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. Kip
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Currently set on this WC team:

    Pope 4.0
    TAA Soy Boly Lund Rico
    Salah Mané KDB Mount Cantwell
    Jimenez Wilson Abraham

    Still in doubt on Salah, Jimenez and Cantwell positions. Could go Kun/Maddison as well

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

      Get Maddison by downgrading either Mané or Salah and upgrade Söyüncü to Perreira.

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

      I'm on a very similar one but have Sterling for Salah, think you'll need more City for GW10 + 11

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

        Might be a good idea to have sterling now instead of Salah, and shift back after gw 11

        Are you sticking with Cantwell or going with one of Donkers/Guendouzi/4.5

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

          I like Cantwell, if Norwich regain some form he could be a 4th midfield option again, whereas Dendoncker is never going to be that realistically.. for the sake of £0.3 I like the flexibility

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

      Salah to Maddy
      Jimenez to Auba

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

    Any transfers or keep for next week?

    1FT 2.5m

    Pope Button
    TAA Robertson Tomori Soyuncu Lundstram
    Sterling Dilva Mount Jorginho Cantwell
    Vardy Aubameyang Pukki

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

      Save.

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

      Jorginho to CHO/
      Dilva to De Bruyne/
      Pukki to Tammy

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

    Bench one: TAA, Otamendi, Rico, Tomori?

    TAA best player but the other guys have easy fixtures.

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

      Rico

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

      Why on earth would you want to bench TAA?

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

        Not sure he will keep a CS

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

      Why not go 4 at the back?

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

        My team looks pretty good this week. Have Maddison, Mount, Mane, KdB and Mane in midfield. Abraham, Aguero and Wilson up top.

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

      Ota, given City's current prospects of keeping a clean sheet!

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

    Hi guys, no idea what to do with this crap team. Any ideas? 1FT 0.5 itb

    Pope

    TAA Ota Digne

    Salah Sterling Son Mount Cantwell

    Pukki Haller

    Subs: Button, Lundstram Kelly Greenwood

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

      Son to Maddison

  5. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Looking gtg?

    Pope
    TAA Soy Rico
    Mane KDB Maddison Mount
    Aguero (c) Vardy Abraham

    Button Cantwell Lund Pieters (0ft 0.3m itb)

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

      Nice

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

    Do you guys think Adama Traore will be playing as an attacker now or still on the wing?

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

      Right Wingback.

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

    Choose set A or B

    A - Mane and Jim and Soy
    B - Auba and CHO and Pereira

  8. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bournemouth vs Norwich score prediction guys?

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

      0-3 Pukki Party 😉

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

        I’ve still got my ticket... 😉

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

      Bournemouth 3-1 Norwich

    3. ebb2sparky
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      2-2

  9. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Down to this. Who'd you bench? And why?
    À. Otamendi
    Or
    B. Digne

    Cheers 🙂

    1. P-h-o-e-n-i-x
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      This is my question on my Wildcard - Pick Digne or Otamendi ?:D

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

      Digne

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

      B, sadly.

      Last chance saloon for him in my team today.

    4. ebb2sparky
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not sure I’d bench either. If I had to then Digne as I think City more likely to keep a clean sheet

      What’s the rest of your team?

  10. Here's the manager
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Morning! Swapped Salah for Mane early last week. No FT, starting to regret it!

    Planning to play
    Pickford
    TAA Rico Lundstram Ota (Walker-Peters!)
    Son KDB Mount Mane ( D Silva)
    Pukki Abraham (Greenwood)
    1.2ITB

    Better to bench Rico/Lund for D Silva?

    Or take a hit to get out of this nightmare?

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

      Got to start Silva!!

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

      bench Lund

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

      Bench Lundstram for Silva

      1. Here's the manager
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, you've persuaded me!

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

    Ok I am only going to make one score prediction:

    Spurs 4 - Watford 1

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

      Kane hattrick

  12. P-h-o-e-n-i-x
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    On a Wildcard this week. Always planned to keep Salah. With no conclusive news from Klopp this week, now not so sure if I should now keep him or just make a switch to Sterling.

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

      Know it’s not your question, but I would definitely have Mane over Salah

  13. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Son to KdB for -4??

    Can’t predict Poc. Top of mini-league and rivals have KdB

    1. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Don't think he starts. Did Son to Maddison for a hit

    2. Ryan_P27
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I want to know this. I kinda think not worth it this week for a -4 but I do have Mahrez. Do we think son will have reduced minutes this week?

    3. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      So you can predict Pep?

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

        With KdB, this week, yes I think so 😀

  14. Playing_the_Numbers
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I think I'm going to burn one FT. I don't see what I can improve in my team bearing in mind I don't want to bring neither of Salah or Mane until GW13 and also want to make sure I have 2FT before GW13. My current team is:

    Pope
    Trent/ Otamendy/ Tomori/
    Sterling/ KDB/ Mount/ Son
    Abraham/ Vardy/ Pukki

    Bench: Button/ Canwell/ Soyuncu/ Lundstrum

    I was considering:
    1) Son and Otamendy to Mahrez and Pereira
    or
    2) Son and Tomori to Hudson Odoi and Pereira

    but I'm not sure that any of those would improve my team at all and I would spend my 2FTs.
    I could also potentially do Son and Pukki to McGin and Auba, but McGin's fixtures are only good for one week.

    Any advices, guys? I have 0.4m ITB and have use my WC.
    Thanks

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

      Maybe Cantwell > Dendo to free funds for next weeks moves?

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'd be slightly tempted to do Button -> Gazzaniga, would probably end up being pointless but could work

  15. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play 1:
    Rico (NOR)
    Pukki (bou)
    Saka (shu)

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

      Pukki

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

        Well THIS

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

          (No bias)

          1. Jealous Viper
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah sure

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

      Has to be Pukki

  16. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) VVD & Pukki > Soy & Vardy/Wilson(-4)
    B) VVD & Saka > Soy & Mount (-4)

    Pope
    Taa, VVD, Otamendi, Aurier
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Cantwell
    Pukki, Abraham

    Button, saka, lundstram, greenwood

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

      Do you believe Soy will be getting more points than VVD?

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

        No but allows me to shift money from defence to attack. Mount is killing me!

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

          And Ota, will he be getting more points than VVD?

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

            Haven't enough in the bank to make the same with Ota, otherwise I would. I do think double pool defence is worth keeping but Im not sure how else I can bring in the Mount/strikers etc. My total value isn't great.

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

      I like B

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

    Thought on this WC team? 0.2 ITB
    No easy way to squeeze Sterling in..

    Pope, Gazza
    Pereira, Boly, Tomori, Lund, Rico
    Mane, KDB, Maddison, Mount, Cantwell
    Auba, Vardy, Abraham

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

      Good team. Can't have them all.

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

      it would be downgrading Auba

    3. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gazza -> 4.0
      Boly -> Soy
      Cantwell -> 4.4
      Vardy -> Wilson

      any of them and you can do Mane -> Sterling

  18. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    So according to line up predictions, Norwich will have the same back line bar KRUL as when they got thrashed 1-5 by Villa?

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

      Bournemouth will score. A lot.

  19. Shack
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Mahrez to KDB for a hit?

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

      No.

  20. SALAHLACITY
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Patricio
    Soy Matip Ota
    Salah Mount Maddy Debruyne (V)
    Tammy Wilson(C) Auba

    Button - Cantwell, Lunds, Kelly

    G2G? Thoughts gentlemen?

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

    Better option

    A) Keep Auba and captain Salah, KDB in for free next week.

    B) Auba to Kane C, KDB in for -4 next week.

    Cheers

  22. Jealous Viper
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    G2G?
    Pope
    TAA Digne Soyuncu
    Sterling Maddison Mount Yarmolenko
    Auba Tammy(c) Pukki

    Otamendi Lundstram Cantwell

  23. Jack Burton
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Morning all just a quickie Wilson or Aguero for the cap cheers in advance

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

      Kun.

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

        On him at the moment with KDB back hoping for goals cheers for reply good luck

  24. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ok I have now decided I need a little help with who to put the C armband on;

    • Tammy
    • Stirling
    • Vardy
    • Auba

    Cheers in advance!

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

      Auba

    2. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Vardy for the culture though I'm going Tammy

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

      Sterling

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

    Captain?

    A) Sterling
    B) Vardy
    C) Aubameyang

    1. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

  26. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Hold
    B) Salah to Mane
    C) Salah,Barnes to Maddison,Aubameyang

    Heaton
    TAA Otamendi Soyuncu Tomori
    Salah* Sterling Mount KDB
    Pukki Abrahams

    Pope,Barnes,Lund,Dend

    1. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C is for a 4pt hit

  27. Winston.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Worth doing Pukki —> Wilson FT now, or wait for the next GW to see how they play and to assess if Pukki worth keeping? Thanks.

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

      I would

  28. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is Kane a good one gw captaincy option this gw? Will transfer him for kun (c) next week for city's two home fixtures and triple city attack, then Raz to Mane/Salah..

    1. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If you have a transfer to burn, sure

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

        On a wc

  29. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Starting XI, bench order and (C) OK?

    Ryan
    TAA, Aurier, Mings
    Salah, Sterling(C), Mount, Yarm
    Vardy, Abraham, King

    Button, Cantwell, Diop, Lund

  30. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    One last tinker...which one shall i go for on WC?

    A)
    Ryan (Button)
    TAA, Soy, Ota* (Rico, Lund)
    Mad, KDB, Sterling*, Mount (Cantwell)
    Auba*, Wilson, Abraham

    B)
    Ryan (Button)
    TAA, Soy, Tomori* (Rico, Lund)
    Mad, KDB, Salah*, Mount (Dend)
    Aguero*, Wilson, Abraham

    Basically
    A) Auba, Sterling, Ota
    B) Aguero, Salah, Tomori

    Cheers!