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. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    2 FT 0.3 ITB

    Pope Button
    TAA Otamendi Digne Lundstram Dunk
    Ceballos Sterling KDB Salah Mount
    Abraham Pukki Wickham

    A) Digne Ceballos to Madders and Soyu

    B) Digne Ceballos Pukki to Soyu, DenDoncker and Vardy -4

    1. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

      or C Digne Ceballos Wickham to Soyuncu, Maddison and Connolly

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

    Which move seems better?

    Heaton
    Soyuncu Tomori Digne* VvD*
    Mount Son Salah KdB
    C.Wilson Pukki*
    Pope Diop Ayew* Stephens

    2 FT, 2.2 ITB

    A) Pukki -> Vardy
    B) Ayew -> Vardy, funded by either VvD -> Lascelles or Digne -> Rico

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

      Do you think Pukki will start scoring well?

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

        Knowing that would've made my decision easier.

        What do you expect from him for the run in?

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

          Think teams have worked Norwich out and the injuries are hurting.

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

            You're thinking of getting him out too?

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

              B'mouth next is decent, should be goals in that game.

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

                Could you suggest a better move for the team?

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

                  Ayew 9 pointer from the bench just got me through to the next round of LMS. Don't want to get through like this, next week!

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

                  Really need info on Son, Salah and KDB.
                  Agree that a defender could go.

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

                    Let's wait then. Thanks for your time!

    2. AndyCook
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Pukki to Vardy, keep it simple

      • dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Salah to Maddison Pukki to Vardy and Ayew to Tammy-4

        But from your options A probably

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

          Vardy rising in price is the only pressing move right now..

    3. AndyCook
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Sterling, Salah, Greenwood to Mane, Aubameyang, Maddison? I’d that mad..

        1. AndyCook
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I don’t even like Maddison much but neither do I like Yarmolenko

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

          Vardy doesn't play for England anymore right?

          1. AndyCook
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Correct, retired

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

            Choose:
            A) Auba Maddison TAA
            B) Vardy Sterling Kelly

          3. OLLY G
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Ditch Pukki or King?

            Thanks.

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

              Pukki party is over

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

              Wait and see, international games.. King might get injured against Czech or Bulgaria

          4. Wılly
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Any help would be appreciated, very undecided what to do and price changes are going to impact my options!

            Pope (Button)
            VVD Robertson Otamendi Tomori (Lundstram)
            Salah Sterling KDB Mount (Dendoncker)
            Pukki Abraham (Greenwood)

            A. Salah + Pukki > Mane + Vardy

            B. VVD + Greenwood > Rico/Kelly + Wilson

            C. VVD + Dendoncker + Pukki > Reid + Wilson + Maddison (-4)

            1. AndyCook
                4 years, 5 months ago

                B

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

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

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

                No

              2. AndyCook
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Big hit but moves ok

                • Maddi Son
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  I can see you've got Son in there to generate funds... but surely he's worth keeping one more week? I know Spurs have been poor, but Watford look like a mid-table Championship team.

                  1. Maddi Son
                    • 6 Years
                    4 years, 5 months ago

                    Getting rid of Son in GW10 before anyone calls me biased ha.

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

                    So do spurs

                  3. Kroos Kontrol
                    • 11 Years
                    4 years, 5 months ago

                    Is he going to start that though?

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

                How the heck did Willian take 3 bonus points??

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

                  Most BPS.

                2. Miniboss
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  He actually seemed motivated to play for once. Good challenges and nice key passes

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

                  Helped the team defensively and offensively. He was the best player on the pitch.

              4. Eleven Hag
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Fek off auba n Ota

                1. FOO FIGHTER
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Ha ha. They trolled big time.

              5. Babelcopter
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Too risky go without Salah/Mane? Salah, Barnes & Pukki -> Madisson, Auba & C.Wilson -4

                1. Kroos Kontrol
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Not that risky, as long as whoever you transfer in returns like 15-20 points in 3 games. Doubt Salah and Mane would get over 20 each (they tend to share the points, not assist each other)

                  e.g. getting in Son for Salah has worked in hindsight, but could have gone really wrong if Salah had not underperformed (had the chances). That said, if I had chosen a MF who returned a goal in the last 2; move would have worked really well - even if Salah scored given all the funds I got from it.

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

                Im considering tierney as a good option, anyone else?

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

                Haller -> Wilson and keep Pukki one more gw

                1. Do I Not Like Orange
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Think that's what I'll be doing. Don't see Wham scoring many against eve/SHU, but if they do it's easy enough to bring Haller back. I'd lose a lot of value in Pukki so think he's worth another couple of weeks.

              8. Kroos Kontrol
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Son/Firmino/Pukki on the chopping block. So many possibilities! Any you folks prefer? Think Son is worth removing if he plays both intl games, long travel back.

                A) Son + Pukki -> Vardy + Maddison
                B) Son + Firmino -> Auba + Maddison
                C) Son + Pukki + Firmino -> Maddison + Auba + Vardy (-4)

                There's another scenario with removing Sterling, but I cannot remove him and not get in Aguero! It looks good but keeps me with Pukki another week...

                D) Son + Sterling + Firmino -> Mane + Maddison + Aguero (-4)

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

                Mahrez, Pukki -> Mount, Vardy (-4)?

                Pope
                TAA - Soyuncu - Aurier
                Sterling - Mane - Son - Mahrez* - Yarmo
                Tammy - Pukki*
                ----
                Button - Lowton - Lund - 4.5

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

                Ryan Button
                TAA Ota Digne Lundstram Boly
                Sterling KDB Salah Mount Cantwell
                Pukki Abraham Greenwood
                Have 2ft. Hardly need to WC is it? Digne to Tomori to prepere some upgrade?

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

                Is it a mistake going Wilson over Vardy? I recon they may match each other more or less?

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

                  i dont think so

                2. Drexl Spivey
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  I did.

                3. Do I Not Like Orange
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  If they match each other then Wilson's the better pick at 1M cheaper.

                  FYI I think Wilson vs NOR is potentially more explosive than Vardy vs a Burnley side who aren't bad defensively these days.

              12. have you seen cyan
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                all time low for sterling owners when Pepe has scored more in 4 weeks than Sterling has in 5

                1. have you seen cyan
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  oh wait 5, my bad but still

              13. Openboxman
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Pukki > Jimmy
                done.

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

                  Same!

                2. Hig1990
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Away to pull the trigger also. What made you go Jimmy or Wilson, or do you have Wilson already?

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

                    Ownership basically.

                    Plus hes had a good run and my gut is telling me that it cant continue forever.

                    Jimmy is coming into a bit of form and they have some decent fixtures

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

                2FT

                Salah and Barnes >>

                A) Vardy & Mane (0.3 ITB)
                or
                B) Auba & Maddison (2.7 ITB)

                1. Dynamic Duos
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  What the insects called that make honey?

                2. Babelcopter
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  b

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

                  A

              15. Dynamic Duos
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                #Food coma #evening nap

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

                Have 2FTs. Thinking of using 1 today

                Pope
                Taa Digne Zincheko Tomori — Rico
                Sterling Kdb James — cantwell Docker
                Tammy Pukki Kane

                A: James >> Mount
                B: James >> Maddison
                C: Something else...docker/kane >> Mount/Wilson

              17. FOO FIGHTER
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                You can get rid of Pukki but he still has a very high ownership 🙂

                One last roll of the dice for me though.

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

                  Blanking against Villa at home was the last roll

                2. Alan Watts
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  NORs sh1t performances might have something to do with 9 first team regulars injured....might see some improvement if some come back in after Int. Break

                3. Do I Not Like Orange
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Same. Value tied up + high ML ownership = a few more weeks.

              18. PocketZola
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                What do you think of this WC team? I have 0 itb afterwards and I find it odly satisfying...

                pope
                taa digne tierney
                mane kdb maddison mount
                auba king abraham

                subs, lund, rico, dend

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

                  I could do king to martinelli and dend to mcginn

              19. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Best website for live rank?

                  1. Big boy Bowen
                    • 7 Years
                    4 years, 5 months ago

                    Thanks both

              20. Link
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Heaton - 4
                TAA - Soy - Zinchenko - Tarkowski - Rico
                Salah - Sterling - KDB - Mount - Saka
                Vardy - Pukki - Wickham

                A. Pukki + Zinc > Wilson + 4.5 (Fredericks/Dunk)
                B. Wildcard baby! Move to 343. Mane etc.

                What we saying?

              21. EMERGING STAR
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                I am going to do Pepe to Mane but 0.2 short. Need to find money from either
                ZINCHENKO
                PIETERS

                2FT. And keeping Tomori,Lund and Kelly

                1. KNOW IT ALL
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  get rico

                  1. EMERGING STAR
                    • 8 Years
                    4 years, 5 months ago

                    Rico is nailed? Because I have Wickam as well. So weak bench

                    1. KNOW IT ALL
                      • 4 Years
                      4 years, 5 months ago

                      yeah rico gets assists to

                      1. EMERGING STAR
                        • 8 Years
                        4 years, 5 months ago

                        Thanks

              22. Fero1905
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Hey i use my wildcard for the next gameday.

                I changed my team into

                Gazzaniga/Pope
                Söyüncü TAA lunds mina otamendi
                KDB Mane maddison Mount Cantwell
                Haller Pukki Abraham

                2.9 left. Any advises for me ??

              23. jez_wright
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Anything to do here?

                Want Pukki out but can’t see an obvious replacement without taking a hit

                Pope / Heaton
                TAA Tomori Soyuncu Dunk Lundstram
                Mane Sterling KDB Mount Cantwell
                Auba Pukki Greenwood

                1. jez_wright
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  1FT and £0m ITB

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

                Joke ting fam!

                1. Eat my goal!
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Worst top post ever!

                  1. Party time
                      4 years, 5 months ago

                      This