Opinion

When is the best time to play your FPL Wildcard?

After a great Gameweek 1 for many, Gameweek 2 brought a lot of us back down to earth with a bang.

So much so, that quite a few managers are activating their first Wildcard already, after just two weeks.

We spend months pulling our hair out building a Gameweek 1 squad only to rip it up before September has even arrived. That’s FPL. Things change so quickly.

It’s going to be a very interesting few weeks ahead to see how the early Wildcarders perform against those who are taking a more patient approach.

The beauty of FPL is that there is no right or wrong way to play it. You play the game the way you want to. If you care about what others think about your decision to Wildcard/not Wildcard, you need to take a step back and reassess things.

Do what’s right for your squad and ignore everything else. Don’t let the ‘noise’ influence your decision and that goes for any transfer not just Wildcarding.

Early transfers have been a hot topic this week too. I have always been a very patient FPL manager and it has served me well in the past, but I find with each new season, it is getting more and more difficult to play the waiting game, particularly in these early weeks when the transfer market is crazy.

I made rare early moves on Monday night as I had £0.0m to play with for my intended targets.

It is easier to move early at this stage of the campaign as there is less chance of issues arising during the week with no cup/European matches (apart from Wolves – stay safe Diogo!), and also the fact that the Wildcard is always there to fall back on if disaster does strike before the weekend.

As often as I can this season, I will continue to wait until Friday night to gather all the information possible before pulling the trigger, but as we’ve seen this week, sometimes you’ve got no choice but to act fast. Teemu Pukki (£6.8m) better act fast in Saturday’s early kick-off!

Double Liverpool defence is likely to be abandoned by most Wildcarders this week and by those looking to free up funds for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne (£9.6m) and Harry Kane (£11.0m).

The Liverpool defence has disappointed thus far but if it wasn’t for Adrian’s (£4.5m) howler against Southampton, and Danny Ings‘ (£6.0m) miss, the narrative would be very different this week.

Looking past the Arsenal fixture this weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s side face Burnley (away), Newcastle (home) and Sheffield United (away) in the next four.

Patience could well be rewarded with the likes of Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m), Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m).

A clean sheet against Arsenal this weekend could see Wildcarders scrambling to get their ditched Liverpool defenders back in ahead of Gameweek 4.

There was a tweet doing the rounds on Wednesday about Benjamin Mendy (£6.0m) being back in training which will have Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) owners slightly worried about his place in the City team.

Pep Guardiola has been quoted recently saying he wants to see Mendy train well for a month before considering him for selection, but it’s Pep, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mendy make an appearance sooner than expected.

If you own Zinchenko, it’s an easy one though, you just keep him until Mendy does reappear. On a Wildcard though, it might be worth trying to find the extra £1.0m for Aymeric Laporte (£6.5m) for peace of mind.

The forgotten man of FPL, Son Heung-min (£9.5m) is likely to make a return to action at home to Newcastle this weekend. Owned by less than 2% of managers, he could be the ultimate differential in Gameweek 3.

There is no guarantee that he goes straight back into the starting XI though, so it does feel like a risky move. Fortune favours the brave!

Good news and bad news now. The good news is Callum Wilson (£7.9m) is gone! Watch him wipe out my Zinchenko clean sheet on Sunday and doing his salute celebration to rub it in.

The bad news is my wife beat me again in Gameweek 2 in our head to head league. She’s six points ahead already and mentions that fact every single day.

Martial was her hero last weekend and I have a feeling he could be my downfall again this weekend. Hopefully, I can claw back three points.

Good luck all in Gameweek 3 and have great weekend.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 2

637 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Ceballos + Pieters + Soyuncku
    B) Cantwell + Digne + Kelly

    With B, one of Cantwell or Lundstram starts

    1. wolvesmad
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Def B

  2. cravencottage
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A- Kelly wont start in B

  3. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best replacement of Perez for 6.5?

    or save him?

    1. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Trossard

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mount

    3. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'm in the same boat, probably makes sense to move him to Martial, but part of me wants to give him another couple of weeks, especially with Bournemouth at home after Sheffield United. If Leicester had been scoring and he wasn't involved I'd be concerned, but I'm confident that when they do, he'll be involved.

      1. Jimbo-Jones
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I’m giving him 2 more weeks.
        Can’t honestly say we were hoping for goals v Wolves & Chelsea.

    4. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I got Mount.

    5. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Save. Let's see him play sheffield utd and Bournemouth. Remember he is a relatively cheap midfielder

  4. Gorky
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play 3 of these:

    a) Siggy
    b) Murray
    c) King
    d) Perez
    e) Lundstrom

    Currently on a, b, c.
    (Ryan, Robertson, Zinchenko, KWP, Siggy, Sterling, Salah, Martial, Pukki, Murray, King)

  5. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My team doesn’t need a WC but I’m wasting a United spot on Greenwood, only have two City with their upcoming fixtures, no spurs, have Wood and Wilson and WHM defence. Missed the price changes so seems like I should hold tough until after the IB.

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wouldn't call Greenwood a waste, with Sanchez gone he will likely get more minutes as the season goes on

    2. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Even with 2FT's it should be possible to do Greenwood -> Rashford somehow

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I used my 2ft to get in KDB

  6. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    When does price changes occur? At what time?

    1. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      2 am I think

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thats the same as last season?

        1. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          last season it was 1:17am BST

  7. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is there a good 4.4 defender or a 4.5 close to a drop soon?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Balbuena perhaps

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ah. So no 🙂

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Hanley or Lundstram are your best bets

    3. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This is risky, but one of the Villa full backs (Guilbert, Targett) may be given a start soon.

      1. Link
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thought Targett would be nailed on once he gets his place. Still the case?

        1. avfc82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Long term I think its his position, just depends when Smith wants to give him a start. I imagine it'll be Crewe next week but lets see.

    4. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Masuaku (4.4)

  8. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play 2:

    A) Mina
    B) Lundstram
    C) Dunk
    D) Soyuncu

    Thanks!

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      AC

    2. Chaps Before Baps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      AC

  9. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Repost

    GTG?

    DDG
    VVD KWP Zinchenko Lundstram
    Sterling(vc) Salah Martial Dendoncker
    Kane(C) Pukki

    Button Hayden Rico Deeney

  10. rokonto
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Don't know if this is common knowledge but;

    The transfers history and team value features have now been re-introduced.

    In terms of viewing other players' teams, the 'transfers made' display is no longer a feature and the squad value displayed will be the team's value at the previous gameweek deadline.

  11. Chaps Before Baps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which looks better long-term? Cheers

    A) Mount & Barnes
    B) Cantwell & Rashford
    C) Laporte & Mount

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C, as long as you don't have x2 4.5 attackers. Otherwise A

      1. Chaps Before Baps
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C

      1. Chaps Before Baps
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers

  12. No Pirlo No Party
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Perez + Barkley --> Martial + Cantwell
    B) King + Perez/Barkley --> Pukki + McGinn/Cantwell

    Thoughts? Or other suggestions to deal with Perez - Barkley - King?

  13. Steirish
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How long will Hanley get as first choice?

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Few gameweeks maximum.

  14. blind faith
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    On a WC

    A) Maitland-Niles, Walker-Peters, KDB, Rashford

    B) TAA, Zinchenko, Douglas Luis, Kane

    Or any other suggestions welcome!

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A, but AWB + 4.5 defender instead of Niles and KWP for the long term

      1. blind faith
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Already have AWB.
        Maybe Mina and Pieter's?

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          If you don't already have an Everton defender Mina is a definitely good shout. Pieter's may get rotated with Taylor, so I'd rather someone like Montoya or Mings.

  15. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Soyunchu or Lund?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Soy

    2. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Got same dilemma - at the moment Lundstram but I think that it will be a coin todd

  16. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How does my wildcard team look?

    No Liverpool defs and no Spurs

    0.8itb

    Pope (Ryan)
    Walker-Digne-Maguire (Lund,Kelly)
    Sterling-Mane-Kdb-Martial-Mount
    Haller-Pukki (Wickham)

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes nice. Use the money ITB to upgrade Kelly surely?

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah Kelly is the obvious one to upgrade

      2. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Was thinking about that but like to keep something itb so I can more easily to jump on any emerging bandwagon

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nice hope Haller works out. Really wanted him in but now I want the big mids
      Is he gtg this week?

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Declacred fit and back in training

  17. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    On a WC most concerned with 2 spots
    KWP and WanB + .9 ITB
    What combo would you have ?
    I want a City defender but don't know how secure Walker or Zinch are and can't really stretch to Laporte
    Other defenders are VVD Digne and Lundstram

  18. fussballstadion
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which to play from:
    A. Ceballos
    B. Lundstram
    C. Dendonker

    Currently on A

    1. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. Link
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  19. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play 1 of

    A.Lundstram
    B.Montoya
    C.Soyuncu

    &

    1. Dendoncker
    2. Perez

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. Soapy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B2

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B2

  20. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Guys Perez Robinson target to Martial cantwell Kelly -4???

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not if you're starting Cantwell and Kelly every week. You need rotation options on the bench, especially Kelly when he gets dropped.

  21. danlynch13
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Did Silva say anything of interest about Kean?

    1. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Please at least scroll through the "twitter" section on this page before asking...

      https://twitter.com/FFScout/status/1164520546933100544

      1. danlynch13
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        No

  22. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Auba> Kane?

  23. pol
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who would you start? Who 1st bench?

    A- Dendoncker (BUR)
    B- Diop (wat)
    C- Greenwood (CRY)

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      ACB

    2. Soapy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Start A, B first on bench

    3. fussballstadion
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      In the order you've written them

  24. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Need some thoughts please? I'm on wildcard

    Pope
    Digne, AWB, Zinc, Lund, Kelly
    Sterling, KDB, Martial, Ceballos, Mane
    Kane, Greenwood, Wickham

    McGovern, Kelly, Greenwood, Wickham (0ITB)

    OR

    Martial & Greenwood > Pukki & Cantwell (leaves 0.9 ITB) Gutted I'm 0.1 shy of making Zinc Laporte with this set up

  25. Angin out the Begović
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What 2 here?

    A) Cantwell
    B) McNeil
    C) Trossard

  26. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Robertson, Robinson, King ->
    Montoya, Martial, Pukki

    -4. Yay or Nay?

  27. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope
    Robbo Laporte Digne TAA (Rico)
    Salah Sterling Martial Trossard (Dendoncker)
    Pukki Jota (Greenwood)

    Used my 2 FT to get Martial & Pukki but still feeling very uneasy about not having Kane & KDB (particularly with their fixtures).

    Worth hitting the WC button?

    1. Rust Cohle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Steady on. No WC needed.

  28. Knallie
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ryan Button
    TAA Zinchenko AWB Coleman Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB Martial Cantwell
    Pukki King Greenwood

    - Want to do Coleman -> Digne
    - Salah and TAA untouchable in my team

    A) King -> playing 6.0 or below striker and play 4-4-2 or 4-5-1/5-4-1 (my preferred option, most flexible)
    B) King -> 4.5 fodder, upgrade Cantwell (Mount/Perez) and always play 4-5-1/5-4-1
    B) AWB -> KWP?
    C) Keep Coleman

  29. Greek Flair
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    2 of these 3? Racking my brains trying to decide

    Digne
    AWB
    Zinc

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Digne and AWB, purely because Zinchenko mightn't be so nailed.

      Otherwise D and Z

    2. Dušan Citizen
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      digne, awb

  30. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    WC team. Any opinions?

    Adrian Button
    Digne Walker Shaw Lundstram Kelly
    Mane Sterling KDB Mount Cantwell
    Kane Pukki Wickham

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      On a WC I wouldn’t go for Adrian Kelly Mount

      Pope Hanley and Trossard imo

      Kelly could be dropped anytime for Cahill

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        So will Hanley for Zimmerman 😀

        Wanted to go with Pope first, but then thought that going for 3 gws with Adrian and then switching to Pope is better idea.

        And Mount has great fixtures and seems like in form and nailed. Could anytime get McGinn or Gudmundsson for him. 🙂

      2. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Hanley is also getting dropped anytime too.

        Mount better option than Trossard.

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Hanley has been praised by the manager, I can’t see him getting dropped that easily.

          Palace is shocking and there will be changes this GW imo. I don’t think Kelly starts

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Both Hanley and Kelly are rubbish options!

            Hanley wasn’t even playing in the championship mate...

            1. La Roja
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              I never said they are great picks 🙂

              We’re clearly trying to squeeze in a playing 4.0 defender if we can.

              I’m sorry if this wasn’t blatantly obvious for you

              1. Athletic Nasherbo
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                No need to get aggressive. Disappointing.

                Hanley and Kelly will both be dropped.

                1. Dušan Citizen
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Hope atleast Lundstram will be nailed as Wilder mentioned that he could play in few positions. 😀

                2. La Roja
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Aggressive? 😀

                  Blimey, where did that come from. I’m chilled lad

                  1. Athletic Nasherbo
                    • 7 Years
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    Of course you are gaffer.

                    ‘I’m sorry if this wasn’t blatantly obvious for you’.

                    Blimey how isn’t that seen as aggressive.

        2. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Have you actually watched Trossard? He’s could well be the new Michu

      3. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        And went for Adrian mostly because I am going without Liv def.

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yes fine but you’re on a WC. Hence I recommend to get a playing keeper as a sub at the very least

          1. Dušan Citizen
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Thanks anyway 🙂