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. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captaincy for after ib is going to be tough to choose from

    Wilson home v norwich
    Son home vs Watford
    Tammy home to Newcastle
    Vardy home to burnley

    Decision time

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

      I am capping Salah vs Mancs.

      1. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I do have Salah also but he's burnt me twice now

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

          Salah points total? If you had capped him every GW you would have over 110 points from one player.

          People making out Salah to be a fraud pick which is not the case.

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

      Wilson best bet for me

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

      Wilson I believe

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

      Wait for Norwich recovery news. Unless they have miracle recoveries, Wilson is the way to go.

    5. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tammy in the best attack right now, rested over IB

    6. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wilson for me

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

      Don’t rate Bournemouth as a team to back - this is exactly the sort of match they don’t perform in. They are themselves bottom 8 in overall quality.

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

    How would you rank?
    1) Pukki
    2) Wilson
    3) Vardy
    4) Jiménez

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

      1 over
      2 best for next 2 weeks
      3 inconsistent
      4 cautious needs rest

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      bad
      okay
      cool
      cooler

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

    Conte vs Sarri

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

    Any early moves you can see for next week?

    Pope
    Soyuncu | Tomori | Guilbert | Lundstram
    Salah | Sterling | Mane | KdB
    Kane | Connolly

    Button | Cantwell | Kelly | Greenwood

    1FT, 0ITB

    Thanks!

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

      Greenwood to Connolly

      1. AndyCook
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Really? He has Connolly and if he didn’t he couldn’t afford that move..

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

      I wouldn’t say no to giving Allegri a chance. Maybe even just until the end of the season

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

        Even pep/klopp can't do anything with this bunch

      2. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Poch might be free soon if you still want him.

    3. SkeletONv01
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Who do you prefer?

      A. Soy
      B. Tomori

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

        A

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

        A easily. Foxes defence is so much more rigid than Chelsea's.

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

        aaaa

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

        A

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

      Does the hits worth it?
      A) Salah, Barnes and Pukki OUT -> Maddison, Auba and C.Wilson IN for -4
      B) Salah, Sterling, Barnes and Pukki OUT -> Mane, Maddison, Auba and C.Wilson IN for -8

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

      Inter vs Juve starting now on Premier Sports 2.

      United reject Lukaku tries to extent his sides lead at the top of the table.

    6. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ole clearly out of his depth. Yet another mistake by the incompetent United board.

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

        Weren't UTD fans raving about Ole?

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

      Pukki & Sterling > Vardy & Mane for -4, yes or no?

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

        Hmm, riski IMO

      2. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yes from me

      3. The Pesci challenge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yes

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

      1) or 2) on WC?

      1) Vardy
      (bench: Button, Lundstram, Kelly, max 4.6 mid)

      2) Wilson
      (bench: Button, Lundstram, Kelly, CANTWELL)

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

        Have Maddison

      2. AndyCook
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Cantwell barely better than a 4.6.. but where has the rest of the million saving gone?

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

        2 FT. I'm considering:

        Sterling to Hudson-Odoi
        Pukki to Aguero

        Good or bad?

        Thanks.

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

          Sideways, stick with sterling.

          Pukk9 > Vardy/Wilson

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

        Atleast my Adrian to Wolves GK transfer that I made yesterday is looking gud - there will be some CSs hopefully n BPs

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

        Pope-Button
        TAA-Digne-Zinchenko-Lund-Hanley
        Sterling-Mane-KDB-Mount-Cantwell
        Abraham-Pukki-Barnes

        2FT, 0,0 ITB

        How do I turn Barnes into Wilson?

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

          A defender downgrade

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

            or 2.

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

              Digne, Zinchenko and Barnes to Tomori, Soy and Wilson a possible minus four I'm looking at too.

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

            Probably Zinchenko to Soyuncu

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

              Digne*

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

            That's what I was thinking. Zinchenko has to go too. But I'd need to free up 1,4m, leaving Rico and Kelly as my only options.

            Lundstram/Rico-rotation viable?

            NOR, wat/whu, BUR, new, WOL, wol, NEW

        2. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Digne to Söyüncü, Barnes to Wilson?

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

            I do like those moves, however that still leaves me with Zinchenko...

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

              Also 0,1 short...

              1. THFC4LIFE
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Zinchenko to Rico?

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

                  yes

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

                  Yep, that works. Leaves me rotating Rico and Lunny though. Might not be that bad?

        3. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Digne to Soyuncu ?

        4. kidzac
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Barnes > connoly, Cantwell to Harry Wilson. Tada!

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

          Digne to Otamendi

      6. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Help me sexies. Need to get excited about next GW it's been a depressing one:

        A) Salah + Vardy
        B) Maddison + Aguero -4

        1. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          A for me

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Big love cheers

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

          A

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            thanks

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

          A although its alot more ££

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah, would be banked for at least a couple weeks anyway so doesn't matter. Thanks man

        4. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I'd say A, but I'm equally morose so I'll probably get it wrong.

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            It seems too boring aswell doesn't it. I find the 4 points saved exciting lately so I better go with it

      7. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Planning to get Wilson and Vardy in over the next few weeks, who should I get in first for gw9?

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Wilson

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

          Wilson

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

          Wilson

        4. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers fellas

      8. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Heaton Button
        Otamendi Robertson Dunk Tomori Rico
        Salah Sterling Mount James Dendoncker
        Auba King Pukki

        Terrible week. Bad season. Should I wildcard?

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Do it. enjoy yourself.

        2. Gooner Kebab
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Not sure a WC is needed.

      9. niko mate
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Maddison or D Silva?

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Maddison

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Agree

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

            This surely.

        2. Shearer & Sutton
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Maddison

      10. LIARS POKER
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        If KDB doesn't drop tonight it's completely rigged, would be 750,000 net transfers out in 5 days with no drop

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

          Yellow flag now, he’ll drop.

        2. DGW Sane TC Fail....
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          People might start getting him back in now 🙂

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

          FPL hasnt said anywhere that there are specific rules for price changes that have to be followed. Hes underpriced, no reason to let him drop.

        4. MTPockets
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Problem is we know it's kind of rigged

        5. DGW Sane TC Fail....
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          You would think Pep would tighten up and grind a few results out until the injuries clear up. Go 4-2-3-1 Rod and Ferd in the double pivot to screen the back four ..sterling/KDB/B Silva and Aguero up top is easy enough to win games with the full backs pushing up so much.

          Do we think he will change or just keep doing the same thing?

          1. DGW Sane TC Fail....
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            not pushing up*

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

            I imagine he'll stick to his principles with minimal tweaks or tactical adjustments. He'll just drill the players harder in the way he wants them to play - especially those playing out of position or new to the starting 11. It's this stubborn self-belief that's got him where he is, and he's only really failing in comparison to his own ridiculously high standards and Liverpool's unreal start to the season.

        6. Beautiful Game
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Would like your opinion on which of the below combinations is best for upcoming weeks

          A) Pukki + Son + Fodder

          B) Pukki + Fodder + Vardy

          C) Pukki + Fodder + Wilson

          D) Wilson + Fodder + Vardy (-4)

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            D

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

              Yeah, get rid of Pukki. I'm sure he'll have a few good games here and there, but without support his team will defend deeper and deeper and he'll be starved.
              I've Wilson since GW1 and delighted with him.

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

          Dybala 😮

          Spurs were so close!

        8. 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, Wilson

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

          D, Robertson, VVD, Pukki Greenwood >>> Soyuncu, Rico, Wilson, Vardy (-8)

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

          Dybala

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

            what a game so far!

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

              Yes,full of pace,Ronaldo Great shot

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

          Pick 2 of the below please:
          A) Auba
          B) Wilson
          C) Vardy

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

            B for sure

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

              Thanks amte

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

            A, C

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

              Cheers

        11. thegaffer82
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          On WC and struggling between these two options. Any help would be greatly appreciated...

          A) Robbo, Maddison & Wilson
          B) TAA, Yarmolenko & Vardy

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

            Still time mate for big decisions, two weeks of tinkering are ahead of you

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

            B but Wilson instead of vardy

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

          Which should I do?

          A) Pukki > Vardy
          B) Pukki > Wilson
          (Allows McGin > Maddison next week)
          C) Pukki + McGin > Wilson + Maddison (-4)

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

            B for me

        13. Lukakuna
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Seems like no big hitters can be relied upon this season. What are your plans forward? Should we get a bunch of mid priced assets like KDB and Vardy?

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            KDB is not midpriced imo he is 10m. Things will change, it is still too early. Kun and Auba were producing every GW till now too

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

            Yea Im selling Kun to get Vardy and Wilson in.

        14. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Guys can you please share advise of my WC pick in the attack: Vardy or Auba?

          I need to make the decision tonight since they are both rising.

          Please reply with reasoning for Vardy or Auba and a FPL question that you want me to answer and I will answer it. If this becomes a success will follow it as a rule on all my questions.

          Thanks,

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

            Auba, unless you need the money elsewhere. After Lacazette returns, Arsenal will outscore Leicester.

            1. FPL Daniel
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Thanks man

        15. ZAWAd25
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Just did Son +Wickham > Mount +Wilson

          Hows this looking?
          Pope
          VVD Ota Tomori
          Sterling KDB Mane Mount
          Pukki Abraham Wilson (C)

          Button Cantwell Lund Kelly

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

            Looks great. Only a Leicester player missing, really.

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

            That's my team. Only difference is I have TAA instand of VVd

            1. ZAWAd25
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Will prob upgrade VVD to TAA next week. have 1.1 itb

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

            Instead #