Here’s my team as if I was going to use my fantasy premier league wildcard tonight. This is the team I would play if I was using my wildcard tonight and therefore its not just a team for one gameweek.
Firstly I wouldn’t do it tonight. A number of people do it over the international break so they have 2 weeks of value growth as a base for their team. Personally I believe in using it in March-ish when some nice Cup and weather postponements give a juicy double gameweek. So this imaginary wildcard team is just for illustration. Its also not just for the next game week its as if I was using the wildcard now so looking 6 games ahead.
The bonus point system has made me consider my team in a slightly different way and this is reflected in my fantasy premier imaginary wildcard tea below. With clean sheets getting virtually every time 2 of the 4 back 4 a bonus award and virtually every goalscorer getting a bonus award I’ve looked to the future with a team based around defence and string goal scorers. So I’ve modelled my team around a 4-3-3. I’ve gone for 3 elite defenders and a rotating 4th defender. In the midfield I’ve gone for 2 elite midfielders with 3 cheapies to rotate for a 3rd spot. The front 3 I’m looking to have as many of the leagues top goal scorers as possible. I’m still looking for players who have an all round game and are consistent scorers but the emphasis towards defence and goal scorers has shifted things a bit.
Here’s the team which I’ve tried to relate to my “ones to watch” articles. If you’re wondering why some of the players are hold rather than buy its because the “ones to watch” articles aren’t done in the context of a fantasy premier league wildcard but in the week to week churn of transfers.
Here it is:
- Mignolet (£5.6m) BUY
- No brainer for me. 2 clean sheets and a penalty save so far. Only 1 of 3 teams with a 100% clean sheet record. The underlying stats haven’t been as compelling and this acts as just a bit of a warning for those thinking of doubling up on Liverpool defensive assets. The case for the elite keepers is compelling this year. Add in a non playing GK and for £9.6m last year there were 16 clean sheets for Liverpool which is pretty good going considering this year the cheapest rotation pair will be around £9.0m for 2 keepers of teams for far less quality. Mignolet has no serious competition and apart from any injury should play every fantasy premier league game.
- Daniels
- £4.0
- A non playing filler. With Foster injured he has some sort of advantage only being 1 injury away from playing as opposed to most who are 2 injuries away.
- Clichy (£6.0m) HOLD
- City clean sheets last year 18. Time per point scored last year: 21 mins . Rotation risk: Medium. fixture ease ranking: 9th Bonus points to date 0
I thought long and hard and changed my mind many times about this position. I had him as a hold rather than a buy but the next 6 fixtures and Kompany talking about being back early convinced me to put him in. Interestingly Kompany has dropped in price to £6.4m so once he returns he starts to look like good value and with the bonus points system and him being a quality CB you have to believe he should be well rewarded.
- Collins (£4.5m) BUY
- West Ham clean sheets last year 11. Time per point scored last year: 28 mins . Rotation risk: medium. fixture ease ranking: 16 bonus 1
Good £4.5m buy with a very defensive manager. 2 clean sheets from 2 games. Bonus points haven’t flowed to West Ham yet though. Fixtures get trickier but with a home rotation West Ham are a good bet. Underlying stats have been ok and worthy of £4.5m.
- Dawson (£5.0m) HOLD
- Spurs clean sheets last year 9. Time per point scored last year: 28 mins . Rotation risk: Medium. fixture ease ranking: 6 Bonus points 1
2 games 2 clean sheets. Spurs have shown the defensive improvement in clean sheets this season that their underlying stats from last year hinted. Good fixtures continue. The bonus point system at the moment seems to favour Vertonghen and Walker. They’re considerably more expensive than Dawson though at £7.0m and £6.0m respectively. If you don’t have him I would buy GW4 home to Norwich not GW3 away to Arsenal. Some fantasy premier league managers think that new CB Chiriches will take Dawsons place. Personally I don’t think that a 23 year old who has played all his football in Romania and hasn’t played in the Champions league proper will displace the club captain after Spurs’ successful defensive start
- Koscielny(£5.4m) HOLD
- Arsenal clean sheets last year 14. Time per point scored last year: 19 mins . Rotation risk: Medium. fixture ease ranking: 5th Bonus 0
No clean sheets and 4 goals conceded in 2 games isn’t great. The underlying stats aren’t too bad though but too many good chances given. Personally I still have faith in the 14 clean sheet Arsenal defence of last year and wouldn’t rush to sell with a good set of fixtures coming up. Arteta is a screening midfielder loss but I don’t think it has been crucial to the clean sheets. Koscielny was on the bench last night but fit apparently. Home to Spurs this week might not be the best time to buy but away to Sunderland in GW4 (Arsenal had the most away clean sheets last year with 9) or home to Stoke in GW5 will be. Price has helpfully dropped to £5.4m
- Fonte
- £4.6
- In my “ones to watch” article I went for Clyne but after more thought I think the bonus and goal scoring gamble of Fonte is worth the gamble of having to hold his place against Yoshida and Hooiveld
- Silva (£9.2m) BUY
- Goals and assists least year: 4 goals 12 assists. Time per point scored last year: 17 mins . Rotation risk: medium. fixture ease ranking: 9th. Consistency 34%
The only starter against Cardiff to emerge with any credit for City. Very good shooting and creating chances stats and heavily involved. The only real attacking midfielder in the team who can be considered as Navas is too wide and cross driven. Only Aguero seems a certain starter as a striker but he’s far more expensive at £11.1m and even he will be subject to rotation so Silva remains the best route for City coverage. If you’re going to buy him now’s the time to do so before a home game to Hull
- Ward-Prowse
- £4.5
- JWP – (£4.5m) BUY – Really thought Ramirez would take his place but the youngster held his and has set pieces to boot. Always going to be a gametime gamble but worth the risk in my mind
- Walcott (£9.5m) BUY
- Goals and assists least year: 14 goals 13 assists. Time per point scored last year: 12 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 5th. Consistency 83%
Very quiet in the first game against Villa but redeemed himself in the Champions league and against Fulham where he was fantastic. Underlying shooting stats also recovered against Fulham and has added the dimension of creating chances for teammates. Great fixtures.
- Barkley (£4.8m) BUY – He’s a gametime risk as needs to displace Osman when Gibson returns but has more potential than the other £5.0m purchases in my mind if he can overcome this.
- Morrison
- £4.4
- With 3 cheapie midfielders into 1 spot a gamble on Ravel Morrison seems less of a risk. Fantastically talented and edging his way to the first team. Will take patience but convinced he will make it
- Soldado (£9.6m) BUY
- Goals and assists least year: 24 goals 4 assists (La Liga). Time per point scored last year: N/A . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 6th . Consistency N/A
Has had a good start with 2 goals albeit pens in 2 games. Has good underlying shooting and creating chances stats though and really the only possibility in a Spurs team apart from the sudden emergence of Paulino this week. 5th top goal scorer in La Liga and certain of starts. Also the main striker in a team with great fixtures to come. Lamela joining will be a big boost to the chances he will get
- Sturridge (£9.1m) BUY
- Goals and assists least year: 11 goals 5 assists. Time per point scored last year: 13 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 3rd. Consistency 66%
Really good first performance scoring against Stoke and could have had so much more. Villa despite the great goal was not so convincing as that was literally the only thing he did. Good shooting stats overall. With good fixtures he’s a great buy
- RVP (£14.0m) BUY
- Goals and assists least year: 26 goals 15 assists. Time per point scored last year: 12 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 15th. Consistency 89%
No return against Chelsea but still came out with credit against a very defensive team. Good shooting stats although hasn’t been creating chances as yet. Rooney staying will be a big boost as he is one of the more creative forwards and is excellent behind RVP. Away to Liverpool in GW3 but then home games with Palace and WBA either side of the derby
Thats it. Good luck for fantasy premier league GW3
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