Welcome to the first of our Rate My Wildcard Team articles of the week. These will showcase the thoughts of one of the Fantasy Football Scout moderators and contributors team on their wildcard. Hopefully some of their key issues will mirror your own. Feel free to use this article thread to put forward your wildcard teams and to help others with their wildcard related issues. I’ve picked the short straw to start the first discussion.
My Wildcard Team
Mignolet Robles
Bellerin Gabriel Sakho Jagielka Ward
De Bruyne Sanchez Lingard Coutinho Payet
Mitrovic Lukaku Aguero
0.2m in the bank
Strategy
I’m currently keeping a close eye on price changes and drafting in players I’m considering as they expect to rise and ditching those set for a fall. As it stands Harry Kane, Riyad Mahrez and Christian Fuchs are in my squad but some if not all of them will depart.
Above is the option I’m considering the most, going all out with 15 double players in double Gameweek 34, having three Everton and one Palace player in place for double Gameweek 33 and for double Gameweek 35 I’ve nine players with two transfers to take me to 11. I’m fine taking a hit if an injury lets me down here. I also have six players in place for double Gameweek 37 with a view to fielding 10 to 11 with a hit that Gameweek.
My bench boost will be played in double Gameweek 34 and triple captaincy in double Gameweek 37.
Key issues
Dropping Kane
Given the high price tags of Kevin De Bruyne, Alexis Sanchez, Liverpool midfielders plus Arsenal’s key defender Hector Bellerin, as well as Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane looks unsustainable. Going without him scares me but to put him in I have to make sacrifices across my whole team. I may very well get him back in for Gameweek 35 though if he punishes me too much. However, if dropping Kane for double Gameweeks 33 and 34 I can be safe in the knowledge that no one will captain him. Shunning Kane also allows for De Bruyne, who looked sharp against Bournemouth and has a great home tie in Gameweek 33, certainly on paper more enticing than Kane’s match up with Van Gaal’s all out defence tactics.
Sanchez over Ozil
Alexis Sanchez looks not only to have won this battle but looks to be the best captaincy pick for double Gameweek 34. I’ve seen enough, he’s in my team.
Punting on Mitrovic
I’ve also seen enough of Newcastle to know that they only have one strategy – get the ball to Alexsandar Mitrovic’s head. With two home games I’m hoping (praying) he can outscore Kane. This is a very rare maverick decision for me and I’m getting scared already thinking of being without Harry.
Ignoring Manchester Utd Defenders
Having no Manchester United defender in particular worries me with two great home games. But none are nailed on except David De Gea and the over priced Chris Smalling. De Gea is an option, but requires surgery in Gameweek 35 when I have no goalies. Jesse Lingard looks to be my only Man Utd player.
Jagielka to fly the dullard flag
If I’m not going to get James Milner then Phil Jagielka is the next best thing for this dullard. Members may note though that in terms of goal attempts he may offer some surprises during the doubles.
Leaving Leicester alone
Of my soon to be ditched Leicester pair of Mahrez and Fuchs it is the defender that worries me the most. Offloading Fuchs’ almost now guaranteed clean sheets and bonus each game will be a wrench. He is also outscoring Mahrez on current form. If any single gameweekers stay he is in pole position.
