January Wildcard – FPL Fantasy Premier League
The much anticipated January wildcard is just around the corner and this article will look through the different options you have in terms of strategy when it comes to playing it. For those managers who have already played their season-long wildcard, this is the last chance to have a free mass clear out, get rid of that deadwood – and select all those in-form players into your squad – subject to budget restrictions, of course! If you’re happy with your squad and you don’t feel the need to use your January wildcard, be aware that if you “don’t use it, you lose it”! Therefore, even if your squad does look good, most squads would still need the odd tinker, so your January wildcard could just be used to save the odd 4 or 8pt hit, but for most it’s finally that time when you can cut loose and start afresh.
The facts and dates:
The January Wildcard can only be used after GW20 starts (1 Jan 11:30) until GW23 ends (1 Feb 11:30).
FA Cup dates in January:
3rd round proper weekend of 4/5 January
4th round proper, weekend of 25th January.
Transfer window commences at midnight on 31 December and ends on 31 January. Yep we all know that day, it’s when ‘Arry leans out of his car window…
Using the wildcard early:
Many managers use their wildcard as early as possible, in an effort to maximise team value. This is possible because after GW20 begins there is a 10-day window until GW21 due to the FA Cup 3rd round proper inbetween GW20 & GW21, hence it is expected that there will be plenty of prices rises and in some cases a player may rise up to 0.3m. This method is particularly popular for those managers who still hold their “season-long” wildcard, therefore giving them maximum opportunity to benefit from their increased team value later on in the season. This is hugely significant and one of the advantages of still holding your season-long wildcard as later in the season it may well mean the difference between being able to buy a striker for £10m, instead of being limited to just £9m, if you haven’t raised that team value.
If you are lucky enough to still have your other one then hanging fire as late as possible may not be as pertinent as it is for those who have burned theirs already. You can go early, if you need to, knowing you still have another window of opportunity later in the season to rectify the inevitable squad issues that occur such as injuries. For those that have the January wildcard it is their last chance in this respect so choose carefully when you use it.
Using the wildcard late:
A good deal of managers will leave it as late as possible to play their January wildcard for a number of reasons. Firstly, by leaving it late, you get the whole benefit of the January transfer window. Just imagine David Moyes or Jose Mourinho splashing the cash during the month on some world-class talent…and you can get them in for free! The January transfer window usually throws up some new players from abroad and perhaps a few significant ones this time hopefully (note to Moyes – you need a midfielder!). Some teams view it as the O.K Corral in an attempt to galvanise their ailing squads in an effort to avoid relegation or push or for a European spot. Case in point being QPR last season when they introduced nearly a full new squad! It didn’t work…. The point is though, that if you can afford to wait, you can see what transfers have been made and how this may impact your future transfer decisions. The best example of this may be if Man Utd do bring in the marquee midfield play-maker they sorely need.
Secondly, this is the time of the season when the FA Cup starts to impact the FPL season – the dates of the 3rd & 4th round are listed above – this is all means the possibility of Cup replays, double game-weeks, congested fixture lists, postponed games, increased chances of injuries and suspensions to players, etc. Hence, for this reason it may also be prudent to wait as long as possible – especially if this is your last wildcard available.
Conclusion:
Clearly, there is no right or wrong answer as to when in January you should play your wildcard. Each manager must weigh up for themselves the different variables involved and work out what works best for their individual team priorities during the season. Your team may be ravaged by injuries from the Christmas period, you may still be holding your season-long wildcard, you want to wait for the transfer window to take advantage of new players coming into the league, you may be entirely focused on building up your team value.
Whatever you plan to do or indeed if you’re still not sure, be sure to get involved in the chat, offer up some advice or maybe look for guidance from others.
Good look and don’t forget that if you “don’t use it, you lose it”!
This article was written by Cookie.
well who would have predicted that score ? So all the bps are looking like going to arsenal defenders.Whats that about ???
This sucks man! Free cleanies for people!
Looking like Mertesacker to get 3 bp’s! Happy! Makes up for Gabbidon doing me at the knees!!
This bp system sucks nearly as bad as last seasons.
Exactly, they should be shared equally in a 0-0 game ! How can the Arsenal defence get BP’s and the Chelsea defenders not? They were defending against bloody Torres as well ! 😉
Ha! 3 more for Merts over Sagna then. Poor HL.
Evening Mito
…
Glad you are thinking about me…
:satansmoking:
Evening Suarez I disagee mate Chelsea had more possession, created more chances and had more shots on and off target it makes sense in a 0-0 that the team with more defensive work to do takes the bonuses!!!!! 😉
Then again, what gets more credit, the defense that allowed more chances, or the defense that prevented the opponent from getting as many chances?
Lol, I agree Chelsea were better but Arsenal had much more possession! And most of Chelsea’s shots were from long range – nothing great apart from Lampard where he hit the post. I just don’t get what Mertesacker did that made him special in that game – he did jack shit lol.
I know!!! I will probably be getting him in this week!!! lol
Evening LS – Top Of The League, mate
!!!
Happy Days :dance:
Evening ! Great feeling lol – but looking at out next two fixtures I’ll be happy with 4th spot :p
LS – City & Arsenal away – and all of that in just 3 days !!!
I say – bring it on !!!
Let’s see what we’re made of 😉
Arsenal defence taking all BPs.
Evening, was wally any good, or was the whole arse team crap ?
Evening, he wasn’t ever going to do well with Chelsea playing defensive lol.
Both were crap. Not huge amount offensive play.
Chelsea parked the bus like against United in the 2nd game. I get it though, 6 goals against them in the last 2 games. This tactic suited Chelsea better and Arsenal was invisible, got 1 shot on target after 88 minutes. 😉
On that note, I have Hazard and I think he was shite. Want Wally but wasn’t his best game either. Both have weather conditions and the type of play also suited Lampard more than Hazard whom did have 1 really good pass.
Good evening fellas, how is everyone doing?
78 points with a maybe 1 point from Terry?
Nice score Raz, just looked at my lad’s squad looks like the little white will have 97.
Aha, see you reached the 1000. Good thing. Never figured I’d reach that mark after 7 gameweeks and four 30-40 point gameweeks in a row.
Who is the little white? The great white hope?
Damn phone, changed it to white, supposed to say shite.
Evening Mito, that’s 4 weeks in a row for you now with nice points on the Bench. Let someone else pick your bench next gameweek 😉
Terrible!! Every week the bench has all the points. Maybe I will buy Ramsey & Ozil and play them with Theo and sit 3 Liverpool on my bench. 😉
70. Red arrows all the way.
Same here, it’s a very odd gameweek. So 30+ points above average and still seeing all red. The problem is all the key players have Suarez captained. 😉
Potty doesn’t. 😉
Potty is a bit nutty. 😉
Always worked out fine for him though. Though, he gambled on Wally tonight if I’m correct, which really didn’t pay off. Blame Mourinho park the bus tactics though.
Glad I did not take a 4PH to sell Terry and Lallana for Walcott and Chester. Am up on 91 points for this GW and hoping for 3bps for Terry even though all going to Arsenal as it seems! All good in da hood!
Good job KungFu! I still have not forgiven you for throwing my advice away and taking a hit on Roon a couple of weeks ago, but great job.
Haha I know my bad! My United heart wanted Rooney and I came to regret it! Lesson learnt and now I followed the advice I got and it paid off big time! Looking forward for next piece of advice 😉 Cheers!
Best total of the season so far with 85, both FT’s paid off big with both players getting +3 and I’ve five players in total getting all 3 bps. Touch wood I may even move up into the top million so I’m more than happy. Santa may even come and sit on my lap this evening
@Andy, Santa just left my lap, she will be over in a bit.
http://megahdwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/female-santa-with-gifts-hd-wallpaper.jpg
Not sure about her Mito, doesn’t look like she can wrap presents very well.
@Andy yes that was my biggest concern also.
Doh! I keep forgetting to press the reply button! Too much Speckled Hen!
My reply at 77 matey!