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. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ronaldohhhh

    Offside!

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

      Love the grav and at some point this season we will be back to Trent and robbo

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

        GW13/14, all going well.

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

    Last Man Standing GW8 🏆 (3210 teams)

    Safety score = 30
    Top score = 71
    LMS average = 40.57 (-0.86) = 39.71

    201 to be removed, 3009 through to GW9

    Entry will be open in a few hours when the league updates.
    Code is bcvy39
    Scores needed after hits are 66, 35, 36, 40, 36, 46, 38 and 30 for GWs 1-8

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

      Savage stuff gaffer!

      It was a close call this week... 31. Note to self: must do better

    2. Ruudy Van
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks TM. Will be joining when i can- have checked and i've passed the test so far. GW 3 was tight scoring 38 (wilcard to)

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

    Bottomed

    A - Son, Greenwood -> Mount, Vardy (-4) now before price changes
    B - Pukki -> Vardy and leave 1 transfer for KdB in case he is back
    C - Mahrez -> Mount and wait for KdB

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

    What to do with this lot? Ideas please!
    1FT 0M ITB
    Pope Heaton
    TAA Ota Pereira Soyu Lund
    Mane KDB Sterling Mount McGinn
    Haller Abraham Greenwood

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

      double up on Leicester def seems too much

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

        Which one to drop?

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

    Thoughts? Just did Salah, Barnes and Pukki -> Maddy, Auba & C.Wilson -4

    Pope
    Robbo - Soy - Otamendi
    Sterling - Maddison - Mount -KDB
    Auba - C.Wilson - Tammy

    Heaton, Lowton, Cantwell Lund

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

      Looks like a WC team (except for Ota)

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

        still holding my wc. No need to play it quite yet

    2. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Crazy for a hit if you ask me

  6. Mr.K
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thought's on this WC team?

    Ryan - Gazzaniga

    Dunk - Rico - Pereira - TAA - Tomori
    Sterling - Traore - Maddison - Mane - Mount
    Auba - Abraham - Connolly

    Cheers!

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

      damn, the Ryan Gazza rotation is actually quite good

      1. Mr.K
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        That it is!

      2. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        News on Lloris injury?

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

          Dislocated elbow. Would expect 6 weeks plus.

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Cheers, didn't Pope suffer same injury and was out for a long time?

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

              I think he did his shoulder. I'm no doctor though. Point is he will be out for some time.

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

      Do you think Connolly is nailed when Trossard returns?

      Could be difficult to replace, with all that funds spread on the bench

      1. Mr.K
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Currently I don't think he's necessarily nailed and he's definitely a gamble. Still leaning towards keeping him but you do raise a good point with how difficult it is to replace him.

        Could maybe pick Söyüncü instead of Pereira (not really a fan of this though) or downgrade Traore but I'll put some more thought into this and see if I can come up with an exit-strategy. Thanks for bringing this up!

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

      Enough differentials to climb rank

      1. Mr.K
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thank you, Sir!

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

    Goal ruled out but the Ronaldo v Messi debate is a no-brainer for me...Ronaldo kills it, legend!

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

      I agree jia

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

        settled because you know it... 😉

  8. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Looking to remove Pukki & Son.
    Need to get in one from each lot

    A. Vardy
    B. Wilson

    1. Mount
    2. Maddison
    3. Yarmolenko

    Pope Stek
    TAA Ota Lowton Soy Rico
    Mane KDB Son Cantwell Hayden
    Kun Tammy Pukki

    2 Ft 0.1 itb

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A 1 or 2

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

      Think you should be more worried about removing Ota.

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

      A1

  9. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea fans have hyped Hudson-Odoi up massively. I thought he was pretty good today. 7/10. Rob Green seems to be a big fan
    https://twitter.com/5liveSport/status/1180927453759299584?s=19

  10. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Cantwell and Pukki to Maddison and Wilson.
    Good transfers?

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

  11. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A. Pukki > Vardy (today)
    B. Cantwell > Maddison

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A the time has come for Pukki no excuse for blanking in the last 3. Holding players for too long is what kills your season. Cantwell is cheaper so all is forgiven

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

    Pukki to Tammy belatedly done. WC may follow.

    Enjoy the break everyone.

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

    Other than Tammy and Mount, who’s the next best Chelsea attacking option?

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      CHO

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

      CHO wagon

  14. thunder_mike
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone going Wilson + King double up for the next two games?

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Literally none of the 7m who play this game

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

    Choose one of WC teams below:

    A) Ryan Button
    TAA* Pereira Tomori Lund Rico
    Mane KDB Maddison Mount Dendoncker
    Auba* Abraham C.Wilson

    B) A) Ryan Button
    Pereira Tomori Lund Rico Kelly*
    Mane KDB Sterling* Mount Dendoncker
    Vardy* Abraham C.Wilson

  16. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry...bottomed...any views on this wildcard? Rank 1m. Uses all money. I'll get Salah or mane gw13

    Pope
    TAA ota soy lunds rico
    Sterling kdb mount CHO dendonk
    Auba vardy abraham

    Thanks

    1. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Don't like Ota and the Sterling - KDB double-up feels risky.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Sterling KDB double up isn't risky at all when they're fit as they play most weeks. Agrre Otamendi is part of a crap defence though.

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

    I told myself I would not double up on CHE. Had Mount which is a great long term pick and now got in Tammy for Aguero. Watch Tammy troll me lol.

    Easy switch to Wilson if the wheels come off 🙂

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Can’t see it being bad long term call to be honest

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

      I've tripled

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

        Already had mount and Tammy. Getting CHO for james

    3. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Me too

    4. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tripled with Alonso whilst he’s there

  18. WrightnBright
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Chaps, this move for a -4 makes sense right?

    Aguero, Pukki, Cantwell > Wilson, Vardy, Mount

    Already have KDB & Sterling plus Tammy

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

      Yeah, good moves.

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

      Do it

    3. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good to me

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

        Actually I can keep Cantwell and dump Hayden with 0.1 itb.

        Hate doing it before internationals though but price rises will do me!

  19. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Exact funds before price drops, have 2 fts..
    Dan James and pukki to
    Hudson odoi and jiminez

    They look good on paper, dont have mount, missed that band wagon.
    Or just wait until closer to deadline, and take the drops on james/pukki.

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not that inspiring to be honest

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Really?
        James(uniter) are woeful, and pukki has derailed.
        CHO looks really dangerous in attacking chelsea team, and he should get plenty of game time.
        Also feel like jimi and wolves have a nice fixture swing!

        1. In and Out
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I would get James and Pukki out but go for more reliable picks. Up to you could be a master stroke but high risk

    2. chilli con kone
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would take the drops and keep Pukki. The players you’re bringing in are risky

  20. chilli con kone
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A. Pukki > Abraham
    B. Suck up the price rises

    Got a good 11 for next week but not a lot on the bench so an international injury is most likely going to be a hit

    1. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A is a definite good move the top scoring striker in a free flowing attack is essential

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

    Choose one for WC:
    A) Sterling Vardy Kelly
    B) Maddison Auba TAA

    1. chilli con kone
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B easily

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

    Who are the 2 best captaincy options for next 6 fixtures?
    Auba/Tammy?

    1. chilli con kone
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Auba for me

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

        Every game?

        1. chilli con kone
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I still don’t trust Tammy yet as it’s early days for him

  23. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    If you had to leave one of Wilson, Vardy and Abraham out on a WC, who would it be? Currently going without Vardy

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

      probably Vardy. Abraham becoming a must with his + Chelsea's form, then you would think Wilson can match Vardy for a mil less for the next 5 GWs or so

    2. chilli con kone
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Depends on what you would use the extra cash for but I’d rather have Wilson than Vardy

      1. chilli con kone
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        *Vardy than Wilson sorry

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

      I’m going without Vardy

      I’ll keep some itb to upgrade wilson => Vardy when needed

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

    If keeping Mane and selling Salah meant getting Robbo over Matip/Tierney, you'd sell Salah right?

  25. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on my WC team? (0.0ib)

    Pope (Button)
    Trent Otamendi Söyüncü (Diop) (Kelly)
    Mané KDB Maddison Mount (Elneny)
    Auba Wilson Abraham

  26. Ribus
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pukki to:
    A) Wilson
    B) Jiminez

    Other strikers are Vardy and Tammy

  27. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Should I use my wild card?

    Heaton
    TAA Robbo Aurier Rico
    Salah Mount Son Zaha
    Kun Haller

    Pope Greenwood Donkey Lund

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

      Yes

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

    Looks like there will be a mass exodus of City assets on the cards.

    Making ownership of other players increase so not a bad thing in the end.

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

      Are you making this stuff up? :).

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

    Best move?

    A) Digne -> Tomori/Soy
    B) McGinn -> Mount

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

      Have Tammy. 1.2 itb.

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

      Mount looks decent but might be worth waiting on CHO for less

  30. SH
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How is this front line? Just did 3 transfers (with *) for this.

    Salah KDB Mount* Yarmolenko* Saka
    Kun Vardy* Tammy