The FPL Winter Wildcard Discussion – Part 2

With January Wildcards now active, we wanted to offer the community a regular article to look at the key strategies, players and teams we should be considering. This regular article will focus on the thoughts of one of the Fantasy Football Scout team on their winter Wildcard progress. Feel free to help them with any deliberations they have and use this article to post your Wildcard thoughts or Rate My Wildcard Teams (RMWT). Our first article featured my deliberations over a mid-price striker. Next up is Spencer to present his team.

Spencer’s RMWT

Pantilimon – Foster
Lescott – Bertrand – Hutton  – Van Aanholt  – Wisdom
Hazard  – Boyd –  Sigurdsson  – Chadli  – Sánchez
Agüero  – Costa –  Giroud

Goalkeepers

Spencer says: “Since taking the number one jersey at Sunderland in Gameweek 10, Costel Pantilimon has averaged five points a game and has two double-digit scores under his belt. For a 4.5-priced goalkeeper, that is a set of statistics that demands attention. He rotates well with Ben Foster, if you ignore home and away rotation and look at the potential ease of fixtures instead. The West Brom goalkeeper should also benefit from Tony Pulis’s appointment as manager. The former Palace and Stoke boss is renowned for keeping a high number of clean sheets. Which goalkeeper combination do you prefer?

Defence

Spencer says: “I’ve opted for a cheap-as-chips budget defence to ensure I can afford a high number of heavy hitters in midfield and attack. The Pulis effect has affected my thinking here, too, with West Brom’s Joleon Lescott and Andre Wisdom effectively joining Foster in a risky triple defence from the Baggies. The ‘eggs in one basket’ approach continues with the excellently priced Patrick van Aanholt joining Sunderland team-mate Pantilimon in my side. Is this approach foolish or genius?

Midfield

Spencer says: “The benefits of a cheap defence become apparent in my midfield. Eden Hazard is now essential with his strong home statistics, which are beginning to translate into away form as well. Arsenal’s fixtures post-Gameweek 23 look too good to ignore and Alexis Sanchez has proved he is still essential to their play, even if he looked tired over Christmas. With a 3-4-3 formation my preference is  the well-priced George Boyd as a fifth midfielder. Should I be considering 3-5-2 instead?”

Forwards

Spencer says: “Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud is my cheapest attacker. The mid-priced forward is still Arsenal’s best player listed as a forward in the game and certainly doesn’t lack self-confidence. Sergio Aguero’s return is imminent. He is a must-have in my opinion, but his recovery may not come soon enough for this week’s Wildcarders. The final slot goes to Chelsea’s Diego Costa. Granted, he struggles to gain assists and bonus points, but he is the main forward for the Premier League’s best side, a label that still gives him considerable credibility. Am I right in putting my faith in the Chelsea man?”