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.
Dialing in from my hols.
Scored 91 I think.
Solid score this week?
(I mean on this board. Not interested in the overall average)
No it sucks. :finger:
Love you too mate!!
We all do Mito :finger:
Though, we’d all love you to grow up already
Ya ur good James
So what are people thinking for the Jan WC? Are you planning on using it right off to save some money on prices rising and to get in the players you’ve been wanting? Or will you wait as long as possible to see if what happens in the transfer window and when players like Aguero get back?
I was all set to WC asap but the past few weeks I’ve pulled down some good scores. Physio Room has Aguero set to come back on Jan 14th, and if I don’t get him in with my WC, he’s too expensive to budget in later. Does anyone think Aguero is a must have? Or do you think you can build a high scoring team and compete without him?
I think we need to see how aguero comes back. He may not come back straight away
Not convinced yet how Im gonna play wildcard. Gut feeling is bang in on the go straight away as that seems the easier less risky run! I am quite happy with team tho, so probably need a quiet night with a big mug of tea to sit down and sort it.
But Aguero is an fpl must!! Not as much as Suarez, but he’s still a must have!
Thanks guys. I’ve been playing around with my WC team and I’m not sure about Aguero. I’d love to have him but it really weakens me everywhere else, as I already have Suarez and Rooney and they’ve done well for me so far. I’m def going to pull some money out of my defense and goalkeepers though, as I had waaaay too much money tied up there with players who generally let me down for the first part of the season (I’m looking at you Mignolet and Ivanovic!).
Red, you can compete without him, but the extra money will have to be wisely invested and it will require a couple of good calls on defense and mids.
Thanks Mito. I can build a much better all around team without him I think. Do you have any WC ideas yet? Are you planning on going in right away or waiting things out till the end of January?
Not sure Red. Opinions on players and how good the squad is or isn’t can change quickly. My thought is that I will go right away, but that can change. Unfortunately we let a bad GW make us panic and a good GW, blind us to obvious holes.
Just a reminder Girls & Boys , On New Years Day is also Banterbury 4th Round Day
Banterbury Cup 4th Round Draw
1 Park Bench Exports v Fergie’s Henchmen
2 Busby Babes v Bocadillo Allstars
3 Gasco’s athletic v Monty (Caz Daz)
4 Son of a Pitch v Cookie’s Monsters
5 Horse FC v Manlet F.C
6 Kop Warriors v DavesRedDevils
7 WhoIsRonaldo v Buzz’s Bomb Squad
8 Owls Rule v Gallowgators
Nice one bench
Just done some hits so my team should be spot on for this.
Gasco said the ties were on boxing day not New Year’s Day?
no new year day mate , lookout for the Shield draw that i will post in next few days
So guys who are we going to (c) thinking of going for LUKAKU only because Everton are playing at Home but can’t forget about SURAEZ what do u guys think ?
Lukaku has disappointed me lately, be it his fault or teammates been greedy. He has got a couple of pozy assists, one missed overhead kick, one handball. I don’t trust him to captain him.
City are at home though. Still reckon ill captain Suarez.
Hey guys,
I have 1FT for boxing day but im thinking of taking a -4 hit for these moves.
Shelvey > Cabaye
Brady > Mutch or N’Zonzi or Livermore (doesnt really matter there)
Reasons for this move is mainly for player values with brady going down tonight and cabaye going up before thursday with the added bonus of Cabaye on form and will probably get points against Stoke.
But with Cabaye on the field it means i would have to bench a decent player, its good to have strength in depth but you get caught sometimes too
What do you think? Is it worth the hit for a higher valued team come the wildcard? My team value is currently 109.5
This is my current team.
Gazzaniga
Evra, Jagielka, Coleman, Terry
Ramsey, Hazard, Yaya Touré,
Lukaku, Rooney, Suárez,
subs – Shelvey, Whittaker, Brady, Kelvin Davis
@Starfox I hate for you to take hits with that kind of money and team. It feels like you should be avoiding them at this point, but I can see why you would want Cabaye. That would be a very solid squad with a very good player on the bench in case of rotation.
Yeah i know i really never take point hits but i feel Cabaye will earn them back against stoke and its an extra 0.2 value for making the move.. ill decide in the next hour
Does anyone have any info on Clyne? Will he play the next match?
Only info at mo is he’due back next game.