Scout Notes

Kane, Son and Alli continue blistering start to Mourinho’s reign

Tottenham Hotspur 5 Burnley 0

Goals: Harry Kane (£10.9m) x2, Lucas Moura (£7.0m), Son Heung-min (£9.9m), Moussa Sissoko (£4.9m)

Assists: Alli x2, Son, Kane, Jan Vertonghen (£5.2m)

Bonus Points: Kane x3, Vertonghen x2, Son x1

Harry Kane (£10.9m) delivered two goals and his first double-digit haul in 15 matches as Spurs put Burnley to the sword.

The Tottenham captain had managed just one goal from his last four starts prior to Saturday’s fixture, but he added an assist and the maximum bonus award to his brace to hand a season-best 16 points to his 18.3% ownership in Fantasy Premier League.

Rotation issues mean Christmas is rarely the season to be jolly for Fantasy managers. Kane’s untouchable status at his club and the lack of viable alternatives up-front – five-minute wonder Troy Parrott (£4.4m) anyone? – mark him out as a festive exception.

Kane suggested he can get back to his best at Spurs in a big win over Burnley

Even he is unlikely to start all of the next five games, which begins with tough tests against Wolves and Chelsea. But if he shows further evidence that he’s finally relocated his mojo, the run of Brighton, Norwich and Southampton that follows could bring in his New Year with a bang.

Kane certainly ensured Burnley went down with a whimper at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sean Dyche’s side managed just one attempt on target all match as Spurs overwhelmed them with pace and attacking intent from the off.

The hosts were ahead after just four minutes when Son Heung-min (£9.9m) laid off the ball to Kane and he lashed home a shot from close to 30 yards out.

That could have been the goal of the match, and yet it didn’t come close.

Alli has delivered in every game under Mourinho

Lucas Moura (£7.0m) doubled the advantage five minutes later from close range, with the assist going to the in-form Dele Alli (£8.7m), somewhat fortuitously, as the ball grazed his head before reaching the Brazilian.

But the goal was essentially down to a superb jinking run by Son that carved open Burnley’s backline.

That could have been the run of the match, and yet it didn’t come close either.

Son then set up Moussa Sissoko (£4.9m), who hit the post, before being denied a tap-in when clean through with Alli, who dithered just long enough for the golden chance to go begging.

The South Korean clearly decided he wasn’t going to rely on anyone to get him a goal after that, so he did it all by himself with the run – and goal – of the match after 32 minutes.

Picking up the ball on the edge of his own area, he burst past half the Burnley team on his way into the other box before finishing with ease past the helpless Nick Pope (£4.7m).

Among Spurs players, only Kane is more popular in FPL than Son (17.2%) at present, and he’s clearly enjoying life under Jose Mourinho, with two goals and four assists in the four matches since the Portuguese coach took charge.

The South Korean has proved to be an incredibly reliable Spurs assets since Mourinho took over. Providing both goals and assists, he has averaged 9.3 points per game, while Alli has managed 9.5 per game.

Vertonghen got himself an assist and a clean sheet against Burnley

Jan Vertonghen‘s (£5.2m) tackle diverted the ball to Son to earn him the assist on the wonder goal – the Fantasy equivalent of a brush merchant being given some of the credit for the Mona Lisa. Not that the Belgian’s 1.4% ownership will be complaining as it helped their man to 11 points, nearly half his total of 25 this season.

Sandwiching all of that came Burnley’s chances to make a game of it.

A Robbie Brady (£5.5m) header hit the bar and post before Davinson Sanchez (£5.3m) did well to deny Chris Wood‘s (£6.2m) header from the rebound. Jay Rodriguez (£5.7m) then had one header comfortably saved by Paulo Gazzaniga (£4.6m) and missed with another when he really should have scored.

And that was pretty much it for the visitors, who went four down nine minutes into the second half when Kane smashed in his second from inside the area. The assist came from Alli, who is another midfielder thriving under Mourinho.

More than 380,000 managers bought into him for Gameweek 16 and, despite a relatively muted display, he still produced nine points and now has three goals and as many assists from Mourinho’s four-match tenure.

Even Sissoko is proving to be an attacking threat these days and he channelled his inner Son when going on a surging run of his own, exchanging passes with his skipper and poking in his second goal in three Gameweeks.

For context, it had taken him four seasons to match that output previously, but such is life for Spurs at present under Mourinho.

Spurs have been completely revitalised under Mourinho

In the four Gameweeks he’s been in charge, only Liverpool can match Spurs for goals (12) and the side has found a real ruthlessness, with a 24% goal conversion rate well beyond the Reds’ 20.3% total.

And, for once, Spurs kept a clean sheet as well – only their second all season. That fact didn’t escape Mourinho in his post-match analysis.

“Yes, I’m very happy with that. I told the boys at half-time that the clean sheet should be a collective ambition, not something that belongs to the goalkeeper or the centre-backs, everybody. I could give an example of Lucas (Moura), he was one of the players further from our goal but his commitment in the defensive process was very strong.”

Serge Aurier (£5.0m) is the most popular asset in the backline, with 6.1% ownership, although rotation is highly likely to bite the full-backs over Christmas, even if the Ivory Coast international has little competition at right-back currently.

Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld (£5.4m) are Mourinho’s preferred picks at centre-half and might, just might, stay that way for the rest of this year.

Son’s energy and dynamism has spread around his team-mates since Mourinho arrived

What is not in doubt is the vibrancy and dynamism of Spurs’ attack, with the midweek loss at Manchester United the exception, not the rule.

That suggests even those tricky fixtures against Wolves and Chelsea won’t stop the rush to bring in their offensive assets, with Son, Alli and Kane all in the top five for Gameweek 17 transfers-in at present.

But before we all get drunk on the fumes of Tottenham’s attacking spirit, remembering the quality of the opposition they demolished should sober us up a tad.

Burnley have had a wretched week, losing three straight games by an aggregate score of 11-1 and prompting Dyche to play the injury card post-match.

“We’ve had a really tough week though and we are depleted at the minute. We have as many injuries to key players as I can remember, which doesn’t help. But onwards and upwards; that’s the way it is. We’ve done it before, and we have to continue doing it.”

Burnley have not enjoyed the last few days

On first glance, Burnley’s squad is not so badly off, although stalwarts such as Ashley Barnes (£6.3m) and Ashley Westwood (£5.4m) are currently absent.

And their schedule is pleasant enough, with trips to Bournemouth and Everton and visits from Newcastle, Manchester United and Aston Villa before the FA Cup third round makes its unwelcome Fantasy appearance in early January.

But the present malaise is more than just a week old.

No side has currently conceded more goals than the 20 they’ve shipped over the last eight Gameweeks, and their decidedly underwhelming 9.2 minutes per chance average over that period means the strikers have been over-performing to score the ten goals they’ve managed – a tally that supposedly goal-shy Newcastle have reached from one game fewer.

That should keep most of their players off our Christmas lists unless Dyche – a past master at turning things around – can re-invigorate his troops pretty much immediately.

Instead, it’s Son, Alli and now Kane who are likely to provide us with some festive fun, with maybe a defender or two worth monitoring if the side can continue to embrace Mourinho’s more traditional tastes in the busy weeks ahead.

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2,847 Comments Post a Comment
  1. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hey guys would you downgrade Jimenez or Abraham to fund the Zaha ---> Son move.

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Propably Jimi. But to who? Ings?

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Unsure. Pretty much whoever I can afford!!

    2. tokara
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would do it

  2. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Based on form and fixtures which 2 mids would you pick for Christmas from below ? (Money no problem)

    A) Son

    B) Grealish

    C) KDB

    Attack would be
    ***************
    _____ , Mane, Alli _____ , (Cantwell)
    Vardy Rashford Ings

    1. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      AC

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ac

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Care to elaborate,? Im afraid KDB .doesnt have form

        Only 2 goals and 1 assist in last 9 gws is not good enough. Meanwhile Grealish has 4 goals 3 assists in same period and faces relegation fodders sot wat nor along side bur and shu in next 5.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          see how he goes vs Arsenal. I dunno, just rate kdB higher and if you have the fund for him over Grealish then its a no brainer for me.

          1. HurriKane
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yh better give kdb arsenal game to change my mind. Cheers mate.

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A B

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Leaning towards this as well from gw18 onwards. Unless KDB proves me wrong against arsenal.with s big haul

    4. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Definitely AB

    5. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A and B although I read that B is on a lot of yellows!

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Wouldn't mind if he misses one game. Got good cover on bench

        1. AC Yew
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I brought in Zaha over him and regretting that move a little!

  3. ffakih
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any news on Mousset injury?

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      COnfidence injury from having to share pitch time with actual donkeys

  4. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Save FT? (will need 2 FT gw18 then WC20)

    Hend
    TAA Lund Soy
    Mane KDB Maddison Pulisic
    Vardy Jiminez Tammy

    Heaton Kelly Aurier Dendonker

  5. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you rather have:

    KDB & Ings

    Or

    Rash & Silva

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  6. maratus
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli was not that good in Burnley game and got super lucky with the assist.
    How did he play in those previous 2 games where he scored?
    Seems risky move to go all in Spurs as they have had quite bad season excluding these couple games.

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Similar feeling with Alli but I got him cause could not afford Son at the time.

  7. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Weaknesses and why please:
    Schmei Martin
    TAA Lund Kelly Rico Sais (Keeping Sais for GW18)
    Son KDB Martial Alli Grealish
    Rashford Vardy Jimmi (Will move Jimmi to Abe GW19 maybe)

    1. maratus
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial seems bad pick.

      1. maratus
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        i guess he can do decent for while and swap him richarlison if he continues the run.

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Probably right but fits into GW18.

        1. maratus
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          yeh

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

        Fixtures are good, still playing number 9...

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          This but frustrating when he sulks.

    2. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimi maybe but hes still looking good. Great team

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Funny nobody mentioned no Mane.

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          plenty of good players that cover Mane. Would have Mane over KDB if you could afford ir

        2. maratus
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          He gonna blank anyway after this gw. Im quite sure people gonna mass transfer him in after blanco.

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

      With that front8 Who are you benching each week?

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I am "presuming" there will be at least 1 rotation or injury each week.

  8. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Team all set for this week? No idea what am gonna do next week with the blank for pool! Really want Grealish but would probably have to drop Maddison next week!

    Guiata
    TAA Aurier Soy
    Mane Son Alli Maddison
    Rashford Tammy Vardy
    Button Lunds Cantwell Soy
    0.3 ITB

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Soy twice?

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        last Soy is Rico!

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Good side Change Button and BB?

          1. Rinseboy
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            thanks.Always prefer to save that for later in season in case I need to final push for my MLs

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Makes sense but have you ever realized how many teams have messed up getting BB for DGW's

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

    Pope* Button
    TAA* Soy Lund Tomori* Rico
    Mane KDB* Alli Martial Hayden*
    Vardy Jimenez* Tammy

    Got 2 FTs, not sure what to with this lot... of the highlighted players who would you ship out this week?

    1. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Can you update GK. Guaita looking good although bit pricey

    2. maratus
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ITb?

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

        0.4

  10. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Just realised that with Mane missing there will be a huge autosub increase tonight. Loads of Kellys, a few Tomkins, even a Maupay or two. Unlucky if it's Rico that's coming in.

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wise old man

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I wish! 😀
        These days all my grey cells have long gone.

    2. Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I've got Ings coming in. Saw a team with baldock coming in 😆

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Lovely jubbly!

          1. Party time
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Hell Yeah 🙂

      • Me Spurs
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Jimi kdb to rash Maddison worth -4?

        1. FirMinaMiMo
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Remember a single match cant decide who is kdb ????

        2. FirMinaMiMo
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          IMO....yu can swap other players instead of kdb to get yur fav.ones 🙂

        3. Me Spurs
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          How to get Rashford in then?
          Guaita
          Taa, Chilwell, lund
          Mane, kdb, son, pulisic
          Ings, jimi, Vardy
          B: button, kelly, Cantwell, Rico

          1ft 0.1 ib

      • Jokanovic
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good morning FPL community, greetings from Shenzhen.
        And advice on my team

        Pope/button

        Lunds/soyon/robertson/janmat/dunk

        Salah/kdb/zaha/maddison/dendo

        Kne/abraham/inga

        2FT and 1.5m in the bank

        1. Jokanovic
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Any*

      • balint84
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        2ft
        A) Jimenez to Ings
        B) Jimenez to Ayew
        C) Jimenez+Salah to KANE+Dilva
        D) Jimenez+Robertson to KANE+4.1def
        E) save Jimenez & Connolly to Ayew or Lowton to Kiko

      • OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Auba >
        A- Rashford
        B- ings
        C- other one
        Already have Kane & Vardy

        1. NotsoSpursy
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          A

      • Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ings only has one, perhaps two, matches left in his nice run. If you're going to get him then you should expect to keep him until 2020 otherwise not worth the transfer. I'd keep Jimenez (and I have Ings). What's your full team?

      • Max City
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I plan to have Mane Madd Son Alli Vardy Rash Ings in attack, but shall I be worried with not having any CHE coverage?

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          You can't have the shiny toys! 🙂

          1. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            *all

      • NotsoSpursy
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Magnus Carlsen Still in top 10!

        I understand why Carlsen is so good by why are Norwegians so good at ff??

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          because their women are ugly, so nothing other than fantasy for them to keep busy