Pro Pundits - Tom
12 September 2026 1310 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


1,310 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Corrine M
    1 month, 15 days ago

    My WC setup, any changes?

    Ver/Steele
    Gvardiol Konsa Calafiori
    Rogers Palmer Gakpo Odergaard
    JP Isak(c) Haaland
    (Yalcouye, Egan, Mendy)

    1. Admin
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Do we trust Gakpo minutes ? Otherwise looks good.

  2. Ribus
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Bench one:
    A) DCL (NEW)
    B) Gomez (cov)
    C) Cherki (mun)

    1. Steve Stiffler
      1 month, 15 days ago

      B

    2. Vurt
      1 month, 15 days ago

      B

  3. Atwood
    1 month, 15 days ago

    How do we like Marmoush as a FH differential?

    Anyone got better one week punts?

    1. John Colby (C)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 15 days ago

      I like Marmoush and Porro this week tbh.

  4. The Frenchie
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Raya vs Odegaard

    Thank you

    1. Steve Stiffler
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Odegaard

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      1 month, 15 days ago

      I've gone Ode

  5. damiang2233
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Best replacements for Rayan & Aaronson? Thinking Odegaard & Janelt.

    Thoughts?

  6. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Good to go here? All chips remaining. No FT

    Kinsky
    Califiori Kadioglu Dedic
    Bruno Palmer Semenyo Gross Sangare
    Haaland Pedro

    Dubravka Diop Egeli Thomas

    1. Admin
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Nothing that means you need to WC. I think long run you are an Arsenal player short, and I'm personally not convinced by Semenyo, but overall a good team.

  7. Admin
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Martinez, Cala, Elanga, Isak

    or

    Lammens, Gvardiol, Rodgers, Havertz

    (I have Konsa/Øde and Palmer/Pedro already)

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      1 month, 15 days ago

      1st

    2. Vurt
      1 month, 15 days ago

      A for this week

  8. Podorsky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Any leaks?

  9. Steve Stiffler
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Hi all, current bench:

    Kinksy (EVE H), DCL (NEW H), Gomez (Cov A), Thomas (BRI H)

    Is this worth a Bench Boost?

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      1 month, 15 days ago

      I would BB that

    2. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 15 days ago

      STIFFMEISTER in da house!!!!! 😀

    3. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 15 days ago

      I'd go for it.

    4. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Absolutely.

    5. Steve Stiffler
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Cheers guys, well go full hog this weekend then

      Good luck

  10. Hxnsey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Foden to Odegaard or Bruno Fern. to Palmer? likely WC GW6

    1. Machine Gun Skelly
      1 month, 15 days ago

      If you want to captain Palmer, then buy him; if not, Foden to Odegaard seems good, as Foden will probably be benched.

    2. Admin
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Keep Bruno. He can always score. And with a WC in GW6 you don't have time to use the cash savings it would generate

  11. Corrine M
    1 month, 15 days ago

    No love for Gakpo?

    1. The Tinkerman
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Injured

  12. Machine Gun Skelly
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Final decision on wildcard:

    A) Kinsky and Muharmovic
    B) Trafford and De Cuyper

    (Already have Verbruggen as my other keeper)

  13. Pringle
    1 month, 15 days ago

    De Cuyper og Mitchell on FH team?

  14. Absolutely Muñozed
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Bench one please
    1. Hall
    2. De Cuyper
    3. Konsa

    1. The Mighty Whites
      1 month, 15 days ago

      1

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Hall

    3. Holmes
      1 month, 15 days ago

      3. He is boring

    4. The Tinkerman
      1 month, 15 days ago

      1

    5. Slurpy
      1 month, 15 days ago

      If you've got Raya and Califiori then 3 if not 1

  15. Absolutely Muñozed
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Best GK(or GK pairing) on wildcard? (Other than Raya)

    1. Machine Gun Skelly
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Verbruggen and Trafford

  16. George James
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Best option on FH

    A) Raya / White / Gross

    B) Kinsky / White / Odegaard

    C) Kinsky / Konsa / Wirtz.

    1. Holmes
      1 month, 15 days ago

      A

    2. Vurt
      1 month, 15 days ago

      B

  17. Holmes
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Question fatgue

  18. The Tinkerman
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Start:
    A) Wissa
    B) Sangare

    1. Holmes
      1 month, 15 days ago

      A

      1. The Tinkerman
        1 month, 15 days ago

        That seems to be the consensus but for me Sangare should have a floor of 4, most likely outcome for Wissa is 2

    2. Vurt
      1 month, 15 days ago

      A

  19. Hughes Your Daddy
    1 month, 15 days ago

    FH this week, so far going for..

    Verb
    Calafiori/De Cuyper/Khalaili
    Palmer/Ødegaard /Rogers/Tzolis
    Pedro/Isak/Haaland
    (Steele/Slater/Davis +5.4m to spare for 5th defender)

    Any other recommendations?
    Tempted with a Tzolis to Gomez/Gross with Brighton v Cov (but im fearing they might rotate)

    1. The Tinkerman
      1 month, 15 days ago

      I’d rather have Raya and Gross the Verb and Tzolis

      1. Hughes Your Daddy
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Cheers, thats a good one to consider.

  20. FlyingCanary
    1 month, 15 days ago

    1. KDH / Raya
    2. Kinsky / odegard
    Which one is better?

    1. TheBiffas
      1 month, 15 days ago

      2

  21. damiang2233
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Odegaard & Janelt in for Rayan & Aaronson??

    1. TheBiffas
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Wouldn't have Janelt

  22. Flynny
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Pick 1 for free hit?

    A...Wirtz

    B...victor munoz

    Any chance of wirtz benching? Thanks

    1. TheBiffas
      1 month, 15 days ago

      1

  23. Vurt
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Saka or Ødegaard?

    1. Machine Gun Skelly
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Saka is very slightly better, but I'd go with Odegaard because he's much cheaper

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Saka

  24. Machine Gun Skelly
    1 month, 15 days ago

    A) Kinsky and Muharmovic
    B) Trafford and De Cuyper

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 15 days ago

      B as long as DC left wing

    2. Vurt
      1 month, 15 days ago

      B

  25. John Colby (C)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 15 days ago

    To triple captain Palmer this week or not - that is the question.

    What’s the consensus please?

    1. Machine Gun Skelly
      1 month, 15 days ago

      If I wasn't on wildcard, I'd probably do it

    2. Vurt
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Yes

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 15 days ago

      After wasting it on Haaland last week, I deffo am jealous of people playing it this week, feels like it will be a 60+ point TC!

    4. Slurpy
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Personally I wouldn't on the basis Hull have not conceded a league goal yet. Could easily be 5-0 but it's not the certainty people think it is.

      1. John Colby (C)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Thanks everyone for your thoughts - it’s greatly appreciated. Good luck to you all for gw4.

  26. Bobby_Baggio
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Need some help and ideas please: 3FT & £0m ITB? Thanks.

    Raya
    Dias - Calafiori - Shaw
    Bruno - Semenyo - Gomez - Wirtz
    Haaland - DCL - Pedro

    (Steele) - Hughes - Van Ewjk - Davis

    1. HUMAN TRIPOD
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Semenyo to Palmer and downgrade Wirtz? Maybe KDH/Stach/Gros/King

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Cheers wirtz before Fulham?

    2. Slurpy
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Semenyo to Rogers
      Upgrade a 4.0m defender to a 4.5 ,maybe Konsa of you don't mind the triple up? And then bench Shaw for City.
      I'd be looking to get wirtz out after this week too.

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Cheers

  27. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 15 days ago

    What’s the best option for this team? this team?

    A) Bruno to Palmer for -4
    B) save
    C) FH
    D) WC

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori White Thomas
    Bruno Mbeumo Tzolis Rogers
    Haaland DCL Pedro

    Kinsky Slater Egan van Erwijk

    1. Slurpy
      1 month, 15 days ago

      B

    2. HUMAN TRIPOD
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Probably B. A if you want to radically change, ie sell Bruno and spread

  28. Gudjohnsen
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Foden to Odegard or Szoboslai?

    1. TheBiffas
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Szob

  29. HUMAN TRIPOD
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Sadly £0.3m of the below WC team:
    Verbruggen
    Calafiori, Konsa, De Cuyper, Muha, Egan
    Saka, Palmer, Mbeumo, Janelt, Slater
    Haaland, Pedro, Isak

    Ideally switching 442/433. Best move to save £0.3m?
    A) Mbeumo to Rogers
    B) De Cuyper to Thomas/£4m def
    C) Muha to Justin
    D) Janelt to £4.5m mid

    1. TheBiffas
      1 month, 15 days ago

      D Yalcouye

    2. Vurt
      1 month, 15 days ago

      A

  30. OverTinker
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Is Leeds the best the best defensive side after Arsenal and Man City?

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Brentford are pretty solid, think it's a bit of a headache for triple Chelsea next GW