The Bogey team of Manchester City struck again when Tottenham Hotspur made eight victories in their last 15 meetings with the side of Pep Guardiola.
From injury updates to the firmness of Spurs, this is what we saw at Etihad.
Ait-Nouri injury not a real update
In a weekend of Big-Note Injures, the third most owned FPL defender, Rayan Ait-Nouri (£ 6.1 million), was another victim.
The former Wolves Wing-Back lasted only 23 minutes from Saturday’s defeat to track down and seemed to turn his ankle before he got off.
Pep Guardiola was not much help after full -time.
“I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet.” -Pep Guardiola on Rayan Ait-Nouri
Elsewhere on the fitness front, Rod (£ 6.4 million) and Phil Foot (£ 8.0 million) returned to the team. Both arrived as 75 minutes of replacements.
Manuel Akji (£ 5.5 million) and Ilkay Gundogan (£ 6.4 million) Missed this time but it was nothing in the injury. In a possible wallet of things coming, now that the city has a larger team, it was just their turn to stop.
“Last game, it was Rodri and Phil [Foden] out. I often said, with a deeper team, I have to rotate. Next time it might be another one. ” – Pep Guardiola
Haaland has its chances
Erling (£ 14.1 million) experienced an increase in the demand for game week 2, recruited by more than 500,000 FPL managers and rising prize.
He emptied, but he really shouldn’t have done it: he missed a babysitter of a header, saw Omar Marmoush (£ 8.4 million) change a great chance of its glorious Rayan Cherki (£ 6.5 million) that the French international would have left with a routine finish.
Haaland ended with a higher non-penalty expected target involvement (NPXGI) than so far any other attacker in game week 2:
City had other opportunities that in which Haaland was involved, with Marmoush by sending an early chance from a narrow corner wide. There were also a few close-run things from set theater pieces.
It was far from the free -flowing representation of last week, but at least one goal should have arrived.
In terms of Tijjani Reijnders (£ 5.6 million), we mentioned last weekend in the Scout Notes that “there will be times when Guardiola Reijnders uses otherwise” and “Pep Guardiola uses a” 10 “for him”. That was the case here, with Rayan Cherki (£ 6.5 million) brought in the side.
Reinders hardly set foot in the Spurs box, but as much as something tactical, his decision-making was a bit off; He had a bit of a stinker, the truth is told. However, it is perhaps to say that he and Haaland were the only midfielders/attackers to stay up and last 90 minutes.
Pep on Trafford v Ederson
James Trafford (£ 5.0 million) held his place between the sticks despite the return to fitness of Ederson (5.5 m).
After a solid show last weekend, Trafford made a terrible Rick for the second goal of Spurs on Saturday, with Joao Palhinha (£ 5.5 million) benefit.
Some argued that traffic could have received his march orders For that error, hastily hurrying to meet Mohammed Kudus (6.5m).
“He made a good first game, James, and I decided to continue. When I made decisions, normally in the first part of the season – not just for the ‘keeper, the’ keeper is of course a special position to have more consistency in the goal, but for all players – when you play one or two – when you play one or two – [games]Everyone thinks: “Ok, this is the starting line-up, these are the players who are going to play.” I have learned for many years, this number of games, everyone will play. It was just today that I decided that. ” – Pep Guardiola, when asked for his reason behind holding James Trafford in the goal, even though Ederson is fit
It was not only the keeper who deserved a bit. Playing a high line without Pacy defenders was doubtful. Will Pep learn his lesson for Gamweek 3 against another team that defends from the front, Brighton?
Frank about the importance of clean sheets
It was from a High-Line Piercing movement with which Spurs took the lead, with Richarlison (£ 6.6 million) intersection for Brennan Johnson (£ 7.0 million). After your 2-0 from Trafford’s Howler, you would have forgiven the LilyWhites because they leaned back.
Yet they came and they threatened to score their third as much as City was a lifeline.
There are comments from two years ago when a new manager came to Noord -London and breathed a new life in an old club. The honeymoon did not last at the time, except for a final Europa League romanticism.
But Thomas Frank is a little more measured than his predecessor and more tactical malleable. It does not mean that Spurs will be top-four contenders, but they should give more than one way of playing.
And in good news for those of us who have Spurs Defenders in FPL, Frank seems to be more concerned about clean sheets.
“Second half, I think we were very good. The big saying where we could think they would put pressure on us, I think we were very aggressive in high pressure. I thought we were very much in front, with the mentality to constantly go for the 3-0 goal.
“And then I have to say that the clean sheet makes me very happy. It is a big thing we have worked on, not on clean sheets, because that is easier said than done, but on the defensive side of the game, high pressure, middle block, low block, defend the box, mentality, blocking shots, everything.
“Because if you get clean sheets, you are closer to winning a game. Last year we had six clean sheets, so yes, that’s very big for me.” – Thomas Frank
“Defensive side of the game, be brave in phase one and two and set pieces.” – Thomas Frank about his three most important principles in Gameweek 2
Threat to the return
Frank emphasizes the importance of defending and set pieces? That is music in the ears of Pedro Porro (£ 5.5 million) owners.
Twice has set up Porro Richarlison for good opportunities, once from open play and once from a dead-ball situation. The Spanish full-back was also on direct free kicks, and saw his efforts hit the wall before he continued the sequel on just wide.
Elsewhere for defense, Guglielmo Vicar (£ 5.0 million) Emulated its game week 1 performance with a second consecutive nine-point distance.
Above: Vicario is on top of the ranking of the goalkeeper after two game week
Cristian Romero (£ 5.0 million) was now the only one shown in the Bank Defcon points.
Richarlison in Solanka
Richarlison had a number of decent opportunities, but at least he has brought an assist and is now sitting together of the FPL Forwards table.
It was again a strong line-leading performance of the Brazilian, who looks to keep Dominic Solanke (£ 7.4 million) from the side for a third week in a row.
Rotation could be used when the Champions League of course starts after Gameweek 4.
“Again, I think Richie performed well today. Tophulp, presence above, work ethics. Everything was very, very, very good about it.
“We need two good strikers, we are going to play a lot of games. And of course Richie starts now, so he just has to keep his shirt.” – Thomas Frank on Richarlison
In the meantime, Johnson scored two goals in so many game week – and only two shots in the 2025/26 box.
Boven: Johnson v Kudus in the first two game week – goal scorer versus assister?
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