the charge in pushing this theory are those that study pitch sizes. They will point out that, at 100 x 67 metres, White Hart Lane had the second smallest Premier League pitch last season and Spurs players may struggle to adjust to the extra space afforded by Wembley’s gigantic 105 x 69 metres (7,245 ) of turf.

West Ham’s travails after their move to a larger pitch at the London Stadium last season further strengthen this ‘groundsman’s argument’.

Then there’s Spurs’ track record at Wembley – a stadium where last season they were beaten by Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea and could only secure a draw against Belgian team KAA Gent. In fact, CSKA Moscow were the only side they managed to beat at the home of English football last season.

But I’m still not buying into the Wembley effect.

The key is that, in Kane, they have a player looking to win the Golden Boot for the third consecutive season and who still scored 12 goals on the road last season – with only Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero scoring more.

In addition, their away record was superb – suggesting the tight White Hart Lane pitch is not needed for success. On the road they conceded a mere 16 times- another record – and scored 39, which was only bettered by Manchester City.

If Spurs fail to replicate 2016/17’s form, it won’t be due to playing at Wembley. It will arguably be more to do with their failure to impress in the transfer market, where they have lost one of their best players in full-back Walker and have been forced to watch in envy as their rivals strengthen.

Paul Says…

Due to Spurs’ tactics under Mauricio Pochettino, I don’t think you can rule out the Wembley issue altogether, or at least in the very early stages.

Spurs play such a high-pressing game that, with more ground and space to cover in their new home, there’s a possibility that energy levels could drop later in matches and they might not be able to close down opponents quite so effectively.

That’s essentially a fitness factor and one that their manager will presumably address by ensuring that Spurs’ levels are even greater than before. It could initially have an impact but, as the season unfolds and the players up their match fitness and become more accustomed to Wembley, I can’t see it being an issue.

Kane’s minutes per away goal last season – which was almost identical to Romelu Lukaku’s at home – underlines that he’s far from reliant on White Hart Lane. At present, he’s the only Spurs player I own as I feel he’s unparalleled as a captaincy pick.

Elsewhere, you can also point to the fact that Alli had more big chances away from home than any FPL midfielder last season. Eriksen, meanwhile, sat first for shots and key passes, and his penchant for efforts from distance is unlikely to be quenched.

Defensively, I’m going to steer clear of Spurs for now and see if they can maintain the same levels of resilience as last season.

But with Burnley, Swansea City and Bournemouth three of their first four visitors, the opening schedule should allow them to settle and give us time to assess any possible Wembley impact.

Mark Says…

While they have been conspicuous by their absence in the transfer market, in many ways it was difficult to strengthen Pochettino’s first XI and, under normal circumstances I’d reluctantly be installing Spurs as title favourites.

But the Wembley factor has to be a consideration and, coupled with the sudden unrest in the camp following Rose’s outburst today, I do have escalating concerns about their prospects.

The pitch size and sense of occasion created by the stadium move is less of a factor than the morale issues for me.

I worry that, with a ready-made excuse for a reduced title bid, the mood in the camp could suddenly plummet further.

One of the main reasons for Spurs’ success last season was the fact that they came across as the most unified and spirited of teams.

But cracks are now appearing and I do feel that the re-location will compound matters.

Having said that, I am still struggling to overlook Kane.

Based on last season’s output, he is peerless as a captain option and while there is explosivity and possibly consistency on offer from Romelu Lukaku and Gabriel Jesus, they are for my money still giving chase to Kane for these qualities .

So Kane will likely get the nod for me, regardless of my concerns.

However, I am unlikely to back him with Eriksen or Alli for fear of over-investment in a side perhaps on the verge of a transition – both in terms of venue and, perhaps, mentality and confidence.

  1. La Vida Latte
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Who would you play this week:

    A) Ake (wba)
    B) RLC (HUD)
    C) Carroll (sou)

    Thanks!

    1. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      B

      1. La Vida Latte
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks!

    2. FPLGyarados
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      A

  2. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    nobody fancy walters for their 5.5m slot with just him vokes and barnes playing as forwards for burnley?

    do they play 4-4-1-1?

    1. MY DJ NAME IS PIMP CURRY
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2, yes. Any 2 of those 3 could start so it's a gamble

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      I sure do. But I can afford to rotate him

  3. Boom Xhaka-Laca
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Draft league for players playing the whole season: 617770-142058
    2 spots left

  4. Clueless24
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Otamendi or Stones?

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Same dialema

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

        Ottamendi. I feel stones gets dropped in 442 pep formation

    2. marquinhos
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Ota

  5. MY DJ NAME IS PIMP CURRY
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Do we expect Siggy to start? On a related note, is Carroll a decent option as a 4th mid?

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Defo not starting.... Carrol should have set pieces

  6. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    a) Kola
    b) Kompany
    c) Bailly

    1. La Vida Latte
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Tricky. A or B.

    2. Unbowed Unbent N'Golo
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      I'm currently on B, but very tempted by A.

  7. ★Kuntheman★
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Any news on Trippier?

    1. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      1 week, likely 2 weeks

  8. ONE PUNCH MAN
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    no love for Afobe?

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      will he start?

      1. ONE PUNCH MAN
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        not sure,but played preseason

    2. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      He's going to play?

    3. marquinhos
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      :'(

  9. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Is there a better 2 x 4.5m def rotation than Francis and Suttner?

    1. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      mee and hegazi

      1. Your Mum's Athletic
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Hegazi not nailed on though......

        1. ONE PUNCH MAN
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          true but is francis nailed?

          1. marquinhos
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            yes IMO

    2. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      thats what people said about ivanovic the season he flopped

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      dont think so

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

      Naughton and Lescelles

    5. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Naughton n Simpson...can't trust promoted teams

  10. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    just dont know if i can justify alonso for 7.0 🙁

    means ive got to play him week in week out, and fixtures arent amazing

    1. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      He's set and forget option regardless of fixtures

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        i know, but man hes expensive

  11. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Solanke to start tomorrow?

    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      *saturday

    2. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Likely

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Doubt it

  12. balint84
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    W-illian
    or
    F-abregas

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

      W

    2. Belsunz
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      N-one

      1. balint84
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        who do you recommend for the same value?

    3. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      w

  13. PvA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Team News says Dunk will start at CB vs City....

    I thought he was a full-back??

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      he's cb and he's a card magnet

  14. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Most nailed on 5.5 def? Other than Bertie

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Monreal

    2. weaver93
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Monreal.
      B Davies

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

    How's this looking?

    Foster
    Daniels Cedric Cahill
    Kdb Mane Willian Pogba RLC
    Kane Lacazette

    Eliot Rangel Simpson mcburnie

    Bench is week but wildcarding early most likely

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

      Like it. Prefer Ake to Daniels. Get Mee and Long as your benched defs. Cover each other

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

        I think I prefer jesus to lacazette but is double city and no arsenal bad?

        1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Nah city will destroy at the start of this season. Arsenal to stumble out of blocks

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

          Who knows? I've got Laca too. Arsenal going to need him because of there player issues. He will be there main man.

  16. SMOOTH
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    A. Lukaku and Gab
    B. Jesus and Firm

    A. Firm and Zaha
    B. Gab and Salah

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

      Both options contradict each other

      But B B

    2. Frozen flying mammoth
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      BA

  17. camarozz
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Hi.
    Would you
    Downgrade forster to save 0.5 million to upgrade Gross to Ritchie????

    1. camarozz
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Gross is my 4th mid btw to allow gabbiadini with two big hitters up top

    2. Swanremainsthesame
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      You know Brighton just got 2 fancy new wingers to go either side of GroS?

  18. Lone Wolf
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    3 questions:

    1. Fabiański or Hart
    2. Naughton or Suttner
    3. Mbemba or MAriappa

  19. mattressman
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    I would appreciate some help on this one:

    A) Foster, Danilo, JWP
    B) DDG, Dawson, Atsu

    Rest of the team would be:
    Eliott
    Bertrand, Daniels, Naugthon, Suttner
    KDB, Fabregas, Zaha, Carroll
    Kane, Lukaku, Firminho

    Thx and good luck to everyone on their FPL season!

  20. Milner4eva
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    It's all about the Yoshida/Redmond/Tadic SOT triple-up people 🙂

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      tadic? no thanks

      1. Milner4eva
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        what's wrong with him?

        1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          too inconsistent. stats great, usually nothing to show for it

          1. Milner4eva
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            aye, it's a concern for sure, but just playing the fixtures at the start and crossing my fingers

          2. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            I heard he's the new eriksen

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Doubt that

    3. bojack
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      It isn't.

    4. Frozen flying mammoth
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Sell Tadic to me, some knowledgeable people have picked him can't see why.

      1. Milner4eva
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I just think he's quality, the fixtures are great, and pretty much every mid-priced midfielder is garbage so there's not much competition

        Will probably go up in flames but at least it'll be fun 🙂

  21. Waxys
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Son is nailed on when he's back right?

    1. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      No

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      I think so

  22. Boom Xhaka-Laca
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Draft league for players playing the whole season: 617770-142058

    3 spots left

  23. Tshelby
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Last decision I need to make

    A) Kompany - Bertrand - 4.5 def
    B) Danillo - Bertrand - Daniels
    C) Kompany - Yoshi
    D) Danillo - Bertrand

    Cheers for all the help!

    1. Tshelby
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      C and D are with Daniels

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      A

      1. Tshelby
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers Cpt!

  24. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Hi fellas

    Just had my draft picks. What do you think?

    Heaton/Butland
    Walker/Valencia/Cedric/Trippier/Adam Smith
    Alli/Zaha/Klaasen/Walters/Lallana
    Sandro/Jesus/Tekkers

    Free agents available:
    Tadic
    Stanislas
    McAuley
    Shawcross
    Rodriguez
    Deeney

    Think any of those worth using a waiver for? Sorry for repost

  25. firetog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    The only thing that we will ever be able assess at the end of the season is whether Wembley was not a factor. If spurs continue to perform as well as last season we can assume Wembley was not an issue.

    However, should they suffer a drop in results compared to the last two years we won't be able to assume that Wembley was the cause.

    Their depth of talent is not as deep as their rivals, they haven't yet recruited anyone of any significance and have lost walker. Regardless of Wembley it wouldn't have been a total shock if their results dipped this season had they remained at the lane. Chelsea followed a champion winning season followed by a horibble season followed by another Championship. Had their horrid season been at Wembley we would have immediately determined that was the cause. Of course it wasn't, but my point is results can drop for a multitude of reasons. If spurs experience a drop in form the year they are at Wembley it's not going to be certain it was the primary reason.

  26. Giovanni Giorgio
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Bertrand of Davis to replace Trippier until he's ready?
    Already have Cedric.

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

      Go Davies.

  27. Red Rock
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    A) Salah + Ake + Yoshida
    B) Willian + Bertrand + Valencia
    C) Willian + Alonso + Yoshi

  28. PvA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Wowww I had Dunk in my team thinking he was a full-back 😆

  29. no1baj
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    My first time playing, can anyone give me suggestions on how to improve my team?

    Hart (Hennessey)
    Francis / Lascelles / Kompany (Mee, Duffy)
    Redmond / KDB / Alli / Willian / Mane
    Lukaku / Iheanacho (Abraham)

    1. Forza Juventus
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Who you guys captaining for GW1?

    2. Forza Juventus
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Sorry, Reply fail. I would be careful without Kane, and if i didnt have Kane i would at least want Jesus i feel.

  30. Waxys
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    I have a feeling pogba may drop in value fast if he blanks like he does in most games tbh.

    I think I'll pass on him and get Zaha over Wijnaldum for now