Pro Pundits

What Abraham must add to his game as I prepare to leave ‘Pukki Party’

My big dilemma this week was what to do with Teemu Pukki (£7.1m). Having shown up ‘fashionably late’ to the Norwich striker’s party in Gameweek 4, there was a sense that I’d already missed most of the good stuff and, now, it was a case of either waiting to see if there’d be a big Finnish finish or ‘remembering that I’d left the stove on’, and making a quick getaway.

I’m not fully convinced that the Pukki party is genuinely over but Norwich look worryingly out of form and it will always be a concern as to whether they can maintain their attacking output now the initial exuberance of their opening matches is out of the way, especially as their fixtures begin to get tougher.

Comparisons to Fulham and Aleksandar Mitrovic’s decline around this time last season are maybe a little lazy, but still fairly inescapable.

Pukki and Norwich have regressed in recent weeks

Meanwhile, over in west London, Tammy Abraham (£7.7m) is beginning to look like he could be a genuine mid-priced heavy hitter and, as we’ve seen in the past with the likes of Harry Kane (£10.9m) and Jamie Vardy (£9.0m), these types of players, when they emerge, can quickly become essential for their own points output, for the additional captaincy options that they provide and for the investment that they enable elsewhere.

I could, and probably should, have made the move for Abraham earlier but, despite eight goals in as many games, I still have some reservations.

You see, as a Chelsea fan, I love Abraham to the extent that I’d happily throw myself in front of a Julian Dicks penalty for him, but as a Fantasy Premier League asset, I’m not entirely convinced (yet).

At the risk of applying Love Island logic here, I typically have a handful of boxes that I want my FPL forwards to tick: 

1. Do they score goals? 

2. Do they play for a team who create enough chances? 

3. Do they contribute assists as well as goals? 

4. Do they take penalties or other set pieces? 

Jorginho’s role in penalties at Chelsea is a slight concern for Abraham’s prospects

On current evidence, Abraham only offers the first two and, normally, I’d want at least three.

Why does this matter if he’s scoring points from goals? Well, Abraham is currently averaging a goal a game and, even with some good fixtures to come, this output will inevitably regress, particularly without penalties to help inflate his numbers, meaning that blanks are on the horizon unless he can start to contribute assists as well as goals.

In his favour is also the fact that he’s an all-purpose sort of centre-forward, with the size, speed and variety of finishing to deliver against any sort of defence, meaning that, while he won’t score every game, I’ll always believe he stands a chance.

And there’s that price…

Ultimately these factors, plus the opportunity to avoid the sort of “Oh… yay….” instances of cognitive dissonance I’ve been experiencing every time he scores was enough to convince me to finally push the button on Pukki to Abraham.

Will I captain him? It’s tempting but I’m currently leaning towards Callum Wilson (£7.9m) both for the quality of Bournemouth’s fixture at home to Norwich and for his relative consistency this season. Though this particular decision may well go down to the wire.

My team for Gameweek 9

Simon March is a member of our Pro Pundits initiative, a team of Fantasy managers here to bring you regular advice and updates on their teams. Simon won the FPL title in 2014/15 and has become a fixture on the punditry circuit ever since.

1,468 Comments Post a Comment
  1. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Just looking at FPL for the first time in 2 weeks, and on a wildcard. Think I’m set with this, with the only two things I’m a bit bothered about are not having Aubameyang, and Cantwell as my 5th midfielder, but other than that happy. Thoughts would be great.

    Pope, Gazzaniga
    TAA, Soyuncu, Tomori, Lundstram, Rico
    Sterling, Mane, KDB, Mount, Cantwell
    Vardy, Abraham, Connolly

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

      GTG! Have almost identical team. Maddison and Wilson to Vardy and Cantwell and thats it.

      1. yer old da
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I can’t afford that so think Vardy with Cantwell cover is decent. Norwich still very attacking so a 4.9 mid isn’t a bad shout.

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

          Yep def. Looks set!

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gd team

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

      Gazzaniga is expensive for a GK that isn't nailed.

      1. yer old da
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Who else might play?

  2. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    gtg
    Pope
    Taa, dunk, Pereira
    Kdb, cantwell, salah, sterling(vc)
    Abraham(c), haller, jimenez
    Bench, mcgovern, lundstram, simpson, hayden

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

    If you can choose one to go forward, which one you choose and why? KdB in team aswell.

    A) Aguero
    B) Sterling

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B. Better value, more likely to play. Extra point!

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

      B.

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

      who's the 2nd player in each option?

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

        I meant which one you choose between Aguero and Sterling.

    4. Ospina Colada
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A due to the goal scoring partnership he has with KDB when fit.

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

    What do I need to do with this lot?

    Pope
    Rico Otamendi Söyüncü
    Sterling KDB Son Saka
    Aubameyang firmino abraham

    Button - Cantwell Lundstram Willems

    1 free transfer 0.3 itb

    1. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Son out?

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

        I’m thinking son + Otamendi > Maddison + TAA (-4)
        Worth it?

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

          Not worth a -4 when son plays Watford and Ota plays Palace.
          Whilst TAA plays United away

  5. anish10
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Kdb or sterling (c)?

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

      kdb imo

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

      Currently on Sterling.

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

    Ready to go??

    Ryan
    Taa - Otamendi - Rico
    Son - Kdb - Sterling - Mount
    Abraham - Vardy - Wilson(C)

    Sub: Cantwell - Lowton - Lundstram

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

    Which one to play:

    A. Rico (NOR)
    B. Lund (ARS)

    Thanks!

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

      I’d play Rico

      1. Soto Ayam
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Rico also

  8. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Do I need to get rid of mahrez for de Bruyne or Bernardo?

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'd get rid of any one to get KDB in

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I did, rage transfer as wish I’d never swapped out kdb for mahrez in the first place!

  9. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would you bring Jimenez in on a WC?

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

      if 7.1 is your limit yes

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

        Well I think next step is then Wilson at 8.0

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

          that's it. big jump to tammy/Wilson.

          jimi a good pick at that price

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

      Yes

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

      Like him as a pick yes

  10. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Mahrez my only City attacker. Do I Stick with for one more week?

    1. Wally banter
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

  11. LordEllison
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    1 FT and 0.5 ITB Still have WC not sure what moves to make thanks. Any ideas?

    Pope Button
    TAA Digne Otamendi Tomori Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB McGinn Dendoncker
    Wilson Pukki Greenwood

  12. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which due to finish off the wildcard?

    A) Boly 4.3
    B) Tomori 4.4

    Gazza 4.0
    TAA ***** Soyuncu Lundstram Rico
    Mane KDB Maddison CHO *****
    Aguero Wilson Abraham

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

      Tomori I'd say

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

      Which Boly is that? The one playing for Wolves costs 5m.

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

    Heaton ( v Brighton)

    Pope (v Leicester)

    1. Wally banter
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Heaton

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

      Heaton

      surprised you went 2 4.5s. thought you'd pick 1 & a4m

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

        Yeah but like the option of interchanging them according to fixture.. It's working okay so far...

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

    Captain

    A Abraham
    B aguero

    Thanks

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

      Tammy imo

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

      B

  15. Wally banter
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    So who all are still on board with the pukki party

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

      Not me

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

      im missed the party... im at the bad after party tho

    3. La Vida Latte
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Just left it. With great hesitation.

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

        I'm puking in the corner coz I'm at party way to long and I have Cantwell with me too.

        1. Wally banter
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Same here,
          Giving this one last week... if still they looks poor i am planning to board jiminez party

        2. La Vida Latte
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          From pukki to puky...
          I have cant-go-well too.

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

      I am. Heard the Bournemouth defence are bringing all the gifts this week.

      1. Wally banter
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        😉

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

    An annoying Monday night fixture Particularly if you own no Arsenal players

    Do I play Lunds over dunk / soy?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Arsenal like playing against teams who are slow, even if they are defensive or teams who are very open. Sheff Utd are not open but are they a slow team?

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

      I wouldn’t.
      Dunk and Söyüncü have been fixtures.

      Just enjoy the inevitable Aubameyang blank after I got him in.

    3. Igor-Stimac
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      For this gameweek I'd rank it:

      Soy
      Lund
      Dunk

      Personally think Sheffield United are more likely to get a clean sheet than Brighton.

  17. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Haven't seen one credible source confirm that Salah is fit for the Man Utd game.

    All I have seen is he faces a fitness test, but is on course to be fit.

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

      Yrs

  18. Firefoxed
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bottomed..

    Ryan Button
    TAA Soy Lund Tomori Rico
    Sterling KDB Maddison Mount Cantwell
    Wilson Auba Tammy

    How's this WC team?

    1. La Vida Latte
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good. The only thing missing ia liverpool attack. But that can probably wait a few weeks

  19. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain 1

    A. Sterling
    B. Kdb
    C. Abraham
    D. Jiménez

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

      C

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

      D

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

      A

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

    Vardy ownership still relatively low

  21. Firefoxed
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Over the next 3 and next 6..who should i choose?

    A. Vardy and Mane
    B. Madison and Auba

  22. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Any final tweaks needed for this WC?

    Pope
    TAA Soy Tomori
    Mane KDB Maddison Mount
    Auba Wilson Tammy (c)

    Button Rico Dendonker Lundstrum

    1. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Very similar to mine. Only concern is having only one Man City player over next 3...

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

        Yes that’s one of my concerns too. However, part of me is glad not having to second guess Pep’s rotation policy!

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

      Almost same as mine!
      I have Pereira and Lowton, you have Soy and Tomori.

  23. TheBabyfacedAssassin
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play one out of?
    Lindstram
    Cantwell
    Yarmo

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

      yarm

    2. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yarm

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

    */Button
    TAA/Soy/Lund/Rico/*
    Salah/KDB/Maddison/Hudson-O/*
    Kane/Abraham/Wilson

    * Ryan or Pope?
    * Tomori or Boly?
    * Cantwell, Traore or other £5m?

    1. Igor-Stimac
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ryan, Boly, Cantwell

  25. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I'm playing my free hit this week. I know its early but I made a couple of transfers I didn't like. And think its good week to play it anyway.

    Gazzaniga
    Alonso Perreira Doherty
    Sterling KDB CHO Richarlison
    Kane (c) Wilson Tammy

    Anything you would change?

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

      Is Gazzaniga ahead of Vorm?

  26. The Wanton Trader
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How’s it looking...

    Pope
    VVD / Otamendi / Guilbert
    Mount / KDB / Mane / Son
    Abraham / Auba(c) / Pukki

    Button / Lundstram / DougLuiz / Hanley

    0FT 0.2ITB.

    GTG...? GL all...

    1. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Good - although Sheffield Utd have been so tight at home that can’t see Auba with a big score. Would probably capt kdb mane or Tammy over him

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks.
        I’ve just got feeling for goals on Monday.
        Probably trying to be too clever and will end up with egg on my face, not for the first time this season... 🙂

  27. n-doggg
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    GTG and save Ft here or make a move?

    Pope
    Taa, otamendi, soyunco
    Salah, sterling, kdb, Mount, Yarmolenko
    Tammy, pukki

    Gilbert, lundstrum, Greenwood

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks great!

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

    With many Norwich players returning from injury, perhaps we will see the rise of Pukki again.

    Hernandez could be one tow watch.

    I think Norwich will find form again and may just make me hang onto Pukki for a bit longer.

    I guess this GW will be make or break for Pukki and co.

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

      I see Norwich back to scoring goals as Tettey is back from injury which gives their mid cover like he did brilliantly vs mcity..people forget norwich had many players out and thus service to pukki was affected. As long as Pukki gets shots in box this gw I will keep even if he blanks. CWilson is other option considering everyone has Tammy. Cwilson had half of his season shots of 12 vs Wham so nothing great as well

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

      They're getting ready for the relegation derby next week.

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

    On a Wildcard - 1) or 2)?

    1) Mane and Pereira (have only TAA from Liverpool)
    2) Sterling and Soy/Tomori (have only KDB from City)

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

      2 with Soy

  30. HNI
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Mcginn rose inspite of no returns in 5-1 win vs Norwich! Seems way too many people go with eye test now. The extinction of the casuals :/

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

      hattrick overIB?

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

        But totally differenr conditions and setup. The fact so many following international matchrs of even Scotland iw concerning