When to play the first Wildcard?

When to play the first Wildcard chip is one of the biggest decisions that managers face in across the season. Here we take a look at three potential Wildcard windows.

For those managers who have yet to use their first Wildcard chip there are three optimum times to break the emergency glass. A close look at the Fixture Ticker demonstrates key schedule swings in Gameweeks 8, 12 and 16.

Gameweek 8

The arrival of the second international break is traditionally a good time to activate the Wildcard. Seven Gameweeks in, managers have had a large enough sample size to work out which players are in form, in favour and worthy of inclusion in our FPL teams.

The two-week break also gives managers time to play around with multiple drafts without fear of acting hastily because there’s a Gameweek deadline fast approaching  — albeit it’s important to activate the chip as early as possible to avoid being adversely affected by price rises. It’s also essential to keep an eye on the international scene to see which players pick up injuries on duty for their country as happened, for example, to Martin Odegaard (£8.2m) during the last interlull.

Easy ride for Man City

The main reason GW8 appeals, however, is due to attractive fixture swings in favour of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Everton. Since losing Rodri (£6.3m) Man City have struggled to two draws and a narrow 3-2 win, but matches against Arsenal, Newcastle away, and an in-form Fulham were tough. And now they can contemplate an easier run against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth, Brighton and Spurs.

Bottom-placed Wolves have the worst defence in the country with 21 goals conceded,
Southampton the joint second -worst (15) and Bournemouth (10), Brighton (10) and Spurs
(8) have not exactly been watertight.

There might also be quite a strong temptation to sell Erling Haaland (£15.3m), to free up
funds to splash out on cheaper premiums. But be advised, those fixtures will be meat and
drink for the league’s top scorer.

Back Spurs’ attack

Tottenham suffered a humiliating defeat by Brighton in GW7, squandering a two-goal lead
to go down 3-2, but their assets are still worthy of investment. Ange Postecoglu is not going
to change his attacking philosophy anytime soon and, with benign fixtures looming, the north
Londoners’ attacking assets are low-hanging fruit. Brennan Johnson (£6.5m) has scored in
six consecutive appearances in all competitions, including the last three Premier League
matches, while James Maddison (£7.5m) has two in his last three. They are both ones to
weigh up ahead of matches against West Ham, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Ipswich.

Fulham and Everton also have interesting attacking assets with Raul Jimenez and Dwight McNeil (both £5.6m) each producing three goals and an assist since GW4. Both players represent strong long-term selection as across the next seven matches even the stronger opponents are teams who concede plenty of chances.

Gameweek 12

Managers able to hold on until Gameweek 12 can take advantage of another international break and fixture swings for Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Arsenal appeal

The Gunners will have negotiated tricky matches against Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea, not to mention Inter Milan in the Champions League but from hereon, in theory at least, will be looking at a comparatively downhill ride until Gameweek 18. The only dilemma will be how to split the Arsenal options: Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) plus two defenders? Or Saka plus a defender and Kai Havertz (£8.3m)?

Villa triple-up?

Aston Villa play Spurs and Liverpool in Gameweeks 10m and 11 but thereafter it gets decidedly easier for Unai Emery’s side. Crystal Palace, at present, are languishing in the bottom three, while Chelsea, Brentford and Southampton are conceding goals freely. Ollie Watkins (£9.1m) and Morgan Rogers (£5.3m) are strong options and it might be worth even going for a third Villa asset with Youri Tielemans (£5.5m) looking a threat from set-pieces. By this point the irrepressible Jhon Duran (£6.2m) might even be a regular in the side.

Chelsea for the long haul

If he’s not yet in your side this might be the time to make room with your Wildcard for Cole Palmer (£10.8m). Already the joint highest scoring player in FPL with 67 points Chelsea’s superstar, will be worth bringing in for fixtures against Leiceester Southampton and Spurs. Indeed long-term Chelsea’ fixtures look great, so Nicolas Jackson (£7.9m) and Noni Madueke (£6.5m) should also come into the reckoning.

Chelsea fixtures GW12-19

Gameweek 16

Those managers that succeed in resisting using the Wildcard chip until GW16 will either be doing very well, or will simply deserve a pat on the back for exercising impressive restraint – unless they have a Gameweek rank of 4m or worse. The added advantage of waiting this long is that by this point in the season clusters of players start to go down with injuries and so a team can be regenerated without having to take the transfer hits. That said the rule changes allowing managers to roll up to five transfers means it is slightly easier to absorb such collateral damage.

Still, refreshing in GW16 can enable managers to have a good run through until Christmas. A move for Arsenal and Chelsea assets still apply as their long-term fixtures from GW12 onwards are still attractive, as explained above. And by GW16 the fixtures also ease up for Liverpool and Newcastle all the way through to GW23. It is possible that by this point Arnie Slot has elected to stick to a set three up front – or alternatively injury or loss of form might have enforced a decision such as giving Cody Gakpo (£7.1m) more starts. 

Liverpool defenders

One thing that is true today is that Liverpool’s defence is the best in the Premier League. Trent Alexander Arnold (£7.1m) appeals for his points potential at both ends of the pitch, while Andrew Robinson (£6.0m) or even Ibrahima Konate (£5.2m) represent cheaper avenues into a parsimonious backline.

Liverpool fixtures GW16-23

Newcastle have a lovely run from Gameweek 16, albeit matches against Villa, Manchester United and Spurs might require the avoidance of defenders. At present Harvey Barnes (£6.5m) and Anthony Gordon (£7.3m) are good picks but by this point in the season Alexander Isak (£8.3m) and possibly even Callum Wilson (£6.9m) will be back from injury.

Newcastle fixtures GW 16-23

As is ever the case with using chips, much depends on the state of each manager’s individual teams and how many fires they need to out. If using the Wildcard can be avoided by making a transfer or two then it is probably worth waiting until GW12, where moves for Arsenal and Chelsea assets pay off in the long term. Equally, waiting too long to use the WC means that the advantage of bringing in those players can be diluted by not having had them for long enough to make the most of them.