Metrics

Almost 10% of the top 10k FPL managers fail to use their first Wildcard

We take our regular look at the chip usage and player selections of the top 10,000 Fantasy Premier League managers.

This is our first article in the series since the deadline for using the first Wildcard passed.

Remarkably, almost one in ten of the top 10,000 FPL bosses (at the point of the Gameweek 21 deadline) didn’t use the first of their two permitted Wildcards.

World number four Michael Somers is among that number.

It’d be interesting to know why so many didn’t deploy it. Lack of a need to because of a hugely successful first half of the season? Or blissful ignorance of the rules?

Given some of the stats we have seen already on the make-up of the top 10k managers in 2019/20, it may be more the latter.

Since the deadline for Gameweek 20 passed, 2.34% have used their second Wildcard.

Around one in five have already deployed their Bench Boost this season and there is a similar usage of the Triple Captain chip, too.

Approximately one in six of the top 10k have used their Free Hit over the last five months or so.

Discounting the first Wildcard, 61.7% of the top 10,000 managers have yet to use any of their chips.

Around 15% have used at least two of their chips, however.

Approximately 50 of the top 10,000 managers have already maxed out their allocation, including the second Wildcard.

For those who have used their second Wildcard, there are some familiar names in the ‘template’ squad.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) is the most-owned player in these Wildcard sides, sitting in 93.16% of the teams in question.

Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), Sadio Mane (£12.3m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) and John Lundstram (£5.1m) were also widely selected.

There was a lack of consensus between the posts, however: two of the three least-owned players in the template squad below are goalkeepers.

There are four differences from the Wildcard ‘template’ to the most-owned squad in the top 10k overall.

Raul Jimenez (£7.5m), Anthony Martial (£7.9m), Adama Traore (£5.6m) and Mathew Ryan (£4.8m) are the differentials of sort in the above graphic, while Nick Pope (£4.7m), Dele Alli (£8.8m), James Maddison (£7.7m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.1m) are the alternatives below.

Just over half of the top 10k captained the sidelined Vardy in Gameweek 21, although there would have been some Mane or Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) vice-captainers amongst that select group who emerged with a 16 or 20-point haul.

Looking in greater detail at the main candidates for the armband in the top 10k below, Salah was the only one who hit a double-digit haul.

As for how the top 10k are set up for Double Gameweek 24, the ownerships for a selection of the various Liverpool double-up and triple-up combinations are currently as follows:

CombinationOwnership
Salah + Mane5.82%
Salah + Alexander-Arnold13.3%
Salah + Robertson1.71%
Mane + Alexander-Arnold58.75%
Mane + Robertson9.54%
Salah + Mane + Alexander-Arnold3.9%
Salah + Mane + Robertson0.19%
Salah + Robertson + Alexander-Arnold0.89%
Mane + Robertson + Alexander-Arnold4.86%

The Mane and Alexander-Arnold combination is by some distance the most popular double-up, while relatively few FPL managers in the top 10k have already lumped on three Liverpool assets (there are other combinations beyond the above, of course).

We’ll surely see those figures rise considerably ahead of Gameweek 24, however.

All data taken from LIVEFPL.NET.

2,302 Comments Post a Comment
  1. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lindelof is absolutely horrendous, you don't have to do anything decent to get past him he's like an open door

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        And still somehow the best CB currently at the club.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Come on man, Maguire isn't worth 80 million, he hasn't covered himself in glory but he is part of a defense with Luke Shaw (overweight and aggression-less) Lindelof (utterly incapable of doing any form of defending) and Wan Bisakka (good defender but 0 outlet pass for a CB)

            Maguire is fighting a losing battle trying to put out 10 fires at the same time and these days De Gea is adding to the mistakes too

            1. Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Maguire’s starting a few fires too.

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  4 years, 2 months ago

                  Sure, but he's not the problem get him a good partner and he's fine. Lindelof just watches people, not fast, can't read, can't tackle, can't be physical, can't win headers. Even just now lindelof just watched whoever was dribbling all the way until Maguire had to step in and make the tackle

          • UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            We really need to stop skimping on CBs. Just go out and get a good one. I wouldn’t mind Varane

            1. BrutalLogiC
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Skimping? They have the world's most expensive one 🙂 yeah some good ones would be nice

              1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Apart from Maguire we spent virtually nothing on CBs in the summer though

          • Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Get Smalling back, is that what's all about? 😉

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Evans, Smalling, Tuanzebe. Lindelof is making absolutely criminal mistakes at least a couple of times per match it's insane how often he avoids scrutiny whereas players like luiz mustafi get hammered

          • Garth Marenghi
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Bring in Gomez for gw24?

            A) yes
            B) Matip will be back, too risky

            1. Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              C) No, 3 of the other main 4 are worth the extra price.

            2. Rhodes your boat
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Wouldn’t get Gomez myself

            3. KUNingas
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              I have Gomez and planning to do Gomez -> Robbo before GW24

            4. Garth Marenghi
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Wow so unanimous, thx all

          • Rhodes your boat
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Thoughts on this plan, get grealish next gameweek for moura
            Keep until 26 when I could downgrade him and upgrade dcl to ings for fixtures swings?

            Guiata button
            Taa lund soy rico kelly
            Salah mane kdb moura dendo
            Vardy jimi dcl
            0ft 0.0itb

            1. Garth Marenghi
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Maybe, but I think wait and see how Moura is used with Kane out

              1. Rhodes your boat
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Good idea thanks

          • Monkey Hanger
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Adama has such explosive pace. I half expect his hamstring to go, every time he plays.

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Would cause a lot of panic here if it did.

            2. Clintymints
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              He’s a proper unit

          • Crashjct
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Hi all.

            Here’s my team:

            TAA Dunk Rico
            KDB Mane Salah Traoré
            Rash Ings Vardy
            (Button Cantwell Williams Kabasele)

            Moves I’m considering:
            A. Kabasele to Jack Stephens
            B. Traoré & Kabasele to Dendoncker & Soy for a -4.
            C. Keep transfer and depend on Rico GW22, then make moves next GW

            Thank you in advance.

            1. BrutalLogiC
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              C for me, don't like the -4

            2. KUNingas
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              C

            3. Garth Marenghi
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              C

            4. FPL Pillars
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              C

          • Botman and Robben
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah, Rico assist!

            1. Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              😮

            2. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Makes up for the -1

              1. Brimble82
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Yeah, thanks for nothing Diego!

          • KUNingas
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Alli ->

            A) Grealish
            B) Martial
            C) Richarlison

            1. BrutalLogiC
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Went B, already made move. Will get rid next week for Salah. Martial is odds on for a goal against Norwich. I'm only considering one game week.

              1. KUNingas
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Yeah, leaning to Martial also

            2. Clintymints
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              A or b

              1. KUNingas
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Thanks. Richarlison would be great differential

            3. Garth Marenghi
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              C, though if everything else is good, then maybe the one week for martial makes sense as brutal logic said. Not a fan of martial long term

          • Niho992
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Solanke scored. The end is near.

            1. Niho992
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Offside. We're safe.

              1. Rainer
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Phew!

          • Rainer
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Solanke Goal.

            The end is nigh.

            1. Ask Yourself
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Offside. We’re safe.

          • CRO KLOPP
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Baby kdb goal

            1. CRO KLOPP
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Gundo A

          • Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            CloneDB goal

          • TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Leicester score.

            1. Ask Yourself
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              OG

          • CRO KLOPP
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Wigan OG

            1. Ask Yourself
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Leicester score

          • Corner taken quickly ORIGII…
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Help please! Thinking of WC even though a few green arrows recently:
            Fabianski (Martin)
            Lund, Soy, TAA, Sidibe, Rico
            Mane, Salah, KdB, Grealish, Traore
            Ings, Vardy, DCL

            Team value quite high atm so it's affordable, and have half the team already

            1. kempc23
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Thats practically the entire team that most people would wildcard TO. Who is it that you want that you dont have? Or was this just an attention seeking post.....

              1. Corner taken quickly ORIGII…
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Sorry I meant that's the team I'd WC to! But I already have Lund, taa, soy, kdb, grealish, mane, vardy so I don't know if it would be worth it?

                1. Corner taken quickly ORIGII…
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 2 months ago

                  And traore and Rico..
                  So would just be getting in fabianski, Sidibe, Salah, ings DCL

          • Rainer
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Greenwood not much of a main ST.

            Really surprised Ole didn’t give Haaland his 1st start tonight.

            1. FPL Pillars
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Lol

          • Bouncebackability
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Söyüncü on, Morgan injured

            1. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Boooo

            2. Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Stay safe.

            3. FPL Pillars
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              FFS

          • Rainer
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Maguire limp

          • UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            VAR’s overturning that. Most blatant penalty

            1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Lol not given. Ridiculous

          • Rainer
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Brandon Williams watching too much Daniel James.

          • Ady87
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Traore is an absolute beast.

            1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Hopefully Ole is watching!

          • Niho992
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Williams is world class diver.

          • Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            United without no 9 this evening?

          • AzzaroMax99
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Vardy falling in price tonight? Why are people selling him?

            1. FPL Pillars
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              A lot of clowns out there

              1. Here's Tom with the We…
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Maybe he’s more injured than first thought

                1. FPL Pillars
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 2 months ago

                  Only speculation, Brendon seemed to think he would be ok, should be back for Southampton IMO. Wait for Pressers.

                  1. Here's Tom with the We…
                    • 12 Years
                    4 years, 2 months ago

                    Yeah I agree I think he will be back. I’m just saying it might be why people are selling. Maybe reading to much into the fact, Iheanacho is benched.

            2. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              2, 0, 0 in last 3 gameweeks

              1. FPL.team
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                2, 6, 20 for me.

          • Syd.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Man City 1-1 Port Vale

          • CRO KLOPP
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            City cs gone

          • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Young Williams must have some big pockets. Currently got traore stored in there

          • Rainer
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Stones so consistent.

            1. Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Pope G 😀

              Talked the talk, walked the walk!

            2. CRO KLOPP
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Bravo!

            3. Forza
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              It was the other CB's fault.

          • 2EyedTurk
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Take 2! On a WC

            Ryan Button
            Robbo Gomez Soy Lund Cathcart
            KDB Salah Maddison Richarlison Cantwell
            Vardy Jimi Ings

            1.1 itb

          • Maddamotha
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Pope goal

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Never scores in PL though 🙁

          • Digital-Real
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            slightly regretting bringing Traore in, doesn't look as sharp compared to few games ago.

            1. Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Tends to do better vs good teams.

            2. FPL Pillars
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Can’t play Man City every week.

            3. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Players like him are likely to do well for 3-4 gameweeks at best. Bring before their haul or just ignore when they haul.

              1. George Sillett
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                "Bring in before they haul". Great detective work there Sherlock.