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. Delph & Safety
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on Jimenez?

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

      A very good pick but not as good as Auba, Vardy, Abraham, Wilson & maybe Pukki.

    2. Alchim1sT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      appealing as a differential ... Wolves seem to be back on track

  2. Pieterke30
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    CHO captain anyone?

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

      brace without being captain is enough for me

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

      You're not gonna captain CHO.

    3. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      no way

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

      Tempting - sounds fun, but CHO/Mount/Tammy(C) is good for me

  3. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A or B

    1. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      c

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

      Don't like either. Rethink.

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

    guys no one answered so reposting.

    thanks

    `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

    1. Lucy2019
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No one answered for a reason.

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

      A

    3. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

        thanks guys. hmmm.... no one for b?

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

      I am on B, with Sterling & KDB, but see you have Kun as well.

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

      A

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

    Son + Greenwood > McGinn + Abraham ?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ya

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

      Yes

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

      McGinn only good for one week. I had him since the start and was always getting rid GW10 becoz the fixtures are taking a turn to the worse.

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

    GTG?

    Pope
    Soy - Lundstram - Rico
    Sterling - KDB (c) - Mount - Son
    Vardy - Haller - Abraham
    (Button - Cantwell - Montoya - Diop)

  7. Super-Anders
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sensible or punty to sell Pukki for King? Free transfer

    1. Lucy2019
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      King is an absolute terrible pick.

      1. Delph & Safety
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Why

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

      Everyone not liking king makes no sense to me. Will
      Move up top now Fraser back, and king is on pens as well

  8. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    No huge premiums on the wc. Let's goo... Left with 1.1m itb

    Hendo
    Lund Perreira TAA
    KDB Mane Mount CHO
    Wilson Vardy Abraham

    (Button, Tierney, Rico, Saka)

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

      Is mane not a huge premium

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Not compared to Salah and Sterling? Maybeee

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

      C?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thinking KDB but scared he won't start

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

          I'd save that for next week if I were you for that reason & because the fixture doesn't appeal that much to me. Could be wrong though, good luck!

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Benching Tierney?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        For this week ya.

    4. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Really nice side TS. Captain?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        KDB atm 🙂

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

      Like it.
      Some nice differentials there.

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Fanks

    6. Alchim1sT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      i quite like it! my preferreed frontline i couldnt afford ^^

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers mate, what you gone with?

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

    Who would you trust with the armband?

    Sterling
    Tammy
    Vardy
    Yarm

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

      Tam

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

      Sterling or Tammy.

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

      Sterling out of them 4 mate, then probably tammy

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

      Cheers all

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

    1) pukki to wilson ( start zinc)
    2) zinc + greenwood to 4.1 + Wilson (-4)
    3) zinc + pukki to dunk + Wilson (-4)

    1. Alchim1sT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      3

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

    Please rank the following options for captaincy:

    A) Abraham
    B) Sterling
    C) KDB
    D) Auba
    E) Vardy

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

      In the order presented.

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

        Then Abraham or Sterling? That is the question!

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

          Abraham based on both form & fixture for me. Don't trust Sterling right now as much as he could bring home a monster haul. Good luck mate!

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

    I genuinely think all the big City assets will start today, god bless you all

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

    WC 6094 look ok?

    Pope (button)
    TAA Soy Rico (Kelly Lunn)
    Salah Sterling Kdb CHO (Dendonc)
    Tammy (c)Wilson Jimi

    Thanks

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      McGovern

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

        Krul back in training this week.

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      V nice mate

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

        Thanks

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Thoughts on mine above?

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

            Like it.
            Some nice differentials

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

      very similar to mine except I have Kun, looks good

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

        Cheers

    4. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nice side and interesting defence

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

        Thanks.
        Yeah bit cheap but dont have a great TV so will reassess later.

  14. Delph & Safety
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Rico nailed?

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

      For the time being. This weekend yes, in the long run? Probably not

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

      probably a starter for now but not nailed on

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

      nailed enough

    4. Delph & Safety
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hmm ok cheers.

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

    Captain?

    A - Tammy
    B - Kun

    Been on Tammy all week but I’m starting to doubt myself as I think Newcastle will come and put 11 men behind the ball which worries me.

    City looking to bounce back. Aguero well rested. Jesus just back from international duty.

    Realistically both will play around 70-80 minutes. Torn.

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

      A

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

      men think Jesus starts ..

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

      You sold Aguero there, but Palace can be stubborn,

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

    A) vardy king
    B) Maddison wilson

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

      B

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

      b

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

    Hi All

    Play McGinn (BHA H) or Pukki (Bou A)

    Thanks!

    1. JRO093
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Must play both surely!?

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

        I have Mount, Mane, Sterling, KDB, Wilson and Abraham

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

      Pukki

  18. Raf
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Have I got this bench right?!

    Pope

    Soy taa tomori
    Mane mount kdb McGinn
    Wilson vardy Tammy

    Button Maddison ota Lundstram

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

      is this a wildcard team?

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

        Yep

  19. Daghe Munegu
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Son to KDB for free? Yes or no?

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

      Yea

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

      Keep.. WAT next

  20. JRO093
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bench 1!

    A) Cantwell - fit again away vs leaky Bournemouth defense. I don’t have Pukki

    B) Boly - at home vs Southampton for a resurgent Wolves (maybe?)

    C) Ota - away at Palace. City obviously the best team and can’t see who is supposed to score from Palace?

    Heeeelpp!! 🙂

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

      A

    2. Alchim1sT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  21. andrinho
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is KDB & Wilson in for Pukki & Wilson worth 4 point hit?

    1. JRO093
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Second Wilson is the midfielder? If so yes clearly

  22. jackhammer1
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A. Maddy
    B. Jimmy

    1. JRO093
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

    With Ceballos, do I?

    A - Save the FT, see how he gets on away to SHU and think about getting him out with the luxury of 2 FTs next week
    B - Switch to CHO
    C - Switch to Yarmolenko

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

      C

    2. Alchim1sT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B or C ... C if you got already Mount and Abraham

  24. paza12
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    WC Team, gtg?

    Ryan, Mcgovern
    Soy, Rico, Boly, Tomori, Lundo
    Sterling, De Bruyne, Maddison, Mount, Mcginn
    Auba, Abraham, Wilson

    0.8 ITB. Cheers.

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

      Looks good

      Who you benching?

      1. paza12
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thats the next question! Either Mcginn or Maddison?

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

          Lol, for what it’s worth I’ve benched Maddison.

  25. markmcr
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Abraham (NEW) or Vardy (BUR) captain??

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

      Abraham

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

      Vardy

  26. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Mahrez, Jimenez, Lowton
    B) CHO, Vardy, Tierney

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

      B if you think Tierney starts league games

    2. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A just

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B easily

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

    Kun or Auba on WC?

    Why?

    (I have KDB alongside Auba currently who I’ve gained 0.1 on)

    1. Kasper the ghost keeper
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Currently have Aubamayang but tempted to go Kane this week then choose between Auba and Aguero next week

  28. The Count of Monte Cristo
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Save FT
    B) Digne —> Soyuncu / Tomori
    C) Other

    Pope
    VVD - Otamendi - Digne
    Salad - Sterling (c) - KDB - Mount - Cantwell
    C. Wilson - Pukki

    Button - Rico - Lundstram - Greenwood [1FT + 0.4m ITB]

  29. GuillermoDickero
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Think I'm there...

    Thoughts on this WC draft?

    Pope, McGovern
    Trent, Soy, Tomori, Rico, Lundstram
    Sterling, Mane, KDB, Maddison, Mount
    Wilson, Abraham, Connolly

    1. Alchim1sT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      g2g

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

    Pukki captain anyone? 😀

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Who do you have atm? Vardy?