Scout Notes

Why Pukki and Norwich blanked for first time this season at West Ham

West Ham 2-0 Norwich

Goals: Sébastien Haller (£7.5m), Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.9m)

Assists: Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m)

Bonus Points: Masuaku x3, Issa Diop x2 (£4.5m), Haller, Lukasz Fabianski x1 (£5.0m)

Norwich and their popular attacking players were restricted by an injury to centre-back Christoph Zimmermann (£4.5m) in their defeat to West Ham on Saturday.

The Canaries offered plenty going forward in the first half an hour of their trip to the London Stadium in Gameweek 4 but weren’t the same after losing Zimmermann.

It will be a big shame for those invested in the Norwich offensive assets as this game was a big opportunity to capitalise on West Ham’s poor defence, but they weren’t really given the chance in the end.

Todd Cantwell (£4.8m) went incredibly close to scoring in back-to-back games in the first half when he headed over the bar from close range after a Max Aarons (£4.5m) cross.

That was Norwich’s best chance of the game but they failed to create much after Zimmermann’s departure. Norwich are a team whose success in the Championship, and in their early Premier League outings, is based around passing the ball out from the back, so it is not surprising that problems in defence can, indirectly affect their forward play.

Pukki and his Norwich team struggled to cope with the loss of Zimmermann on Saturday

Zimmermann was making his first top-flight appearance after sustaining a pre-season injury but was forced off in the 36th minute following a bad challenge from Sébastien Haller (£7.5m). Norwich manager Daniel Farke was not happy about that.

“Now I am not sitting here demanding red cards but one thing is for sure, there was a tackle against my centre back and the ball was three yards away. There was no red card, no yellow card, not even a free-kick. The outcome is my centre back is injured in this scene. Then two minutes later we were not able to substitute him. They counter, my centre back is not able to sprint back and he is one yard too late to block the cross and the player who made the tackle when the ball was three yards away rewards himself. It changes the whole game.” – Daniel Farke

“My player is on the way to the hospital, their player is on the shoulder of his team-mates. I already had two centre backs injured before the game, so I have to bring a holding midfielder into this position and he adapted well. When my leader, my captain has to go out it influences the game.” – Daniel Farke

Not only was it jarring for Norwich to have to make a defensive change so soon in the match, but it meant they had to draw on very thin resources for a replacement.

The Canaries have been incredibly unfortunate in the centre-back department since their promotion, struggling almost exclusively in this area when it comes to injuries so far.

With centre-backs Grant Hanley (£4.0m) and Timm Klose (£4.5m) missing the trip to north London, it was left to Ibrahim Amadou (£4.5m) to fill in for Zimmermann, having only made his Norwich debut in the EFL Cup last week against Crawley Town.

Amadou’s inexperience showed after that, especially considering that he is a defensive midfielder by trade, and that left Norwich too exposed to achieve much in the second half.

Farke was not happy with refereeing decisions in Norwich’s defeat to West Ham

This may be of some concern for owners of Norwich assets ahead of the Gameweek 5 visit of Manchester City to Carrow Road.

Their defence has been incredibly leaky this season, but injuries to several centre-backs have not helped matters, so it seems likely, at the very least, that Manchester City attackers could have a field day next time out.

Furthermore, having to start with Amadou alongside Ben Godfrey (£4.5m) could be less than ideal for Cantwell or indeed Teemu Pukki (£7.0m) in terms of attacking potential too.

It is worth pointing out that there is every chance that any one of Zimmermann, Hanley or Klose could recover in time for Gameweek 5 so Fantasy managers will have to keep an eye on their fitness during the international break, as well as Farke’s next press conference.

Haller scored his third West Ham goal against Norwich on Saturday

Meanwhile, owners of West Ham assets should feel very positive moving forward as they completely dominated proceedings in the second-half.

They could have arguably won by a greater margin were it not for the efforts of Tim Krul (£4.5m) who made five saves against the Hammers.

“Maybe the margin could have been bigger but they have a goalkeeper that saved four or five clear chances. But for me it was a very consistent and solid performance, playing against a team like Norwich that is an attacking team with very creative players who score lots of goals.” – Manuel Pellegrini

The focal point of West Ham’s attacking play was Haller who followed up on his promise to score the opening goal of the game, converting a cross from Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m).

Aside from that he also linked up play well with his team-mates, made good runs into space and pressed from the front, even if slightly aggressive in the tackle according to Farke.

Haller has certainly made a positive start to his West Ham career and with appealing fixtures on the horizon, there will be plenty of Fantasy in him too.

In fact, the former Eintracht Frankfurt man is only the fourth West Ham player to score as many as three goals in their first three Premier League appearances.

“I’m a striker and it’s really important to get confidence and score goals. The Premier League is not easy, it is quite tough and intense. I try and adapt and do everything to get good information. It is really good for our confidence going into the international break with a win.” – Sébastien Haller

“I think that Sebastien is not just a striker, you saw his performance today. He is always working, supports the ball, made combinations with the midfield players so he is not just in the box. But a striker always needs to score goals and for him to score one goal today it was good for him and important, he is just starting in a new league but every game he will keep improving.” – Manuel Pellegrini

Yarmolenko scored his first West Ham goal of the season

Making just his second start of the campaign, Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.9m) also impressed for West Ham. For the last two games, he has been deployed on the right flank of attacking midfield, with Manuel Lanzini (£6.5m) in the middle and Felipe Anderson (£6.9m) on the right.

This could be the presiding trio in support of Haller moving forward, potentially complicating how to cover West Ham in midfield.

“For Andriy, he is a player who has scored a lot of goals in his career. I am happy for him because he deserves this happiness after such a long injury. He never complained, he worked hard and he recovered and now he has these minutes because he is a very important player for us.” – Manuel Pellegrini

Anderson had another impressive performance as far as the eye test goes, and was unfortunate not to get any attacking returns.

His first-half effort was blocked by Zimmermann, a chance that he should have done better with. The Brazilian also provided plenty of threat in wide areas, giving Aarons an afternoon to forget. Meanwhile, Lanzini was better in the first half before having a quieter second period.

Finally, there was a much-needed clean sheet for West Ham’s defence, although as we’ve already mentioned they can probably consider themselves a little fortunate to keep it.

Had Cantwell done better with his first-half chance then the Hammers may have conceded yet again. Furthermore, Norwich were also unlikely to trouble them with their problems in the second half.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that Manuel Pellegrini’s men will keep Aston Villa out in Gameweek 5, as the newly-promoted side have proved quite threatening this season.

“I said before the season in pre-season we need to improve defending. We conceded too many goals last season, I don’t remember how many maybe 56 or 57, the other season was 69, so you cannot just score two or three goals a game to win. You can be a solid team in defending and an attacking team also, be concentrated on two or three balls.” – Manuel Pellegrini

Members Analysis

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West Ham United XI (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Masuaku, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Rice; Anderson (Fornals 88′), Lanzini, Noble (C Sánchez 85′), Yarmolenko (Snodgrass 71′); Haller.

Norwich City XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Lewis, Godfrey, Zimmermann (Amadou 36′), Aarons; Leitner, Trybull; Cantwell (McLean 78′), Stiepermann (Drmic 77′), Buendía; Pukki.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 4

1,080 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Value wise Pukki remains number 1. City the most difficult fixture. He will have UTD defence for lunch.

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Fail, replied to post which was bottomed.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Replied to post from Cubillas

        I just triggered my WC button and need some advise. Please choose in order, 1 being the highest points and 3 being the lowest, how you feel these 3 forwards will score over the next 6 GW's -

        1.) Pukki 7.0
        2.) Abraham 7.2
        3.) Haller 7.5

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Even money all 3. Tammy less likely

    2. Don Rogers FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      321

  2. james 101
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Bench 1:

    A. Matip
    B. Lunds
    C. Mings
    D. Dunk
    E. Cantwell

    1. Beautiful Game
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Cantwell for me

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        That’s my current plan

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You could get 4 cleanies with all 4 defenders playing at home.

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yes. It just feels wrong having cantwell on the bench

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          He is an enabler at 4.7 and playing Citeh

  3. FatallyFlawless
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Current WC - Thoughts?

    Pope / Button
    TAA / Ota / Digne / Mings / Lunds
    Salah / Sterling / KDB / Mount / Cantwell
    Haller / Pukki / Ayew 0.0 ITB

    1. sandman58
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Need Aguero or Kane in there because if they dry up its easy to replace.. but if they are firing you will find it hard to bring in

      1. onceuponatyne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I don't think you need either, I'd sooner have Sterling and Salah. Yes, last week wasn't good but it's not going to be the norm. Kane is going to have some monster weeks, but a lot of dross too. Aguero will find himself managed with Europe and Jesus coming back.

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      will you rotate ayew and cantwell ?

      1. FatallyFlawless
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yes - dont like many of Ayews fixtures though...

    3. Schürrle you cant be s…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Great WC. Doesn't need changing

    4. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      rather have digne or vvd than mount ultimately

      wouldnt bother with ayew, waste of money

  4. Beautiful Game
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What to do with this lot?

    Pope | Adrian
    VVD | Zinchenko | Soyuncu | Lundstrum | Kelly
    Sterling | Mane | KDB | Martial | Mount
    Rashford | Pukki | Non Playing Fodder

    1FT 0.4 ITB

  5. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    any wc out there managed to fit auba ?

    1. IWR
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He looks a great diff. Wish Pepe was viable, just soooo much cheaper.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        He is viable. I've seen enough in the last two games to convince me that he's worth the punt.

        https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/02/nicolas-pepe-impressed-jose-mourinho-visits-lille-following-manchester-united-exit-10670403/

        If he's good enough for Mourinho, he's good enough for me.

        1. FatallyFlawless
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Maybe - but Firmino is the same price (~0.1) as Pepe in a better team

        2. EMBOLOFAN
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          he played out wide in the last 2 games no? i started the season with him but not really interested now

    2. FatallyFlawless
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Depending on where you are with price rises, you can do:

      Pope / Button
      TAA / VVD / Otamendi / Lunds / Mings
      Salah / Sterling / Dilva / Cantwell / Guendouzi
      Auba / Pukki / Ayew

      Arsenal's fixtures are very good tbf.

  6. IWR
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Worth wildcarding from this team below to try and get KDB in? Would take a whole bunch of smaller downgrades.

    From this with 1FT and 0.4:

    Pope (McGovern)
    Trent Robbo Digne Zinc (Rico)
    Mo Raz Martial Mount (Donk)
    Haller Pukki (Greenwood)

    To this:

    Pope (McGovern)
    Trent Robbo Digne Zinc (Lund)
    Mane Raz KDB Cantwell (Donk)
    Haller Tammy (Greenwood)

    How badly do I need KDB?

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Almost identical so I wouldn't. But your team

        1. IWR
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah the changes aren't major. Just weighing up how long I can go without KDB?

          1. MTPockets
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Can't you just do Martial/Mount to KDB Cantwell?

              1. IWR
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Nope I'm still 0.4 off.

                I could do Robbo to Soy + Martial to KDB but Robbo and Martial feels just as good as the cheap def and KDB I feel...

                No KDB is madness though right?

                1. MTPockets
                    4 years, 6 months ago

                    I'd do something like that (less in defence). But whether it's worth a hit right now to lose Robertson/Martial is a personal decision

          2. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Not worth it if you want to change so little. Personally, I don't like the structure. Too much in defense, not enough up front and weak flexibility.

            Worth WC'ing if you're changing your structure up.

          3. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            you can live without kdb for one week. assuming martial is fit, use FTs and take a -4 to get him next week if need be, using 3 transfers.

            your team is similar to mine and im happy with it

          4. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            funny people are saying you're spending too much at the back, dont see it myself

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Nor do I.
              At season end pts per mil will be defenders.

        2. JBG
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          What do you guys think?

          Should I keep this team:

          Ryan-Button
          Robbo-Zinch-Digne-Lowton-Lund
          Sterling-Salah-Martial-Mount-Hughes
          Rashford-Haller-Greenwood

          or WC to this:

          Pope-Button
          TAA-Otamendi-Digne-Kelly-Lund
          Sterling-Salah-KDB-Mount-Cantwell
          Barnes/Pukki-Haller-Greenwood

          Any feedback is appreciated.

          1. FatallyFlawless
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Fairly similar. KDB is better than Martial, but also has rotation risk in the future, Martial - not so much.

            I'd go Pukki over Barnes if you are doing it I think, (ignoring City fixture). Everything goes through Pukki, unlike Barnes.

        3. james 101
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Any other opinions?

          Bench 1:

          A. Matip
          B. Lunds
          C. Mings
          D. Dunk
          E. Cantwell

          E. is winning so far!

          1. the dom 1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I’ve done E myself.

        4. Lestat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Wildcard team..

          A)
          Pope – Button
          Digne – Zinchenko – Trent – Dunk – Lundstrum
          Salah – DeBruyne – Sterling – Mount – Cantwell
          Pukki – Haller – Greenwood

          OR

          B)
          Pope – Button
          SOYUNCU – Zinchenko – Trent – Dunk – Lundstrum
          Salah – DeBruyne – Sterling – MCGINN – Cantwell
          Pukki – Haller – BARNES

          0.4M In the bank

          I am currently on A but B is tempting to have Barnes ahead of Greenwood.

          Which team is better?

          1. FatallyFlawless
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            So, McGinn/Barnes or Mount/Greenwood.

            I'd say the 1st one - as both will play.

        5. ADucksBehind
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Hows this for a WC team?

          Pope

          Matip Digne Lowton

          Sterling KDB Mane Cantwell

          Aguero Pukki Barnes

          Bench: Lundstram, Kelly, Guendouzi

          1. the dom 1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Like it

        6. Cubillas
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I've just triggered my WC and would appreciate any constructive comments on how to improve my first WC team attempt:

          Ryan (Button)
          Digne, Robbo, Otamendi, Lundstram (Ward))
          Salah, Sterling, Mount, Dedendocker (Cantwell)
          Kun, Abraham (Ayew)

          Thanks!

          1. Je suis le chat
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Needs TAA and Kdb.

          2. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            pick 2 premiums

        7. Z3US
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          On WC.. which is the better team?

          A))

          Pope - Button
          Otamendi - TAA - Digne - Lund - Soy
          Mount - Salah - Sterling - KDB - Guendozi
          Haller - Pukki - Ayew

          B))

          Pope - Button
          Matip- Soy - TAA - Lund - Rico
          Guendozi - Mane - Sterling - KDB - Cantwell
          Pukki - Ayew - Aguero

          Thanks!

        8. mccormibar
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          What week going forward do people think the optimum week to wildcard is?

        9. Kay317
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Currently have walker. Should I switch for otamendi/stones/zinchenko to avoid the risk of having a 6mil Def sitting on my bench next game week after pep roulette strikes? Advice would be appreciated.