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. Lucas8406
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captains this week?
    Probably gonna go for Sterling or Abraham

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

      wilson

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

      Abraham of those two

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Have it on Sterling atm.

    4. You've got red on you.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Auba I think

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

      Abraham

    6. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      CWilson

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

      Kane. 90%

    8. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      KDB

    9. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling for me, i dont trust Bournemouth

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

      On Aguero at the moment

    11. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wilson for me

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

      Torn between Sterling and Vardy

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

    Pick one:
    A) Auba, Maddison, TAA
    B) Wilson, Sterling, Boly

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  3. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Final WC pieces please! 🙂

    A) Auba Dunk 0.9 ITB - I’ve gained 0.1 on Auba
    B) Aguero Kelly 0.2 ITB - won’t play Kelly for a while due to fix. Kun rotation?

    Pope
    TAA Soyuncu Dunk*
    Mane KDB Mount Maddison
    Auba Abraham Wilson
    —McGovern Rico Lundstram Dendoncker

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

      I'm doing B bro

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

      both pretty good, I'd probably be happier captaining Kun tbh but not much in it

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

      Auba for me

  4. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who would you prefer from next gameweek:

    A Sterling and Pukki (Have KDB)
    B Auba and Maddison

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

      B

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

      A

  5. Lumberjack
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Last WC decision...

    A - Sterling + Connolly
    B - Kun + Dendo

    Ta

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

      I'm going B as I think 343 is supreme

    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      Same decision but A lets me have tomori instead of 4.5

    4. Lumberjack
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks folks. Was on A, not so sure now!

  6. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Best option?

    A. Pukki > Jimi
    B. Salah > Mane
    C. Save

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

      C

    2. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Save

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

    Starting XI, bench order OK?

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

    Button, Cantwell, Diop, Lund

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

      Ming's on borrowed time

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

        Diop or Lund a better option?

  8. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pukki >
    A - Vardy
    B- C.Wilson
    C- Keep

    1. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C

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

      b

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

      A

  9. boroie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ceballos to

    A - Yarmolenko
    B - CHO
    C - Save FT

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

      A

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If Cho nails his place could be huge differential

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

    Am I ready?

    Pope
    TAA/Ota/Tomori/Soy
    Mane/KDB/Mount
    Auba/Abraham/Wilson (c)

    Button/Cantwell/Lund/Hayden

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

    `guys option a)

    `get Mane and give him the `utd game and see whether KDB is actually fit and there is no set back.

    next week mane to kdb

    after fixtures clear for liv sterling to mane and keep kdb long term

    option b), forget the above and go maneless from the start and just get kdb

    have sterling and aguero already so it's not like that i won't have any city at all. i kind of like to have balance and little bit liv as well

    cheers

  12. Paddy Gooner
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain a)Auba or b) Wilson ???

    1. Sid07
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

        b

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

      b

  13. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    1) pukki to wilson for free ( start zinc)
    2) zinc + greenwood to 4.1 + Wilson (-4)

    1. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would do 2, as I think pukki's still got some goals in him. I Have had Pukki and Wilson since GW1 ... also greenwood maybe getting more game time now.

      1. Sid07
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        What about
        Zinc + pukki to dunk + wilson(-4)

        1. Paddy Gooner
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          i'd say that looks good.

  14. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would you be getting Mane or Salah on a WC?

    If Mane, would you be getting him as well if they cost the same?

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

      Yes

      But they don't and that's the point.

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

      Neither. Triple city attack

      I look forward to regretting this

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

      nothing in it really, still like Salah being on some corners and pens - but hard to ignore the scoring record of both this calendar year - toss for it or just pick the cheapest one

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

      mane yes

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

    Captain headache:

    A) Aguero cpl
    B) KDB cpl
    C) Sterling cpl
    D) Abraham BHA
    E) Wilson NOR

  16. Nigawan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hey guys, any comment on my WC team ?

    a) Cresswell, Maddison & Wilson
    b) Otamendi, Traore & Vardy

    Ryan-McGovern
    Rico - TAA- ***- Lund- Söyüncü
    Sterling- KDB- Saka- Mount- ***
    Auba- ***- Tammy

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

      a

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

    Sterling scored 2 in the last season Cpl vs Mcl match...Plus he has only returned in away matches this season as teams dont park bus at home...Lastly Mcity need to win this to have chance of epl title with Liv vs Manutd on Sunday looking a dropping points pit

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

      All points to Sterling Captain...Tammy will score but I dont like the erratic feel this young chelsea side bring

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

        I want to join u and repeat gw 1 heroics when I captained him for the hat-trick . but that poll results scares me little bit

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

          Thate exactly reason I want to switch. Not once did I get good captain returns in first 7gws

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

      but palace will park the bus...

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

        They dont and dont have player profile for it. I am sure KDB will start which edges Sterling c for me as that belgian creates the most beautiful chanced in epl for easy sterling tap ins against mediocre Wars

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

          Ward*

  18. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    G2G?

    Pope
    VVD, Digne, Soy
    Sterling (c), KDB, Lanzini, Dendoncker, Mount
    Kane, Abraham

  19. The King
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would appreciate a yay or nay

    1. The King
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah and Pukki to Mane and Pukki for -4 cheers!

      1. The King
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Salah and Pukki to mane and c Wilson* haha

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

          Nay.

        2. Paddy Gooner
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Bandwagon decision

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

        Pukki to pukki ? may - be...

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

      Nay

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

        yeah for wilson not for pukkyu

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

      nay. maybe after this gw as Bou has third worst defence after norwich and newC

  20. FPL Ultras
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Choose one please (on wildcard):

    A) Maddison, Vardy
    B) Traore, Kane

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

      easy A for me

      1. FPL Ultras
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Currently on A too but Kane option is tempting

      2. FPL Ultras
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks!

    2. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

      1. FPL Ultras
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks!

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

      traore scored only last time in 1 year period

      1. FPL Ultras
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Agree. The other option is Jimenez but I don't want to get rid of Vardy for him.

  21. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is Europa League not a worry for those who have Jimi in?

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

    When's the city presser?

    Have we got any more info/clues on who might be starting?

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

      want to know this too. checking men as well

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

    A) Pope + Gazza
    B) Pope + Button + 0.4

    1) Cantwell
    2) Dendo + 0.3

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

      B1

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

      B2 unless you're gonna end up transferring Cantwell back in in a few weeks.

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

      Thanks!

  24. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    CAPTAIN?

    1. Tammy
    2. Callum

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      2

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

      To me, this comes down to personal mindset. Both are top picks, but it depends on whether you prioritise the quality players' attacking stats OR the lack of quality in opposing defences when picking a captain. For me it's the former, so Tammy.

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

      1 for me

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

      2

  25. farmerfat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is there breakfast club this morning ?

  26. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Maddison or D.Silva?

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

      Maddison

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

        thanks

  27. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Any consensus re kun v Tammy (c) this week?

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

      ive got it on tammy atm. Just guaranteed to start

  28. United10
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play 1
    a) Zinchenko
    b) Cantwell

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

      zinch

  29. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    team gtg?

    Pope
    TAA Otta Soyuncu
    Sterling KDB Mount Yarmolenko
    Vardy (c) Auba Tammy
    Button Rico Cantwell Lunds

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

      not sure about Vardy C but apart from that I like it

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

        thanks feels like a good week to roll the dice a bit. Plus he has a nice 2 weeks rest

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

    Salah >
    A- KDB
    B- Mane
    I have Sterling & Kün BTW

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

      A is what I did

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

      Mane