Saturday delivered another frustrating afternoon for Harry Kane and a predictably limp performance from Manchester United, all of which ensured that most Fantasy managers – some 56% – counted on just four points from their captain.
It was left to Manchester City to lift our spirits and Gameweek scores, as their assets took turns to dismantle Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium.
Here’s the notes from the opening day of Gameweek 8.
Kane’s Wembley blanks continue
It’s almost become tiresome now. Each and every time we see Harry Kane blank and Spurs huff and puff at Wembley Stadium, it re-opens the debate on why we keep seeing such failings in “home” matches.
Backed by 520,000 new owners and elevated to the top captain pick for the first time this season (30.1%), Kane provided a fourth successive Wembley blank.
Home matches with Swansea, Burnley and Bournemouth – on paper – looked like hat-trick material for a striker of Kane’s talents. That only makes his struggles all the more irksome.
Fixtures with Liverpool (h), Manchester United (a) and Arsenal (a) in the next four Gameweeks could not provide a more contrasting run of opponents.
That spell could also test the resolve of some, with over 13,000 already choosing to trade out Kane.
But even with Gabriel Jesus turning heads and Alvaro Morata in line to return, Kane surely deserves our patience. Whether he can mount another convincing challenge for the armband is another matter.
Alli and Davies suffer dents
While Kane will likely remain locked in our line-ups, the case to retain Dele Alli becomes less tenable by the Gameweek.
He has now spanned five matches without a goal as he continues to flatter to deceive as a 9.4 midfield asset.
It’s interesting to note, however, that after eight Gameweeks last season, Alli had three goals and a single assist, compared to his tally of two and two this term.
He also had fewer touches in the penalty area, while his minutes per shot and chance created statistics were almost identical.
That suggests that Alli’s time will come, but few will likely be willing to steer through this indifferent form and testing fixtures to wait for his flourish to arrive.
Christian Eriksen – with his third goal of the season against Bournemouth – is an obvious escape route. The Dane now sits top of the overall midfielder standings on 56 points, although Manchester City’s cast of options are giving chase and are inevitably the more popular targets.
Ben Davies’ owners were also left disappointed from Spurs’ modest victory over Bournemouth, as they were denied clean sheet points by his absence through illness. Mauricio Pochettino hopes to have the Welshman back for the midweek Champions League trip to Real Madrid.
However, given Spurs’ fixtures and the fact that Danny Rose is closing on a full fitness, there is cause to question Davies’ prospects in both the short and mid-term. He’s been a gift to us, but some will doubtless be wondering whether to trade in and revisit when the schedule brightens. Over 23,000 have so far shown Davies the door, making him the fifth most sold asset currently.
Untamable City are impossible to ignore
Manchester City’s attack simply cannot be overlooked.
How we go about exploiting their extraordinary form is another question, explored earlier in last night’s Knee Jerk.
As mentioned, their cast of midfield assets extends to four exciting options, with Raheem Sterling perhaps the most compelling given his 8.0 price point and the explosive nature of his six-goal return so far.
Notably, Sterling completed the 90 minutes against Stoke City, perhaps in preparation to be benched for a third time in Europe when City face Napoli in midweek. That would be a most favourable outcome, with Sterling hopefully preserved to be unleashed on Burnley in Gameweek 9.
Elsewhere, we must surely consider a second and perhaps third route into Pep Guardiola’s attack as their relentless output of goals and points continues.
Kevin De Bruyne is the Rolls Royce provider, lauded by the pundits, though his 10.0 price tag perhaps renders him a less favourable option than David Silva.
Up front, the mystery may well deepen further this week.
Gabriel Jesus flies for now but could be clipped by Sergio Aguero’s re-appearance for the Napoli tie. As ever, we must question how Guardiola will juggle the pairing and how that may impact on Sterling and Sane, if at all.
Arguably, with free-scoring City sharing the points across their Fantasy options, there is no wrong answer to this puzzle.
Mourinho’s tactics deliver inevitable outcome
It was somewhat predictable that Jose Mourinho would set his Manchester United side up to claim a point at Anfield and, in doing so, earn a seventh clean sheet in eight Gameweeks.
Even so, some 136,000 of 450,000 Phil Jones’ owners choose to bench the centre-back, perhaps more in the hope that Mourinho’s plans would be foiled, rather than a lack of awareness of the likely outcome.
Notably, over 19,400 of those who benched Jones were fortunate enough to have Ben Davies in their XI, with the autosubs taking care of the rest.
Jones clearly remains an almost essential option given Mourinho’s stance at Anfield. He currently seems able to navigate through injury concerns and is a mainstay in a United backline that continues to impress. If they are to adopt similar spoiling tactics against tougher opponents, then we can almost dismiss fixture difficulty as a factor when considering Jones’ selection.
With fellow centre-back Eric Bailly – owned by 15.6% – missing out through an injury sustained while away with the Ivory Coast, Jones is already picking up significant traffic with over 28,000 transfers in so far.
Lukaku lives off scraps
United’s tactics and their general lack of interest in venturing near the Liverpool penalty area, meant that Romelu Lukaku provided just his second blank in eight Gameweeks.
The Belgian could have scored, although his shot saved by Simon Mignolet was his only effort on goal in a day where he enjoyed two touches in the box.
While Mourinho’s approach to the Liverpool clash reinforced our faith in the United defence, it clearly raises major concerns about Lukaku’s ability to keep pace with rival striker options.
As for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, he was a peripheral figure throughout and has now produced a single goal and assist in six Gameweeks. Sold by over 246,000 before yesterday’s deadline, the exodus continues at pace – he is the most sold player so far ahead of Friday’s deadline.
Lukaku may yet find a way to reward his owners through United’s negativity, but faith in Mkhitaryan looks a stretch.
Sanchez is spared Hornets defeat
Both Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey were protected from Arsenal’s defeat to Watford. It is thought that both were “rested” by Arsene Wenger following international exertions and World Cup exits, although the manager stated prior to the match that both had “muscular problems” which were “not very bad”.
The Gunners could hardly claim that they didn’t miss their influence. Wenger was able to welcome back Danny Welbeck and Laurent Koscielny from injury, only for both to suffer further setbacks in the 2-1 defeat making them early doubts for Gameweek 8.
Sanchez needs to be restored and to find some semblance of form if we are ever to engage with the Gunners attack this season.
Certainly, Alexandre Lacazette did little to convince us that he can compete for our affections. He was withdrawn on 67 minutes to ensure a fourth successive blank in away matches. He’s completed 90 minutes just once this season – back in Gameweek 1.
Richarlison keeps our attention
Watford’s Brazilian “wonderkid” again piqued our interest with the “assist” for Troy Deeney’s penalty that earned Marco Silva’s side a route back into the game against the Gunners.
A controversial incident, Richarlison looks set to avoid any retrospective punishment for simulation, although it is prudent to hold fire on any potential investment until that is confirmed.
Richarlison has to remain a key target for us. He has now produced three goals and three assists from seven starts in a Watford side that continues to impress as an attacking outfit.
A trip to Chelsea follows, which, in the light of the Blues’ Selhurst Park performance, will not prove daunting for Silva or his Brazilian attacker. Following the Stamford Bridge visit, Watford’s fixtures only further promote increased interest in Richarlison.
Zaha takes centre stage for Palace
Wilfried Zaha looks set to rival Richarlison for our affections in midfield.
He returned to the Crystal Palace line-up for the visit of Chelsea and was immediately installed as a central striker, with Andros Townsend pushed up in support.
Zaha took his chance to impress, scoring the Eagles winner and keeping the Chelsea defence on the backfoot throughout.
Currently priced at 6.7, Zaha had some potential as a winger, but his stock is boosted further by a central attacking role.
With Christian Benteke set for a sustained period on the sidelines and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in line to return in Gameweek 8 to provide service, Zaha suddenly looks a very enticing prospect.
Palace’s fixtures now turn dramatically, a trip to Spurs in Gameweek 11 provides their only major test right through to a Boxing Day clash with Arsenal.
Abraham a value proposition
Suddenly there appears to be convincing value throughout the attacking options.
Having been bereft of a convincing budget striker to this point, Swansea City’s Tammy Abraham submitted a most impressive updated CV, featuring his brace against Huddersfield Town.
While both were easy opportunities to convert, there is no doubt that Abraham – at just 5.7 – is establishing himself as a pivotal figure in the Swans’ bid to avoid a relegation battle.
Manager Paul Clement must decide how Wilfried Bony fits in, but he surely cannot afford to sacrifice the movement, pace and work rate that Abraham brings.
Even if acquired in rotation with a midfielder or defender to feature in home matches alone, the Swans striker offers a compelling run of opponents (LEI BHA BOU WBA MCI CRY) up to Gameweek 19.
In a Gameweek where Lukaku and Kane caused concern and the Man City puzzle is re-opened, the option of a third budget striker appears to be a viable alternative strategy at last.
