Really, though, if you weren\u2019t to know the transfer fees or reputations of Spurs\u2019 front four on Saturday, you wouldn\u2019t say that Xavi was head and shoulders above the others. Mathys Tel (\u00a36.3m) and Wilson Odobert (\u00a35.3m) were as good, maybe better, while Mohammed Kudus (\u00a36.7m) was the stand-out.<\/p>\n
Going inside and outside of Gabriel Gudmundsson (\u00a34.0m), Kudus was electric down the right. We know about the assist potential: he delivered his fifth of 2025\/26 on Saturday, setting Tel away for a deflected opener.<\/p>\n
But we\u2019ve seen more goal threat in the last two Gameweeks, too, with big chances missed against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United before he struck a winner, again deflected, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-90.png\")
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Above: Only two players have registered more attacking returns (ARtn) than Mohammed Kudus this season<\/p>\n
Frank called him, and few would argue, Spurs\u2019 \u201cbest offensive player\u201d of the season so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo happy for Mo, he needed that goal. He\u2019s been good for us, I would say our best offensive player so far, but to get the winner and a goal \u2013 very good. And Xavi Simons again, I think that was his best game. Still more to come but I think he really found some good pockets and then had some very good offensive actions.\u201d \u2013 Thomas Frank<\/p>\n
TIME TO SELL RICHARLISON?<\/p>\n
Tel\u2019s all-round decent performance, from the off-the-ball harrying to the on-the-ball threat (he hit the bar as well as scored), doesn\u2019t spell good news for Richarlison (\u00a36.8m).<\/p>\n
The Brazilian was a substitute on Saturday, just as he had been after the September international break. So, despite the absences of Dominic Solanke (\u00a37.2m) and Randal Kolo Muani (\u00a36.9m), probably initially seen as his two biggest game-time threats, he still isn\u2019t secure for minutes. With Kolo Muani likely back immediately after the October break, and Solanke maybe not far behind him, Richarlison\u2019s game-time looks even more questionable.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s in the Brazil camp for the forthcoming internationals, too, while there\u2019s a Champions League tie to come after Gameweek 8 \u2013 and remember, Tel isn\u2019t in the Lilywhites\u2019 European squad, so his only minutes are going to come domestically.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0think the biggest praise goes to Mathys\u2019 mentality and character. I\u2019m repeating myself a little bit with those two words because to not be as an established player, coming in, trying to get into the team, getting a major setback by not being selected for the Champions League squad, which was a massive blow, of course\u2026 the way he handled that, it\u2019s been super impressive. How he just trained well, the way he carries himself every day and I\u2019m glad, you know. He\u2019s a very good example of a player that is developing.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I said it from the beginning, I think he can play striker. I think against West Ham, for example, he played quite well, things to improve. Doncaster, even better, arriving in the good situations and now, I think, he took the next step, arriving in good situations and got a goal. I\u2019m so pleased on his behalf.\u201d \u2013 Thomas Frank on Mathys Tel<\/p>\n
PORRO ASSIST + DEFCON<\/p>\n
Out of almost nowhere, Pedro Porro delivered an assist and defensive contribution (DefCon) points on Saturday.<\/p>\n
His assist was jammy \u2013 an overhit pass that still found its way to Kudus after hitting Gudmundsson \u2013 and he only just scraped the DefCon.<\/p>\n
![\"Longstaff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-91-1024x290.png\")
<\/p>\n
Above: The four players to bag DefCon point at Elland Road<\/p>\n
He\u2019d actually had a bit of a poor game both on and off the ball, not that his FPL owners will care all that much.<\/p>\n
It should be said that he\u2019s not had a shot in four Gameweeks. And, since Simons has joined, he\u2019s not taken nearly as many corners \u2013 the six he delivered in Gameweek 5 came in a game in which the Dutchman had been benched.<\/p>\n
With the DefCon potential not great (he\u2019s only averaging 7.3 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBIT) per start), there still has to be some questions about his value despite Saturday\u2019s seven-point return.<\/p>\n
POSITIVES FOR LEEDS + LONGSTAFF>STACH?<\/p>\n
\u201cJust compliments to the way we have played today [against] a side who has just played on Champions League level. They are in the same Champions League positions at the moment. One of the top sides and we\u2019re the better side today in all aspects. We dominated possession, had more shots, more shots on target, more chances, more expected goals, more corners. In all aspects, we have dominated this game and should have [won]. Even with the draw, we would have been disappointed after such a performance and so many chances\u201d. \u2013 Daniel Farke<\/p>\n
While Daniel Farke had a partisan view on the game, you couldn\u2019t really argue that Leeds didn\u2019t deserve something.<\/p>\n
Both of Spurs\u2019 strikes were deflected, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin (\u00a35.5m) wasted a couple of good chances, Joe Rodon (\u00a34.0m) hit the woodwork from a free-kick and Joel Piroe (\u00a35.2m) forced an excellent save late on. Parity was briefly restored by Noah Okafor (\u00a35.5m), who poked in a rebound, but even discounting that high-xG tap-in, Leeds still had the edge on expected goals.<\/p>\n
![\"Longstaff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Leeds-United-Tottenham-Hotspur-2025-10-04.png\")
<\/p>\n
One question is going to keep repeating itself all season: do Leeds have the firepower up top to turn competitive performances into results?<\/p>\n
Further back, in midfield, it\u2019s worth pointing out a bit of a changing of the guard in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
Anton Stach (\u00a35.0m) looked like being a great budget all-rounder in the opening month but he\u2019s since lost set-piece duties to Sean Longstaff (\u00a34.9m), who also happens to be outperforming him on the DefCon\/DC and shooting front.<\/p>\n
Here are their stats over the last two Gameweeks (small sample alert):<\/p>\n
![\"Longstaff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-74-1024x126.png\")
<\/p>\n
Is Longstaff a potential FPL bargain, then? There\u2019ll always be the worry that Ao Tanaka (\u00a34.9m) works his way back into Farke\u2019s plans at some point, but you\u2019d have to say the Japanese international is a bit lightweight and maybe better served coming off the bench at present.<\/p>\n
Either way, Stach\u2019s appeal definitely has taken a dent.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-255-1024x466.png\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image-254.png\")
<\/p>\n