Pro Pundits

Gameweek 7 Wildcard team reveal: Lukaku over Ronaldo plus double City and Arsenal

Ex-FPL winner Simon March: How to avoid getting carried away with your GW1 picks

After a Gameweek 6 score of 44 and a fourth red arrow in succession, I embraced the ‘Sunday night Wildcard’ cliche and finally pushed the button. For this article, I’ll be sharing my current draft and a bit of the thinking behind it.

First off, a word on the timing of the Wildcard. While I had my fair share of yellow flags and underperforming players, it was mainly the concern that I would be priced out of the team I wanted that made me choose this Gameweek. As you’ll see, this necessitates greater investment in the Liverpool v Man City fixture than I’d ideally have liked and a Gameweek 8 Wildcard would not only have avoided that but, also, have allowed me to better mop up any problems that might occur during the preceding international break. 

However, neither of those factors seemed significant enough to warrant holding off and, equally, there are opportunities to be gained from tapping into some of the good Gameweek 7 fixtures.

Finally, I’m approaching this Wildcard with a fairly long horizon and am targeting the players and teams that I think can deliver for the foreseeable future. Equally I’m seeking enough depth that my squad can cope with the unexpected. My hope is that this will help me establish a reliable enough foundation that I can use my transfers progressively rather than reactively going forwards.

So, without further ado, here’s my current Wildcard draft.

Goalkeepers

The Kasper Schmeichel (£5.1m) / Danny Ward (£4.0m) Leicester goalkeeper rotation is a hill I’m willing to die on this season having already had it from the start. While they are not the most popular picks between the sticks (ooh that rhymes), at least not in the FPL community, they haven’t done badly, averaging 3.0 points per game so far, despite Leicester’s dismal defending.

Schmeichel is second for saves made, which helps him in terms of save points and bonus points but just the one clean sheet is not all that convincing a return. That said, I do believe Leicester will improve, particularly with the return of Jonny Evans (£5.4m), and, also, that it is more likely that they will sort out their defensive problems than some currently better-performing options are likely to maintain their defensive solidity.

Finally, at £9.1m combined (£9.0m for me), Schmeichel/Ward offers a strong certainty of a playing goalkeeper for a fairly low cost.

Defenders

My strategy for the defence is to get three near-to-nailed-on players from what appear to be the three best defences in the league (Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea) and then, ideally, leave them for the rest of the season so I can focus my transfers elsewhere.

1,736 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Steevo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which combo? (Different formations):
    A) White Antonio Jota
    B) Christensen Son Gray
    C) Alonso Rudiger Jota
    D) Alonso Raphinha Gray
    E) Rudiger Raphinha Antonio (-4)

    1. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      E

      1. BENOIT
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Agree

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      E

    3. Carefree Crew
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      E

  2. Kaptenen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    For this GW only?
    A) Chilwell
    B) Alonso
    C) Burnley def

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B if you have a bench

      C (Mee) if not

  3. fn.jota
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Morning Lads

    In WC who to hold?

    A. Livramento
    B. Duffy
    C. other

    1. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. fn.jota
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      cheers! same opinion

  4. Jonny HOW SON?
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What's up with the Brazil internationals?
    Will they miss GW8, does anyone know something concrete?

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      if they stay the whole break - but they might arrange to come back a game early, no-one knows

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yes they could if the stay for all 3 games.

  5. fn.jota
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    C. other 4.2m under defender

  6. cassanata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    With TAA out and James almost certainly out which one would you choose:

    a. Play Livramento
    b. Take a -4 to do James -> Alonso or Rudiger

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Issue is that your never know which chelsea who they’re gonna play. Either Rud or Alonzo easily benched which means you have taken -4 for nothing. Could pay off but 1 goal for SOU and you ain’t gonna make your points back.

      Long term minus 4 ok though but TAA probs won’t be out for long so you may want him back.

  7. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    One week punt before WC -

    A. Raphina (LEE)
    B. Havertz (SOT)
    C. McNeil (NOR)
    D. Gallagher (LEI)
    E. Barnes (cry)
    F. Toney (whm)
    G. Rodrigo (WAT)
    H. Someone else ( upto 9.7m for a mid or 6.6m for a striker)

    1. Kaptenen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A most safe, C if feeling punty

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. Jeremiah
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Zaha 😉

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Interesting

        Up against a lacklustre Leicester who played on Thursday

    4. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Rap

    5. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Raphinha or Wood

    6. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers all

  8. Thewoodyhorse
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    As I shipped Shaw out for Azpi earlier in the week what's my best course of action this GW?

    0.4itb
    Sanchez Steele
    Azpi Cancelo Walker TAA Tsimikas
    Salah Greenwood Sarr Benrahma Bissouma
    Ronaldo Antonio Obafemi

    1. Bench Trent and hope Bissouma recovers to play or Tsimikas get some time?
    2. -4 Trent to Rudiger and free up some funds for next GW

    Or Any other advice???

  9. Footieboot
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez
    Taa Rudiger White Marcal Livra
    Salah Jota Greenwood Raphinha Gilmour
    Ronaldo Toney Antonio

    1FT

    A) Roll FT
    B) Jota or Greenwood out?

  10. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Next week I’m gonna do Greenwood to Saka and will have lots ITB. Will have even more when I do Ronaldo to Lukaku. Have really no idea how to use it here. Thoughts?

    Sanchez
    Rudi/Cancelo/Duffy
    Salah/Greenwood/Benrahma/Raph/Sarr
    Ronaldo(c)/Antonio

    Steele/TAA/Tsim/Scarlet

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Upgrade your bench

    2. fn.jota
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      benrahama to grealish next GW

  11. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Douglas Luiz (Spurs away)
    Sissoko (Leeds away).

  12. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    1 FT. Would you wildcard this?

    Sanchez Steele
    TAA* Shaw* Ayling* Omobamidele* White
    Sarah Benrahma Raphinha Jota Brownhill
    Ronaldo Antonio Jimenez

    Thanks!

  13. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Starting to wonder if Ronaldo is worth his price.

    No penalties, playing in a fruit loop team, managed by a inept manager.

    Looks like it will be one up and down season for Ronaldo.

    1. poulteren
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      all juventus' stats went down when he joined

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      imagine him Vardy and Lukaku will score similarly, so no probably not worth it

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      And Lukaku doesn’t look essential eigther

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        This

  14. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    For anyone who buys into player history Lukaku’s second favourite opponent by goals scored is Southampton (9 goals, 3 assists in 12 games)

  15. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Got 0 itb on my WC draft so I won't be able to bring TAA back in if I sell him this week and he doesn't drop. Do i...

    a) Sell for periera / dias
    b) Bench and play douglas luiz

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

  16. Thomas Jerome Newton
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez
    Rudiger, Coufal, White
    Salah, Jota, Raphinha, Sarr
    Ronaldo, Antonio, Toney
    (Livra, TTA, Gilmour).

    1 FT to use. 1.1 itb.
    Wanting to hold TTA.
    Coufal to Marcal for short and long term? Could stretch to another Chelsea defender (up to 6.1m)
    Or leave the defence (fingers crossed on Coufal) and Jota to someone (8.7m).

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Leave defence and do Jota to Saka

      1. Thomas Jerome Newton
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        People think Saka best option for under 8.7 ?
        Thinking short to medium term.

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      If Coufal is fit save ft.

  17. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez
    Semedo Marcal James*
    Salah Raphinha Saka Gray
    Ronaldo Antonio Bamford*

    (4.0 Sissoko Livramento TAA*)
    1 FT & 1.7m

    Bamford to Toney for free?
    Worth taking a hit elsewhere?

    Will use the money to do Semedo & Marcal to Cancelo & Dias/Rudiger in GW8 for a hit.

  18. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    1GW punt

    A. Wood (H v NOR)
    B. Jimenez (H v NEW)

    1. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. hrjasper
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Wood all day

  19. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    G2G?

    Ramsdale
    Coady Rudiger Shaw
    Gallagher Salah Sarr Benrahma
    Antonio Ronaldo Lukaku(c)

    Foster Gray Duffy Livra

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      toss-up between starting Gallagher and Gray but probably GTG

      1. McSauce
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        ye thinking that but think Gally just edges it

  20. Henning
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    3 m in the bank, anything worth a hit?

    Sanchez
    Rudiger Christensen Coady
    Sarr Jota Salah Raphinha
    Ronaldo Antonio ASM

    Steele Gray Duffy Livramento

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      no

  21. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    On Wc
    A TAA Odeguard Doucoure
    B Cancelo Grealish DLuiz

    Ederson Foster
    Christensen Rudigar Semedo Manquillo xxx
    Raph Salah Sarr xxx xxxx
    Jimi Lukaku Antonio

  22. We Go Again
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez
    Rudiger Marcal Tierney (Livra, TAA*)
    Salah Raphinha Jota Gray Sissoko
    Lukaku(C) Ronaldo (Scarlett)

    1FT 0 itb

    Roll FT?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      roll

  23. Ginola
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Wood ultimate 1 week punt before WC?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Him or Jimenez

    2. Big Hippo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Prefer Jimi

  24. Back of the Garnett
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Morning all, any thoughts on this WC draft... GTG?

    Ramsdale - Foster
    Cancelo - Dias - Rudiger - Chilwell - Livra
    Salah - Raph - Saka - Grealish - Brownhill
    Lukaku - Antonio - Toney

    TIA

    1. Big Hippo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Cracking team that but will have a benching headache for sure

  25. Big Hippo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Traore > Raph for a hit?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No

  26. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    which one :
    A. Play livra
    B. Amartey to Marcal (-4), bench livra

    1. FPL Emu
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Do not get in Marcal now. He will probably be dropped sooner rather than later.

  27. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Really suck on using my transfer here. Care to help?

    Guaita / 4.0

    TAA / Rudiger / Marcal / Livra / Williams

    Salah / Raph / Gray / Gallagher / Jota

    Lukaku / Ronaldo (4.5)

    0 in bank.

    Thinking
    A) TAA -> Alonso, this allows for Marcal to Cancelo next week
    B) TAA -> Cancelo right away
    C) Jota -> ESR, this allows for Marcal to Cancelo next week
    D) Save transfer, play Jota, Williams comes in for TAA

    1. Big Hippo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Be tempted to save there, especially if you're not sure. Will get XI out and have a playing sub

  28. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    if Lukaku blanks again I'm gonna be super tempted to go triple-Chelsea defence instead on WC... could align nicely with the comeback of the under-8.0 forward

  29. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Greenwood, Torres and Jota.
    Whos have to for Raphinha? Torres most likely won't get any minutes?

    1. Big Hippo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Torres

  30. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    In my draft League would you take out Toney and put in Jimenez?