Dugout Discussion

Pochettino favours Ndombele to Eriksen in Leicester clash

Mauricio Pochettino has made two big changes to his Tottenham Hotspur side ahead of the visit to Leicester City.

Following the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, he has brought Tanguy Ndombele (£6.0m) in to replace Christian Eriksen (£8.8m) while Paulo Gazzaniga (£4.4m) deputises for Hugo Lloris (£5.5m) whose wife has just given birth.

The absence of Eriksen may concern some Fantasy managers still invested in the Spurs attack although he was quite poor against Olympiakos midweek.

Spurs’ backline of Serge Aurier (£4.9m), Toby Alderweireld (£5.5m), Jan Vertonghen (£5.3m) and Danny Rose (£5.5m) remains unchanged for the lunch-time kick-off against the Foxes, whilst the goal-scorers from the victory over Palace in Erik Lamela (£6.1m) and Heung-min Son (£9.6m) retain their starting berths. 

Son scored twice in the demolition of Roy Hodgson’s side, and Pochettino will be hoping for a similar level of impact from his South-Korean talisman at the King Power Stadium. 

For Leicester, Brendan Rodgers has made two changes to the side who narrowly lost out to Manchester United last weekend, with Ayoze Perez (£6.1m) and Harvey Barnes (£5.9m) returning to the starting XI at the expense of Hamza Choudhury (£4.5m) and Demarai Gray (£5.3m).

That tweak might help James Maddison (£7.1m) occupy a more central role after playing on the flanks recently.

After starting the 2019/20 campaign in fine form, the Foxes will be aiming to bounce back from defeat at Manchester United.

The likes of Jamie Vardy (£8.9m) with three goals so far this season, will look to exploit a Spurs defence who once again displayed their fragilities in blowing a two-goal lead against Olympiacos in the Champions League mid-week. 

Leicester XI: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Perez, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy.

Spurs XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Winks, Sissoko, Ndombele, Lamela, Son, Kane.

1,488 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    When does XG “start” being measured?

    When a player receives the ball?
    When he enters the box?
    At the exact point in time of taking the shot on goal?

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

      Good question. ESP top of the page! Interested to know myself..

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      the moment the shot is taken

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Is this for true?

        So Maradona’s goal in ‘86 for example would have quite a high XG whereas in reality very few players on the planet put could have scored it?

        1. Rainer
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Lower xG for headers.

          Viva Diego 😉

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            Haha the HOG XG would have been interesting

            But the second goal - at the point in time of the shot it was an open goal which must have had very XG... but it was only open because he left an entire football team, including the GK sliding around on the ground

            1. Nailed Jesus
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 day ago

              Seems fair enough - xG measures the ability of the player to get himself scoring opportunities.

    3. jomikijiq
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      the last option

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        It’s a mad metric

        Tammy 7 goals from 2.4 XG in 3 games & McGoldick 0.37 XG & 2 big chances also seem to stretch it as a genuinely effective tool for FPL decision making within the short 5-6 game windows we often have to operate

        1. jomikijiq
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          True, but it just wasn't designed to evaluate players based on such a short period of time. For FPL purposes it makes much more sense to look at players' xG over a few seasons IMO.

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            Agreed... although even that approach arguably doesn’t really add a huge amount, as we don’t need XG to know the Salah, Sterling’s, Hazards, Kane’s etc get a lot of high quality chances and invariably take a lot of them

    4. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      The shot.

      He shot from about 8 yards out, high xG.

      Another reason why it’s not much use and why the eye test for goals is better.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Always prefer the eye test meself

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          For that every match needs to be watched.

          1. Rainer
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            Every goal can be seen 20 seconds after it goes in, on Twitter.

          2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            *Every match with players you own or are interested in

        2. RichardNixon
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          I prefer to look at total shots and where they were taken (ie inside the box, outside the box). For example, Pukki on 16 shots inside the box leads the way, Sterling and Aguero 14 each, Firmino and Abraham 13 each, Salah 12, Aubamayang 11. No coincidence these guys lead the way in total FPL points.

          Next ones are interesting though, Richarlison 10, Deleoufou 9, Joelinton 9, Mane 9. Gray, Barnes, Jame, BSilva, Kane, Maupay, Rashford, Jimenez 8 each. The likes of Mount, Son, KdB, Maddison 7 each. Shout out to Ake who also has 7.

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            Probably another good reference point - although shots can be hugely misleading in heir own way

            Bilva had the third most shots in the city team last season yet just is not a fantasy option

            Deulofeu got 62 points in 4 games last season vs Huddersfield & Cardiff, whereas he got 71 points in 26 games against everyone else etc.

            Hard to beat the eye test as a foundation, then stats as a bit of a cross-check

  2. Eleven Hag
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Do u expect Leicester to score in d 2nd half ?

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      The way the first half went yes, but you imagine Poch will tighten it. Probably needs to take Sissoko off soon in case of red...

    2. Rash
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Yes

    3. ZeBestee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Yes after Son brace and Aurier banking his CS.

    4. Krionos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Sissoko is gonna get a red card. No more goals for spurs.

  3. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Enough problems (martial, Mount, James) to hit the WC button?

    Ederson/Button
    VVD/ Aurier/ Coleman/ Lowton/ Lund
    Sterling/ Martial/ Mount/ James/ Dend
    Aguero/ Firmino/ Pukki

    1. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      yes i think so. Thoughts on my wc team below, i'm about to pull the trigger

    2. Rash
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      They could all be back next week

    3. Eleven Hag
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Martial has returned in every game that he played and is d main striker for a top 6 side at 7.5 - why wud u want to lose him

    4. Eleven Hag
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I wud do aguero+ James to son + tammy

      1. Krionos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        You would trade out the top scorer? Nah...

  4. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Thoughts on this WC team?

    Pope
    TAA, Soyuncu, Aurier,
    KDB, Salah, Cantwell, Son
    Abraham, Pukki, Auba

    Bench: Button, Kelly, Dedoncker, Rico

    With 0.2 itb

    1. SAUCY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Needs more Kane

      1. Klip Klopp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        instead of Auba?

        1. SAUCY SALAH
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Yes

    2. Mr Peanutbutter
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      don't like soy or starting cantwell but still good

      1. Klip Klopp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        what changes would you make?

    3. Eleven Hag
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Cantwell as 4th mid is d way to go -perfectionnn

    4. Eleven Hag
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I wud do Salah to mane, soy to Ota since u already have many options for captaincy

    5. Yeboahs Yorkshire Puds
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Good team got VVD instead of TAA myself also got Heaton and Pope have good rotation

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        TAA much better choice than VvD 🙂

        1. Yeboahs Yorkshire Puds
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          True but need cash elsewhere

    6. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Dendo will probably drop soon to 4.4, people selling him for Cantwell.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        And my gw5 wc team is linked 😉

  5. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Has there ever been a worse team of pundits than Owen, McManaman, Hoddle and Savage?

    1. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Never lol

    2. Baked baines
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Hoddle when he is doing a spurs game is the worst!!

      1. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        How many times did he say ‘look at that’ during replays of Kane goal?

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Wow, that's bad. BT sport?

      1. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Yep

    4. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Alan smith and Andy Townsend. Dreadful

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

        Andy is a leg!

        1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Is Alan an arm?

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

      The ‘NEVILLE’S’.
      ‘The the NEVILLE’S can talk to SKY, do can I’!

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

        ‘If the NEVILLE’S can talk to SKY, so can I’! I should shut up..

    6. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      They need Deeney in there

  6. Yeboahs Yorkshire Puds
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Son and de Bruyne for Sterling and Richarlison for free?

    1. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      yes i would. Can you answer mine above?

      1. Yeboahs Yorkshire Puds
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Cheers have done

    2. Krionos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      That is a very sideways move imo

  7. bros
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Kane boy got lucky on his goal!

    1. I'm out of name ideas
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I know. No idea why everyone is beating off to it so much.

    2. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      A goal is a goal

      1. One for All
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        This

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Got to give him credit for that willingness.

    4. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      He realised he wasn’t getting a pen, for another dive, so scored instead.

      1. sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        He has Son in his FPL team

    5. Werner Bremen
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      You obviously don't play football. Great finish

    6. Ange Ball
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Pure class no luck

  8. SAUCY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Ma boy 🙂

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Yaaay

  9. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Kane looking good with a plum home game vs a team who can’t defend...

    Will anyone not captain him next GW?

    1. Maddi Son
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Inb4 Cardiff(H) and Newcastle(H)

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Not when there's a superior pick, Son

      1. Rainer
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Will he start before a must win CL game?

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      The 2,5 in NEW, CPL was just disgusting from him

      What is his problem like putting up scores like that in times when he’s captainable

      1. Rainer
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Low block back lines, so he gets frustrated and drops further back himself.

    4. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      He can only score penalties

    5. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Never. Again.

  10. 7rjngs lollygagger
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Whoops

    Just discovered I’m on captain KdB and not Kun. Here’s hoping I suppose.

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I’ve captained KDB too - we can be disappointed together

    2. Werner Bremen
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Same. Just thought I captained Sterling.

    3. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I captained Kane, saved the team and refreshed the page to confirm. Woke up to find out Sterling was still my captain. Must be something to do with safari on iPhone. I can only hope Sterling starts and at least matches Kane

  11. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Half an hour until the real drama

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      The most electrifying deadline in sports entertainment history!

      1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Dedicated Sky channel for it soon

  12. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Suddenly tempted by De Bruyne, Haller to Mount, Kane (c)

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Regressive IMHO.

    2. 7rjngs lollygagger
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      No

  13. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Son sneakily continues his ascent towards he 11.0 club

    He’ll be a big price next season at this rate

    1. Peter Ouch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Son and kdb at 11 next year

  14. rodragon
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Wilcard this team?
    Pickford button
    Digne awb taa lund kelly
    Salah David silva tielemans cantwell Dendonker
    Aguero barnes vardy

    WC team:
    Pope button
    Taa tomori/mings rico lund kelly
    Mane kdb son cantwell hayden
    Aguero pukki abraham
    0.5itb....
    Thanks in advance

  15. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    vardy and james to c wilson and mount ?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      What happened to Maddison?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        haha cant make up my mind 🙂

  16. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    The cat just peed on my bed again

    1. I'm out of name ideas
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Pee on his/hers.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        We share a bed 🙁

        1. I'm out of name ideas
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Just pee on it's side of the bed then.

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            lol

          2. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 day ago

            I followed your advice and now he is typing up a comment to complain on FFS

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Cat urine is a highly potent hallucinogenic apparently

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2GIiOsuDRFk

      Sweet dreams

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        That's why I benched Trent and Abraham

      2. ‘Tis the Season
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Queue Delofail sniffing his sheets

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Cue*
          Deulofail*
          shits*

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I had a cat who used to sit by the window looking outside, everytime he saw a cat outside he would get all teritorial and pee all over the blinds. Then you wouldntnotice and it would dry in the sun and absolutely stink. Ugh that smell is awful, took me ages to figure out what was going on.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Maybe it is the same cat

    4. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Foreshadowing a Sunderland loss

  17. DAZZ
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Pope Button
    TAA Otamendi Aurier Rico Lundy
    Mane Sterling KDB Son Cantwell
    Abraham Pukki Greenwood

    A potential WC team? Who am i missing?

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I like it

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Nice one

  18. ALTOID11
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    So glad I’ve got my head back in the game through watching some videos of the likes of Mourinho, Shankly, Fergie & Klopp etc... management greats helping me make the right decisions and keep my head straight

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      really like Arsene and Jose as pundits, great to listen to them instead of the normal dribble from the likes of Merson etc

      1. FPL Dakes
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Agree tbh. Mou actually isn’t bad

      2. Lingard’s Shin Guards
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Same - two intelligent people who know what they’re talking about

        1. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Saw this in the comments window and thought it was gonna be in response to cat pissing...

      3. have you seen cyan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        all the pundits know it as well, everyone just goes quit to listen to them. They almost intimidated by them, wont ever disagree

  19. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    vardy and james to c wilson and maddison ?? for free

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Keep Vardy

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        thanks

  20. FPL Dakes
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Don’t do us dirty, Pep...

  21. One Man
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Abraham, Martial & Pukki to hit 20 goals this season ?

    1. Licious Lizard
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      23, 19, 12

    2. Old Man
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Martial won't, but the others might.

    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Martial is too injury prone but Pukki and Tammy yes.

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Abraham 18, Martial 11 and Pukki 15

    4. BrutalLogiC
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Don't think any of them will.

  22. Peter Ouch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Pep please rest Sterling

    1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Ban

      1. Peter Ouch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        I'll get it if he's benched

    2. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Gtfffff

      1. Peter Ouch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Rico 1st sub. Kdb C Salah VC.
        That's why

    3. Crossologist
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I’d prefer Aguero on the bench

      1. Peter Ouch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        What about both?

      2. FPL Dakes
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Me too

    4. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Okay. Pukki captain will do fine, with Abraham autosubbed on.

  23. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Pope (Button)
    VVD, Zinchenko, Lundstram, Kelly, Montoya
    Sterling, Salah, KDB, Mount, Cantwell
    Pukki, Abraham, Barnes

    Have 2 free transfers and 1.6 in the bank. Who would you get in?

  24. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Lamela is not half the player Moura is

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      He's double!

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Lamela just has different qualities, Moura more of a goal scorer. Lamela is not a bad player though

  25. Mr Peanutbutter
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    great save gazza

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Can't wait for those double cleanie points in a couple minutes

  26. Pacer.
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Fifteen minutes until the Tantrumming Hour

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

      There will be sadness, crying and children screaming

      1. Old Man
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        and granddads

  27. ‘Tis the Season
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    15 min till all out debauchery

  28. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    From Blue Moon forums:

    "No zinchenko off the coach."

    https://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threads/watford-h-pre-match-thread.342314/page-14#post-12072323

    Post above also says Angelino in squad, so Mendy starting? We'll see in a bit!

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Buggerrrrrr that man.

      Although, I do get Rico off the bench if he’s a now show.

      Selling next week for sure now though. As long as Sterling starts and hauls...

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Nice

    3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Good. About time

    4. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      How can we be sure he didn't mistake Zinchenko for KDB?

  29. Tsparkes10
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Son and Vardy miss 2 good chances

  30. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    So Zinchenko is done. Soyuncu a good replacement?