Dugout Discussion

Alli and Bale return to Spurs XI as Kane is widely backed with Gameweek 34 captaincy

Amid the chaos caused by the postponement of Manchester United v Liverpool, it’s easy to forget that there is another Premier League match still to come on Sunday evening.

Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United gets underway in north London at 19:15 BST.

It’s a significant match from a Fantasy Premier League perspective, too, with Harry Kane (£11.9m) widely backed with the armband.

Over 2.3 million FPL managers overall have captained the England international in Gameweek 34, with 88.62% of the top 10,000 doing likewise (see below).

Kane’s ‘effective ownership’ among this leading group is in excess of 181% as a result.

He and Son Heung-min (£9.6m) were among the top three most-bought players of Gameweek 34 ahead of last Friday’s deadline, attracting a combined c. 590,000 transfers in.

Any lingering concerns about the premium FPL forward’s fitness were assuaged by interim Spurs boss Ryan Mason in his pre-match press conference and Kane indeed starts this evening.

There are only two changes to the Lilywhites’ line-up from Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

Gareth Bale (£9.1m) and the long-overlooked Dele Alli (£7.4m) return to the starting XI, with Harry Winks (£5.1m) and Lucas Moura (£6.7m) making way.

Mason said of his team selection ahead of kick-off:

[Dele] had an excellent training week. The boys have been bright all week but I felt that Dele stood out and had to reward him for that.

Lucas missed training all week, only joined the squad yesterday. Gareth produced a moment for us against Southampton, he was unlucky at the weekend not to get the nod; he’s also had a good training week so we felt it was right to bring him back in.

As for Sheffield United, Paul Heckingbottom has made just the one alteration from the side that defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 last weekend.

The fit-again Chris Basham (£4.6m) starts ahead of Kean Bryan (£3.9m), who is absent from the matchday squad altogether.

Sander Berge (£4.9m) is also back from injury after a lengthy absence but is only among the substitutes.

LINE-UPS

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso, Son, Alli, Bale, Kane.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Baldock, Basham, Egan, Bogle, Fleck, Norwood, Stevens, Osborn, McGoldrick, Brewster.


SUNDAY’S OTHER GAMEWEEK 34 ACTION

A match that had very little impact on the upper echelons of Fantasy Premier League went the way of the visitors at St James’ Park.

Thanks to a combination of injuries, rotation and general disinterest in either side, not a single player on show had an effective ownership of greater than 0.27% in the top 10k.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) was back in the starting XI after a spell out with malaria and continued his fine individual record against a listless and potentially ‘on the beach’ Newcastle United, scoring one and fortuitously assisting another en route to a first double-digit haul since Gameweek 24.

A third of his 12 attacking returns this season have come against the Magpies.

Budget FPL midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) set up the Gabon international’s goal, with the even-cheaper Mohamed Elneny (£4.2m) scoring the opener following an Aubameyang miscue.

Bernd Leno (£5.0m), Bukayo Saka (£5.1m), Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m) and Rob Holding (£4.3m) were all either unused substitutes or not involved as Arteta once again ran wild with the rotation with one eye on Europe.

Arsenal were again without Kieran Tierney (£5.2m) and Alexandre Lacazette (£8.4m), with Arteta offering a pessimistic update ahead of kick-off.


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1,193 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Boring. Everybody has the same players in this one.

    At least we had lots of different players in Man Utd vs Liverpool.

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      speak for yourself my ML leader captained Sterling. Kane hat trick needed

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A few have Bale. Maybe a Brewster or two off the bench too!

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Quite a few in my 'tight at the top' ml went Iheanacho C over Spurs, so I disagree. Looking forward to this game as I was looking forward to Manu v Liv. I like to take my fpl hat off during games so I can just enjoy the footie.

  2. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Harry, Gareth, Sergio - kill it!!!

  3. Effe
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I don’t even own Kane never mind captain. This is gonna be scary.

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hide behind the Sofa, Kane hattie + 2 assists coming up

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        this needed. But we all know it will be 1-1

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Out of interest who did you captain instead ? Hopefully not Salah or Bruno.

      1. Effe
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Iheanacho 🙁

  4. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    People like taking shots at Ben Crellin.

    But I appreciate that Ben Crellin puts in the effort and uses his time and skills to predict the fixtures, so I don't have to. Saves me time.

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Only people that have nothing constructive to offer

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who’s doing that?

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Ruth NZ

    3. Steve McCroskey
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who's taking shots at him?

      There are some genuinely sad people on the internet.

  5. Cojiro
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone worse than 6 playing players?

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ouch, that is bad.

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yep.

      Ole GS and Klopp...

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Luckily 8

    4. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same!
      Only vydra on bench, holding rudiger no shows

    5. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This one is pretty bad!
      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/4784616/event/34/

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Ouch! I'm saying ouch, but I doubt I'll make a decent avg this week with 4 reds & Azpi

    6. Vinyl78LP
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      5 today + Keane & Saka no shows - should end up with 7 after subs.

    7. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Amazingly looks like a nice green arrow for you - 40 plus points from your meagre squad already!

    8. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Martinez
      Dallas | Dawson
      Lingard
      Kane | Iheanacho | Bamford

      xx | Dias | Azpi | TAA | Raf | Greenwood | Salah | Bruno

  6. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Cmom Reg n Son...get that link up going again

  7. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    It appears someone in one of my ML’s has departed in rage.. oh dear

  8. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane & Son, time to bang!!!

  9. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What is on Dele Alli's head

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He's been growing it since Earth Day.

    2. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Maybe he doesn’t realise that the barbers are open again

    3. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lockdown locks, a perfectly legit style. You should get out a bit more, dude.

  10. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ominous start that.

    1. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Seriously. Wtf Kane

  11. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wouldn't mind at all if WBA vs Liverpool is moved to GW35 to accommodate Utd vs Liverpool in GW36

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Unfair for us who have saved FH for dgw 35, everybody can then field 11 dgw players

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It's not unfair when real football decisions don't take into account fantasy football squad selections and transfer planning....

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Excactly

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        United won't be DGW then - better fixtures for a DGW but likely no more players.

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah tbh I'd be set up quite nicely for the DGW with 3 Pool players.

  12. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ruud Gulit lookalike playing for Spurs

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      🙂

    2. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wannabe!

  13. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bit of a chaotic start. Good signs for goals.

  14. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Imagine the fall out on here (not in real life) if Kane hadn't been such an overwhelming captain pick v Sheff Utd.

    The amount of Salah or Bruno captains would be going apocalyptic...

    Plus Nacho on the side has helped ease the furore..

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fudgy might have quit for real

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        nah no chance. He's "quit" every week this season

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Anyone know how many had Salah c/Bruno vc and the other way around?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I'm on Pereira but tossed a coin between Salah and Pulisic.

        Also have TAA and Greenwood in the mix.

        Afterall, when all is said and done it's only a game.

        In real life too.

  15. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This will end up 8-2

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not the way Dier, Bale & Alli are playing!

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      nope, there is more chance of Brewster scoring

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He's deserved a late equaliser!

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A low score draw?

      1 1 anyone

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

      1-1

  16. Johnny too hotty
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What’s the chat o the postponed game then guys is it gonna be played this ganeweek ? If not it’s cost me my PL basically

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No.

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Utd away to Roma on Thursday, needs to be a quick decision if they want to play it tomorrow. Still a big game with global appeal so would imagine Sky would prefer it was played at a later date to maximise TV coverage.

  17. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    We badly need Crelin to enlighten us

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He's not in charge.

      12 or 16 May apparently if Man Utd fixtures hold sway.

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      From Reddit (not Crellin)

      "Man United play away in Rome on Thursday night, so the only way this match can stay within gameweek 34 is if it is played on Monday or Tuesday. Tuesday would seem wholly unfair, so it's probably tomorrow or bust.

      If the match isn't played in this gameweek, Man United's only free slot is GW36, the FA Cup final weekend. Liverpool's only free slot is the midweek of GW35.

      So logically, West Brom v Liverpool moves from GW36 to the midweek of GW35, giving Liverpool a DGW of Southampton (H); West Brom (A) in GW35. Salah fixes our captain headache.

      Man United v Liverpool moves to GW36."

      1. zotter
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Salah solves headache for those defending *. Nightmare for chasers

        1. TomSaints
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Trent / mane / jota and hope Salah fails

          1. zotter
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Mane tough to get in of own Kane and Bruno

      2. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That would be wonderful

      3. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This is the only scenario that makes sense tbh.

      4. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks man, great info. Cheers

  18. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This does seem to be the Spurs 'common sense' lineup. Separate issue whether they actually succeed though.

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Midfield weak vs a good side

  19. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rastali!

    1. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Rastalli*

  20. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bale wastes a Kane midfield assist

  21. zotter
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Those early Jota to Zaha transfers not looking so smart now !!

    1. jimmyharte
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You mean are?

  22. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This social media blackout is well timed around a huge story

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Huge?

      1. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        United v Liverpool is one of biggest fixtures and the ESL fallout is probably going to be one of the biggest stories this season

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          A big football story. Will be forgotten about in a few weeks. People more worried about lockdown ending, vaccines, jobs, travel.

      2. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Delle Alli's Boyz n the hood stylo.

  23. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Has it been confirmed the match will not take place tomorrow?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Apparently

  24. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Apparently United have already confirmed game won't be rescheduled for tomorrow.

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Where can I find this "Apparent"?

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        On MySpace.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Which hasn’t been used in 10 years by the masses

          1. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            It's retrocool

      2. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I don't know mate. That's what was being reported from on TV.

  25. jimmyharte
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bring in Joel Ward for dgw bench boost?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah

      1. jimmyharte
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Maybe Zaha to jota instead. Only got one transfer. Would be replacing Dallas with ward

  26. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Son SOT

  27. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Why has Spurs' shirt sponsor all different?

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Levy

  28. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Son Down

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      he always is

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      not until 8:57pm where I live

    3. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      and suddenly he's the fastest player on the pitch, what a fraud

  29. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Basham doesn’t have Kane (C)

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Everyone has Kane(C). He probably missed the deadline and left it on Nacho.

  30. FPL Alaska
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane, wtf man. That should be 2 goals and 2 Son assists.