Scout Notes

United set to face fragile Leicester defence ripped apart by Kane and Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Leicester City

  • Goals: James Justin (£4.7m) own-goal, Harry Kane (£10.9m) x2
  • Assists: Son Heung-min (£9.7m), Lucas Moura (£7.0m) x2
  • Bonus: Kane x3, Lucas, Hugo Lloris (£5.3m) x2

Leicester City and Manchester United will square off at the King Power Stadium in Gameweek 38+ and, depending on how the Red Devils and Chelsea get on in their respective midweek fixtures, it could be a case of winner takes all for a UEFA Champions League qualification spot next Sunday.

Those of us on a Free Hit or with a transfer to burn might be considering whether to ditch a United asset or two given the magnitude of the fixture but based on what we saw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side could have plenty of joy against the Foxes.

Jose Mourinho showed his former employers how to do it: cede possession and hit a patched-up, plodding defence on the counter-attack.

Spurs saw only 29% of the ball in this match and had no penalty box touches in the second half, with Brendan Rodgers’ side registering more than three times as many shots over the course of the game.

But the damage was done by half-time, with all three of the Lilywhites’ goals scored on the break.

An in-the-mood Harry Kane (£10.9m) set Son Heung-min (£9.7m) free down the left flank for the hosts’ opener, with the Korean’s shot taking a telling touch off James Justin (£4.7m) and wrong-footing Kasper Schmeichel (£5.5m) after just five minutes.

Kane hit a quick-fire double as the game neared half-time, first rolling a finish past Schmeichel following a through-ball from Lucas Moura (£7.0m) and then curling a superb effort in off the upright after another pass from the Brazilian.

There could have been other goals and again, all of them came from quick passes from back to front, catching Leicester’s high line out all too easily.

Son forced Schmeichel into a save following a direct, 50-yard ball from Harry Winks (£5.2m), with the South Korea international later getting his feet in a muddle when played clean through on goal by Kane just after half-time.

Given Bruno Fernandes (£9.1m) and Paul Pogba‘s (£8.3m) ability to spot a pass from deep and United’s capacity to break at speed, Sunday’s match in north London would have provided Solskjaer – and Fantasy managers – with food for thought.

Mourinho talked through his tactical masterclass after the game, saying:

I think it was an intelligent performance. I knew that for them to play with this back five is not a very comfortable situation.

I want to be honest with Brendan. I don’t remember that someone was so honest with me when I was playing without a striker, but I want to be honest with Brendan and it’s easy to realise that to play without Ricardo Pereira, Soyuncu and Chilwell destroys a backline.

So we decided to take away from them where they can hurt us, which is basically behind us. We took away from them our defensive depth, we control the game by positioning our defensive block a little bit lower than we normally do.

Then we gave the ball to them, to their back three, because we wanted them to bring the ball and we wanted them to feel quite comfortable, leaving their comfort zone, which is where they are not playing many matches.

Bennett and Morgan, we wanted to take them away from their comfort zone to try to explore the counter-attack and fast transitions. So when we scored three goals in the first half, I think the game is over.

As Mourinho mentioned above, Leicester were without three of their regular back four, namely Ricardo Pereira (£6.2m), Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) and Caglar Soyuncu (£4.9m).

None of that trio will be available for the Manchester United game, although there is a chance that Marc Albrighton (£5.1m) could return to take over one of the wing-back slots.

In their absence, a back three with a combined age of 98 years struggled with the pace and movement of Son and Kane, while teenage left-back Luke Thomas (£4.0m) – who impressed going forward – had a real baptism of fire from a defensive perspective on his first away start.

That ragtag bunch of defenders had performed well against Sheffield United in midweek but Chris Wilder’s side aren’t renowned for their pace on the break and played into the hands of the Foxes, something Mourinho evidently didn’t do on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford (£8.9m) and Anthony Martial (£8.5m), in particular, will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Wes Morgan (£4.1m) and co next weekend.

Rodgers said after full-time in north London:

It was a strange game because we were really good in parts. The parts we weren’t so good in was things that we’ve spoken about: dealing with the counter-attack.

The first one we’re disappointed with because we’ve got to have a better pressure higher up the pitch. Instead, Harry [Kane] turns and makes the pass in behind and they get a bit of luck.

The other two: obviously a breakaway from a corner and a great finish. That individual quality hurt us today, but it was strange. It didn’t feel that we should’ve been 3-0 down.

There was a bit of encouragement at the other end, at least, despite the blank in front of goal.

Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) had a number of early sighters before seeing an inventive backheeled effort strike the feet of Hugo Lloris (£5.3m), while the lively Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) drew two flying saves out of the Frenchman and substitutes Demarai Gray (£5.0m) and Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m) both saw efforts from range repelled.

Lloris emerged with two bonus points to his name but the Spurs clean sheet was as much to do with the players in front of him, with the Foxes not registering a single ‘big chance’ despite all of their possession.

Serge Aurier (£5.1m) and co have now banked four shut-outs in the last seven Gameweeks, more than they managed in Mourinho’s first 18 matches in charge.

With an out-of-form Crystal Palace to come in Gameweek 38+, there could be joy to be had for Spurs assets at either end of the field.

Certainly Kane, for all our initial reservations about the premium forward ahead of the restart, appears to be hitting levels we haven’t seen in a long time, combining the deeper role we came to be suspicious of with the hitman status of yesteryear.

He may not be the classic ‘number nine’ of yore, but maybe a ‘nine-and-a-half’ is enough at present.

Members Analysis

View all the player and team data from Spurs v Leicester here

FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 37+

693 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any injury update on Mason Holgate?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Out for the season

  2. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hi! Please help me pick the best option for the final GW :

    Patricio
    Doherty Tarkowski Keane
    Salah Bruno Martial KDB Mahrez
    Greenwood Ings

    Bench: Martin Nketiah Kiko Lascelles

    1FT / 2.3ITB

    A) Ings --> Jesus
    B) Bruno + Ings --> D.Silva + Auba
    C) Any other suggestion?

    Cheers!

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B if you captain Auba

    2. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

  3. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Morning all. Am tempted by one of the below, thoughts?

    Patricio
    Doherty - TAA - Kiko
    Mane - KDB - Mahrez - Bruno
    Vardy - Jimi - Greenwood

    (3.9m) - Saka - Holgate - Lascelles

    A) Lascelles + Bruno + Jimi > Pieters + Anotnio + Jesus -4
    B) Mane + Vardy + Jimi > DSilva + Auba + Kane -4
    C) Scrap above and rethink

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B looks nice. I’d deffo ditch Vardy

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        tripe city midfield though

    2. Rock Papiss Cissès
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B without question

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        cheers - you think 3 city mid is pushing it with pep roulette or go for antonio instead of DSilva?

    3. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Auba and Kane twitch accordingly.

  4. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH38+ Draft #1. No Salah/Mané and fairly cheap defence the main issues. What you think? 0.1 left

    Martinez
    TAA, Pieters, Cresswell
    KDB, Dilva, Sterling, Martial, Antonio
    Auba, Kane

    1. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Could easily downgrade TAA and move KDB or sterling to a pool mid if you really want one. I have gone even cheaper in def don’t worry

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm thinking Salah/Mane over KDB. Could downgrade TAA or Auba/Kane - Jesus?

    3. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Similar team to mine.
      ( Bruno - KDB , TAa - Tark, 3rd striker Jesus upfront)

  5. cigan
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH draft for 38+. What do you think?

    Martinez
    Trent Mendy Pieters
    Salah Bruno DSilva(C) Antonio
    Jesus Rashford Kane/Auba
    (Martin; Thomas, Williams, Guendouzi)

  6. fijuhmon
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Early stages of current gameweek, but I should be leading my ML for about 40pts before 38+. Current squad

    DDG
    Doherty - TAA - Kiko
    Bruno - KDB - Mahrez - Martial - Willian
    Ings- Jesus

    Martin, Jimenez, Lascelles, Jack Robinson

    Plan is to do Mahrez -> Dilva for free, captain him or KDB and hope my lead will hold. Would you take hits for example to get rid of Kiko/Lascelles?

  7. Muller Reus Corner
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What should I do with my team? 1FT and 0.8m ITB. I only have TC left
    Pope, Marinez
    TAA, Doherty, Pieters, C.Taylor, Robinson
    Mane, KDB, Antonio, Bruno, Pulisic
    Jesus, Ings, Greenwood

    I want triple Man City, but don’t know whether to get Dilva or Sterling.

    1. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulsic to Son ? Doable?

    2. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think Sterling is the only must City player

  8. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pick one:

    A) Ings --> Jesus
    B) Bruno + Ings --> D.Silva + Auba (-4pts)

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

  9. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Let's say Salah has an absolute rotten game v Chelsea, would you keep v newcastle ?

    1. Rock Papiss Cissès
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Let’s say your Aunt had ____, would she be your uncle?

      1. Rock Papiss Cissès
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Regret this, apologies. Would keep Salah

    2. Bring back Rafa
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I would. Form is temporary, class is permanent

      1. Bring back Rafa
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Only time I would is if I was chasing, or if I only had 2 City i would happily swap him to Sterling......but that's more to do with fixtures

    3. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If my grandma had wheels she would of been a bike.

      I think one game does not dictate how the next will fair out.

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks all

    5. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Would keep ( if I had him )

  10. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Best City Defender for FH38?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Defender? Wait for the midweek game then triple up on attack.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        So many poor defence options this week I was considering someone like Mendy alongside Dilva and Sterling

    2. Sterling Archer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wouldnt waste a FH City spot in defence against Norwich

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Struggling to get 3 good defenders

    3. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I don’t have a FH but have a City defender. I think I will stick rather than take a hit to switch to
      3 mids/fwds. That said, there’s no way on earth I would consider a City defender if on a FH.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Clear haha. I’ll go 3 in attack then 🙂

        1. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          :-D. I am clinging onto the fact that I’m sure I’ve seen Garcia in the oppositions’ box in recent matches and that perhaps he just might deflect a shot bound for the
          corner flag into the net with his arse. I knew when I got him in that it would come back to bite me on my arse, but, like a complete arse, I blindly pressed the confirm button.

          As you can see, I seem obsessed with arses. Anyway, Rafa, good
          luck in choosing your defence. May they all return sparkly clean sheets.

  11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone gone in heavy on Wolves tonight?

    Boly, Saiss, Jimmy here... for once it would be nice of the FPL Gods to make this easy on us - 3-0 Wolves win, Jimmy, Boly Saiss goals 😉

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      The average team has 1.15 Wolves defenders/GK starting
      About half have Jimenez so a decent differential

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nervous non Jimmy owner leading an ML full of Jimmy teams. If he can score first at 5-2 I can at least get paid out if he scores more via Hat-trick Heaven. It's assists that kill you when cover betting though.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hattrick heaven is a fantastic offer

        Used to make a killing from it back in my matched betting days - got banned from BetFred over it lol

    3. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Saiss and Doherty. Sold Jiménez a few weeks back. I am with you in your wish for a 3-0 but obviously we differ in who we want to grab the goals.

    4. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I stupidly moved Jimmy out for Ings a few weeks ago..

    5. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nope. I have 0 Wolves. Hoping for brick city.

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

      just Doherty so happy with a 1-1. Doherty goal and 3 bonus

  12. MarcusAurelius
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Morning all. Thinking of doing this for a -4. Is it worth it Yes or No?

    Martial + Greenwood —> Antonio + DCL

    I have Bruno and think UTD triple up could be overkill away at Leicester.

    1. Breaking FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Never in a million years would I take a -4 to bring in DCL

  13. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So what’s best on FH then? 🙂

    A. Mané
    B. Salah
    C. Both!

    1. Kane
    2. Auba
    3. Both!

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B3.

  14. spamking
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope
    TAA, Tark, Egan
    Sterling, KDB, Dilva, Bruno, Martial
    Wood Rashford (Ings)

    I have 2 FT, rival has Free Hit.

    What's my best move?

    1. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is he chasing or are you?

      1. spamking
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He is chasing

    2. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Any dollars itb?

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

    How does this look for a -4?
    Vardy and Foden to Auba and Dilva?
    Gives me this for 38. Any obvious weaknesses?

    Pope
    TAA Aurier Doherty
    Sterling Dilva Martial Bruno Pullisic
    Jesus Auba
    Martinez Greenwood Diop Fernandez.

  16. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Man City 9 - 0 Norwich

    Has this got a realistic chance of happening?

    Probably more chance than any of the other 379 Premier League games this season - on paper at least

    1. ritzyd
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no

    2. Breaking FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Anything could happen ... I'd say 6-0 is more realistic

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nah. I fancy Leicester to get 9 past Soton though.

  17. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Here is one for you and why I hate captain picks:
    My ML leader 53 points clear of me ib second
    he sits top 4k
    His captain picks 317 points 618 points in total
    My captain picks 245 points 474 points in total
    I think my 40k rank and his 2k rank might just have something to do with captaincy!

  18. Bicks
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Once freehit is activated i'm guessing I can keep making transfers up until the deadline? the same as with a WC.
    Cheers

    1. Nedvěd11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  19. LloristheHounds
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Jesus, pulisic, Saiss to
    Kane, Dilva, aurier for - 8

    Or
    B) Saiss to
    Aurier for free

    ?

    1. JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

  20. yet to be named
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Free hit 20 points to make up in mini league
    Martinez
    Bardsley Pieters Lamptey
    Sterling Salah D Silva Mahrez Fernandez
    Kane Ings
    3.9 Nketiah Williams 4.0
    Who to Captain? Sterling and Salah are the diffs.
    Thanks

  21. christo1
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can I ask for a little help. I've got BB left to play in Gw38 and 2 free transfers. When I hit the BB button, and then look to make those transfers it looks to hit me with 2 x -4's? Am I not able to make transfers in a BB week?

    1. Ole's at the wheel
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      U can. I did my transfers, SAVED THE TEAM then played BB.

  22. Wee Jinky
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What do you think of my final team (Free Hit) Currently I'm ranked 459
    Pope
    Tarkowski, Pieters, Tierney, (Williams / Kilman)
    Sterling (C), De Bruyne, Mahrez, Martial, (Oriol Romeu)
    Aubameyang, Ings, Kane

    3 Burnley defenders (trying hard for a clean sheet for Pope to be Golden Gloves) No Liverpool - I think the Newcastle game will be subdued. Might swap Mahrez for D. Silva. Might take Kane out and go for big hitter in midfield, but I'll probably go with this team barring any negative team news.

  23. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    FH options, thoughts? Really comes down to whether I go triple MC midfield with Sterling or go with Auba in search of golden boot.

    TEAM A
    Pope
    TAA - Mendy - Pieters
    Salah - Bruno - KDB - Dilva
    Auba - Ings - Greenwood

    TEAM B
    Pope
    TAA - Aurier - Pieters
    Salah - Bruno - KDB - Dilva - Sterling
    Ings - Greenwood

    1. LFC4EVER
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B for me

  24. LFC4EVER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Last GW and last deliberations:

    1 ft, 0.4 ITB - Have the Triple Captain on

    What would you do?

    Pope
    TAA - Tarkowski - Aurier
    Salah - Martial - Fernandes - Antonio
    Jiménez - Greenwood - Lacazette

    Henderson - Doherty - Stephens - Foden

    Who would you transfer out/in?
    Who would you TC?

    Thanks all! Good luck on the last GW!