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Navigating the Spurs Double Gameweek

Spurs have a very busy schedule coming up, with four games in 10 days, featuring their crucial Europa League second leg, the Carling Cup Final, and most importantly for Fantasy Football managers a double Gameweek 28. Here I’ll outline their upcoming fixtures and focus on some key strategies on dealing with their two fixtures in Gameweek 28.

Fixture Pile-Up History

First of all here’s a quick recap of their forthcoming fixtures.

Thu 26 Feb – Fiorentina vs Tottenham (Europa League)
Sun 1 Mar – Chelsea vs Tottenham (League Cup Final)
Wed 4 Mar – Tottenham vs Swansea (Premier League)
Sat 7 Mar –  QPR vs Tottenham (Premier League)

To assess the likelihood of rotation for their key fantasy assets, I’ve had a look at how Pochettino dealt with three comparable fixture pile-ups this season. On each occasion, they also had games on Thursday/Sunday/Wednesday/Saturday.  I’ve included the starters for each four-game sequence, with goals and assists in brackets:

Fixture Pile-Up #1

Thu 18 Sep – Partizan 0-0 Tottenham (EL)
Sun 21 Sep – Tottenham 0-1 West Brom (PL)
Wed 24 Sep – Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest (CC)
Sat 27 Sep – Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham (PL)

4 Starts: None.
3 Starts: Lloris, Vertonghen, Naughton.
2 Starts: Kaboul, Rose, Davies (1A), Capoue, Stambouli, Bentaleb, Paulinho, Lennon, Townsend, Eriksen, Chadli (1G), Lamela (2A), Adebayor.
1 Start: Vorm, Chiriches, Kane (1G), Soldado (1G).

Fixture Pile-Up #2

Thu 27 Nov – Tottenham 1-0 Partizan (EL)
Sun 30 Nov – Tottenham 2-1 Everton (PL)
Wed 3 Dec – Chelsea 3-0 Tottenham (PL)
Sat 6 Dec – Tottenham 0-0 Crystal Palace (PL)

4 Starts: Lloris, Vertonghen, Davies.
3 Starts: Fazio, Chiriches, Mason, Bentaleb, Lennon (1A), Lamela, Eriksen (1G), Kane (1A), Soldado (1G, 1A).
2 Starts: None.
1 Start: Naughton, Dier, Stambouli (1G), Dembele, Paulinho.

Fixture Pile-Up #3

Thu 11 Dec – Besiktas 1-0 Tottenham (EL)
Sun 14 Dec – Swansea 1-2 Tottenham (PL)
Wed 17 Dec – Tottenham 4-0 Newcastle (CC)
Sat 20 Dec – Tottenham 2-1 Burnley (PL)

4 Starts: None.
3 Starts: Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Bentaleb (1G), Chadli (1G, 1A), Eriksen (1G, 4A), Kane (3G).
2 Starts: Lloris, Vorm, Chiriches, Rose, Davies (1A), Stambouli, Mason (1A), Townsend (1A), Lamela (1G), Soldado (1G).
1 Start: Kaboul, Dembele, Paulinho.

Conclusions

No one is safe from rotation during the double Gameweek. The only players to play all four matches in any of these examples are Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, and Ben Davies in Fixture Pile-Up #2 (when Danny Rose was out injured). This means the  line-ups against Fiorentina and Chelsea will be key. Anyone who starts both of these matches should not be seen as likely to start both double Gameweek fixtures, unless their name is Hugo Lloris or Jan Vertonghen, and even they are not total certainties.

Pochettino’s energetic pressing game takes it toll, particularly on attackers – I would not expect any of them to start all four matches, and as we saw with Eriksen against West Ham, the Argentine is not averse to resting a key man in the league. Of course, should Harry Kane or Christian Eriksen start on the bench against Swansea or QPR, you’d definitely expect them to make a sub appearance, but it’s worth being wary of.

I expect Rose and Davies to share game time – I would only pick up Rose if Davies plays against Fiorentina and even then it would be no surprise for them to get a game each in the double Gameweek. As for the other two defensive spots, I would expect Kyle Walker, Eric Dier and Federico Fazio all to play their part. If Dier starts at right-back against Fiorentina, with Walker on the bench, then Walker becomes an option, but I’m not sure Spurs’ defensive resolve warrants the risk of Dier or Fazio – Lloris/Vertonghen would be my picks for their relative security.

Their midfielders and attackers are, frankly, a minefield. Kane and Eriksen have the quality to make a telling contribution off the bench, but otherwise, I’m not anyone else is even worth a punt – rotation is so likely, that you can’t say it’s a true double Gameweek for any of Nacer Chadli, Andros Townsend, Moussa Dembele or Eric Lamela; there’s simply too high a chance that they’ll end up starting only one match.

43 Comments Post a Comment
  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great piece. Definitely bracing myself for rotation.

  2. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great post. I will probably do

    PVA -> Rose
    ADM -> Eriksen

  3. A.T
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great stuff Ludo.

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Thanks v good post.

    The impact of having too many dgw's who end up playing limited minutes can have a huge negative impact after the dgw.

    For that reason I will probably just go with kane and eriksen

  5. Jax
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    lloris/eriksen/kane will start both games.

    1. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Bluster. You don't know this.

      1. Jax
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        imo

  6. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Will probably punt on Eriksen but other than that it's just Kane who I already have and Austin for me.

  7. foley_fd
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good post, but two challenges to the conclusion:

    1. These fixture pile ups didn't involve a cup final and a knock out tie in the EL, and twice involved the lesser CC.

    2. Sunday showed that Spurs are not the same side without Eriksen. This potentially plays on the manager's mind when selecting his team.

    1. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This time around though, I think you could reasonably argue that the Premier League matches are 'lesser', and more likely to feature a rotated side. Eriksen plays if they're full strength, no question, but it would be very risky for Pochettino to go full strength in all four matches.

  8. Ruth_NZ
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Very good. I think squeezing value out of this DGW will be like trying to get blood out of a stone.

    Kane is a given but I probably won't captain him.

    Eriksen I will probably add but only because I like his fixtures for a while afterwards and will be happy to keep him for a while.

    Apart from that I'm not playing.

    It's 4 games in 9 days by the way.

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      So Austin for captain?

      1. Ruth_NZ
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Not for me. Aguero.

  9. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Good stuff. I just think Poch will not want the league results last time he rotated. The league cup will be a feather in his cap but he will favour players who got him there. Tiredness will be a factor for a team that expends so much energy through Poch's style.

    1. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      The last point is critical. 4 games in 9 days with a high pressing style. They will be tired and he'll not be able to avoid rotation. Even worse if Sunday goes to extra time.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I agree and having Erikssen playing 45min last week smells of things to come. All about how Spurs fair after the first half of all the games.

        1. Rhinos
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Totally agree. As if Pochettino didnt konw Erikssen first choice anyway, bench v hammers was purely a resting move and WILL happen again imo

  10. Return Of Chamakh
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Very interesting, good article! Think I'll be sticking with Kane and Eriksen for off-the-bench potential in case of rotation. Keep it safe and all that!

  11. viewoftheland
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Gonna go with Vert/Eriksen/Kane. I've had 4 red arrows in a row, so I'm hoping my planning to get it right for GW27/28 will arrest that.

  12. foley_fd
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Talk on Southampton forums of a 3-5-2, making Bertie very interesting.

    For me though, that would require going without Eriksen.

    1. viewoftheland
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      That is interesting. I'm planning on shipping Vert for him after GW28.

  13. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Thanks for research & article... But fir all 'serious' FPL players, this DGW will be down to who people will captain...

    It's actually a very boring DGW, if Chelsea had there's as well, would have been interesting, because it's Spurs & QPR, people will simply buy in (pending on which DGW players they own already) Lloris, Rose, Vert, Chadli. Eriksen, Kane, Austin...

    Me personally, I'm going Eriksen, Rose & possibly Austin...

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I just don't understand the Rose appeal. Lloris has nearly 100 pts and rose 2 thirds of that with rotation for sure some time. Lloris will play league games.

  14. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Debating either:

    Ozil and Puncheon to Eriksen and Phillips

    or

    Puncheon and Giroud to Eriksen and Austin.

    I think even with the tough games, Austin is a great shout for the double... but is it worth losing Giroud. That is the question.

  15. Rhinos
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great article Ludo it is actually tempting me to leave this double alone mmmmmm coud be worth the gamble. Eriksen so easy to get though dunno if its worth the risk

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Its not a risk but will be as captain.

      1. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        no i mean the risk of not having him

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Sorry mate. Misunderstood.If Erik plays only one game it won't be serious as everyone will have him. The raffle is the captain pick.

  16. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    which southampton defender

    A) toby a- value

    or

    B bertrand- talk of 352 could give berty more attacking returns, but a million more then toby.

    c) get them both

    thanks

  17. No Luck
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    It could be useful to focus just on the PL matches in those fixture pile-ups and see which players started all of them. I suspect quite a few.

    1. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      But in this case, the league is arguably not the priority.

    2. FPL P0ker PlAyer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed although the League Cup Final and Europa League knockout stages are different propositions than the earlier rounds and group stages.
      FWIW though, Eriksen certainly started all of the PL matches in the previous fixture pile-ups, as the West Ham game on Sunday was the first Prem game this season he didn't start.

  18. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Brilliant analysis for me it's:

    PVA > Rose if PVA dropped again this weekend (Vert is too expensive)
    Boyd > Eriksen or Phillips (QPR) (Phillips allows me to do Austin > Costa/Sturridge the week after)
    and Sturridge > Austin for a hit.

  19. Wiz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great article. Cheers Ludo

  20. Ziegler1988
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I would think Walker is pretty safe from rotation. Who else can play there? Dier and Chiriches are not natural RBs and Yedlin hasn't played a minute. He missed half the season through injury so he shouldn't be fatigued at this point.

      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Walker's a nice shout but rather expensive, price it what appeals about Rose.

      1. Ziegler1988
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        If I knew Rose would start both, I'd prefer him. He looks very dangerous in terms of shots. Bavies might play one of those matches though.

  21. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I would captain Kane vs QPR or Swansea anyway, so he's a shoe-in for my DGW captain. He won't miss both league matches, surely?

  22. GreenWindmill
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Nice work

  23. Beavis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great article Ludo, thanks.

  24. ronmadpirlo
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I expect a lot of rotation but the DGW + very strong fixtures make them a good option. I shall be tripling up on them

  25. ADucksBehind
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    To get a starting XI which of these moves would you make for free?

    A) Albrighton > 4.9m or less, thinking Ireland

    B) PVA to Monreal

    C) Terry > Koscielny

  26. Sharkytect
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Great article.

    The good news seems to be that we can wait until spurs have played BOTH the league cup final and the Euroa league tie before picking our players, so we can base it on who has been rested. poch will play full strength against chelsea, but may risk resting key players against fiorentina.