Ok no one would be using their Barclays fantasy premier league wildcard on the same day the January wildcard opens but I hope this gives some thoughts for those who are lucky enough not to be in a desperate need of using the January wildcard. Here’s how I would use my imaginary wildcard then. By the way I think most of you have worked out this article is for illustration purposes but if you haven’t I use artistic licence on my value. I’m confessing this so if I use my January wildcard today (no I haven’t decided yet?? argghhh) and you notice a difference that’s why! By the way just to clear this up this is how I would use my Wildcard not just a team for the game week. Therefore you may see (as you will today) suspended or injury doubt players who would still be in my wildcard team as its not just for 1 week
Ok here’s the Barclays fantasy premier league wildcard team with a few comments on each player in absence of the “ones to watch” article this week.
- Bunn
- £4.1
- The best cheap back up to a proper keeper until Feb when Ruddy returns
- Szczesny
- £5.3
- The cheapest exposure to the underrated Arsenal defence although you do miss out on the attacking potential of Gibbs and Sagna
- Caulker
- £4.8
- Doesn’ t play (who rotates CB like AVB?) every week but at least he’s not an annoying 1 point sub so worth the gamble for value alone in a Spurs team showing some defensive mettle
- Nastasic
- £5.6
- How can a 19 year old be first choice in a champion team but he is. Will be rotated but so will everyone except for Kompany who’s £7.1m. Has Jan transfer window risk
- Luiz
- £6.6
- My only concession to an expensive defender. Azpilicueta is the cheaper version. No John Terry and with Mikel as athletic as Boris Johnson then Luiz charging around tacking people in midfield makes perfect sense. Has occasional free kicks in his locker as well. Benitez has improved the Chelsea defence no end and they have better fixtures at the moment than Liverpool
- O’Brien
- £4.4
- You have to have a West Ham defender in their for GW23 and for their occasional ability to keep CS’s. Unfortunately their not as cheap as they once were
- Cameron
- £4.7
- Every fantasy premier league team should have a Stoke defender. A great defence outside of the elite teams at great value. Well Cameron is the rest are overvalued in my mind
- Puncheon
- £4.8
- The best cheap midfielder although Marveaux is running him close while the rest of the Newcastle midfield are injured
- Michu
- £8.0 (injury doubt)
- I hope I don’t need to say anything here
- Bale
- £9.7 (suspended this game week)
- The best all round midfielder in my view, shoots creates chances, a bonus magnet, has it all. Even if he is suspended I would have him in my wildcard team
- Walcott
- £8.9
- Playing as a striker in a top 4 team when he’s classified as a midfielder. Need I say more
- Fellaini
- £7.4
- Lets not forget who’s the top of the shooting stats and plays as a virtual striker in what has been the best attacking team in the competition so far. Cant be ignored
- Van Persie
- £13.5
- Mr Reliable. Returned in 15/17 starts Utd have great fixtures
- Suarez
- £10.3
- I’m a believer in this guy. Yes he has days when you wonder if he could score if the goal was 3 times the size and goals keepers weren’t allowed to use their hands but stats are stats and this guy is miles ahead of anyone and has too much class to continually miss.
- Benteke
- £6.7
- If Kone wasn’t going to ACON he would be my choice here. Has fallen off the shooting stats radar but still the best way of raising cash for the midfield. Villa at least have good fixtures. If money wasn’t an issue Ba would be in this position
