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.
Would u guys take 4 PTS HIT on Harper/Sagna out for Howard/Baker in
NO !!!!!!! Didn’t you read Mito’s rant yesterday ??????
i don’t think taking hits on defenders is ever good.
id take a hit on a mid of frwd if the fixture looked great for good points.
who are your other GK/def?
GK: Mignolet
Defender : Ivanovic – Dawson – Ridgewell – B.Turner
id might look at changing harper or sometimes you have to take your medicine and play mignolet. I had marshall this week away to liverpool and suarez as my capt
Don’t do it JEET!!!
+1 4 point hits on GK’s and defenders are a no no. (I know I’ve done it before) Especially not for Baker who’s only in the team because of injuries I think.
and Howard on 4 yellows………..
Peaky – if he gets to Jan 1st, doesn’t he have an extra allowance so to speak?
I think that’s right Dreamers but that’s 2 games still,tbh I wouldn’t do those 2 transfers if I had 2 free ones let alone for a hit!!
id agree with you re those 2.
Struggling a little the last few weeks with others taking hits and being rewarded. Keep the faith…hits are bad, hits are bad, hits are bad – most of the time
Actually im feeling a bit smug this week as I did aguero,morrison out and rooney and Walcott in!!!! I get bored so I take too many point hits but I cant help myself lol!!! 48 in hits so far this season!!!!
Solid write up Cookie,cheers!!
Help needed please lads,lasses and Oap’s????
Live weather update needed from those that live in the UK?
Potty must drive from Yorkshire to Somerset today,but due to this storm would you postpone the trip for 24hrs if it was you?
I pass Sheffield, Derby, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Bristol/Bath area,Bridgewater.
So any of you who live in these parts what’s the local forecast.
On a good day the drive is 6 hrs.
Look forward to your advice.
Potty.
Oight Potts im in Rotherham,rain not too bad but its blowing a gale!!!!!! If u decide to go for it mate just take it easy pal!!!! 😉
Hi Potty,
I live in Worcester and it’s starting to get windy here – I think this afternoon to tomorrow morning is the worst. I’d postpone driving until tomorrow morning, personally.
near Cheltenham here…. blowing a gale and fair chunk of rain too…
Potty still no sign of my prize mate.Not sure what courier you used or did you send it to santa to drop off tomorrow night ??
Brookboy…
Large brown jiffy bag.
Containing…
1 x DVD
1 x Betting slip for team to Win the FA Cup
2 x Sratchcards
And a Euro Millions ticket.
When tracked on Friday it was at a DPD sort depot in Leeds
Expect it any day now.
Potty
Wow great prize nice one.Dpd are normally pretty good.Ok mate no worries just thought you should know in case it had got lost somewhere in transit. 😉
Team as it stands for next GW – did an early transfer of Debuchy in last night.
Had brutal GW unless the game tonight goes high scoring and in my favour (have 4 playing tonight)
My keepers are not rotating at all, and with Jussi being dropped or rested, could become a problem. The lack of City players is not great and the likes of Kasami has to go.
Any thoughts most welcome.
McGregor (Jussi)
Merte, Terry,Debuchy (Chester, Ridgewell)
Fer, Ramsey, Ozil, Hazard (Kasami)
Rooney, Suarez, Lukaku
How much in the bank ? Swapping Terry to Debuchy might have been a better option to free up some funds and chelsea can’t keep clean sheets.
just 0.4. I don’t think Terry will stay long term but as Martin not even playing (dropped), wanted to give myself options.
Ok.How about Terry to a cheap defender and Ozil to walcott that should just about give you enough funds to do Redmond to Silva ? Maybe leave it till your wildcard though now mate along with your keeper problem.
Sh*t just realised you’ve got Fer not Redmond ! lol Ooops.
ya was thinking Terry to Turner of Cardiff as an option to allow me strengthen mid. Ozil been doing well is the only thing.
But who will score you the most points mate walcott and silva or Ozil and Fer thats the way you have to look at it.Sometimes sacrifices have to be made.As good a player as Ozil is is he worth 1.2m more than walcott when they may score similiar points between now and the end of the season.In fact if he stays fit i think Walcott will outscore Ozil.
Brookyboy – would my defence be too weak then?
I may not be able to afford them money wise unless I take hits though.
Thedreamers i wouldn’t take hits just wait till the wildcard to sort it out where you could also swap ridgewell out for maybe distin if you can afford him then play merts and distin every week and possibly debuchy or rotate your 3rd defender according to fixtures.
Cheers Brookyboy
Nice article Cookie. When you thinking of playing it yourself? I was all set for early adoption but now not so sure. There is usually at least one “must have”, say for example if Defoe went somewhere on loan, he might become Fantasy gold.