Saturday’s final two Premier League matches get the Scout Notes treatment: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Brentford And Newcastle United 2-1 Burnley.
XAVI’S GROUNDBREAKING PERFORMANCE?
Bad home record and bad away record on Saturday. Tottenham Hotspur won and surprisingly comfortably too.
Finally there was an offensive return Xavi Simons (£6.5 million). It was from his center that Richarlison (£6.4m) put Spurs ahead, with the Dutchman then scoring a solo goal – albeit with little challenge from a Brentford defender – to double the Lilywhites’ lead.
“Yes, for sure. I think any player who needs that extra good performance, so happy for him. He’s worked very hard. He’s a top professional, he’s so determined, he wants it so much in every aspect of his game and it’s just a little bit of adjustment, also that the team is a little bit out of sync. Now, for example, it was more of a kudos after a great start, a little dip because of the little injury, and a lot better today. Because Xavi is in a good place, Kolo is in a better place spot, Richy So everything is coming together more and more, so now we have to build on it – Thomas Frank on whether this could be Xavi Simons’ breakthrough performance
Forgive the distrust, but as good as this was, we’ve become accustomed to inconsistent displays from not just Xavi, but the entire Spurs team. This was their first league win in six Gameweeks, while Thomas Frank’s side have not achieved consecutive victories since August. From the 3-0 win over Everton to the thrashing of Copenhagen in the Champions League, there have been more false dawns than a Lucy Davis tribute act convention.
Before Saturday, Xavi had already played ten games without an attacking return.
Much more evidence is needed before we are convinced that Spurs are on the right track.
UDOGIE INJURY – GOOD NEWS FOR SPENCE
What caught the eye on Saturday was excellent DJ Spence (£4.4 million). With the news that Lot Udogie (£4.4m) is out until January, Spence has a clearer run at left-back.
He was standing remarkably high in the field, saw his own one-on-one opportunity saved and set up another Pape Matar Sarr (£4.7m). It was rejected again. Spence had also slipped Wilson Odobert (£5.3 million) for a Spurs goal that was subsequently disallowed for offside.
“We worked very hard on the structure, how we want the structure to be, with what position we wanted for, let’s say, Xavi and Mo and Richy and Kolo and also the two sitters and how we pushed Djed a little bit higher.” –Thomas Frank
Defensive contributions (DefCon) have all but killed the budget fullback in terms of FPL appeal, so there will undoubtedly still be few takers. If this were any other season, it could be a completely different matter.
DAMAGE BAN + BRENTFORD’S ROAD DAY BATTLE
A very subdued performance from Brentford saw them register just two shots in the opening 87 minutes. In total they finished with a paltry four attempts.
“The performance levels have actually been quite consistent, even if the results have dropped in some way. Today we have to recognize that we did not play particularly well in the first half, that we did not reach the level that we reached.” –Keith Andrews
However, poor away results are nothing new for the Bees. The only goal difference is that they remain out of the bottom three this season due to form on the road (below image of Football statistics):
Fortunately, the Bees will be on home soil in four of the next six Game Weeks. They have only lost once on home turf. Moreover, one of only two away games is at a desperately poor Wolverhampton Wanderers team. Rob Edwards’ beleaguered side could potentially give the Brentford striker a shot in the arm.
Despite Brentford not attending the races, Igor Thiago (£6.9m) still had encouraging chances on what was a quiet day for him. An early shot was cleverly saved by Willem Vicariswhile the Brazilian shot late into the side netting from a decent position. In between, Christian Romero denied Thiago what looked like a certain goal with a well-timed tackle.
So from his perspective there is nothing to worry about.
Brentford will be without Kevin Damage (£7.0m) in Gameweek 16. He received his fifth booking of the season on Saturday and is therefore serving a one-match ban. An ‘out of position’ Keane Lewis Potter (£4.8m) on a free goal against Leeds United, anyone?
ANOTHER GORDON PEN + FLEMING ON SPOT-KICK WORK
As if there was any doubt about that Anthony Gordon (£7.2m) remained first choice on penalties at Newcastle, the last two Gameweeks have confirmed he is ahead Nick Woltemade (£7.5m) down the pecking order.
With a penalty in last Tuesday’s draw against Tottenham Hotspur, with Woltemade on the field, Gordon did exactly the same against Burnley.
The Clarets, meanwhile, were awarded their second penalty of 2025/26.
And again, for the second time, a step higher Zian Fleming (£5.3m) to score. That is now a remarkable five goals in seven Gameweeks for the budget ahead.
Flemming didn’t even start this, with Armando Broja (£5.2m) led the charge instead. That may have had more to do with the minutes accrued in the busy week before the trip to Tyneside, but nevertheless Broja offered more all-round play that Flemming doesn’t – so despite the form, it’s not a given who will start in Gameweek 16.
MORE BRUNO XG BUSTING
Gordon also rattled twice against the Clarets and was probably the favorite of Newcastle’s attackers, but overall this was a disappointing display against 10-man Burnley, a team with the worst defensive record in away games.
Indeed, the Clarets were not far behind their hosts for shots in the box (6-5) and xG (1.56-1.48, Statsbomb).
Howe (understandably) opted to rotate this game – he had three, possibly four second-string players in his front six, while on a slightly sick rest. Lewis Hall (£5.2m) – but it almost backfired. The Clarets, a man who has been disadvantaged from the start Lucas Pires‘ (£3.8m) Red card in the 43rd minute, should have equalized with the last kick (or header) of the match, only for Flemming to clear the ball Jos Laurent (£4.8 million).
Poor team performance or otherwise, Bruno Guimaraes‘ (£6.9m) good form continued. So did his xG busting, and this one took the cake: a goal straight from a corner, with an xG of less than 0.01! None of his other four shots came from inside the area either (see below):
He is the most outstanding midfielder in 2025/26: five goals from an xG of 2.20.
WARN RETURNS
A bright spot for Newcastle was the first performance of the season Yoane warned (£7.3 million). Don’t expect a Wissa start anytime soon, Woltemade owners, but he will at least provide second-half relief for the big German, just like he did against Burnley.
“We’ll have to build him up. He’s far from his best physical level. There’s nothing against him, it’s just to do with the injury he’s had and the time he’s had. We’ll have to build him up slowly but surely and try to get him back to his best.” – Eddie Howe on Yoane Wissa
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