Pro Pundits - Tom Hadley
8 April 2026 83 comments
Tom Hadley Tom Hadley
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Tom Hadley – a one-time world number one in FPL – joined our ever-growing team of contributors this season.

He usually provides data-driven articles, chiefly around defensive contribution points (DefCon).

But in this piece, he discusses his finalised chip strategy, and what his Gameweek 32 Wildcard looks like.

reliable defenders Tom Hadley

It’s been the topic of debate for about three weeks, and I’ve finally settled on my chip strategy:

  • Gameweek 32: Wildcard
  • Gameweek 33: Bench Boost
  • Gameweek 34: Free Hit

Firstly, I’m not going to say that this chip strategy is strictly better than any other. The best part about the cup results last weekend is that no path is an obvious one. More than ever, the chip strategy decisions are totally team- and situation-dependent.

I have four free transfers and a team that would have been perfectly fine for Gameweek 32. But the double in Gameweek 33 just feels like the perfect opportunity to target the Bench Boost, even more so now that it’s not as ‘template’ as it would have been if Arsenal beat Southampton. I also think that the Gameweek 32 team on the Wildcard isn’t as bad as people make out.

GAMEWEEK 32 WILDCARD TEAM

So, here’s my current Wildcard team, with £2.0m in the bank, and the likely direction I’ll take with transfers:


FPL pre-season: Malen + Watkins again, Xhaka debut, secretive Man City 2
83 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. D_R_S_PORT_S
    • 8 Years
    1 hour, 31 mins ago

    What are the chances of players like Gabriel (BOU), Saliba (BOU), and Ekitike (FUL) being rested this weekend? I’m considering using my Bench Boost this week, as all of my players have decent fixtures and I can also field a full playing XI in Gameweek 34. My plan for Gameweek 33 is to use the Free Hit as I have just 3 doublers as of now.

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 6 mins ago

      Ekitike more likely to be dropped rather than rested. Dreadful tonight

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 5 mins ago

      Maybe Ekitike, but hard to imagine Arsenal benching their CB’s whilst still pushing for the title.

  2. BR510
      1 hour, 13 mins ago

      Best midfielder for gw34 and 35?
      1. Rogers/Aston Villa
      2. Arsenal
      3. Cunha/Mbeumo
      4. Sunderland, West Ham, Forest, Spurs budget mids

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 min ago

        Rice

    • The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 8 mins ago

      One to bench please

      Alderete (TOT) - Home, good for DC
      O’Reilly (che) - away, but good attacking threat, depending on which Chelsea show up.
      Wilson (liv) - away, tough fixture, real attacking threat and Liverpool a bit leaky.

      Ta

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        just now

        Play O'Reilly - getting too many great chances

    • D_R_S_PORT_S
      • 8 Years
      14 mins ago

      Will you do Ekitike to Bowen (-4) ?

    • No price changes
      rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 10 Years
      3 mins ago

      No price changes once again