Pro Pundits - Az

Why I advise holding onto your FPL Wildcard despite a frustrating start to 2020/21

In his latest article, FPL BlackBox co-host and Scoutcast regular Az urges caution on an early Wildcard in Fantasy Premier League.


I really hoped to be writing this article from a stronger position. Typing away, nestled in the top one million, would have made me feel a lot happier. But it’s looking like another tough start as I try to improve on my current rank of 2,951,645.

I’m taking some encouragement from the slow starts of some fellow top managers. My BlackBox co-host Mark (current rank 2,588,564) has just four points more than me. Joe (current rank 3,847,620) has 11 points less than I do. Lateriser (current rank 4,503,321) is bottom of FPL General’s Elite 64 and, despite being an advocate of a patient approach, hit the Wildcard button last week.

It’s not just Lateriser, though. Wildcards are being activated all over the place; I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered it. But after an inquest into what’s gone wrong up until now, I’ve decided to step away from the button.

Reflecting on a chaotic start to the season

With Everton and Wolves getting off to promising starts, it seems illogical to be going forward without any assets from either team. The likes of Raul Jimenez (£8.5m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.3m) look like great picks, and I don’t blame anyone for finding ways to get them in their team.

However, it does feel like people’s strategies – along with all sense of order and meticulous pre-season planning – have been thrown out of the window somewhat after a truly crazy start to the season.

Instead, I’m trying to remain positive, patient and back the plan that I put into motion pre-Gameweek 1.

New shiny objects are coming and going each week. People are being drawn to them like moths to a flame. I’m not here to say that Wildcarding is wrong. I’m not saying that filling your team with Everton and Wolves players, for example, is a bad move. But just don’t forget, it’s a long season and the Wildcard is the most powerful chip in your arsenal. There are going to be Double Gameweeks coming, likely before the New Year. The transfer window is still open. Players are still finding their fitness, managers are still tweaking their tactics.

The most important thing to remember at this stage is that it’s been two weeks. We’ve already seen people stocking up on Manchester United players, with players like Son Heung-min (£9.0m) being sacrificial lambs to get ahead of the curve. In came Anthony Martial (£9.0m), Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.5m), all of whom looked off the pace and blanked.

But going into Gameweek 3, those who remained patient with Son are enjoying their 23+ points, while those who flocked to United are wondering if they jumped the gun – with many already looking to offload their men in red.

Incredibly, people are going straight back to Son. He lost nearly 400,000 owners last week and has now gained that back and then some at the time of writing.

But, I can’t help but think, other than a half-time tactical masterstroke by Jose Mourinho, Spurs looked ordinary again against Southampton. Have they really turned a corner? Newcastle will sit deep and won’t echo the high line we saw Southampton play. I want to see evidence that Spurs can unlock teams before I bring in their considerably pricey attacking players. They won’t be playing the Saints every week.

It’s clear from this example that what we want one week, can dramatically change next week. While Wildcarding to get ahead of the curve is a viable strategy, for me, I would only be using it at this stage if I could see at least four first XI players that I couldn’t bear to own any longer. There are so many good options in the game currently. Getting out players who I think have chances to deliver for other players that I think have chances to deliver… well, it’s bound to lead to trouble.

With so many players performing, you simply can’t keep chasing last week’s points. You need to build a core squad of players who you feel are likely to deliver over the coming period, give them a chance to repay your faith, and tactically tweak to give yourself the best chance of scoring points. Certain players will haul one week while others blank. It’s inevitable. Next week, the reverse can happen.

Of course, I understand that people feel victim to price rises. Waiting too long on a player can be the difference in upwards of £0.2/£0.3m – and this is important. But I’d argue that getting the timing right on your Wildcard sets you up with the best possible chance of maximising your points from that point onward. The best time, logically, to Wildcard? When we have the largest amount of information at our disposal.

Wolves and Everton

For example, let’s not forget that the transfer window is in full effect. This week, people are flocking to Daniel Podence (£5.5m) of Wolves. Certainly an attractive price, with a great run of games. But is his place in the team threatened by the inbound Nélson Semedo? If Wolves go 3-5-2 as they have done in the past, Podence is going to be up against Pedro Neto (£5.5m), Adama Traore (£5.5m) and Fabio Silva (£5.5m).

Podence, of course, has the potential to far outscore his price tag over the coming period, but do I think he is that much of a better option than Matheus Pereira (£6.0m), who is nailed on, demonstrated his ability with a double-digit haul against Everton, and plays Southampton, Burnley and Fulham between Gameweeks 4 and 7? Not really. I’d rather wait, make sure Podence has got that spot nailed down and then move for him a bit later down the line.

In fact, I’d even argue that alongside Jimenez, Romain Saiss (£5.1m) is the standout option from Wolves. Let’s not forget, they aren’t scoring machines, having plundered as many goals as Southampton in the league last year. In fact, it may be better for us to target their defence. A £5.1m defender doesn’t exactly feel like a player you should be Wildcarding for, however, when a minus four may suffice.

Moving on to Everton. They looked great against Tottenham but, in the first half against West Brom, arguably the best match of the season so far, they looked vulnerable. The red card changed everything. I’m not denying the appeal of their options, but nor do I feel the need to tear my team apart to bring in Calvert-Lewin or James Rodriguez (£7.5m) when they play a Palace side that has only conceded one goal in two games, and then a Brighton outfit who have started the season brightly. They then play Liverpool. They will likely continue to do well, but so may players in my own team, who are finding their feet and many of whom have good fixtures to come.

Looking at my own team


FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 2

Az <p>One half of the FPL BlackBox YouTube series with Mark Sutherns.</p><p>Former Membership Strategy Manager for FFS&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

1,089 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Brighton win would mean Bissouma only misses 1 league game?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think yes

    2. The Handsome Hunk
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Why ?

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah, think so

    4. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yup - that's right - his 3 games would be this one, the weekend game and next week's League Cup game.

  2. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Maddison looks lively today

  3. i wanna ORD
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pick 1

    1) Hamez + DCL
    2) Hamez + Richarlison

    1. BobbyV
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Richarlison and Greenwood

    2. Goodison Gladiators
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      3) Michu and Kane

    3. Bobby's Teeth
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If you have the funds, then 2. Rich looks set for big hauls this season

  4. mcmarinoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thanks for sharing thoughts AZ, good luck.

  5. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    DCL off at HT.

  6. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pickford

  7. Froes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    TAA and mount for Van Dijk and Havertz ?? ( I am playing WC) harvertz just scored two and assisted once in the carabao cup

  8. TheSpecialOne
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    looking for a 5.0 midfielder. any suggestions?

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Soucek from GW8 - and he might even be 4.9 by then

    2. Goodison Gladiators
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Me

  9. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    It is very rare, but this time 80%+ of this article I cannot agree. It doesn't make sense to me. I call this "stubborn". Sorry about this.

    1. Az
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      what exactly don't you agree with?

      1. WeakAssTeam
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        he does not agree with sticking with bad transfers, footballers form comes in bunches, not really on and off each GW, they are either "inform" or "phil jones" it's that simple.

        the wildcard is an opportunity to fix your problems.

        if you were clever you would have waited until now then make 3x transfers for a -4pt hit

        but no, you decided to write about it in public, then continue down the same path...

        even though deep down in your premier league managers gut instinct you think these non-performing players owe you double the amount of points now to justify their price, so your gonna wake up at 2am this sunday in a cold sweat, just to check your bad decisions...

        in FPL and real life.

        1. Breaking FPL
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          😀 Ignore this troll Az hahaha

          1. WeakAssTeam
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            whatever Jonathan

  10. WeakAssTeam
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Current rank: 1,585,135
    Chips remaining: All
    Free transfers: 2
    Players out: Auba, Barnes
    Players in: Debruyne, Foden
    Reason: Better than you

  11. gstegnar
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy / Button
    TAA / KWP / Dier / Webster / Mitchell
    Havertz / Alli / ASM / Auba / Bissouma
    DCL / Werner / Ings

    2 FT and 2,5 mil. left in the bank.

    What to do? I was aiming to sell Havertz&Alli, but Kai just scored a hattrick.

    I could potentially go for: Alli/ASM/Auba to Willian/Mane/James and have -4

    What I can't find is a way to put in a Spurs&MCFC player. Any ideas?