Moving Target

Moving Target – Andre Wisdom

West Brom boss Alan Irvine continued to restructure his first-team squad for the season ahead with the acquisition of Andre Wisdom on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool:

The 21-year-old is the sixth player to arrive at The Hawthorns since Irvine took the helm earlier this summer and, as the new manager admitted, his adaptability affords the Baggies options at the back:

“I’m delighted to welcome Andre to the club. I’ve spoken to Brendan Rodgers, who I’ve known for a very long time and who I trust implicitly. He said Andre would do a good job for us. That was reassuring. He’s a versatile lad. He’s played as a right-back for Liverpool in the Premier League last season, he also played as a full-back for Derby. He grew up as a centre-back and played on the left side of central defence for Liverpool against Preston on Saturday.”

The History

Yorkshire-born Wisdom started his career with Bradford City’s youth team before being snapped up by Liverpool at the age of 14. After progressing through the Merseysiders’ youth system, he was finally afforded a senior debut by Brendan Rodgers in 2012/13 and, after playing 22 times across all competitions, scoring once and chipping in with a pair of assists, was farmed out on loan to Derby County in October 2013.

Utilised exclusively as a right-back by Steve McLaren, Wisdom was nailed-on for the Championship outfit. Serving up a trio of assists over 37 appearances, he helped The Rams to the Wembley Play-Off Final against QPR back in May, where, despite dominating for much of the match, they fell to a 1-0 defeat.

At international level, Wisdom has represented England at every youth level, from Under-16 to Under-21, on a total of 37 occasions and has found the net three times.

The Prospects

A peripheral figure at Anfield, the move has immediately brought Wisdom onto Fantasy managers’ radars due to his budget price-tag across the Fantasy games. Available for a mere 4.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and 5.2 in the Sky Sports Fantasy game, there’s a hope that the youngster could cement a starting berth for The Baggies as Irvine looks to improve upon a dire previous season which saw the club finish just three points clear of the drop zone.

Handed a start at right-back on his debut against Sacramento Republic at the weekend, Wisdom played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 win as Irvine’s side triumphed for the fourth successive outing this summer. Whilst Fantasy suitors will be delighted with his start, the imminent arrival of Costa Rican international defender Cristian Gamboa suggests that Wisdom faces a real battle for the right-back berth as Irvine looks to strengthen following the departures of Billy Jones and Steven Reid over the summer.

However, with the 4.0-priced Chris Baird also offering an option in central midfield and right-back, the situation is far from clear right now. Whilst Irvine has cited the youngster’s versatility as key, The Baggies are not short of alternatives in central defence – new boy Joleon Lescott is favourite to get the nod after quitting champions City for the Midlands, whilst Gareth McAuley, Jonas Olsson and Craig Dawson are also in the mix.

Intriguingly, though, the local press reckon that the incoming Gamboa could be earmarked for an occasional role on the right of midfield. Pacier than Wisdom, he was used as a wing-back during Costa Rica’s recent World Cup campaign and could offer more from an attacking point of view – certainly, if such a scenario transpires, he could well be the best option from Irvine’s defence.

Certainly, five of West Brom’s first six home fixtures (SUN, EVE, BUR, CPL, NEW) suggest defensive returns could be on the cards, thus strengthening their appeal as cheap rotation options. Wisdom, undoubtedly, has the potential to be a very budget-friendly FPL option for the season ahead, though with a number of ifs and buts still surrounding the Baggies’ likely back-four, Fantasy managers may be best keeping a keen eye on Irvine’s intentions before acquiring the youngster with any degree of conviction.

Further Reference

Andre Wisdom Wikipedia

Andre Wisdom Transfer Markt Page

Andre Wisdom You Tube Highlights

Andre Wisdom First West Brom Interview

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

2,089 Comments Post a Comment
  1. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hi please can you gentlemen RMT. I have tinkered with it since the opening of FPL this season but just can't stick to something.

    Krul

    Cameron Jones Davies

    Sterling (c) Snodgrass Sanchez Mata

    Rooney Costa Dzeko

    Open Controls
    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Good team for gw 1 But C Sterling very punty

      Open Controls
      1. El Matador
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        True.. I was also swaying towards Hazard De Jong Mata Sanchez Roo Dzeko Giroud?

        Open Controls
    2. Mane Of Steel
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      good team weak defence though... love the three up top though.

      Open Controls
    3. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Solid team. Captain one of the front three. Cameron isn't nailed on. Contrary to popular opinion, I'd like to wait before picking Bavies. 5.0 is a lot for a defense that includes Kaboul.

      Open Controls
  2. Liam75
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hi, Can someone RMT?

    DDG/(Krul)
    Debuchy/Luis/Davies(Wisdom/Targett)
    Sanchez/Mata/Siggy/Coutinho(Albrighton)
    Rooney/Giroud/Dzeko

    Not sure whether to stick with Giroud, or drop to a 442 and get Hazard in somehow?

    Open Controls
    1. Mane Of Steel
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      solid team all around... i would drop giroud though becuase sanchez will be the man scoring imo.

      Open Controls
      1. Coaly
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        for who?

        Open Controls
    2. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I dropped Giroud for Jelavic to get Hazard in. Now much happier with my team 🙂
      Krul/Forster
      Terry/Ben Davis/Naylor/Vlaar/Chester
      Sanchez/Hazard/Siggy/Mata/Gaston Ramirez
      Rooney/Dzeko/Jelavic

      Open Controls
  3. drag95
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Guys any alternatives to Pelle?
    Not really sure of him banging them in, team's crumbling

    Open Controls
    1. drag95
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Is Lambert nailed on to start?

      Open Controls
    2. Mane Of Steel
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      i had him on my squad and then got rid of him as i saw the whole team being sold and just way to many new players including him. yes he will get some goals but the safer option would be to pick up somebody better like dzeko or even remy now that remy is not going to pool.

      Open Controls
  4. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Coloccini/better newc def for same price, or Vlaar?

    Vlaar is getting thrown around a lot on here but I'm not sure why? Newc have better fixtures (except the opener) and a better team

    Open Controls
    1. The_Smoking_Salmon
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Coloccini is supposed to benefit greatly from the new BPS.

      Open Controls
  5. The_Smoking_Salmon
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Are people still looking at Dzeko to start game 1?

    Open Controls
    1. KOKAK
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, and more.

      Open Controls
  6. KOKAK
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sale, Sale, Sale! All Southampton players are up for grabs including their stadium, coaching staff and everything else they own!? Who in their sane mind would sell an entire team that was fighting in the top half of last season? Hope they get relegated and never return to the top flight. :-{{

    Open Controls
    1. KOKAK
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      :-Z

      Open Controls
      1. KOKAK
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        ;o Anyone, angry emoticon please!

        Open Controls
  7. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    With Per Mer out, Chambers is nailed on for the 1st week or two if the Verminator is picked up the ManU/Pool, right? Some one get him dang it. Will solve a lot of problems.

    Open Controls
    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      They won't sell him without buying a replacement

      Open Controls
      1. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        This is Arsenal we are talking about. I'm sure Wenger has plenty of faith in Bellerin, Hayden and Jenkinson.

        Open Controls
  8. fitzochris
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    I added Wisdom to my team, but in a bench role. I'm new to this, so would a more seasoned pro RMT?

    Thanks.

    Mannone

    Pocognoli Shaw Debuchy

    de Jong Nasri Sánchez Lamela

    Rooney Pellè Diego Costa

    Pantilimon Albrighton Wisdom Targett

    Open Controls
    1. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      too punty, too many peripheral players that may not play the full 90: Lamela, Nasri and Pellé.

      Open Controls
  9. Teh Rmy
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hello 🙂

    What do you guys think of this team?

    Mannone (Krul)

    Debuchy Jagielka Shaw (Wisdom, Targett) -< Subs punty, I know

    Sanchez Hazard Mirallas Eriksen Albrighton

    Dzeko Rooney (c) (Nugent

    Thanks in advance 🙂

    Open Controls
  10. beardsae
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Please RMT ladies and gents

    Howard, Krul

    Ward, Wisdom, Filipe Luis, Cameron, Debuchy

    Coutinho, Ramsey, Henderson, Hazard, Arnautovic

    Sturridge, Bony, Weimann

    I want to have 3 Liverpool players for sure because they are my team so that's the only requirement. I'm flexible on which ones I have though.

    Open Controls
  11. rjhotspur
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Any advice?

    Begovic Fabianski

    Debuchy Luis Evans Cameron Wisdom

    Ramsey Barkley Markovic deJong Albrighton

    Rooney Costa Dzeko

    Also:
    A: deJong + Rooney, or
    B: Mata + Giroud?

    Thanks

    Open Controls