Pro Pundits - Tom
12 September 2026 36 comments
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In his latest article, five-time top 1k finisher Tom Freeman shows us his Gameweek 4 Wildcard squad.

He also discusses some of the main decisions to be taken.


BRUNO F OR HAALAND, BUT NOT BOTH

As I plan to Bench Boost in Gameweek 5, including both Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) and Erling Haaland (£15.5m) in my squad isn’t really an option, given the need for depth.

I’ve been going back and forth on which player to include throughout the week.

In my video with Joe on Tuesday, I was really keen on a ‘no-Haaland’ draft, which looked like this:

However, since then, I’ve switched to Haaland, in part due to captaincy.

GameweekNo Bruno F captaincy planNo Haaland captaincy plan
4Palmer (HUL)Palmer (HUL)
5Haaland (SUN)Fernandes (ful)
6Palmer (BOU)Palmer (BOU)
7Haaland (IPS)Fernandes (lee)
8Palmer (TOT)Fernandes (BOU)
9Haaland (BHA)Palmer (MUN)
10Haaland (nfo)Fernandes (AVL)
11Haaland (FUL)Palmer (LEE)

The ‘no-Haaland’ captaincy plan actually looks okay until Gameweek 7, but after that, it doesn’t look quite so robust.

Now, Manchester City play Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain just before Gameweek 7, so Haaland could of course be rested, but I’m hesitant to rely on that assumption, as he may very well start, too.

I do have three free transfers banked, which opens up another route to bring Haaland in. However, restructuring my squad so soon after a Wildcard doesn’t quite feel right.

This is why I am now leaning towards including Haaland.

Dropping Fernandes admittedly doesn’t feel great, especially with Fulham away next week, but it was always the plan to Bench Boost in Gameweek 5 and spread the funds, so I’m just going to see how it plays out.

BENCH BOOST OPTIONS


36 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. ALegendJ
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 7 mins ago

    Any Fulham fans here can tell me best defender to go for?

    Full-backs seem at risk of possible rotation and Bassey no attacking threat and no defcon

    1. Henry Paradise
      1 hour, 41 mins ago

      There D is terrible, stay away

      1. ALegendJ
        • 12 Years
        1 hour, 13 mins ago

        I'm on WC, happy to have one on the bench until GW6

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      1 hour, 12 mins ago

      I'm looking at Robinson for GW6 WC...

      1. ALegendJ
        • 12 Years
        just now

        Yes I am on WC4 now, with an eye on 6. Not worried about Robinson minutes?

    3. Nico.
      • 13 Years
      53 mins ago

      Not a fan but an avid researcher. The first choice backline is the one that has been starting the last 2 league games, with new signing Affengruber expected to either replace Andersen, or together in a back 5 (unlikely given it’s Arbeloa).

      FPL wise, only Robinson holds any appeal as decent at both defcons and attacking threat. Know nothing about Affengruber so will need you to enlighten me on that 😉

      1. ALegendJ
        • 12 Years
        26 mins ago

        Well, Robinson seems the best but rotation worry, but I also like Castagne especially the dressing room issue with Tete. But I also can see that this dressing room issues also might give Tete a start over Castagne (like Arbeloa says, ok, you complained, go show me you deserve to start) kinda thing especially he played well in the EFL cup.

        Bassey feels too boring for me especially he offers almost no upside, although he looks secured for minutes, but I would still not 100% trust his minutes given Arbeloa might tinker given the results. Wouldn't go for neither Andersen or Affengruber (probably will start next game) at this point

        My gut says go for Castagne but I know I will regret not going Robinson especially he'll be the one most people will go for in 6.

        1. Nico.
          • 13 Years
          22 mins ago

          Robinson looked a rotation threat in preseason, but seems to have nailed the spot now (in a very small sample size) as Arbeloa sees Sess as more of a LW than a LB. Don’t hold me against it 😆 but I’m pretty sure Robinson starts every game when fit.

          1. ALegendJ
            • 12 Years
            10 mins ago

            Thanks for the reply.

            Tough decision, go for Castagne based on gut, or go for Robinson and if it goes bad, blame Nico

            1. Nico.
              • 13 Years
              just now

              😆 all the best mate

  2. Kane Train
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 3 mins ago

    Thoughts on this Wildcard team??

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori / Hall / Konsa
    Bruno F / Palmer / Rogers / Groß
    DCL / Haaland / J.Pedro

    Bench: Steele, Slater, Egan, Thomas

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      1 hour, 17 mins ago

      Wow. Amazing.

    2. Deer-in-headlights
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      7 mins ago

      This is about the first Haaland-Bruno and three Chelsea attacker draft I've seen on here. I made one, too, but scrapped it because I couldn't fit Ode in without having Mylenko as my third defender. Well done

  3. HellasLEAF
    • 17 Years
    1 hour, 48 mins ago

    Bench one for De Cuyper:

    Wissa
    Gvardiol
    Shade

    1. DeSelby
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 35 mins ago

      G

    2. jonnybhoy
      • 13 Years
      2 mins ago

      C

  4. marpy016
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 35 mins ago

    Any changes to this starting lineup or G2G?

    Kinsky
    Calafiori - Muharemovic - Hall
    Bruno - Rogers - Gross - Elanga
    Haaland - DCL - Pedro (c)

    Verbruggen - Tzolis - Ajaer - Diop

  5. Yankee Toffee
    • 11 Years
    1 hour, 24 mins ago

    FFS has Foden starting but most of the press do not. Thoughts?

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/team-news

    1. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      7 mins ago

      Think most of Man City’s mids come with an asterisk for now

  6. OutofShorts
    • 10 Years
    1 hour, 24 mins ago

    Ultimately my WC comes down to…
    A. Barry/Saka/Gros
    B. Isak/Odegaard/Gomez
    + Single keeper option
    1.Kinsky
    2. Verbruggen

    1. Bill Car
      • 16 Years
      7 mins ago

      B2 - all day

  7. Bill Car
    • 16 Years
    58 mins ago

    Play DCL or Schade?

  8. squ1rrel
    • 12 Years
    52 mins ago

    WC locked in...

    Hornicek
    Calafiori - Konsa - Hall
    Palmer - MGW - Rogers - Odegaard
    Haaland - Isak - JP

    Dubravka - Egan - Slater - Thomas

  9. Tabasco
    • 15 Years
    47 mins ago

    Which would you do:

    A) Semenyo to Rogers
    B) Bruno and Calvert-Lewin to Rogers & Isak
    C) Save transfers

  10. krnasdf
    43 mins ago

    Raya & Sangare or Kinsky & Szobo?

  11. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    33 mins ago

    Best Liverpool mid on Fh?

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      9 mins ago

      Szob

  12. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    29 mins ago

    FH locked and loaded. Putrid defense, but what can you do.

    Verbruggen
    Konsa | Mitchell | van Ewijk
    (P)almer | Rogers | Saka | Szob
    Haaland | Isak | JP

    Dubravka, Hemmings, Thomas, Ajayi

  13. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    23 mins ago

    Start Kinsky or Trafford?
    Playing Muharemovic already

  14. Ohh1454
    • 8 Years
    22 mins ago

    Currently own Mbeumo and Bruno with plan to WC after GW5, Considering next two weeks of fixtures is it worth moving to Rogers/Palmer, considering United having Fulham next. Thanks

  15. JasonG123
    • 12 Years
    13 mins ago

    Gomez or GroB on WC?

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 13 Years
      12 mins ago

      Gross

    2. LarryDuff
      • 11 Years
      2 mins ago

      Gomez

  16. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    12 mins ago

    Is silva of Bouremouth not a better option on WC than Muhremovic/Vuskovic? Better fixtures and arguably better defence?