Kane scores in August but still not back to his FPL best

Harry Kane (£12.5m) finally scored in August but may not necessarily warrant inclusion in Fantasy Premier League squads just yet.

Team-mate Kieran Trippier (£6.0m) did indeed punish those impatience sellers who moved him after his Gameweek 1 no-show and his World Cup-inspired set-piece duties could hurt the ownership of other Tottenham assets.

Elsewhere, there was a second penalty save of the season for Neil Etheridge (£4.5m), Richarlison (£6.6m) delivered again but was still outperformed by an Everton colleague and Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) opened his account for the season.

In another Scout Notes article, we look at the lunch-time and 3pm matches from Saturday’s Premier League action.

CARDIFF CITY 0-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED

• Goals: None
• Assists: None

The 0.3 percent of Fantasy managers who included Neil Etheridge (£4.5m) in their FPL squads for Gameweek 2 were delighted once again as he made his second penalty save in as many matches. No goalkeeper registered more than three stops from spot kicks in 2017/18, and in just two weeks the Philippines international is already two-thirds of the way to matching that. While Etheridge managed to get a clean sheet and three bonus to take his Gameweek 2 score to 16 points, his aptitude for saving penalties may remain his only appeal in the near future. After a trip to Huddersfield next week it’s then Arsenal (home), Chelsea (away) and Manchester City (home) between Gameweek 4 and 6.

The man who failed to dispatch Newcastle’s stoppage time penalty, awarded for a Sean Morrison (£5.0m) handball, was Kenedy (£5.0m) who, by all accounts, put on an incredibly poor performance. The most popular Magpies midfielder (2.5 percent ownership) arguably could have been sent off for a kick-out in the first-half and may yet receive a ban for the incident as referee Craig Pawson did not see it or take any action. At the very least, he will be unavailable in Gameweek 3 as he is unable to face his parent club Chelsea.

However, we may still see Kennedy on penalties despite his miss as Benitez revealed that the Brazilian was the club’s designated taker when Matt Ritchie (£6.0m) is off the pitch. While Benitez’s comments do increase the appeal of the Scottish winger, this is now the second league match in a row when he has been taken off with 20 minutes to go.

“Kenedy was the designated penalty taker. First it was Matt Ritchie [who came off] but then it was Kenedy. It was a poor penalty, he’s not happy he missed a good chance. We win as a team and lose as a team, I am not concerned about the fact he missed a penalty, he has to take responsibility.” – Rafael Benitez

Questions will remain over the right-back situation at Newcastle after Javier Manquillo (£4.5m) was substituted at half-time. The former Liverpool man was struggling with an ankle problem before the break but had also been coming off second-best in a one-on-one battle with Cardiff winger Josh Murphy (£5.0m). First-choice DeAndre Yedlin (£4.5m) missed the match with a knee problem and, although, he is reportedly due back in Gameweek 3, his fitness will have to be assessed before then. Isaac Hayden (£4.5m) was brought on to play in that position but was issued a straight red card for a high tackle from behind on Murphy. He will now be unavailable for selection until Gameweek 5 with a three-match ban which will cover Gameweeks 3 and 4 as well as the Magpies’ EFL Cup tie at Nottingham Forest. Benitez is aware that right-back is an area where his side are facing problems.

“It was a difficult game. We have problems in the right-back positions – too many things went against us.” – Rafael Benitez

Junior Hoilett (£5.5m) limped off in the second-half after a fierce tackle, although there is no update on his fitness from Neil Warnock yet. However, the Cardiff manager did hand out praise to debutants Harry Arter (£5.0m) and Victor Camarasa (£4.5m), firming up their chances of starting at central midfielder in Gameweek 3.

“You can see what they give us, they give us that quality. They make us play more and that’s what we need, we want to play and entertain and give you people (the media) a bit more to write about. Better players make you play better. I was pleased with Victor, he’s not played at that level for a long time so there’s so many plusses for us today. I’m really proud to be manager of the whole club today, this is what we’ve worked hard to do and we’re not going to give it up without a fight.” – Neil Warnock

Neither Cardiff nor Newcastle look like sides worth investing in the attacks of so far. The hosts did not register a single shot on target while the Magpies were accurate with 50 percent of their chances but still could not find a breakthrough.

CARDIFF CITY XI (4-2-3-1): Etheridge; Bennett, Morrison, Bamba, Manga; Arter, Ralls; Camarasa (Reid 75’), Josh Murphy (Mendez-Laing 77’), Hoilett (Paterson 82’); Zohore.

NEWCASTLE UNITED XI (4-4-2): Dubravka; Dummett, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo (Hayden 45’); Kenedy, Diame, Shelvey, Ritchie (Jacob Murphy 70’); Perez (Muto 64’), Joselu.

EVERTON 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON

• Goals: Theo Walcott (£6.5m), Richarlison (£6.6m) | Danny Ings (£5.5m)
• Assists: Morgan Schneiderlin (£4.5m), Walcott | Mario Lemina (£5.0m)

Theo Walcott (£6.5m) reminded Fantasy managers of his potential in Everton’s 2-1 win over Southampton. His similarly-priced team-mate Richarlison (£6.6m) was transferred in on a much larger scale (316,000+ new owners) than the former Arsenal man (8,000+) this week, but could not match his points output for this particular match. Walcott’s goal, assist and maximum bonus produced a 13-point haul to Richarlison’s nine. In fact, despite the Brazilian’s reputation, Walcott had more efforts on goal against Southampton than any of his team-mates other than Cenk Tosun (£7.0m).

Nevertheless, Richarlison’s consistency should not be ignored as he made it three goals in two matches since signing for Everton. Once again, he was a presence in the penalty box, none of his colleagues registering more touches there than him and found the net once again. An away trip to Bournemouth up next, who conceded more at home in 2017/18 than any side other than Watford.

Meanwhile, Everton look like they could be dangerous from set-pieces this season after they created six chances from them on Saturday afternoon, one of those leading to a well-worked opening goal. That was the most any Everton side had created in a match in three years, and twice as many as was ever recorded under Sam Allardyce. Such a statistic could increase the interest in Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.5m), although with price as a factor he will have to deliver a little more often to pull managers away from Richarlison.

Mason Holgate (£4.5m) was the one to come in for the suspended Phil Jagielka (£4.5m) at centre-back while deadline day signing Kurt Zouma (£5.0m) and Yerry Mina (£5.5m) were not involved, the former an unused substitute. However, either one of this is expected to work their way into the first-team sooner rather than later.

Morgan Schneiderlin (£4.5m) was forced off in the 24th minute with a hamstring problem and replaced by Tom Davies (£5.0m). That was a great shame for the French midfielder as he played a crucial part in the well-rehearsed opening goal, putting up the assist. According to the player’s official Twitter, more will be known about the injury in the coming days.

The 20.1 percent in possession of Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) were disappointed to see another clean sheet wiped out again, this time by Southampton’s Danny Ings (£5.5m). Investment in the England International looks increasingly misplaced with each match, considering that Marco Silva’s record in English football now stands at 93 goals conceded in 51 matches. That large Fantasy following for Pickford should also monitor the reaction to the England man’s collision with Ings in the second-half. In coming to claim a ball into the box, his studs connected with the Southampton striker, tearing his shirt in the process. While it may come to nothing, Saints boss Mark Hughes claimed the incident was not spotted by officials on the pitch which could mean it is looked at for retrospective action.

“The referee was there. The linesman has a lot of experience. They didn’t see it apparently when we went to talk to them. I haven’t been in, my assistant has. They said ‘it happened a bit quick.’ “We will look at it back and take a view on it. In my view I didn’t feel he needed to follow through like he did.” – Mark Hughes

Either way, Ings has delivered on his potential sooner than expected, and has already put himself on Fantasy managers’ shopping lists for Gameweek 3. As we pointed out earlier this week, he had four shots on goal in just 34 minutes of football in Gameweek 1, so it was no surprise to see him prove the primary goal threat when handed his first start. At Goodison Park he shot six times, more than any other player involved in the 3pm kick-offs. With Leicester (home), Crystal Palace (away) and Brighton (home) the next three matches for Southampton, Ings could prove to be the cost effective budget striker Fantasy managers have been searching for. Conversely, Charlie Austin (£6.0m) lasted just 58 minutes before being replaced by Shane Long (£5.0m).

Meanwhile, Jannik Vestergaard (£5.0m) missed the match with an illness and was replaced by James Ward-Prowse (£5.5m) as Hughes went to four at the back.

EVERTON XI: Pickford; Baines, Holgate, Keane, Coleman; Schneiderlin (Davies 24’), Gueye; Richarlison (Niasse 86’), Sigurdsson, Walcott; Tosun (Calvert-Lewin 75’).

SOUTHAMPTON XI: McCarthy, Cedric, Hoedt, Stephens, Bertrand, Romeu (Gabbiadini 72’), Lemina, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Austin (Long 58’), Ings.

LEICESTER CITY 2-0 WOLVES

• Goals: James Maddison (£6.5m)
• Own-goals: Matt Doherty (£4.5m)
• Assists: Ricardo Pereira (£5.0m)

Despite dropping back into defence for Leicester City, Ricardo Pereira (£5.0m) made it two assists in many matches since arriving over the summer. With Demarai Gray (£5.5m) and Marc Albrighton (£5.4m) on the wings of a 4-2-3-1 formation, Pereira set-up James Maddison’s (£6.5m) second-half goal to wrap up a 2-0 win. The right-back has been remarkably successful with his chance creation so far this season, of the three he has generated, two of them have led to goals. That suggests that even if he is not going to be an out-of-position option, he could still prove a powerful asset this season.

The man we backed as a differential this week Ben Chilwell (£5.0m) may not have registered an assist again but showed promise once again. He has still created more chances than Pereira this season while no other defender performed higher than him for Baseline Bonus Points in Saturday’s 3pm fixtures. He added two bonus to his clean sheet to take home a haul of eight points.

However, it was a performance for Leicester that sent mixed messages to Fantasy managers. While Pereira and Chilwell showed promise for future fixtures, the Foxes goals came from just six shots, the lowest of any side that had played up to that point in Gameweek 2. In fact, their expected goals statistic was the lowest from those clubs too. Maddison’s strike came from his only shot of the match and he did not create any chances either. Furthermore, talismanic striker Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) was shown a straight red card for a hefty challenge on Matt Doherty (£4.5m) in the second-half and will now miss the next two league matches, with an EFL Cup tie using up one slot of the three-match ban. Claude Puel revealed that he would not be appealing the decision, choosing instead to offer his place to an alternative option.

“I think it perhaps was a little tough, because it was not his intention to make a foul. He touch the ball. After, he was perhaps too enthusiastic, on his move, on his tackle. It’s a pity. I want to support him. He likes playing all the time, 90 minutes if he can, and we need now to find a solution to replace him and it will be a good opportunity for some other player to show their quality.” – Claude Puel

The Leicester defence was boosted by the return to full fitness of Jonny Evans (£5.0m). He came into the side for Wes Morgan (£4.5m) and played alongside Harry Maguire (£5.5m). Although, again, caution may be advised over the state of the Foxes’ back-line, as they allowed Wolves to almost double their own shot count (11 to 6). The negative difference between the visitors expected goals and actual tally was the second biggest of the day.

Wolves full-back Doherty was forced off the field by Vardy’s challenge and was replaced by Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.5m). However, reports in the media after the game suggest the right wing-back is not too hurt.

Of greater interest for Fantasy managers in possession of Wolves’ assets was the changes made by Nuno Espirito Santo at half-time. Trailing the game, he hauled off Diogo Jota (£6.5m) and Helder Costa (£5.0m), who had reportedly given the ball away too often. Leo Bonatini (£5.0m) and Adama Traoré (£5.5m) were sent on in their place and, by all accounts, the latter was a highlight for Wolves in the second-half.

LEICESTER XI: Schmeichel; Chilwell, Maguire, Evans, Pereira; Mendy, Ndidi; Gray (A Silva 82’), Maddison (Iheanacho 82’), Albrighton (Amartey 60’); Vardy

WOLVES XI: Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; Jota, Jimenez, Costa

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-1 FULHAM

• Goals: Lucas Moura (£7.0m), Kieran Trippier (£6.0m), Harry Kane (£12.5m) | Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.5m)
• Assists: Erik Lamela (£6.5m), Dele Alli (£9.1m) | Ryan Sessegnon (£6.5m)

Harry Kane (£12.5m) finally ended his goal drought in the month of August by netting in this 3-1 win over Fulham. However, the England captain should not necessarily be jumped for a Gameweek 3 signing, with a tough trip to Manchester United up next for Spurs. Furthermore, Kane is still operating below his usual level when it comes to efforts on goal. Last season he averaged 4.97 per match, but in two 2018/19 matches he has managed just six in total, averaging three in each.

Kieran Trippier (£6.0m) had the last laugh on the 163,000+ managers who sold him after his no-show in Gameweek 1. He started this match and came out of it with his first goal of the season too, just his second for the club. After an impressive World Cup campaign with England, in which he scored a spectacular semi-final free-kick, it looks as if he has a made a case for invovlement on direct set-pieces, furthering his appeal for the future. He managed to break Christian Eriksen’s (£9.5m) long-held monopoly over those situations for Spurs, sending a 74th minute free-kick into the Fulham net. Manager Mauricio Pochettino explained the importance of Trippier’s role in open play too.

“The team tried very hard to find him. When he arrives in that higher position he has a very good quality. He had a lot of chances to find offensive players but maybe didn’t. His goal was fantastic.” – Mauricio Pochettino

The factors mentioned above may make Trippier a powerful asset from Gameweek 4 onwards, once Man United are out of the way for Spurs, although defensive problems still remain. In two matches against two sides expected to struggle in 2018/19, Pochettino’s men are yet to keep a clean sheet.

Eriksen may well suffer some sales in the coming few days, even if he has created more chances than any midfielder other than Jonjo Shelvey’s (£5.5m) seven so far. The Danish international is often compared with Dele Alli (£9.1m), whose assist at Wembley takes his goal involvement for 2018/19 to two, compared with Eriksen’s zero. That statistic could hurt his ownership, as well as Trippier’s increased role in set-pieces.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.5m) was another striker who managed to deliver on the potential he laid down in Gameweek 1. No forward has had more efforts on goal than his 11 so far in the new Premier League season, although there are still plenty of tough fixtures on the horizon for Fulham, with Burnley (home), Manchester City (away) and Arsenal (home) on their schedule between now and Gameweek 8.

Whites manager Slavisa Jokanović handed out praise for Jean Michael Seri (£5.5m) and debutant André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m), suggesting they will retain their places in the side for Gameweek 3.

“I am talking about two weeks for all team, in case of Anguissa he’s had seven days. He showed power and quality, it’s great passes for Seri in first time and it’s a shame we didn’t have the opportunity to score in first 45. They need time and I need time to try and discover how to use them.” – Slavisa Jokanovic

While Fulham are yet to keep a clean sheet, their goalkeeper Fabri (£4.5m) is potentially building the foundations for a season dominated by saves. No custodian has made as many stops as the former Besiktas man’s 16 in the first two Gameweeks, eight registered in each of the matches so far. Despite there being four different scorers in today’s Wembley meeting, Fabri still managed to take away two bonus and the fact that he has earned additional points for saves in both of his Premier League appearances means he now has a total FPL score of eight. That certainly makes him one to watch when Fulham’s run of fixtures eases up a little in Gameweek 6.

With a swathe of absences in centre-back still, Calum Chambers (£4.5m) and Maxime Le Marchand (£4.5m) were the pairing again. Joe Bryan (£4.5m) was able to recover from the knock that forced him off last week, crucially preventing Ryan Sessegnon (£6.5m) from having to drop back. The attacking midfielder got his first goal involvement of the season squaring for Mitrovic’s strike. Meanwhile, Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s (£4.5m) role at the club was revealed as a versatile one post-match.

“I try explain, I must compare and discover how different people can help. He have some experience and I can use him like I used him today or centre-back.” – Slavisa Jokanovic

Further up the pitch, there was a start for £4.5m striker Aboubakar Kamara. That will be good news for the 10.6 percent invest in him, who were able to get two points out of him. While not an impressive performance, his start in the match shows he can have some minor value in his cheap price bracket.

SPURS XI: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez (Dembélé 63’), Vertonghen, Davies, Dier (Lamela 73’), Eriksen, Lucas, Dele, Kane (Winks 89’).

FULHAM XI: Fabri, Fosu-Mensah, Chambers, Le Marchand, Bryan (Christie 85’), Seri, Anguissa, Cairney (Johansen 73’), Kamara (Schürrle 88’), Sessegnon, Mitrovic.

WEST HAM UNITED 1-2 BOURNEMOUTH

• Goals: Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) | Callum Wilson (£6.1m), Steve Cook (£4.5m)
• Assists: Javier Hernandez (£6.5m) | Cook, Ryan Fraser (£5.5m)

Callum Wilson (£6.1m) and Ryan Fraser (£5.5m) continued their incredible starts to the season as they helped Bournemouth come from behind to win at West Ham. Wilson once again outshone his team-mate Josh King (£6.5m), having overtaken him for ownership this week, and still has more than double the Norwegian’s shots so far this season. Furthermore, no striker has touched the ball more often in opposing penalty boxes. With Everton’s leaky defence up next at home for the Cherries, Wilson’s stock is only expected to rise.

There is still some comfort for King owners after successive blanks and a yellow card restricting him to just one point at West Ham. The former Blackburn Rovers forward has three goals and one assist in his last three meetings with next opponents Everton.

Also with a good record in that fixture is Fraser, who now has two goal involvements in his first two matches. The Scottish winger is certainly delivering on his pre-season promise already and is offering great value as a mid-range midfield option. Crucially, he scored both goals the last time Gameweek 3 opponents Everton came to the Vitality Stadium. While he has proved a differential so far, we expect he will improve on his 2.6 percent ownership in the next seven days.

Making waves in the defender department is Steve Cook (£4.5m) who has delivered points in both matches so far. After keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 1, he scored and assisted in Gameweek 2, taking his season total score to 20.

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that his players may still be hampered by the struggles of last season – not good news for any Fantasy managers interested in the Hammers.

“Yes, I think (last season is having an effect. That’s one of the reasons why the second half we changed so much and tried to keep it 1-0. “Football a lot of times you miss chances but you must continue to play the same way. We talked at half-time that we must not work just like we’re just winning 1-0 and wait until they make a mistake. We must continue to press and try to decide the game in the second half.” – Manuel Pellegrini

However, Marko Arnautovic’s (£7.0m) 20 percent ownership will not be worried about those problems, though. Not only did he get his first goal of the season, he still played as a centre-forward even with Javier Hernandez (£6.5m) on the pitch, and he also demonstrated his role in penalty-taking. Mark Noble (£5.0m) has been the long-time designated taker for the Hammers, but such is Arnautovic’s form and confidence he took charge of the one earned today and dispatched it cooly. Even though West Ham’s run of fixtures continues to look daunting, this extra string to Arnautovic’s bow makes him even more of an important Fantasy asset.

Outside of the Austrian striker, it’s difficult to point to any other viable attacking options. The wide areas of attacking midfield look particular unsettled. It was Felipe Anderson (£7.0m) and Michail Antonio (£7.0m) who started in those roles at Liverpool in Gameweek 1, while Robert Snodgrass (£5.5m) was left out despite playing more pre-season minutes than any other wide-man. The former Hull man came into the starting line-up for Antonio today and assume responsibilities for corners, while Anderson kept his place. New signing Andriy Yarmolenko (£7.0m) was restricted to a second successive substitute’s appearance.

Elsewhere in the side, Ryan Fredericks (£5.0m) was not named in the match day squad, with Pablo Zabaleta (£5.0m) coming in. The West Ham defence does look particularly unsettled, especially in those full-back areas, with Aaron Cresswell (£5.0m) pushing for a start at left-back ahead of Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) who has featured from the beginning in both matches so far.

WEST HAM XI: Fabianski; Masuaku, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Zabaleta; Anderson, Noble (Pérez 77’), Wilshere, Snodgrass (C Sánchez 77’); Arnautovic, Chicharito (Yarmolenko 67’).

BOURNEMOUTH XI: Begovic; Daniels, Aké, S Cook, A Smith; Fraser, Surman, Gosling, Brooks (Francis 78’); King (L Cook 90’), Wilson

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