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. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Livescore stating that Spurs has 10 shots. Who made em?

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

      Kane all of them, on FKs.

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

      Watkins

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

    I got a few mates telling me the Man Utd game is on tomorrow ... asked for a source ... anyone got any solid news?

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

      no chance

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

      Betting companies have it as 3pm tomorrow so could be something in it

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

      Someone above says it’s on Betfair

    4. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nothing official yet, just assumptions

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

      To organise policing etc on a bank holiday Monday for a big rivalry game like this. I’m not saying it’s impossible but I’m really doubting they can sort in 24 hours.

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

    United - Liverpool game no longer this gw in fpl?

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

      yes, if they play tomorrow they have to announce it now

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

    Alli still pretending to be a footballer?

  5. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Early thoughts but kane to aguero gw36 is tempting if kane is poor v Leeds next weekend

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

    Bale goal son assist

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

      I’ll take it. No Kane and 6 sweet son points

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

    No kane involvement

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

    Bale x2

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

    Son assist

  10. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Spurs really unleashing their attacking potential these days with no Mourinho to hold them back.

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

      Mourinho wasn’t the problem lol

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

        You think?

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

          They played probably worse in the cup final than they would have done if he was manager.. a season and a bit is not a very long time to manage a team, especially without fans.

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

      You mean counter attacking fotball, like they use to get probably 90% of the goals under Mourinho?

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah. I mean mourinho had to play sheffnutd every week.

  11. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    BAAAALLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE(C)

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

      Well played!!

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      ...

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

      You'll go FLYING up the ranks

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

    Great finish

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

    Bale G and Son A

  14. Gross Blank Point
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ya beauty!

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

    Baleeee

    Differential heaven.

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

    Finally upside chasing is working for Lateriser

  17. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Season over.

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

      Yep

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

    Nice, Kane got there in time for the celebration.

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

    Ffs Son

  20. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bale Son assist I think

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

      Well yeah

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

    WHY is that Bale and not Kane! Pathetic

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

    Anyone else hold Bale for ages and then sell in GW32?

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

    Kane too slow to be up there in time.

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

      He is not fully fit

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

    Should have kept the armband on Son ?

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

      Hindsight

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

    Right really thinking hard about kicking him out ML Stinking Son of a Bale

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

    Son cappers UNITE!

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

    Oh to have had Bale but right in between his two hauling states...

  28. Utopsis
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What a finish!

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

    Want to vomit

    Was considering Jota, Bruno to Bale, Havertz for -4

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

      Shoulda done it then

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ouch..

  30. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Faaaabulous... Son over Bale proving an intelligent choice alongside captain Kane!

    At least that’ll be the case with the majority I suppose...

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

      Well, some of us don't even have Kane...i have Watkins 😀

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

      Son could easily have hauled tonight (still could!)