Every so often the Premier League creates a new goal-scoring star that came to the league for little money or even a free transfer. When Michu signed for Swansea and bagged 22 goals in his debut season, Gary Lineker called him ‘the bargain of the century’. The Spaniard’s goals helped Swansea finish in ninth position in the League and saw them lift the club’s first silverware in their history with a 5-0 League Cup final win over Bradford.
That earned the Swans a place in the Europa League the following season, where Michu scored a memorable goal against Valencia at the Mestalla to give the fans a result they would remember for years.
Even players like Nicolas Anelka came to the Premier League as relatively unknowns. Anelka signed for Arsenal for £500,000 having played just 12 career games, but he quickly showed his eye for goal with 28 goals over two seasons before Real Madrid snapped him up for £22m.
Now it could be Teemu Pukki’s turn after the Finish Striker picked up 5 goals in his first 3 games for Norwich to win the PFA player of the month. No player has ever scored more than 5 in his first three Premier League games, and Pukki’s amazing record show’s that he’s scored with his first shot on target in each of his last eight seasons!
He signed for Norwich on a free transfer last season, scoring 29 goals and being named Norwich’s player of the season as they earned promotion.
Everyone is expecting Norwich to have a tough season and they have had a couple of tough fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea early on, but if Pukki can keep finding the net he could be the man that helps Norwich survive and maybe even get close to the top 10 this season.
They play with a very young team and have a game plan that involves high energy. Teams like Norwich just have to make sure they don’t burn out of steam too early and make sure they get as many points as they can from the get-go.
I’ve seen a trend that teams try to hold on to their style of play that earned them promotion, but then they quickly find out that those same tactics are not good enough in the Premier League.
Stiepermann gives Pukki the support he needs and freedom while Buendia comes up with the creative aspects, and the young talented Cantwell looks like a great prospect. They have a young defense with fullbacks Lewis and Aarons who both love to attack, and if they can keep the good balance of doing less attacking away from home, so they are more solid at the back by helping Godfrey and Zimmerman, they could stay out of trouble.
Daniel Farke has the German style of making sure the team stays fit so they should be able to maintain their high-intensity throughout the season. #mmlove