Scout Notes

Son on FPL radar as Kane underwhelms in Spurs win

Tottenham Hotspur’s premium Fantasy assets caught our attention for different reasons on Saturday.

We assess Spurs’ four-goal demolition of Crystal Palace in our latest Scout Notes article.

Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Crystal Palace

  • Goals: Son Heung-min (£9.5m) x2 Erik Lamela (£6.1m) Patrick van Aanholt (£5.6m) own goal
  • Assists: Serge Aurier (£4.9m) x2 Toby Alderweireld (£5.5m) Harry Kane (£11.0m)
  • Bonus Points: Son x3, Aurier x2, Alderweireld x1

A brace from Son Heung-min (£9.5m) helped Spurs to a surprisingly easy home win over Crystal Palace.

While the performance ensured the South Korean’s Fantasy Premier League star is on the rise – he is currently one of the top five transfers-in ahead of Gameweek 6 – just the one assist for Harry Kane (£11.0m) has already prompted plenty to sell the striker on.

That could prove premature as Spurs have a decent schedule all the way through to early December, a Merseyside double-header in Gameweeks 10 and 11 aside.

But even a cursory glance at the statistics from the Palace match make for uneasy reading for the 22.3% of Fantasy managers still heavily invested in Kane.

The striker had only one attempt and two penalty area touches at the weekend, whereas the 4.7%-owned Son had five and eight respectively.

Throw in Champions League duties, and fatigue and form might well trump fixtures for Kane, with his premium price the final deal-breaker.

Son opened the scoring, finishing sweetly when the returning Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m) made a mess of a long, cross-field ball from Toby Alderweireld (£5.5m).

Sakho’s error was a team-wide theme of the afternoon, with mishaps aplenty in a Palace rearguard that had previously made a virtue of frustrating ‘big six’ sides.

Patrick van Aanholt (£5.6m) was unlucky to deflect Serge Aurier‘s (£4.9m) cross into his own net and the Eagles emphatically failed to learn from their mistake when Son volleyed home his second from another Aurier delivery.

The Ivory Coast international was making his first start since February as Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.9m) remained sidelined with a hamstring issue.

Two assists, a clean sheet and two bonus points later, Aurier had racked up a 14-point haul and at his price point could be a great value way into Tottenham’s defence – if coach Mauricio Pochettino can ever bring himself to handing the defender consistent minutes.

Erik Lamela (£6.1m) rounded off the scoring when he converted a Kane cross just before half-time.

The Argentinian has been quietly going about his business this season, with two goals and as many assists – he managed four of each last term – in just five appearances for his modest 3.8% ownership.

It’s easy to forget that he is now something of a Premier League veteran, with six seasons under his belt. If he can stay free of injury, he could be on for a repeat (or better) of his 2015/16 personal best of five goals and nine assists.

After the major low of their Gameweek 3 home defeat by Newcastle United, Spurs got things emphatically back on track against Palace.

Pochettino held a meeting to ‘refocus’ his players after previously complaining that his squad was the most unsettled it had been since he joined the club.

That comment was, in part at least, a dig at wantaway midfielder Christian Eriksen (£8.8m), although the coach was rather more loved-up by the end of Saturday’s win:

The attitude was amazing, and the performance. We were very concentrated and had tremendous quality. I’m so happy for the team. I think it’s important for their confidence. The plan was to be aggressive, to show intensity from the beginning and all the credit to the players, they made an unbelievable start to the game.

Palace made an equally unbelievable start, entirely in a bad way, as they shipped more goals in the first half than they’d conceded across the first four matches of what had been a steady start to the campaign.

Sakho, so often the side’s defensive anchor, clearly upset the backline’s balance on his return from injury, but he will surely bed back in sooner rather than later.

Roy Hodsgon said as much in his post-match analysis:

The only real positive I can take from the game is that Mamadou Sakho, after such a long lay-off, such a long time out through injury, got through 90 minutes in a very, very tough game. So if you are looking for me to give some positives from a Crystal Palace point of view, I can’t come up with anything other than that.

Palace had more attempts on target – six to five – than their hosts and Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris (£5.5m) collected a season’s-best eight points as a result. His Palace counterpart, Vicente Guaita (£5.0m), was forced into action just twice, unless you also count the four times he had to pick the ball out of his net.

Back on the downside, Wilfried Zaha (£6.8m) had just two shots and has now blanked for five straight Gameweeks.

That’s a worrying state of affairs for his 10.6% ownership as the Eagles edge ever closer to a brutal five-match run, starting in Gameweek 9, that involves home games with Manchester City, Leicester City and Liverpool and trips to Arsenal and Chelsea.

Their reputation as big-game spoilers will be severely tested by that schedule and they’ll certainly need to be infinitely better than they were at Tottenham.

As for Spurs, it could be a matter of a rising Son, a falling Kane and a sprightly Lamela emerging as a viable differential option.

Members Analysis

Tottenham Hotspur XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose (Davies 76′); Sissoko, Winks (Ndombele 67′); Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Kane (Moura 85′).

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Ward, Cahill, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Townsend (Camarasa 86′), Milivojevic, Kouyate (McCarthy 76′), Schlupp; Zaha, Ayew (Benteke 71′).

799 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I have 4 injuries in my team. On which note;

    Pepe & Haller to Mane & Tammy?

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      yep good move

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wait for Pepe's hattrick.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Soon. Soon

    3. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Hmm, not keen on those moves this week.

    4. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I like the moves in general but absolutely not this GW.. Do them next GW and this week sort out one of your injuries.

    5. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pepe gets one more week. If he's still doing f all, he's out for Son.

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

    Neale's scout notes are peerless. This is the required standard.

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Fooled ya! These are David W's. He'll be delighted that he's as good as me, though.

      Changing author now, oops. Going to add in some Members' stuff too.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Plan worked 😀

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        For real? That’s hilarious 😆

  3. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Haller to Wilson? Wildcarding next week.

  4. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2 FTs. Not sure what to do this week.
    Would you do Haller to Tammy or just let an FT burn? Will want Tammy next week anyway.

    Pope
    TAA Digne Soyuncu Lunds Rico
    Salah Sterling KDB Mount Cantwell
    Pukki Haller Barnes

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Don’t burn it, may aswell make the move and just take the blank on the chin

    2. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      wow. very nice team. I would actually keep it as is

    3. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I have almost identical team with two different defenders. Was considering Salah + Haller > Son + Firmino.

    4. Kryptonite666
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      whats your TV man ?

  5. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    OK what on earth happened to Haller?! Was expecting to see hattrick hero and now all I can see are people selling 🙁

    1. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Still looks good but people just want Tammy

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        OK thought he must have got injured or sonething by thr reaction

    2. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It s ok if u bought him for 7.4...evening burger

  6. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Interesting chip use in the Top 10k.

    The numbers show that 41% of the Top 10k have not yet used a chip and only 38% have used one (which is principally either a TC or a WC). That means the majority of the Top 10k are in a similar position to those on FFS - either used their WC or still hanging on.

    The data is taken from here:
    https://www.livefpl.net/figs

  7. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Who has gone Mane & Salah?

    1. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I doubt many will double with Pool’s upcoming fixtures.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        The thing I like most about Mane and Salah is absolutely no rotation and they do not care about opposition defenders.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          This. Why are people worried about Liverpool’s fixtures?

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Not sure. They lost one match last season. Mane and Salah top scorers alingside Auba.

            I just put Mane in my team alongside Salah and KDB and looks devastatingly good.

        2. avfc82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I love them both, just not sure I see enough goals for Liverpool over the next five to invest 24m. Respective fixtures last season were tough, fairly low scoring games.

    2. Yome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I have since 3 gameweeks. It is heaven

    3. Greasy Grealish Gang
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I don't care who they face. I'm getting Mané in to play along Salah.

  8. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Can’t understand the hurry to get Gunn. People don’t watch the fixtures before doing transfers?

    1. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I was glad those who pushed Patricio to £5.1 got properly punished.

  9. DavidKent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Thinking of donkey to Cantwell and then Zouma to 4.5 or less.

    I’ll play a 352. The back will be Zinchenko, Digne and one of Lundstram, Montoya, New Person.

    Rico’s fixture match well as a three way rotation. Anyone recommend a better 4.0 - 4.5?

  10. Iggypop
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Will likely stick with my team but was pretty 50/50 with haller n tammy! Defas picked the wrong guy! For this week at least, could use ft to fix this?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Ft won’t change the past, don’t chase points. Haller has the better fixture next week whereas Tammy has pool

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

    WC activated

    Heaton

    TAA/Digne/Lund

    Mane/Kdb/Son/Mount

    Pukki/Wilson/Abraham

    (Pope/Cantwell/Mings
    Soyuncu)

    0.8itb

    Any changes you would make?? Open to suggestions...

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I like it. Very similar to mine

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Heaton to Pope?

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah and probably Cantwell instead of Mount for Pool.

        Dropped from 4ook to 1.2m on 3 weeks with Sterling/Kane capt fails and injuries. Need to turn it round.

    3. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Heaton
      Vvd-zinc-Coleman-Lundstram
      Salah-Sterling-KDB-Mount
      Wilson- Pukki

      4m-Greenwood-Dendonck-Rico

      2FT. 1.8m ITB
      Which moves look best. Thanks

      A) VVd + Dendonck > Lowton/Soy + Cantwell ( leaving enough ITB for Greenwood > Abraham Gw 7
      B) VVd + Wilson > Lowton/soy + Auba
      C) Zinc + Greenwood > Lowton + Abraham
      D) any recommendations

      1. Old Gregg
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Opps

    4. Who are all Lukakus
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nice money spread. But I think you need more captaincy options

  12. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ryan Button
    TAA Aurier Lowton Mings Lund
    Sterling Mane Son Mount Cantwell
    Wilson Pukki Abraham

    WC locked in.

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Just swapped Haller to Wilson. Not feeling West Ham strike options

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah I'm keeping Wilson. He's ticking along nicely tbf.

  13. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Season summed up by going Barnes and Haller on my WC last week and Pukki Abraham and Wilson all get double digit hauls. Grim 🙁

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Ouch

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Almost WCed and planned for same moves

  14. Kreedas
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Keep Salah or swap to mane
    Keep KDB or away to Son

    Pope
    TAA Digne Zincheko
    Salah Sterling KDB Mount
    Pukki Tammy Barnes

    Button Guendozi Lundstrom Kelly

  15. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Barnes + Otamendi > Tammy + Aurier (-4) ??

    1. Firmino
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wait one week and do for free if Aurier is nailed

    2. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Not for me.

    3. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nah

    4. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No, Ota out already?

  16. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What would be your ideal backline for 3-4-3?

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      TAA Digne VVD

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        That’s mine, and I’m sticking.. Only way...

    2. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      TAA Robertson VVD

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Taa ota 4.x rotations

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Ota is rubbish, wouldn’t go anywhere near him..

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          TAA Digne then Lundstram and 2 other in rotation for me

    4. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      TAA, Digne, 2 4.5’s, Lundstrum

  17. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Did dendoncker - > Cantwell with my FT. Plus I am majorly failing so how does the team look? Anything I should focus on?

    Pope
    VVD Digne Zinchenko
    Sterling(c) Salah kdb mount Cantwell
    Wilson Pukki

    Button ;Greenwood, lundstram, Soyuncu... 0FT and 0.6 mill in the bank.

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      My team is almost the same, am also plummeting down the ranks. It’s annoying but gonna stick and not chase points too much. Don’t feel WC is necessary either

    2. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Team looks great on paper, those players should be getting way more points than they have so far. Been unlucky with lack of city/pool CS

  18. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    City have better fixture next so hold. Salah will outscore mane in my opinion

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Fail

  19. Skogen89
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Should i WC this team?

    Pope\heaton

    Robbo, Digne, Zinchenko, Rico, Coleman
    Salah, Sterling, Mount, KDB, Dendoncer
    Barnes, Pukki, Greenwood

    i can get this..->

    Pope
    Digne, otamendi, Maitland-Niles, lundstram, rico
    Son, Mane, KDB, Mount, Cantwell
    Pukki, Abrahams, Auba

    Worth it?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Not imo. Others are already considering ditching Otamendi, Arsenal def not good idea, Rico likely to be dropped soon. Sterling may punish etc

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Hold that knee

  20. No Totti No Party
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Salah Wesley OUT
    Aguero Richarlison IN

    Have Sterling KDB, is that too much ?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wesley straight some seems more logical

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Swap*

    2. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Doubt three City attackers will pay off. Auba over Kun?

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Agree. Auba

  21. noahzark22
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Patients paid off for me. 3.4M rank at the end GW3, one transfer and two GW later, 360K rank.

    I'm back in the game kids!

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Well back ish

  22. LordEllison
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2 FT and 0.2 ITB abit stuck on what transfers to make, any ideas? Thanks!

    Pope Button
    VVD Digne Zinchenko AWB Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB McGinn Dendoncker
    Wilson Pukki Greenwood

    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      McGinn to Cantwell and maybe VVD to TAA

  23. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    A) Son + Cilson (Cantwell bench)
    B) Salah + Cantwell (Greenwood bench)

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A

  24. Sacked in the Morning
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    A. Sterling + Wilson/Vardy (or other below 8.9m)
    or
    B. Son + Auba

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      B

      1. Sacked in the Morning
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I'm leaning that way.

  25. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Dendo to Hayden to not waste the free transfer?

  26. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Am I crazy for wanting Deulofeu?

    I'm looking at Wesley > Deulo next week. Sick of Wesley. He's useless.

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      U r

      1. Ambrosiana Inter
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        But all the geniuses were crazy

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        He looked dangerous against Arsenal. Tons of shots, crosses, set pieces. Now with Deeney out, they need the spark of creativity.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Seemed to be playing quite wide for Watford. Fixtures aren’t the best either.

      Am wondering if go big in mid and upfront except for Mount, Pukki and Abraham.

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      So is Deulo and Watford imo. Don't know what is the correct phrase for a move were you sell a bucket of sh*t just to get similar bucket on return.

  27. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Heaton
    Vvd-zinc-Coleman-Lundstram
    Salah-Sterling-KDB-Mount
    Wilson- Pukki

    4m-Greenwood-Dendonck-Rico

    2FT. 1.8m ITB
    Which moves look best. Thanks

    A) VVd + Dendonck > Lowton/Soy + Cantwell ( leaving enough ITB for Greenwood > Abraham Gw 7
    B) VVd + Wilson > Lowton/soy + Auba
    C) Zinc + Greenwood > Lowton + Abraham
    D) any recommendations

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      C

      1. Old Gregg
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

  28. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Dedoncker to Cantwell for my FT?

    1. PepSala
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wish I had the money for this

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yep

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I decided to do that for -4. Considered it as a long term move that I should have done 0.3 million earlier. It would have paid itself already back. Better late than never.

  29. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    So much fun seeing kdb and haller non essential anymore.
    Fpl at it's best!

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      its why we hold our wc’s 🙂

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Exactly

    2. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      When were they essential?

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Fpl or herd here?!?

  30. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play Rico or Lundstram next week?