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. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Holding’s time up or is he going to come back into the team??

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

      Luiz injured again I heard? So should be straight back in.

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

      His replacement did his hamstring, so Holding will be back

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

      Straight back in as Luiz went off injured again

  2. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane (C) + Son (VC) FAILURE

  3. Abraham & Cheese
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    VAR is high!

  4. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Son goal

  5. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Son goal

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

    Son G

  7. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is it time to sell Son?

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wow timing!

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No

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

    Sold Son last week 🙁

  9. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Could be offside

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

      A beautiful goal... such a shame.

  10. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Miles off

  11. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Think it’s off unfortunately

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who would have been offside? So happy that another week with -4 scared me off Salah to Son.

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Assist *

      2. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Dier assist I think, was long ball over top

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Or Toby

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

    offside given

  13. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    OH PSSSS OFFFFF

  14. Life_Ban
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Was that potentially a Kane assist?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nope

      • Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        No

      • Herman Toothrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Toby

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

      Phew

    3. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thank the lord.

    4. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why are arms/sleeves considered offside? You can't score with your arm.

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Balotelli shoulder goal

          1. Scots Gooner
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            They draw the line in line with the hand or a full outstretched arm. Miles away from the shoulder.

        • Abraham & Cheese
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          You can if you're Maradona

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

        obviously off

      3. SH1M1
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Whoever is in charge of VAR tonight needs binning ASAP

        1. Dammit_182
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Not really giving the attacker the ads advantage any more is it....

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

        offside needs to be changed to the feet. This arms and shoulder thing is ridiculous

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

          You can score with the shoulder though.

          1. Ian Davis
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            But nobody does though and nobody gains an advantage by running/moving with their shoulder/sleeve in an offside position.

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

              Well there is an advantage.

              He is leaning in the direction of the goal ahead of the last man.

              Basically at least half a step ahead.

              1. Ian Davis
                • 14 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                His feet were about a foot behind the last defender...

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

                  Idk about you but when I’m springing off my feet, my head and shoulders are in front of my feet lol

                  1. Ian Davis
                    • 14 Years
                    2 years, 11 months ago

                    You’re clearly anti-football if you’re happy about goals being ruled out for a shoulder or sleeve being in an offside position. Good luck to you.

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

                      Son clearly had an unfair advantage by being further ahead.

                      The point of the rule is literally to prevent that.

                      Anti-football haha

                      1. Ian Davis
                        • 14 Years
                        2 years, 11 months ago

                        The rule is about which part of the body you can score with, not about gaining a big advantage because your sleeve is 1.8mm ahead of the last defender.

      5. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I didn’t have enough money to bring Son back in...

        Went for Bale instead.

        About the only thing going right this weekend.

      6. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Football is done.

      7. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Wow FPL were quick to add Soms points! Time to knock em off again

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Son’s*

      8. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I can't stand this crap

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

        Ahhhh come on Son just one goal would be lovely

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          As a son captiner and non Kane owner it would be massive

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

            Same here lol

          2. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Ditto

      10. MadeinIreland
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Match is on at 3pm tomorrow - listed on betfair - trust big business to be told before the fans

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

          For real? Wow, that’s a surprise. Panic over!

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

          Probably just a default thing? Guess they haven't cancelled bets etc. yet

        3. Ian Davis
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I saw that too... Probably so that punters still place their bets and when it’s not on at 3pm tomorrow most people will put their voided bet money on other events... That’s bookies for you.

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

        Kane invisible?

        1. OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          CM now

      12. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Bring back the basic offside rule ... measure by feet and stick your phases where the sun don’t shine ... if the attacker is beyond the last defender when the ball is played .. that’s it ... that’s all we need ... simple.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          When the ball is played? Which frame? Touching the ball still or daylight between the ball and foot?

          Far from simple once video technology is involved.

          1. Eh, just one more thing ...
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            When the passing player touches the ball on the actual pass.

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Yeah, I agree but it’s still such fine margins. The advantage should go to the attacker with really tight decisions.

      13. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Jota or Mount out for Greenwood? Mount likely play 1 game in dgw 35, then blank gw 36 Jota gw 35 + dgw36 but no nailed

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

        Celso is rubbish

        1. OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          😆