Opinion

The Burning Question – Do we sell or keep Kane before Gameweek 22

During this most wonderful time of the year, we’re frequently told that it is better to give than to receive.

So in the spirit of Christmas, the first in a series of Burning Questions asks whether it’s time to give Harry Kane the elbow, or continue to receive meagre points – albeit with the potential for a whole lot more – from the out of sorts Spurs talisman.

To consider this conundrum, we’ve brought together a panel of heavy-hitting Fantasy managers to team up with our regular Fantasy Football Scout contributors.

Last season’s top two in Fantasy Premier League, Ben Crabtree and Uwais Ahmed, are joined by the current leaders of both our “live” and “career” Hall of Fame – Jay Egersdorff and Peter Kouwenberg – to study the issue.

To counter balance their expertise, this week our very own Mark takes his turn to debate our first festive Burning Question – do we sell or keep Harry Kane before Gameweek 22?

Jay Says…

For me it’s a short-term keep.

Harry Kane faces Stoke City and Brighton in quick succession – and both at home.

Likewise, he has no Champions League duties to worry about midweek as Spurs are though as group winners already and I’d expect Mauricio Pochettino to rest a number of key players.

They desperately need to get back on track in the league; their title bid is all but gone while the Champions League places are slowly drifting away too.

Yes, they’ve had a rocky patch, but I’m expecting Spurs to return to the mean.

Look at Everton a fortnight ago – people were backing them for a relegation battle, but two wins inside a week has seen them back in mid-table, which is a more accurate reflection of their default status.

Two good home matches in a week is a similar opportunity for Spurs, and I see them earning maximum points, with Kane a key architect.

As regards the Double Gameweek 22, I think it would be wise to have a free transfer carried over from Gameweek 16 or 17.

This would allow a Kane downgrade ahead of Man City and then Burnley away – two fixtures where, if he’s still off form, you’d expect long odds for him to regain his scoring streak against two mean defences.

The second free transfer would enable you to redistribute the money freed up by selling Kane as another forward might emerge by then.

It’s fair to say that Alvaro Morata is currently the only nailed-on big hitter and he’s sat on four yellows – another argument for the idea of a short-term Kane ‘wait and see’ option.

Peter Says…

Just over a third of us have blindly gone from week to week increasingly desperate that Spurs’ own ’Arry Kane must be about to rediscover the form which has brought him matching Premier League Golden Boots.

And week after week, the naked truth has been that Kane – and Spurs – are more pinchbeck than prolific this season.

Captaincy options aside, this game is about finding value.

At 12.8, the striker is the FPL Goliath for price, yet 17 players are within ten points of him (and many ahead of Kane’s 82), while Mohamed Salah is disappearing over the horizon with a 31-point advantage.

Significantly for Kane’s owners, that collection includes Pascal Großs (6.0), Richarlison (6.6) and Aaron Ramsey (7.2).

Put bluntly, the value now lies in midfield and defence, and the output of the premium strikers no longer justifies the heavy investment required.

For me, Kane will probably be handed his P45 before Spurs visit the Etihad in Gameweek 18.

No doubt he’ll score before returning to my squad for that alluring Double Gameweek 22, but so will many other options who cost half Kane’s fee and will allow me to strengthen all round for the hectic Christmas period.

Ben Says…

Given the double in Gameweek 22, where he should be essential (we’ll see), transferring him out means using two free transfers out of the next seven on one player.

In fact, it might work out at more than two transfers as that 12-something million gets spread around the team: bye bye Elliot, hello De Gea; bye bye Loftus-Cheek, hello Ramsey etc.

Factor in the potential points Kane can get against Stoke City, Brighton and Southampton and it’s a simple decision to keep him for most managers.

However, if you want to do better than most managers, could a Kane sacrifice be rewarded by the FPL gods with differential captain points and multiple player upgrades?

I actually think yes, there will be a few ways to make ditching more profitable than keeping. It’s just extremely risky and difficult to find them.

There are against the grain, ahead of the curve and differential decisions to make that fly you up the rankings, but for me this isn’t one of them.

Selling is a high risk, low probability move. Captain Kane against Stoke for me, because definitely this time he’s definitely “due”.

Uwais Says…

If you look at the fixtures in isolation from now until Double Gameweek 22, you would say that there are some real opportunities for Kane to fire – and fire big.

However, we are now approaching the halfway mark of the season, and I believe that it is proving increasingly difficult to justify his selection until those double fixtures.

He sits second only to Alvaro Morata in the forward standings, but the fact is that given his relatively pedestrian returns of late, his price tag is just too restrictive when considering what else that money could do with our squads.

We now have enough of a sample size from Spurs’ performances so far this season, and the fact is that they are not playing with the same attacking verve and cohesion as we have seen in recent years.

Having watched them closely recently, they seem to be playing safe and what I call ‘ball to feet’ football and Kane does not look as threatening as in previous seasons.

For his price tag of 12.8, you would expect consistent points and occasionally explosive returns.

Given the fact that other premium players such as Hazard, Coutinho, Firmino and Sanchez are now showing signs of life and we also have consistent performers in Salah and De Bruyne to turn to, the fact is that those funds are probably best placed elsewhere at present.

Until Gameweek 22, that is!

Mark Says…

It seems all kinds of wrong to lose faith in Kane.

But such a view is part of my own DNA. While somewhat “maverick” and aggressive as a Fantasy manager, I’m also known to cling to the comfort of FPL’s “top asset”, whoever that might be. Whether it’s Robin van Persie or Sergio Aguero, historically, I’m all over them.

So I’m a Kane zealot, deciding to sacrifice him feels like a wrench and against my instincts.

I can’t deny that I’m tempted, and that the decision to keep him could well scupper my season.

Typically, I turn to statistics to justify my viewpoints and the same applies here.

As we mentioned in The Digest earlier today, after 15 Gameweeks Kane has scored goals at exactly the same rate at the same point in his 29-goal Golden Boot season.

However, this season he’s fired shots at double the frequency (15.2 minutes vs 30.4 minutes) and, for all the talk on the quality of his shots, he’s had 12 big chances to last season’s seven at this stage.

That screams for me to sit tight and wait for Kane’s natural goalscoring instincts to kick back in.

So that’s what I’ll do, perhaps until Gameweek 21 when, if I can somehow manoeuvre to have two free transfers, I’ll be shipping him out temporarily.

If there was a compelling straight swap, I might just reconsider for his tougher short-term fixtures. However, selling him on and redistributing the funds over my squad – which is surely a necessity – doesn’t appeal when I know I’ll want and need him back.

1,491 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Keep.

    Hope that helps.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Exactly no more needed to be said

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks, save me spending time reading the article

    3. Scout Pics
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Simple.

  2. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Huge, huge topic of discussion!!! This is the big question.

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I ruddy love a burning question article! It's been too long! 😀

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I think the much better question should have been ....

        Should we ever risk the armband with Kane ever again?

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Have you read the article yet?

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            I read like the wind, baby.

        2. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Conversations with myself.

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Don't forget ... Kane is dead to Team Cruel. Make sure he stands by his words.

            1. Sánchez
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              And Bemba

  3. F4L
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    United 😆

  4. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Keep as there are no other good forward options about

    Nice article please

    1. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Err Laca, Bobby and Morata all scoring lately with fantastic fixtures upcoming

  5. Sánchez
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    I'll keep. Then triple captain
    Everybody else should sell.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Get Ron Don

      1. Sánchez
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        This. All of you should get Rondon.

  6. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Keep Hokey Cokey week 21 then get back for 22

  7. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    What do we need for United to go out?

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Keep Lukaku on

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        😀

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      7 nil I think.

    3. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      7:0.

      Basel: 2/0/2 4:5 (-1)
      CSKA: 2/0/2 10:7 (+3)
      UTD: 2/0/2 7:9 (-2)

  8. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Kane is gone for me after the brighton fixture

    1. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Looking at the fixtures I’m actually tempted to agree even though I was thinking hold

    2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      You gonna bring him back gw22

      1. Shultan
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        That depends on how spurs perform between now & then

  9. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    What Jay said...

  10. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    I'll keep Kane until I can no longer go without 2 City Mids

  11. Pirlø's Pen
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Love these articles.

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      They are good except I don't think they should include last year's winner and runner up guy. Winning is pure luck and doesn't mean anything. The opinions of the top guys in HoF is worth far more.

      1. Ramboros
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        This is such a stupid, elitist attitude.

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          You saying I'm elite? Cheers. 😎

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Top of the Hall of Shame 😉

            1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
              • 13 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Ouch 🙁

      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Harsh, you can’t win the thing by just being lucky

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Playing well gets a high rank, pure luck is needed to get number 1 spot.

          Otherwise there is a chance someone will win it twice. That's never going to happen.

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            I agree - just one or two things over the course of a season go a different way and two different people with completely different ideas are doing this article with completely different thoughts shoved down our throats instead.

  12. Unbowed Unbent N'Golo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Those weeks when your squad's in a real sweet spot.. lovely jubbly!

    Gomes
    Moreno / Christensen / Kiko
    Salah / Hazard / Coutinho / Richa / Groß
    Morata / Kane

    Speroni / DCL / Ward / Dunk

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Very nice

    2. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Cue 24 pointer;)

  13. rocky7st
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    If he blanks on those fixtures he's out for me

  14. Gregor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Keep.

  15. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Should I do Azpi > Daniels/Kiko & Silva > Hazard for free?

    1. Unbowed Unbent N'Golo
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Don't get Daniels! Ideally keep Azpi and find another way to get Hazard, but I imagine there probably isn't...

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Hazard is playing, might get injured.

  16. Kun Tozser
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    While there are no other obvious forwards on form, Kane alone is enough imo. He’s going to haul at some point and I can’t say the same about other premium forwards!

    1. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Hope people ship him though

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Morata?

      1. Kun Tozser
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Nah not for me

        1. Kun Tozser
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Double defence and Hazard

  17. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Can all just sell Kane without mentioning like 10 GWs that they will sale?
    Just sell if you dont like him like we all do with other players,is he special or what?

    For me he is staying(same as Alonso,Hazard,Salah,Rich,RLC,Morata)not touching any of them.
    It will need a huge drop in performance or injury to sale some of those.

  18. FrankieTheGent
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Keep.
    He isn't exactly tanking.
    Alternatives?
    Everyone will want him for GW22

  19. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Alonso rested or dropped?

    1. BPlease
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Source please?

  20. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Who scores more
    1) Silva + Mariappa
    2) Ramsey + Mariappa
    3) Silva + Moreno
    3) Ramsey and Moreno -4

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      maybe 3, but not 3

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Ffs

    2. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      2

  21. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    For me Kane is just a get in start of the season and forget player. Unless he gets a huge injury I usually just bench him. Might not be the optimal tactic but it’s just one less headache!

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Honestly, I get why you say it mate, but disagree completely.

      A very expensive player impacts hugely on our teams. If they are contributing enough it's acceptable. We are willing to face headaches elsewhere are the player justifies doing so.

      A very expensive who is not performing causes headaches all through the team.

      Just my opinion tho...!

      1. Irish Villan 1985
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Totally agree - Kane is 12.8M, I can do a lot with that money throughout my squad - Personally I got rid of Kane and upgraded my midfield, brought in Sanhez and went with 5 in midfield, Arsenal have a lovely run of fixtures (almost to the end of the season) and he is coming into form. Kane was just too frustrating, he blanked every time I captained him 🙁

  22. james 101
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Pope. Elliot.
    Mustafi. Mee. Azpili. Duffy. Hune.
    Hazard. Salah. Sterling. KDB. Coutinho.
    Morata. Naisse. Murray.

    £0.7 in the bank.

    A. Mustafi to 6.1m (who?!).
    B. Hune to 4.6m (who?!)
    C. Something else (what?!)

    1. Schliegs
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Nice team, that Mid without a Harry kane looks tasty.

      I'd go Hune > Kiko/Zeegelaar or upgrade Elliot

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers!

    2. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I’d consider kiko for either a or b

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks!

        Downgrading mustafi would help raise more cash to bring in DDG.

  23. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Keep the faith. He's due.

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Stats aren't that overwhelming, compared to his previous form.

  24. Rover
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Anyhattrick that Kane subsequently scores cannot be taken in isolation but has to be considered along with all the blanks he has delivered so far. When I sold Kane, I didn't sell him because he's never going to score a hattrick, but because I don't think 2+2+2+20+2+2 (exaggerated to both extremes) is worth it over the next 6. Having said that, he's definitely back in my side for GW22 (if fit), but just not coming in for now, even if he scores in the next couple of games.

  25. Schliegs
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A) Otamendi + Christensen
    Vs
    B) Azpi + Kiko

    1. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A easy

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A*

    3. ClutchingStraws
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

  26. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Shaw playing OOP? Or they 532? Not watching game. Ta.

    1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Their playing wingbacks Valencia and Shaw

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Ta

  27. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Oblaks positioning is out of this world.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Is it a planet?

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Oblaks? The New Zealand rugby team aren't they?

  28. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    How are haz and morata looking?

  29. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Far too expensive and there are other options scoring with great fixtures like Laca, Bobby and Morata.

    With those 3 for instance you can afford a top power 6 including Haz, Salah and Sterling

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Morata far easier to keep imo

  30. james 101
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Of course we could just as easily see Alli or Eriksen hit form before gw22 and Kane keep underperforming.

    1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I'm going to try to squeeze triple (Kane, Mid, Vert/Trippier) Spurs for GW 22 - Son as much as I hate rotation risks has actually looked good. Good be a nice differential.

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I had Kane Alli Eriksen a couple of times over this / last season. On a good day they can be great assets. Just not seen too many of those days recently!