Scout Notes – Listless Kane Suffers Defeat

Harry Kane fails to convince as Spurs slip to a 2-1 FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United, with their big names stepping up to turn the tie on its head.

A week is a long time in politics, six days a lifetime ago for United.

Last Sunday, there were capitulating at home to West Brom as the combined talents of Alexis Sanchez, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku seemed hell-bent on personally wrecking Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers’ Double Gameweek 34 plans.

There was a least some form of redemption in midweek, as Pogba impressed with an assist, setting up a Lukaku goal as he delivered in a 30-minute cameo from the bench. But Sanchez was a no-show.

It was that trio who combined to mastermind Saturday’s comeback victory.

Pogba was back to his best in the second period at Wembley, setting up Sanchez for United’s equaliser and firing in three shots himself.

Lukaku also had three attempts and provided the assist, albeit fortuitously, for Ander Herrera’s winner when he miscontrolled a pass into the path of the Spaniard who swept first-time into the net.

But it was Sanchez who stole the show, producing an energetic and committed performance, both in defence and attack, that was reminiscent of his finest hours at Arsenal.

The three players have had a markedly different impact on our FPL season to this point.

Lukaku (27.5%) is easily the most popular, with Pogba (12.8%) the side’s most owned midfielder and Sanchez (3.3%) currently reduced to the role of a luxury differential on account of his patchy form and hefty 11.5 price tag.

Should they maintain the performance levels shown on Saturday, they could yet have a say over the run-in, with United facing a Double Gameweek 37 away at Brighton and West Ham and a final-day visit from Watford.

Before that, they’ll host Arsenal next weekend, a match that falls between the two legs of the Gunners’ Europa League semi-final tie with Atletico Madrid.

Rotation, you would suspect, is likely to be more of an issue with Arsene Wenger’s side than Mourinho’s in that clash.

The Portuguese coach has made no secret of his desire for United to finish second in the Premier League and although he might wish to give squad members the chance to play their way into the cup final side, he seems unlikely to stray too far from the line-up that won Saturday’s match.

However, the Gameweek 38 fixture with the Hornets could involve rotation, coming as it does just six days before the Wembley showpiece that rounds off the domestic season and is now the remaining opportunity for silverware.

Kane struggles cause concern

Harry Kane won the Double Gameweek 34 battle of the big-ticket strikers, outscoring Lukaku 10-8.

But there was little doubt who was the more effective performer in Saturday’s semi-final.

Lukaku’s assist might have involved more luck than judgement, but he outshot his rival 3-2, had one attempt on target to Kane’s zero and won six aerial challenges to the Spurs forward’s one.

Kane was starved of service and looked listless throughout, which is rapidly becoming a worrying trend.

His close-range finish at Brighton on Tuesday should not disguise from the fact that the striker has looked short of fitness and form since his rapid return from an ankle problem.

Despite these concerns, some 11,000+ managers have already elevated Kane as the early front-runner in Gameweek 36’s transfers-in table. Lukaku, by contrast, is the fourth most sold asset.

Spurs’ schedule is inspiring Kane’s current surge in the market.

They now have three home matches in four, with a Double Gameweek 37 (wba NEW) which has the promise of big returns for Kane and his attacking team-mates.

But West Brom, as shown by recent results under Darren Moore, are no longer pushovers.

Mauricio Pochettino could also face a massive job to lift his team following Saturday’s defeat, though their mission will surely be to finally secure fourth place and see off the recent charge from Chelsea. The gap is currently just five points, making the Gameweek 36 home meeting with Watford all the more vital.

Kane’s quest for the Golden Boot should also keep him fully motivated, but he now trails Mohamed Salah by five goals, which could well prove an insurmountable tally given his current level of performance.

And with Man City’s Gabriel Jesus all but assured of consistent starts with Sergio Aguero sidelined, FPL managers now face some crucial decisions with their frontlines and the captaincy for the remaining Gameweeks.

Jesus would seem poised to start both home matches against Huddersfield and Brighton over Double Gameweek 37 – two teams who may even have sealed safety by that point. He is rapidly gaining ground on Kane as a candidate for the captaincy and remaining Triple Captain chips.

Gameweek 36’s fixtures could prove decisive in this respect. Kane will host Watford at Wembley, while Jesus will visit West Ham. That gives the Spurs striker ample opportunity to throw off his malaise and reinstate himself as the rightful Double Gameweek frontrunner.

However, an impressive performance from Jesus today against Swansea may well have a marked impact on our thinking and the FPL market. Jesus is already the fourth most purchased player ahead of next weekend’s deadline, with another price rise to 10.3 looking imminent.

United Resilience Restored

They might not have kept a clean sheet yesterday, but United’s backline was impressive nonetheless, restricting Spurs to just two attempts on target.

That followed only a second clean sheet in eight Gameweeks at Bournemouth, which coincided with the return of Phil Jones at centre-half.

His partnership with Chris Smalling, who has been an ever-present in the league since Gameweek 23, was a major factor in United shutting down their opponents once Herrera had put the Red Devils ahead.

And their schedule offers the strong possibility of excellent defensive returns – even from the Arsenal encounter, should their opponents be more concerned with their European quest.

Smalling is currently the only defender in the top five, and the single United player in the top 15, for Gameweek 36 transfers-in, as his 8.4% ownership continues to grow.

But it is Jones, at 5.5 just 0.1 cheaper than his team-mate, who offers differential potential as he is currently owned by just 5.4%.

Mixed messages from midfield

Christian Eriksen (16.5%) is Spurs’ most popular midfielder in FPL, and he was typically influential yesterday, one of three players (Pogba and Lukaku were the others) who led the way for goal attempts (three).

He also set up the opener for Dele Alli (13.1%), who made it four goals and two assists from his last five starts in all competitions.

Eriksen is in equally strong form, with four goals and an assist from his last five Gameweek starts.

The pair could offer more of the same from the run-in if Spurs can bounce back from yet another semi-final disappointment. The Dane is currently second only to Kane for transfers in ahead of Gameweek 36.

Confidence in Son Heung-min appears to be fading, however.

The 14.6%-owned midfielder has now failed to find the net in five straight matches in all competitions and faces increasing competition for his starting place from both Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela, who featured from the bench against United.

The fact that Spurs play three of their last four matches at home might save him – he’s scored nine of his 12 league goals this season at Wembley.

But he’s managed only two goals in his last four home fixtures, and they both came in Gameweek 29’s win over Huddersfield.

With a cast of midfield options from other Double Gameweek 37 sides demanding our attention and a sudden drive to find funds to acquire Jesus, Son’s status remains a dilemma.

The Spurs defence is also struggling to convince. They have now kept just one clean sheet – in the quarter-final win over Swansea City – in the last seven matches across all competitions.