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.
Evening guys, couldn’t see the game tonight but it seems I haven’t lost a big thing. 6 pts from 3 players for a GW total of 55… really disappointed, can’t wait to have my JanWC in hands…
Time to transfer out Oscar, right? Too much money to be in the bench… Oscar to Silva? My planned transfer was Arnautovic to Januzaj but now I really don’t know which one should I do first? Don’t think Arnie to Januzaj is worth a hit either…
Albertini,
I still think januzaj could be rotated and to me he’s not got the fpl potential of Silva. So I’d go Oscar to Silva. And dont take a hit for Januzaj! Arnie is a guaranteed starter!
B-bash, I’m not sure about Arnie, last game he got subbed at half time… but you’re right about Jan, what I less want is another non nailed player. This was the second time I bought Oscar and he gave me some 5 points in 5 weeks…
My reply at 93 mate. Didn’t press reply button………again!!
Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck cleared to travel for Hull City game
Id go for Silva mate. Januzaj going up tonight tho, so dont hang about if you want him instead!
Cheers mate, I’m aware he’s going up tonight and also Silva is on 4 yellow cards… I won’t risk to do the transfer tonight, I’ll try to have the team news for next game week before I do it.
Wish this could be sorted because I have heard Silva is on 3!
I’m not sure anymore, I thought and I’ve read somewhere he’s on 4, fpl site says is on 3. I guess he got one in a FA cup game, don’t know.
Silva is definitely on 4 yellow cards. Source thefa.com has a page for suspensions and a tab for ‘one booking away’
We did hint at it on Friday 😉
https://fantasyfootball247.co.uk/team-talk-and-suspension-report-gameweek-17/
We also have a live link from PyhsioRoom in case anyone missed it, for up to date injury news – I keep forgetting myself
https://fantasyfootball247.co.uk/injury-news/
You’re right, I knew I had read it somewhere! 😉
Sky Sources: Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke ruled out of Christmas and New Year fixtures with injury.
Game Week 16 – 80 PTS * Game Week 17 – 80 PTS * Game Week 18 * ?
Another poor GW over and done with,sigh..GW 18 has to be better.
You need some City coverage mate maybe Silva or YYT
JEET – It’s on the agenda,not taking another hit this week though so it’ll have to wait unfortunately.
I know how you feel NIN. Good thing about the Chrimble period is the next poor GW is only just around the corner. :tick-tock:
BM – I’m dreading it,all these red arrows have become too much haha
NIN, I’ve been trying really hard recently not to take hits. But quite a few of the regulars on here have done so to excellent effect, so it’s really testing my resolve! Think I might have to rethink my self imposed sanctions.
Yeah some have made it work for them,i don’t mind taking one if i think it makes an improvement,i could do Ramsey/Mirallas >> Silva this week but i don’t see the value in it given the fixtures..it will probably go tits up again though,have to get some sleep now,night lads.
I’ve taken 2 hits this season, 1 paid off brilliantly, and the other hasn’t hit fruition yet. I’m hoping it will.
I’ve never advocated for someone to take hits, however, sometimes they are necessary to shake things up.
Anywho, 3 red arrows in a row until this GW, even though the leagues are still updating I think I might finally have a green one.
Fingers crossed for ya M&B. The RAF have dropped me an email asking for their red arrows back. They’ll have to wait a bit longer.
Almost certainly getting rid of Sess for Walcott (which was planned), but will incur a penalty as already had to dump Zab for Jagz (which of course wasn’t planned). Just annoying to be doing that so close to the JWC window.
I bought in Walcott for Sessegnon as a hit as well. I figured of Arsenal were to score against Chelsea, he’d be involved. Either way, long term investment I think.