Scout Notes

Which Spurs assets looked the best in Kane’s absence?

It was Lucas Moura (£6.7m) who proved to be the chief beneficiary of Harry Kane‘s (£12.6m) injury on Saturday afternoon.

Fantasy Premier League managers have spent the last few days trying to work out which of the crocked forward’s colleagues would take his place as the main goal threat, especially considering Spurs’ favourable fixtures.

A hat-trick for Moura in Spurs’ 4-0 win over Huddersfield has now thrown him into the Fantasy conversation for the coming weeks.

However, it was a result that only exacerbated the frustration of managers whose key options were rotated out of the side by Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs 4-0 Huddersfield

Goals: Victor Wanyama (£4.9m), Lucas Moura x 3 (£6.7m)

Assists: Fernando Llorente (£5.1m), Moussa Sissoko (£4.9m), Christian Eriksen (£9.3m), Heung-Min Son (£8.8m)

With a Double Gameweek coming up against Manchester City (away) and Brighton (home) next week, Moura has played his way into our thoughts with an impressive display against Huddersfield. Owned by just 5.8% of managers, he has the potential to be a cheap and powerful differential in Kane’s absence between now and the end of the season.

Only Fernando Llorente (£5.1m) had more touches in the penalty area than the Brazilian on Saturday lunch-time, while no player had more shots on target than him in the whole match. Crucially, Moura was deployed as a centre-forward next to Llorente, a position that could get the best out of him if he can hold onto it. Pochettino was full of praise for the player so his chances of heavy involvement in the coming weeks look good at the moment.

“He was so important even before people start to recognise his value. We are happy because people can see how good he is now. He’s doing a fantastic job, he’s a great professional and a great guy.” – Maurizio Pochettino

“It’s a special day for me, a good moment, it’s my first hat-trick in Europe so I’m so happy and I don’t have words to express this moment. I just have to say thank you to God, my teammates, I’m so happy here and we’ll keep going strong to make history here.” – Mauricio Pochettino

Llorente huffed and puffed up front and did everything but score in a very good performance. He registered six shots in the box, more than any other player on the pitch, but did not hit the target with any of them. The Spaniard went very close at the start of the second half, showing great control to bring down a Juan Foyth (£5.0m) pass in the box, only to rattle the crossbar.

Llorente also flashed two headers wide, one in each half. His 0.8% ownership can rightly feel disappointed with just an assist. He also picked up a knock towards the end of the game which is why Son Heung-min (£8.8m) had to come on. Pochettino had the following to say when he was asked about the current injuries ahead of the return leg against City, including Llorente’s:

“We need to assess Fernando (Llorente). We hope we can recover Dele Alli and Harry Winks. We’ll see because yesterday he felt his groin in training. Dele, we’ll see. It’s not clear and we’ll see what happens.” – Mauricio Pochettino

Son captainers would have been pulling their hair out after he came on for a brief cameo to replace the exhausted Llorente in the 86th minute. However, he did at least manage to get an assist when he teed up Moura to complete an impressive hat trick.

The South Korean was one of many key Spurs assets to fall foul of the rotation that Pochettino had promised us. Influenced by Champions League matches before and after Double Gameweek 34, the Spurs boss rang the changes on Saturday lunch-time, making seven changes in total.

The leader of the captaincy poll Son found himself on the bench alongside Kieran Trippier (£6.0m), Danny Rose (£5.8m) and Toby Alderweireld (£6.0m). Not surprisingly, Dele Alli (£8.8m) and Kane missed out completely due to their respective injuries.

“We’ll see (on Alli’s hopes of playing midweek). He’s doing some training sessions with the protection. He needs to feel comfortable. It all depends on the time.” – Mauricio Pochettino

Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.2m) came in for just his first start in 2019 at right wing-back in place of Trippier with Ben Davies (£5.6m) on the left in place of Rose.

Davinson Sanchez (£5.8m) was flanked by Jan Vertonghen (£5.9m) and youngster Foyth who made his first appearance since Gameweek 27 in a back three.

Walker-Peters and Davies got forward at every opportunity and were always a threat but neither are viable FPL options with Trippier and Rose likely to be Pochettino’s first-choice wing-backs for the final few weeks of the season. These rotation-prone players are probably best avoided.

As mentioned, Moura and Llorente were tasked with leading the attack for Spurs and they did so to great effect, linking up well throughout. They earned praise from their manager for how they performed together, with Pochettino especially pleased to get a positive result with so much rotation.

“The football is moving so quickly. I think today Fernando was very good and an unbelievable afternoon for Lucas Moura. When you have 24/25 players they need to play. I thought the performance was very professional. The hat-trick will help build his confidence.”

Spurs dominated possession throughout and opened the scoring midway through the first half through Victor Wanyama (£4.9m) who broke from midfield to get on the end of a Davies pass which was intended for Llorente. The Spaniard was deemed to have got a slight touch on the ball before it ran through to the Kenyan who coolly rounded Ben Hamer (£3.9m) to slot home his first goal for over a year.

Three minutes later, the game was all but over, this time Wanyama’s midfield partner Moussa Sissoko (£4.9m) burst forward and played in Moura who finished in style, giving Hamer no chance. Spurs were able to take their foot off the gas after half an hour. Moura wrapped the game up late on with two great goals, one a fine finish from a great cross from Christian Eriksen (£9.3m), the other provided by Son.

Eriksen made his owners sweat, leaving it late to register his assist for Moura’s second. Otherwise, it was a quiet display from the Dane. He spent a lot of the game playing deep, receiving the ball from the centre backs and spraying it around the pitch. In fact, Wanyama and Sissoko were often more advanced than the Dane. Eriksen got forward a bit more in the second half and had a decent shot deflected onto the post. Despite playing deeper at times, he still managed five shots at goal, more than Moura, but none of them landed on target.

Eriksen also created more chances than anyone else on the pitch (six) although his set pieces were below his usual standards. He hit the wall from a good position in the first half. That continued a run of over three years in which he has no goals from direct free-kicks for Spurs.

Huddersfield posed little threat to Hugo Lloris (£5.4m) in the Spurs goal. Their best chances fell to Jon Stankovic (£3.9m) who should have done better when he got on the end of a corner slicing his effort wide and Steve Mounie (£5.8m) who headed wide from a good chance not long after coming on. The clean sheet never looked in too much danger of being wiped out. The French goalkeeper was a popular pick for those playing their second Wildcard this week and they’ve got off to a good start with him. Aside from the City fixture, Spurs have a nice run-in which should yield more shutouts.

Jan Siewert made three changes to his side with Juninho Bacuna (£4.2m), Florent Hadergjonaj (£4.3m) and Elias Kachunga (£4.8m) coming into the starting XI to replace Tommy Smith (£4.4m), Aaron Mooy (£5.0m) and Alex Pritchard (£4.8m) who were all named on the Terriers’ bench. Jonas Lossl (£4.4m) and Philip Billing (£4.5m) were once again omitted from the matchday squad.

“I’m disappointed because the result doesn’t reflect the way we played today. We wanted to be the first team to score here and we know it’s not easy to play Spurs because they’ll run you ragged.” – Jan Siewert

Tottenham Hotspur XI (3-5-2): Lloris, Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Vertonghen (Rose 83’), Foyth, Davies, Sissoko (Skipp 73’), Wanyama, Eriksen, Moura, Llorente (Son 86’)

Huddersfield Town XI (4-4-1-1): Hamer, Durm (Mounie 68’), Kongolo, Schindler, Hadergjonaj, Lowe, Stankovic (Mooy 81’), Hogg, Bacuna (Williams 90’), Kachunga, Ahearne-Grant.

1,282 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Utd doing what was needed - now for Barca

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Mission Impossible 2

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      And ECL exit.

  2. SM001
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Pogba sort of saves my GW

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      My gut said he’d have a good week - glad I kept him

      Unfortunately my gut had nothing to say about shipping Fraser for son

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Hahah same

  3. Ajaxeeding
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    GW 33 team would have had 49 points while my new wildcarded GW 34 team has gotten 17 points.

  4. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    29 points. Dont know what to think. At least my C Martial outscore Son and Duffy so far.

  5. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Template mid getting absolutely hammered by differentials 😀

    Template mid - Son Eriksen JWP Sterling Mane

    Differential mid- Lucas Pogba Redmond KDB Salah

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A midfield is for the season not just 1 GW.

      But yes, very bad start although almost no one was suggesting Redmond!

      1. OneDennisBergkamp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I asked JWP or Redmond and all the votes were JWP 🙁

  6. FPLHaggis
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Sold Pogba, Fanderson, Wilson and Brooks on WC 🙂

    Oops

    1. Bagheri Arce
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Same.

      Can't legislate for that though

      Bournemouth have been rotten recently and Pogba was playing no.6 again.

      And Anderson..need I say any more

      You'd look like a right mug if you'd kept them all and the 'obvious' picks had smashed it

      Just bad luck. It happens

  7. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    17 from 9 and a captain , feels disgusting 😆

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 11 months ago

        11 from 6

      • Do I Not Like Orange
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        19 and 0 from a captain here.

    2. CaTriEm
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Wilson first on my bench, any chance of a Sterling no-show?

      1. Longlatini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Pretty good chance he comes on vs tired legs

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Easily possible

      3. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        No. I'm in same situation but sterling had his rest last week

    3. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Never used this whole swords and shields malarkey analogy before. Hoping Laporte Aguero Mane Robbo do me well tomorrow - none have shockingly high EO

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        It’s refreshing that for once aguero, Sterling and mane will give good rank boosts if they do well.

    4. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Lol if you're like me and your WC team was so much more than the team you swapped it out for, hold fast, BB35 will return with interest. (Hopefully) lol.

      1. BIG TONES
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        So much more worse*** lol

    5. micsway
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      This is turning out to be troll week. Ghost of GW33 past.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I don't think so. It's the result of inevitable squad rotation and people filling their teams with shite players from shite clubs on wildcards .

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          squad rotation yes, and agree with the sh!te if in reference to people going double or triple brighton defence. one brighton defender was a decent enough pick though on paper (I went Duffy), meanwhile Son and Eriksen picks a bit unlucky not to return more with that fixture. The likes of Jimenez disappointing too, while the likes of Anderson, Wilson Fraser buck all current form and deliver! one of those weeks so far

    6. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No Pogba, no Moura, no Fraser, No Redmond ... game over!

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        GW*

      2. KunDogan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Not many top players have any of those for a reason. Luck is part of the game and sometimes u lose with a good hand.

    7. Football Heaven
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I knew Fraser Anderson Wilson and Pogba out was a good idea... I wanted to keep Bournemouth because of fixtures but form was rubbish. Hey ho at least I’m not the only one with a shocker...

    8. Football Heaven
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I have an average of less than 2 per player including captain!!!

    9. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Imagine writing this article and not having a standalone paragraph on Moura?

      Although lower-owned, surely the person who scored a hat-trick is most interesting? Was he lucky? Was he good?

      1. Wetdream
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        2 of his goals were fantastic finishes.On another day he misses those.Huddersfield actually had the 2 most clearcut chances,but story of their season couldnt convert.

      2. Mysterion
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Apparently it was Poch's hat-trick http://prnt.sc/nbiz9g

    10. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      30p with 9 to go on BB, actually not that bad?

      1. SoShy
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Pretty good actually

    11. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Which one seems better to free up a liverpool slot ?

      A) TAA to Laporte
      B) Alisson to Ederson

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        B

        1. Emiliano Sala
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Thanks

      2. YEAH PITCH!
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        A. TAA could be rotated.

    12. Scotty B
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Which 2 transfers would you make if this was your team? 0 ITB...

      De Gea
      Pereira VVD Dunk
      Salah Richarlison Maddison Mane
      Wilson Higuain Rondon

      BB - Gunn Son Doherty Bednarek

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        You decide.

        1. Scotty B
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Excellent contribution - thanks so much

          1. George Sillett
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Just trying to encourage a new concept for you. Make your own decidions

        2. OneDennisBergkamp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I don't understand why people comment like this, why bother?

          1. George Sillett
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            You obviously don't know the history.

          2. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            shrug.

          3. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Scotty is quite notorious around these parts for having what some call a community team though, perhaps that's what Slouch is referring to as the history

      2. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        yeesh. id want pereira higuain richarlison maddison all outta there

        1. Scotty B
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Pick two then

        2. Scotty B
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Or even 3

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            use the initiative. higuain pereira richarlison maddison in that order probably

      3. OneDennisBergkamp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Higuain out
        Pereira out

        Not sure who in but defo I would focus there

      4. Wetdream
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Lose Higuain for a start

    13. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      RP
      People sad about WC being failed should have some patience imo.

      Planning for BGW/DGW payed off in gw 33 ( in very handsome way imo with triple scores of avg gw score for everyone)

      We've WC'ed for the rest of the season & it'll come off good imho. Bournemouth beating Brighton is unexpected & Pogba 2 pens is unsustainable.

      Those who had pogba,moura well played !!
      Others be patient

    14. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Duffy was always a gamble. Fellow captainers, are we confident that he can outscore Son/Vardy on the 2nd go round? Ridiculously disgusting showing from Brighton today (and Bournemouth can rot after Wilson & Fraser's flops in 33 & 31), but Cardiff has to be a must wih for them now.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Can't be the slightest bit confident after today's shite fest.

      2. MTPockets
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Confident? No, but they conceded 3 with 10 men. Couldn't forsee that happening

      3. SoShy
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Well, wow. Gameweek solely on KUN (C)

      4. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Oof this is going to be a fun last few gws. Rival has 4 to play with 30, I have 4 to play with 43 and he was 9 ahead before GW. He has WC, I have TC and BB. Got to get that TC right :). GL lads

      5. Eytexi
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Liverpool clean sheet tomorrow could turn a good week into a great week as a non-wildcarder. Anyone with me??

        1. theodosios
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Matip and TAA on the bench coz of Pereira and Harvey Barnes...

          1. Eytexi
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Ouuu that'll be tough to watch if I get my way. Hopefully matip doesn't play or something to half your pain.

            1. theodosios
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              And Fanderson as 3rd sub 😀 No pain no gain

      6. Jay_
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Finau 6 under through 8. Into the lead. Damn

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Amen Corner to come though

        • suvak88
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I don't know how to feel, Lucas vc with Knockaert captain.

          1. Emiliano Sala
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I would feel awful

          2. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Amazing!

          3. Jay_
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Still a winner. Those 2 alone still beating the whole top 10k average

            • Numb
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Feintly embarrassed perhaps?

            • Longlatini
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Numb

            • Top Lad Dakes.
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              That is insane

            • Pukki Party
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Knockaert still have one game to go

              1. Pukki Party
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Oh wait

          4. Eytexi
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Is this worth a -8?
            OUT: Boruc, Clyne & Vardy.
            IN: Foster, Toby/Vert & Jiminez.

            Will captain Sterling or Jiminez.

          5. Earn your Spurs
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I had planned to keep Ryan and Duffy through next weeks DGW but now having 2nd thoughts. Maybe to clear out Duffy

            What are you doing with your Brighton assets netxt week?

            1. Earn your Spurs
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              On Bench boost - so not expecting many points now from these 2

            2. Jay_
                4 years, 11 months ago

                It’ll be peak FPL for everyone to sell and they keep cleanies and attacking points in 35.

            3. Samwise
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              11 points with captain played... 4 still to play... who's worse than that?

              1. WVA
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                44 with 4 to play mate!

                1. Eytexi
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 11 months ago

                  Cheeky subtle brag 😉 does that 4 to play include Brighton/Cardiff players?

                  1. WVA
                    • 7 Years
                    4 years, 11 months ago

                    Salah Hazard TAA Ryan

                    1. Eytexi
                      • 5 Years
                      4 years, 11 months ago

                      Very nice. I'm on 44 (48 -4) with 5 to play: TAA, Robbo, Sterling, Mané, Ryan.

                      1. WVA
                        • 7 Years
                        4 years, 11 months ago

                        Nice going mate, you should outscore me unless Salah or Hazard explode!

              2. Jayv807
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Is one of the 4 to play Alonso?

            4. Emiliano Sala
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Have 3x liverpool defence
              Don't know whether to take a hit and bring salah for gw36 or not
              Ideas?
              Thanks in advance

              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Plenty of game before then.

                1. Emiliano Sala
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 11 months ago

                  Yeah but if I want that I should bring a city player this week

              2. Earn your Spurs
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Huddersfield at home sounds attractive - do you need to take a hit if we've 2 GWs before then?

                1. Emiliano Sala
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 11 months ago

                  Yes. I want some other players too. Foster this gw for BB and may sell chilwell for a hit

            5. theodosios
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Pellegrini's comments about Marko's illness,injuries and fitness every week are so pathetic...Hope WHU will replace this mister next year, they have TOP8 team at the moment