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FPL Gameweek 5 Wildcard: Pros, cons + best drafts

15 September 2025 297 comments
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In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of a Gameweek 5 Wildcard.

We’ll also present a few draft ideas that take into account both the form of Erling Haaland (£14.1m) and the increase in clean sheets.

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have until the Gameweek 19 deadline to use the first Wildcard.

Don’t forget that you can get your Wildcard team rated via our Rate My Team tool or Plan FPL!

GAMEWEEK 5 WILDCARD: THE PROS

FPL notes: Haaland “better than ever” + Foden central 4

Get Haaland

Erling Haaland has already been bought by almost 170,000 managers this week, having climbed to the top of the FPL player standings on Sunday.

The Norwegian is set to face Burnley in Gameweek 6, with a favourable set of fixtures to follow against Brentford, Everton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

If you’ve had enough of seeing him haul, a Wildcard is a chance to buy him through the redistribution of Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) funds or otherwise.

It’s also important to remember that you can’t use two chips in the same Gameweek, so if you want to Triple Captain Haaland against Burnley, you might need to Wildcard now.

Switch to a back four/five

With clean sheets becoming more prevalent, this could be an opportune time to start playing a back four or even a back five formation.

Notably, eight of the top 15 points scorers in FPL so far this season are defenders.

The impact of defensive contributions (DefCons) is clear, so allocating more budget to your backline may be a wise decision.

Rejuvenate your squad

If you haven’t got off to a good start, a Gameweek 5 Wildcard can help rejuvenate your squad.

This could be beneficial if you own underperforming players like Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) and Ollie Watkins (£8.9m), or rotation risks such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.4m) and Brennan Johnson (£7.1m).

A Wildcard offers a chance to resolve these issues in a free-hit manner.

Increase team value

This week will likely see lots of price rises and falls, so team value can be enhanced by ditching the droppers and jumping on bandwagons like Antoine Semenyo (£7.5m).

You can monitor these changes using Live FPL’s price change predictions tool.

GAMEWEEK 5 WILDCARD: THE CONS

 

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  1. DavvaMC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Wirtz needs to go but who for? Maybe a cheaper midfielder in preparation for getting Haaland in.

    A. Caicedo
    B. KDH
    C. Who else

    Current midfield is

    Salah / Wirtz / Semenyo / Rogers / Reijnders

    Thanks

    Open Controls
    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Eze

      Get ahead of the curve

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      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Yeah Eze, next two fixtures though are tough.

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        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 months, 2 days ago

          Even better

          In some ways for the top players and a differential still

          Of sorts, 12% owned but not on these pages.

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  2. BigDan1995
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Sanchez vs ManU or Dubravaka vs Nott?

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    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Dubravka

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    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Dub

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      1. BigDan1995
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Thanks.

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    3. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Dub

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  3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Bench Sarr, Johnson to Semenyo the best move here?

    Sels (Dubravka)
    VdV Diouf Rodon Esteve (DeCuyper)
    Salah Gakpo Reijnders Johnson (Sarr)
    Haaland Watkins (Gulu)

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    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Which Sarr?

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      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Ismaila

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        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • 9 Years
          10 months, 2 days ago

          Yeah good moves

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    2. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Like it

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  4. Miguel Sanchez
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Which one to sell for Palmer?

    A) Kudus
    B) Gakpo

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    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      A

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      A

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    3. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      A

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    4. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      A

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    5. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      10 months, 2 days ago

      B, Gakpo might get benched later

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  5. Meta12345
    • 1 Year
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Any help to what to do here? 1 ft , wc used, fh used, 0.7 itb. Murillo and JSL flagged.

    Dubravka
    Esteve Lacroix Andersen
    Salah Semenyo Stach Mitoma
    JSL Evanilson Haaland

    Kelleher Reijnders Murillo Tarkowski

    Murillo seems fine but JSL doesnt. JSL to muñiz perhaps?

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      I can understand holding Salah for the Everton match, but that's usually low scoring and fwiw it's the early KO too.

      I'd sell Salah and JSL as it gives you so many more options. A Newcastle or Arsenal striker for example, or Pedro + 1?

      I'd also probably start Tark despite the fixture at Anfield on Saturday.

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      1. Meta12345
        • 1 Year
        10 months, 2 days ago

        You have too much faith in that everton defense. Remember they are without brantwhaite and tottenham trashed them 4-0 without him last season. If i sell salah I wont have a genuine captain option.

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    2. Mr Turnip 1
      • 1 Year
      10 months, 2 days ago

      You could start Murillo if he’s fit tbf, and Tark almost certainly gets DefCon if not. Then you could roll this week and actually but a decent striker with 2 FT next week. Don’t like Muniz cos of rotation risk

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      1. Meta12345
        • 1 Year
        10 months, 2 days ago

        I think I am bringing muñiz in for the next 3 if JSL is confirmed out of gw5. 3 starts out of 4 is good enough for muñiz. Plus jimenez was the one that started in the carabao cup.

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  6. Radulfo28773
    • 4 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Play Raya or Dubravka next GW?

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    1. GeminiNeil
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 28 days ago

      That is my dilemma... could go either way...

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  7. Radulfo28773
    • 4 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Bench two:
    a - Cucurella
    b - Van de Ven
    c - Senesi
    d - Guehi
    Bench one
    1 - Grealish
    2 - Reijnders

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    1. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Tough. ac2.

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      1. Radulfo28773
        • 4 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Thanks mate

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  8. Pompel
    • 12 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Why no love for Palmer in GW5 wildcard drafts - I think he could be a nice differential , with possible switch to Saka if wanted

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Where is the consistency? Not worth 10.4.

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      1. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Just seeing he has decent point totals from last two seasons

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    2. MJF
      10 months, 2 days ago

      The fact he wasn’t fit to start at the weekend and now faces two games a week puts me off.

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      1. Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Good points

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  9. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Gakpo with four 90 min games. Think he’s as nailed as Salah.

    Will be moving Salah to Gakpo to get Haaland next GW

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    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      That's what I did on my GW3 WC.

      Also took out Sels, Milenkovic, Rodon, Esteve, Rogers, Palmer, Fulkrug and Guiu.

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    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      He’s only been nailed because Isak hasn’t been in the picture.

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    3. Mother Farke
      • 2 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Saying this before Champions League rotation kicks in is a flex haha

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    4. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Isak hasn't played a minute yet - and it won't be for Salah when he does

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  10. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    @Tom, Bogarde to get a run with his performance and all the injuries?

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  11. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Got a few bench dilemma this week. Who would you start?

    1) Sels (bur)
    2) Dubravka (NFO)

    And which THREE (minimum 2 defs) from:
    A) Richards (whu)
    B) Reinildo (AVL)
    C) Esteve (NFO)
    D) N.Williams (bur)
    E) Reijnders (ars)
    F) KDH (liv)

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Sels Richards Williams

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      1 A & E , then C

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  12. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Is this bench good enough for a BB this week?

    Dubravka Senesi Stach Gudmundsson

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yes

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    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yes

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  13. Bigler
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Should I WC this team? 2ft 0.3itb

    Sels
    Porro Milenkovic Andersen Richards
    Salah Bruno Wirtz Rogers
    Watkins Bowen

    Dubravka Reijnders VDV Guiu

    Thanks!

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    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Nah not imo, maybe start Dubravka to split the risk this week and focus on getting Haaland for GW6

      I have a similar team and looking to save FT one more, then Salah, Wirtz and Bowen out for Palmer, Haaland +1

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yes

      6 of the first 11 could easily go

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    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Next week

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    4. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Definitely, more or less than same team I had before I pulled the trigger

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  14. Acer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Another great captain choice from the ‘experts’ this week. He has looked poor for weeks and was very jammy to get a pen in the 95th minute. I would trust Haaland more at the moment for sure.

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    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      You trusting Haaland at the Emirates?

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    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      ARS ain't MUN

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    3. MJF
      10 months, 2 days ago

      I thought about capping Salah but when I listened to United on the radio the previous week v Burnley I felt they sounded pretty vulnerable, so went Haaland.

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  15. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    A) Watkins to Gyokeres or Pedro
    B) Get a defcon defender
    C) WC
    D) Roll

    Dubravka
    Williams VdV Cucurella
    Salah Semenyo Dango Kudos Rejinders
    Haaland Watkins

    Subs Verbruggen Guiu Diof Esteve

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Roll

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  16. goneill79
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Any Wolves fans around care to share views on H Bueno & R Gomes?

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  17. dshv
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Senesi or Guehi on wildcard

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Both if possible

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Guehi

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    3. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Senesi.

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  18. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Leave Timber and Johnson on the bench this week?

    Raya

    Porro Muñoz VDV

    Mbeumo Paqueta Gakpo Semenyo(c)

    Pedro Wood Haaland

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    1. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yes

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      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Thanks

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        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 13 Years
          10 months, 2 days ago

          Start Raya or Dubravka?

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          1. Stranger Mings
            • 5 Years
            10 months, 2 days ago

            Raya

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            1. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 13 Years
              10 months, 2 days ago

              Cheers bud

              Open Controls
  19. Vasshin
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    If you’re using your wildcard, will you transfer your 5.5 attacking defenders( Munoz, Porro) to 4.5 or 5.0 CB’s with more defcon like Lacroix, Senesi, vdb to ugrade your mid/forwards?

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    1. MJF
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yeah I think I am going mainly 4.5s with perhaps one 6.1 (Gabriel).

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yes

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  20. MJF
    10 months, 2 days ago

    I know a GW5 WC is early by most people’s standards but I’ve played mine in either 2 or 3 for years, holding out this long is quite an achievement for me!

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    1. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      I am waiting

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  21. El_meak
    • 2 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Is this wildcard team good to go?
    Sanchez
    Van de ven, senesi, guehi, konsa
    Semenyo, Palmer, Salah, Reijnders
    J Pedro, Haaland

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    1. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yeh

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    2. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Try with 3 strikers imo.

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  22. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Bench boost gw 5.. yes or no:

    Dubravka - Senesi - Elliott - Stach

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Yeah, that’s more than decent to be fair. Newcastle could be tired and Senesi good for attacking returns and defcons. The rest are all good fixtures

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    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Not sure, will Elliott get enough minutes?

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    3. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      No.
      Better options.later.

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      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        When?

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  23. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Will likely sell Johnson in GW6.

    Which is more appealing?

    Xavi (h) to Wolves

    Doku (h) to Burnley

    Grealish (h) to West Ha

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    1. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Grealish

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Grealish

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  24. aleksios
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Comfused on what to do here .
    1 fr 4.5itb.

    --Dubravka
    --Saliba--Ballard--Cash
    -Rejnders--Semenyo--Cunha-Ndoye
    --Haaland--Ekitike--Gyokeres

    --Petrovic--Dorgu--Lewis--King.

    1. Cunha to Gakpo
    2. Lewis to Romero-Munoz
    3. Both for a hit.
    4. Cunha to Palmer.

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    1. Fiasco da Gama
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Probably 8 players need to go now or soon. Total mess. Save a transfer and pray. Wildcard if possible.

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  25. MrMartini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Hi all, advice on the below WC dilemmas would be much appreciated.
    A- 2 of VDV, Senesi, anderson (Ful), other 4.5/4.6 def?
    B- petrovic+ reijnders/Paqueta
    Or
    C- Sanchez+ Andersen (Nfo), other 5.5 mid

    Many thanks.

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    1. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Vdv-Senesi.

      C with Caicedo.

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      1. MrMartini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Thanks for the reply, caicedo is a good shout.seems to be more attacking than i thought.

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  26. Iwobi-wan kenobi
    10 months, 2 days ago

    What would you do with my team? Bench boost or who to sub?
    Gk: Vicario, Duvravka
    Def: Munoz, Virgirl, Senesi, Gudmunssom, cucurella
    Mid: Semenyo, Kudus, Gakpo, Grealish, Paqueta
    Fwd: Haaland, JP, Mateta

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    1. Salarrivederci
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      BB

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  27. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Actually, is Ndiaye a better pick than Grealish?

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    1. Iwobi-wan kenobi
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Hes on a knock

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      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Will be buying Johnson replacement for GW6 so guessing Ndiaye will be fine by then.

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      For goals and Gw8

      Grealish for assist and possible goals too

      It's close

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  28. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    If you had to choose, would you keep:

    Bruno (CHE, bre, SUN)
    Or
    Wirtz (EVE, pal, che)?

    Cheers

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    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Keep Bruno

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    2. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Bruno

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    3. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Bruno

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    4. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Bruno

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    5. NoOneCares
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Both crap but Bruno.

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  29. Pompel
    • 12 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Want to ship Ait-Nouri before price drop tonight. Best defender for next three, before WC'ing (have Arsenal and Chelsea covered):

    A) Virgil
    B) VVD
    C) Romero
    D) Senesi
    E) Guehi

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    1. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      A

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    2. NoOneCares
      10 months, 2 days ago

      Chelsea covered? Their defence is garbage.

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      1. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        yeah, but getting rid of Ait-Nouri is priority - and nice upcoming fixtures from GW8

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  30. DavvaMC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 2 days ago

    Who do you think is the better replacement for Wirtz?

    A. Caciedo
    B. Xavi
    C. KDH
    D. Foden

    Thanks

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    1. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      B

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      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Thanks.

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    2. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      B

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    3. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      B then d

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      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 2 days ago

        Thanks

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    4. Ball Ake
      • 2 Years
      10 months, 2 days ago

      D particularly if Marmoush is out for a while

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