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.
Is it ludacris to consider having Mignolet vs City? He might concede 4 but also make 15 saves?
Thinking of taking a 4PH to get Wally and Howard for Mignolet and Lallana!
Mignolet (Harper)
Terry, Evra, Jagielka (B.Turner, Koscielny)
Cabaye, Lallana, Ramsey, Hazard (el ahmadi)
Suarez, Lukaku, Rooney
Cheers!
Oh and got 1 FT and 4 mil in the bank!
Getting Wally is a good move, but I wouldn’t take a hit for a keeper. Like you say, Migs could have a stormer!
Thanks B-Bash! Hoping City won’t give Migs too many minus point then 😉
Morning folks,after just 1 green arrow in the last 10GW’s,NINja Warriors are officially in turmoil.Some bad luck has been involved but it cant be put solely down to this,anyone mind having a look at my squad? GW18 line up…
Krul
Coleman-Shaw-Terry
Hazard-Ramsey-Mirallas-Walcott(c)
Suarez(vc)-Lukaku-Hooper
Boruc-R Morrison-McAuley-Williams
0FT’s,2.9m in the bank.
This weeks transfer was Jussi >> Krul,West Ham are looking increasingly poor and JJ was my only fit keeper,the problems i see here are..
1.Lack of another big forward
2.Too many double ups.
3.Funds too evenly spread (too much value benched every week)
4.No City cover since Aguero pulled up.
So,advice please folks,taking the fixtures into account do i just leave it be for the next GW or do i take a hit to bring someone in?I have a plan for my JanWC so just need to get through this period with minimum damage if possible,anyone think it’s worth a hit for Silva or Toure(AKA the bain of my life) even though they play Liverpool?Any opinions are most welcome folks,the lads are in a bad way haha.Cheers!!
NIN…
Morning mate.
It’s glaringly obvious your crying out for sme City cover..(not in def mind)
Yaya / Silva / Negrado .. Would help short term, maybe..!
You hit the nail on the …too much quality on the bench, & 3m in bank why?
I don’t think I’ve ever had more than a couple hundred grand in the bank between Gwks ….spend it ?
Clearly you arnt one for hits, otherwise you wouldn’t have such a bank balance..!
Good news your jan WC is round the corner so you can have a good clearout, ,,!
Just remember to spend all ya money on the 11 in your starting line up…. Then keep it super cheap on the bench…!
Merry Xmas
Bigpopz – Cheers mate,when Aguero got injured i sold him and Brady for Hooper and Walcott which saved me a lot,then JJ > Krul saved a bit too,with Arsenal playing West Ham next (a game they should win easily) do you think it’s worth it to bring Silva in for Ramsey?
Nin I know it involves a hit but I’d be tempted to get Silva in for mirallas,it still leaves u 2 Everton players but gives u city cover incase they run riot whilst still keeping Ramsey!?!?!?!
peakydave – Even for the Sunderland game mate??Could be a bit of a pasting itself.. You’re right though it does make more sense to lose him over Ramsey,my squad does nothing but confuse me haha.
If mirallas scores a hatty v Sunderland (not likely as he seems just TOO desperate to score!!) then i think that lukaku will be part of the party anyway and maybe Coleman!?!? I just think by spreading ur bets a bit you’ll come out better in the long run!!
I will be checking up on u Boxing Day to see what u decided!!! 😉
peakydave – I was hoping Mirallas would be a differential for me as everyone has Coleman and Lukaku,well..a lot have both anyway,you’re right though,i should give more thought to selling Mirallas,cheers mate!
NiN – I think we’re both in need of help here. I would say Silva is a great shout but for a hit against Liverpool with your already-solid midfield I think you can go without.
Definitely look to get him in after that though.. or some over City cover. I’m sure your teams (and arguably fortune) will turn around soon however
I ask you: Oscar —–> Walcott to accompany Silva and Özil or
Özil —–> Walcott to give me more funds – but Oscar hasn’t started lately..
Finally, do you think Fonte —–> Gibbs is a good call? Cheers
jamesimmo – My thoughts exactly,the problem is that every time i say to myself “City have a tough game this weekend..i’ll hold off” they end up scoring 5 or 6 times,is it time to admit defeat and sell Ramsey for Silva??
I’m a huge fan of Oscar,i think he’s a future star of the game but as you say he’s not playing much,Oscar > Walcott is the sounder move there i think.As for Gibbs,the only problem i see with Gibbs is his injury record,when he’s fit and well he’s a quality pick,good attacking potential and plays in a good defence at the moment,his track record would lean me towards on of their other defenders though.
Ramsey —–> Silva would be my pick. Differential and a class apart
Same, I like the guy, shame Mourinho is so inconsistent
So my planed moves are:
Fonte —–> Gibbs
Oscar —–> Walcott (sadly)
And hope Özil and Gibbs both get game time, and that Oscar doesn’t humiliate me. Your thoughts? The sensible option would be Ozil —–> Walcott, but don’t feel I can afford to do the ‘sensible’ thing here…
jamesimmo – Just beware of Gibbs’ injury record,that aside i think they’re good moves mate.
Will do, thanks. Actually, it seems he’s non featured in 2 of the last 5 games, which is worrying
Any more input here lads? Cheers.
Cookie – Any chance of a dig out here mate? I’m not sure what to do with this crop..cheers.
Looking at it now for you NIN, my friend
Thanks Cookie.
NIN, I wouldn’t have both Mirallas and Lukaku – plus I think Terry needs to go to raise funds.
Lukaku has disappointed me recently, some people think he is playing well and just not getting passed to, but I disagree. From what I’ve seen he’s looked a tad languid and not really got into the positions to convert chances. But that may just be me. I actually think Everton will blow up in a month or so.
However, points hits are not your answer, just some tweaking.
You defo need a Yaya or Silva in there, probably at the expense of Mirallas in my opinion.
As I say not a lot wrong, just tweak until you play the WC then unleash the NIN master plan!
Sorry for delay, I got interrupted!
Cookie – Cheers mate,much appreciated,so keeping it to one transfer this week,bring in Silva for Mirallas in time for the Palace game,then get rid of Terry and any other disappointments during WC in January?? Very close to what i had originally planned,just getting frustrated by having crap week after crap week…
I’m worried …
I m concerned that if Suarez has a bad day we’re screwed…? Without having him as captain most of us would be getting 40-50% less points each week..?
Please check out my team.
Is there any obvious changes required..?
Howard.
Ivanovic / B.Turner / Coleman.
Ramsey / Hazard / Yaya / Walcott.
Rooney / Suarez / Lukaku.
Subs. / G.k Davis / Shelvey / Moxey / Chester.
How about Silva for Sessegnon ?also who to captain……Suarez tough game against Man C?
Think about Citys weak defense dude, Suarez is almost guaranteed points imo.
L.fer or mirralas (no lukaku in the team)
Anyone think Özil could be rested this gameweek? Or that Oscar will start?
I’m not sure Ozil will be rested for a while – I think Wenger will play his best team throughout this busy period as he won’t want to lose ground.
Nine times out of ten Oscar will start, I think last night he was victim to the defensive set up if the side as Jose really didn’t want to lose, so normal service should resume on Boxing Day.
Morning gents!! Stabilo mate Re: Ozil I noticed that wenger went out of his way a few days before the game v Chelsea that Ozil would not be rested.Personally (reading between the lines!) I think that means he WILL be rested very soon and possibly v West Ham!! Just a thought !!!
Cheers Stabilo, I hope so – who out of the 2 would you hold on to for this gameweek then?
(Stabilo / peakydave?
)
I think Oscar will get more gametime than ozil this week!!!