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.
“Good look” or good luck? Anyways, Merry Christmas one and all
SZ, both are in short supply for me. 😉 :violin:
Ah, there’s no violin emoticon. Shame.
Have a good festive break mate. I cancelled my FPL team’s Xmas party due to them being crap. Sessegnon and Remy weren’t invited anyway.
Not really a WC issue here but wondering what i should do regarding my keepers. I’ve got Mignolet & Boruc, a FT and £1.3m in the bank. Now i do sell for a top quality keeper or sell Boruc from someone like Guzan to avoid Migs next two tough away days???
Liverpool unfortunately can’t seem to keep a cleansheet if their lives depended on it. Mignolet doesn’t look set to get many CS in the coming games. I’d transfer him out for Szcheceznhscny.
Cheers mate, just wondering if you think it’s worth it to grab Guzan for now and wait till the Jan WC to get Szczesny or De Gea in as they have two away games coming up also?
If you have a FT that will expire, then use it obviously. If not you might as well stick with Mignolet until WC.
What a terrible GW for me. Ended up in 1.228 millionth position, getting red arrows everywhere. So I assume by now you all know about my Goalkeeper situation, but I’ll explain it again anyways. I have Mignolet (City and Chelsea away next) and Vorm (injured). I’m planning to transfer out Vorm for a keeper who can rotate well with Mignolet until GW 23 (when I play my wildcard). From what you guys have told me, the best choice is Guzan. Does anybody else think differently? I have 6.2 in the bank so I can afford any keeper. Thanks :red-flag:
Villa have a kind run of fixtures, but so do Everton right up until the end of January, which means you could rethink the situation with a late W/C. If cash is no object, and if it’s a FT I’d personally go for Howard, given the teams comparative defensive strengths. But I’d say both offer similar value for money.
Thanks for your help. I was a bit hesitant about getting Howard, as I already have Coleman.
I have had mignolett from the start and when Boruc got injured i brought in Marshall as my reserve, mainly because he was cheap, rotated well with mignolett but most important was the weeks when mignolett has tough away games Marshall has easy home games, ie next two weeks.
Although mignolett hasn’t been that good to me this year.
Near a wildcard, you may have different thoughts
There only two goalkeepers that rotate really well with Mignolet they are Marshall & Howard they both have great fixtures coming up. I finally got rid of Harper last night I decided to get Marshall to save some money but if money wasn’t a problem I would get Howard
This is my First ever season playing FPL & Finally I have reach 1000 PTS & just before Christmas YES!!
What is your goal for the season. It gets very interesting after Xmas when we start getting teams with double game and No game weeks.
Well one of my goal is reach over 2000 PTS I think my goal are Realistic. What do u think of my goal possible ? And what are your goals for this Season mate.
This is my third season. First year I scored 1999. Last year I got 2058 and finished 115k. I was seriously looking at top 5,000 and started well until my stubbornness in holding onto RVP killed me. Now looking at least top 100k but hoping for top 40,000. Will need at least 2200 for that.
The CUP starts this week, you should have a good crack at that. See how far you can go
Top 500. Overall.
Who to leave out next GW (having left 14pts from 2 players, Mertesacker and Whittaker, on the bench last time round)? Defence is simple enough this time. But then:
Ozil and Ramsey – West Ham (a)
Hazard – Swansea (h)
Cabaye – Stoke (h)
Mirallas and Lukaku – Sunderland (h)
Rooney – Hull (a)
Suarez – Man City (a)
Which one to drop, which to captain, and why?
It would be either Ramsey or mirrallas for me.
I would leave out Ramsey. You already have two from ARS, they are away from home, plus everyone has ramsey
I would sit Ramsey out due to having Ozil.
Suarez as captain. Reason being, its Suarez 😉
Difficult to leave out Ramsey though, given his performance this year.
I’m simply looking to maximise points, I don’t care how many others have the same players. So Ramsey is in as well as Ozil, because West Ham’s defence is broken. Likewise Suarez just about gets the nod, because Man City let in plenty but score more. Everton should stick several past Sunderland, so I’m sticking with Mirallas as well as Lukaku. I also fancy Newcastle’s chances against Stoke, with Cabaye in great form. Hazard had a lively game last night so has a good chance of points at home to Swansea. So that leaves the Roonpig, who’s away to Hull – who are defensively very solid at home till now, they haven’t let in more than 1 goal in any home game this season. Like Palace, Man U might just nick a 1-0 win but in their current form I don’t see them doing more than that. So Rooney is sub for this one, and right now I’m tempted to make Coleman my captain as he has a great chance of a CS plus decent prospects of more than that.
Thanks for the advice so far. Any further thoughts?
Hi guys,
Finished up with 83 points this week, but had Cabaye on the bench which was a bitter disappointment. I feel that my midfield is quite strong but im looking for a player to drop in order to upgrade my defence. I would happily play a 2-5-3 formation, but I can’t
Also have an injured Vlaar who im looking to replace.
Team is currently:
Marshall (Harper)
Coleman, Debuchy, Gabbidon (Turner, Vlaar)
Walcott, Hazard, Silva, Mirallas (Cabaye)
Rooney, Lukaku, Suarez
1FT 0 in bank
A few decisions:
-Transfer(s) this week? DOnt mind a point hit if it will be worth it!
-Captain?
-Mirallas or Cabaye to play if im not transferring one of them out?
Thanks guys, havent been active lately (holiday) but still check in every once in a while. So far the holiday season has proved to be pretty good fantasy wise this year, but it all happens in the New Year!!
Merry Christmas Peoples!!!
Sorry DaBomb,
replied to you but its at post 105! Doh!