Scout Notes

Another blank for Pukki as Villa expose Norwich’s leaky defence

Norwich City 1-5 Aston Villa

Goals: Josip Drmic (£5.4m) | Wesley (£6.0m) x2, Jack Grealish (£5.9m), Conor Hourihane (£5.7m), Douglas Luiz (£4.5m)
Assists: None | Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m) x2, Hourihane, Matt Targett (£4.4m) Wesley
Bonus Points: Wesley x3, Michael McGovern (£4.0m) x2, Hourihane x1

Norwich City’s thrill-a-minute return to the Premier League continued on Saturday with a 5-1 battering at home by fellow promoted side Aston Villa.

The commitment of Daniel Farke’s team to attacking football is refreshing, exhilarating and, increasingly, self-defeating. Since Gameweek 5’s famous 3-2 win over Manchester City, the Canaries have lost three straight games by an aggregate score of 1-9.

Their well-documented injury woes – just the nine regulars unavailable against Villa – goes some way to explaining all of that, but an inability to defend on even the most basic level is starting to look like a terminal issue.

It was certainly exploited by the visitors, with striker Wesley (£6.0m) enjoying by far his best display since his summer move to the Midlands. He opened the scoring when he controlled Anwar El Ghazi‘s (£5.5m) cross and turned and fired past Norwich keeper Michael McGovern (£4.0m), before he doubled the lead with a tap-in from Conor Hourihane‘s (£5.7m) low ball from the left.

That made it four goals in eight starts for the Brazilian – not exactly a bad return for a forward who some Villa fans were criticising after last week’s 2-2 draw with Burnley.

He added an assist for the fifth goal when Douglas Luiz (£4.5m) curled home from distance to bring in 14 points, including maximum bonus, for his 2.0% Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ownership.

The only downer on his day came when he had a first-half penalty, and the rebound, saved by McGovern – a blip which cost that ownership a further six points.

Despite all that, there is no indication of an FPL rush to bring in Wesley just yet, probably because a) it was only Norwich, b) the international break is upon us and c) Villa’s upcoming schedule is far from appealing.

Dean Smith’s side host Brighton in Gameweek 9 before embarking on a punishing six-match run involving two trips to Manchester, one to Chelsea and a home fixture against Liverpool.

However uninspired Manchester United, or generous at the back Chelsea, might be, no side will be anywhere near as accommodating as Norwich at present.

The Canaries allowed their visitors 22 shots, of which 12 were on target; Villa’s midfield ran riot as a result.

Jack Grealish (£5.9m) made it 3-0 when he combined sweetly with El Ghazi, and the tireless Hourihane then capped a fine individual performance with his first goal of the season, set up by the equally industrious Matt Targett (£4.4m).

But while Wesley stole all the headlines, it was El Ghazi who was arguably the star of the show.

The Holland international now has two goals and three assists from his last five games and he was joint-top for chances created at Carrow Road. With just 0.8% ownership, he could be a major differential, particularly when Villa’s schedule eases dramatically from Gameweek 17 onwards.

One player proving way more popular than El Ghazi is the 11.7%-owned John McGinn (£5.8m), who came into the match with back-to-back goals and 214,000+ new owners to his name.

His blank was a bitter blow, as was the late consolation goal handed to Norwich when Tyrone Mings‘ (£4.6m) ill-judged back pass to Tom Heaton (£4.5m) allowed substitute Josip Drmic (£5.4m) to charge down the keeper’s attempted clearance and roll the ball into the empty net. That denied Villa a third clean sheet of the season – and a first away from home – but manager Smith was happy to dwell on events further up the pitch:

They were really good goals, our tactical discipline was really good today. Our performances have been there. That result today is probably what we’ve deserved in the last few weeks. – Dean Smith

And he was keen to praise Wesley:

He’s a young player, he’s only 22, he’s been in Belgium for a year or two and then Slovakia before that. So it’s a new culture, a new team a new group of players, and a big price tag. But he handles it well and I saw a big response from him this week. – Dean Smith.

Wesley’s Norwich counterpart, the 43.5%-owned Teemu Pukki (£7.2m), could only dream of receiving such praise.

After three double-digit returns from his first five matches, the Finn has now blanked for three straight Gameweeks.

Norwich attacked throughout on Saturday – the top four players for penalty area touches all came from the home side, with Pukki among them.

But the Finland international managed just two shots, neither of which were on target, and has had just seven attempts across his current barren spell.

It is no surprise, therefore, that he is currently Gameweek 9’s most-sold player, even with a trip to a Bournemouth side without a clean sheet to come next.

The Canaries’ other popular asset, the 25.7%-owned Todd Cantwell (£4.9m), survived an injury scare to start against Villa, but he also blanked for a third Gameweek running.

He did at least out-shoot Pukki and he was also joint-top with Emiliano Buendia (£6.0m) for chances created among the home players. And the third-most-owned Norwich player in FPL? That would be goalkeeper McGovern (5.6%).

The 380,000+ Fantasy geniuses who have the Canaries’ third-choice stopper in their squads would have walked away with nine points yesterday courtesy of his penalty heroics, six other saves and two bonus points.

But that was if – and it’s a big if – he wasn’t languishing on their benches in all his £4.0m glory.

Glory was certainly far from Farke’s mind post-match:

We have to accept this loss. We made too many mistakes. We created maybe more than they did in the first half, but the mistakes and the goals we were conceded were not good enough. We had so many on the pitch playing with pain killers and they have not been able to train properly this week. So really we are not prepared as we need to be. Then in addition, one or two crucial players do not have their best day. – Daniel Farke

In truth, only McGovern had his best day against Villa, and even he looked nervy before his spot-kick save.

As for the rest of the players, the international break looks to have come at just the right time, allowing them to escape overseas, take a break or recover from injury – whatever is needed to reverse a slide that is looking unstoppable at the moment.

How many Fantasy managers keep faith in the likes of Pukki and Cantwell before November’s final break of the year is unclear. Their fixtures are okay – Bournemouth and Brighton away, Man United and Watford at Carrow Road – but their form is anything but.

Members Analysis

Norwich (4-2-3-1): McGovern; Aarons, Amadou, Godfrey, Lewis; Leitner, McLean; Buendia, Stiepermann (Roberts 76′), Cantwell (Srbeny 80′); Pukki (Drmic 84′).

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Heaton; Guilbert, Engels (Konsa 75′), Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Hourihane (Douglas Luiz 78′); El Ghazi (Trezeguet 64′), Wesley, Grealish.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 8

3,153 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Party over.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Labour voter?

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        * Tory 😉

  2. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Score check. 42 here.

    1. GE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      35

    2. mookie
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      40

    3. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      41 before Tammy’s BAPS

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

      41

    5. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      55

    6. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      57

    7. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      55, captain Sterling

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        51

  3. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    11 pts from 5 players today including (C) What an utterly miserable day.

  4. GE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah and Pukki -> Mount and Auba (-4) here or just WIldcard? 🙂

    (1FT, 0.0 itb)

    Pope
    TAA/VVD/Digne/Ota
    Salah/Sterling/KDB*/Cantwell
    Tammy/Pukki

    Bench: Button, Lundstram, Dendoncker, Wickham

    1. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      wc

  5. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bookies now have Liverpool as slight favourites.

    Their luck has to run out soon but the opposition are certainly doing their best to hand them the title.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Otamendi at the forefront of that.

      Liverpool’s player of the year so far!

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Pure comical value

    2. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm surprised they are only slight favourites. 8pts is a big lead even at this stage of the season. More importantly, City have major issues defensively with Laporte and Stones out long term. No Kompany there now, Otemendi is terrible. De Bruyne always injured. Liverpool will win the league at a canter providing their big players can stay fit.

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        What are the actual odds?. Norwich and Wolves are shocking defeats for city.

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Liverpool 4/6
          Man City 13/10

        2. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          The exchange odds are a more accurate reflection of the true odds. Betfair exchange currently have Liverpool at 1.74 and City at 2.52. So Liverpool are odds on favourites.

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Stknes is no solution at the back. A good ball player, defensively suspect for me.

        1. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          No he's not great either but he's not as bad as Otemendi. That pathetic attempt at a tackle on Jimenez that enabled him to race through and set up the first goal was just comical.

  6. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    On WC who would you keep out of

    Salah
    Sterling
    KDB

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      KDB

      Head and shoulders above everyone else and he makes City tick.

    2. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Get rid of Salah, I have

    3. DontPiqueTooSoon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      KDB

  7. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    ManUtd got longstaff stuffed

  8. Liber
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pukki all the sudden bad pick?

    1. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nope.

      I'm probably giving him atleast Bournemouth game

    3. DontPiqueTooSoon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not a bad pick as such but Norwich have been poor of late. It depends on how much value you have tied up in him. I'm using that value to get C.Wilson so he is moving on this GW.

  9. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    United still have the lowest xGc in the league. Looks promising for defence owners

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I know you're joking but anyone who determines what transfers to make and who to pick based off xG stats is doing it wrong

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Eye test above all. No stats compare to it. But combining the eye test with some stats ain't so bad. nPxG Delta is far more relevant to me than xG.

  10. Sotamendi84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    should i wc this team?

    ryan button
    TAA ota rico tokori digne*
    sterling kdb mount mcginn* salah*
    pukki* barnes* greeney*

    to:

    ryan button
    TAA ota rico tokori SOYUCU
    sterling kdb mount MADDERS SAKA
    JIMI AUBA TAMMY

    1. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      wc

    2. Liber
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe. Any FT?

  11. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Liverpool's pts total only one less than the combined total of the two Manchester clubs. 🙂

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Their year unless they do their usual choke.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not good enough from Klopp!

  12. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Every game City play without KDB, he becomes a better player.

    Every game United play post Jose, he becomes a better manager.

    The Specials Ones!

  13. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah > Mane Yay or Nay?

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nay. Pick one and stick with it

    2. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Only if on WC imo

  14. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What is a good rank at this stage of the season?

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      10k I'd say

    2. luke
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      1st

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      1st if you still have chips.

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      5m +

    5. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      4.1m.

  15. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Already done Dignw/Pukki > Söyüncü/Abraham, but this team is worthy spending the WC on, right?

    Heaton
    TAA - Otamendi - Lundstram - Digne
    Salah - Sterling - Saka - Mount
    Pukki - Callum Wilson
    (Button - KDB - Rico - Greenwood)

  16. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Guy in my ML has 33 points.
    With 39 on his Bench !
    Ryan, Traore, Dunk and Lascelles.
    ID - 5244406

  17. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pukki -> Abraham now to save money?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      no rush

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Even if, hypothetically, you would be 0.3 or even 0.4 worse off?

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          yep. playing for pts not money. During IB prices movement slow down

          1. Catastrophe
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Money can equal points when you need it 🙂 but agreed the sensible thing to do is to wait.

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      What if Abraham gets injured?

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        That is the obvious risk.

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      probably wont see many minutes for England, so if the money is important id say yeah

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Ta

    4. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm thinking the same with Wilson. But then again probably best not to rush into a transfer for the sake of 0.1m, especially for players in international squads.

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers. Could possibly be 0.1 on Pukki and 0.2 on Abraham but point taken

        1. DontPiqueTooSoon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I think Pukki will drop 0.2 by next GW and Abraham will go up 0.1 so probably about 0.3 swings. If you can afford to wait that is the sensible option. If you can't and your other option sucks then take the risk. That's FF.

          1. Catastrophe
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Ta

  18. F4L
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Jetro Willems averaging 9 PPG in my team this year 😎

  19. Rash
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who's the better option

    Vardy or aubameyang?

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tough one. Vardy may be.

      1. DontPiqueTooSoon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Auba probably more consistent but Vardy will get a few double-digit hauls so probably will be near each other points-wise.

  20. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Still buzzing after the United game, riveting stuff, neither team deserved to lose!

  21. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ole pretending in post match interview that the team as a whole and Rashford in particular were "eager to get goals" and "kept running and trying". What a crock of shite, there was no one even trying to do anything and Rashford in particular was garbage. Ole is deluded, living in his own fantasy world.

    In the beginning when the players needed some confidence back after the Mourinho days that positive approach made sense. Now its just laughable, its not a positive spin, its blatant lying about how cack the team is.

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Who would you get with the current squad to get them in the top 6 in May?

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Throw Sir Alex back in there!

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Please don't kill the lovely man, thank you

    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Couldn't agree more

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I really this will be looked back on as the game that changed thing...unrest will be huge now going into the IB! I like Ole, but you're right he's out of his depth!

    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He's saving himself basically

      Doesn't want to create any drama which may create Ill feeling in the dressing room

      He knows once the players stop playing for him he will be out. As bad as there have not been any major dressing room issues like mourinho

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        that's what will ultimately will prove him to be a weak manager unfortunately

  22. suddenorgan
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Robertson + Pukki to Soyuncu + Vardy for free?

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No.

      1. suddenorgan
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Ok

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Not Robertson.

    2. DontPiqueTooSoon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I think its a good move in view of Leicesters fixtures but need a plan at the end of their run to shuffle it around

  23. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    48 points thanks to Abraham (C) up from 286k to 160k, relatively happy with that 🙂

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Congrats

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would love to pat you on the back right now 🙂

  24. GE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Feels good to Wildcard 🙂

    Good first draft?
    Or downgrade Cantwell and uograde some place?

    (0.4 itb)

    Pope
    TAA/Pereira/Tomori
    Mane/KDB/Mount/Yarmolenko
    Auba/Wilson/Tammy

    Bench: Button, Lundstram, Cantwell, Kelly

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nice

      Downgrade Perreira and Yarmo->Maddison?

      1. GE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yup. Looks good if do those moves Christina suggested

    3. Stoic
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Maddison or Vardy missing IMO.
      Maybe Yarmo + Pereira to Maddison + Soyboy
      Or Auba + Tomori to Vardy + Robbo
      Double Liv defense looking good going forward

      1. GE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks mate

    4. DontPiqueTooSoon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lack of Leicester forwards for their favourable fixture run and they are showing some form too.

  25. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    William Hill cut United relegation odds to 200/1

  26. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Time to wildcard as per my plan?

    Current team:
    Pope, Heaton
    Vvd, montoya, rico, Soyuncu, Aurier
    Salah, sterling, Mount, Pepe, Dendoncker
    Abraham, pukki, Haller

    Or hold for gw13?

  27. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would you WC this team

    Leno Button

    Otamendi Soyuncu Lundstram Montoya Lowton

    Sterling Salah KDB Mount McGinn

    Pukki Abraham Barnes

    2FT

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yes
      Out: Ota, Salah,Barnes,Leno,Pukki

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      What would you change?

    3. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Money in the Bank?

    4. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would

    5. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      0.1

    6. luke
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No. Can be sorted in 2 game weeks with 1 hit

  28. Mr. Mystic
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    2 questions;

    1) Soy or Tomori?
    2) Vardy or C Wilson

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Soy, C Wilson

    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      2) Vardy

    3. DontPiqueTooSoon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tomori and Vardy

  29. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Should I do this now to avoid price changes: Salah Barnes Pukki --> Maddison Auba Wilson (-4pts) ?

  30. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is this a crazy idea: Son Cantwell Pukki to Maddison Mount Wilson -8?