Here’s my fantasy premier league imaginary wildcard for game week 23. Remember this is if I was using my wildcard now and isnt just a team for GW23 alone. Also I use artistic licence in relation to my value so please remember this when viewing the team. The post is a practical application of the “ones to watch” post. the post was also done before the Wednesday night games
Heres my team then:
Bunn
£4.1
- One of the better value defences and ok at home so should be rotated. Ruddy is out until mid Feb and he’s cheap. A good buy
19 Jan 15:00 Gameweek 23 Liverpool (A) 30 Jan 19:45 Gameweek 24 Tottenham (H) 02 Feb 12:45 Gameweek 25 QPR (A) 09 Feb 15:00 Gameweek 26 Fulham (H) 23 Feb 15:00 Gameweek 27 Everton (H) 02 Mar 15:00 Gameweek 28 Man Utd (A)
Szczesny
£5.3
Good fixtures good defence despite what you’re told.
| 20 Jan 13:30 | Gameweek 23 | Chelsea (A) |
| 23 Jan 19:45 | Gameweek 23 | West Ham (H) |
| 30 Jan 19:45 | Gameweek 24 | Liverpool (H) |
| 02 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 25 | Stoke City (H) |
| 09 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 26 | Sunderland (A) |
| 23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | Aston Villa (H) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Tottenham (A) |
Luiz
£6.7
The best buy among the defence with him playing in midfield and Mikel going to ACON. Cahill or Azpili will be sacrificed if Terry comes back so Cole is the only other option at the moment
| 20 Jan 13:30 | Gameweek 23 | Arsenal (H) |
| 30 Jan 20:00 | Gameweek 24 | Reading (A) |
| 02 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 25 | Newcastle (A) |
| 09 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 26 | Wigan (H) |
| 24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Man City (A) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | West Brom (H) |
Demel
£4.0
With Collins injured and Tomkins having to plus that hole plus the shortage of fit defenders should mean that Demel should hold his place at RB for the DGW
| 9 Jan 15:00 | Gameweek 23 | QPR (H) |
| 23 Jan 19:45 | Gameweek 23 | Arsenal (A) |
| 30 Jan 20:00 | Gameweek 24 | Fulham (A) |
| 02 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 25 | Swansea (H) |
| 10 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 26 | Aston Villa (A) |
| 25 Feb 20:00 | Gameweek 27 | Tottenham (H) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Stoke City (A) |
Harte
£3.8
Budget filler
Zabaleta
£5.9
With Maicon and Richards injured and neither with a return date on Physio room, Zabaleta looks to have the RB position sewn up. Definitely the best defence in the league and apart from the certainty of Kompany at £6.9m this is the best option. Has experienced a strong upturn in attacking returns this year as well
| 19 Jan 15:00 | Gameweek 23 | Fulham (H) |
| 29 Jan 19:45 | Gameweek 24 | QPR (A) |
| 03 Feb 16:00 | Gameweek 25 | Liverpool (H) |
| 09 Feb 17:30 | Gameweek 26 | Southampton (A) |
| 24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Chelsea (H) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Aston Villa (A) |
Wilson
£4.0
For anyone wanting to take a gamble in their wildcard team, this is a great way of getting exposure to the best defence outside the elite at a cut rate price. According to Pulis should be back in a couple of weeks a few days ago so should be back for GW23/24
Puncheon
£4.9
- A couple of quiet performances have seen him drop out of the last 6 shooting stats although still in the overall season stats. Returned in 4 of his last 7. Still the best cheap midfielder by my reckoning. Southamptons fixtures aren’t great though.
21 Jan 20:00 Gameweek 23 Everton (H) 30 Jan 20:00 Gameweek 24 Man Utd (A) 02 Feb 15:00 Gameweek 25 Wigan (A) 09 Feb 17:30 Gameweek 26 Man City (H) 24 Feb 13:30 Gameweek 27 Newcastle (A) 02 Mar 15:00 Gameweek 28 QPR (H)
Michu
£8.0
2nd in the overall shooting stats and 3rd in the last 6 on the back of tricky fixtures. Playing as a striker a reasonable amount of the time or just off the striker and seems to be a clinical finisher. Fixtures are quite good and apart from a couple of exceptions returns better with the easier teams
| 19 Jan 15:00 | Gameweek 23 | Stoke City (H) |
| 29 Jan 19:45 | Gameweek 24 | Sunderland (A) |
| 02 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 25 | West Ham (A) |
| 09 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 26 | QPR (H) |
| 24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Liverpool (A) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Newcastle (H) |
Walcott
£9.0
Playing up front as a midfielder, No other strike in the picture and Arsenal have a double game week in GW23. Top of the last 6 shooting stats. Prior to last week Koscielny sending off disaster had returned in his last 4. Good fixtures as well. Natural DGW23 captain choice. A must buy.
20 Jan 13:30 Gameweek 23 Chelsea (A) 23 Jan 19:45 Gameweek 23 West Ham (H) 30 Jan 19:45 Gameweek 24 Liverpool (H) 02 Feb 15:00 Gameweek 25 Stoke City (H) 09 Feb 15:00 Gameweek 26 Sunderland (A) 23 Feb 15:00 Gameweek 27 Aston Villa (H) 02 Mar 15:00 Gameweek 28 Tottenham (A)
Mata
£9.9
Has just creeped in to 10th in the last 6 and the overall shooting stats but is one of the few players who also is in the creating chances overall table. Returned in his last 6 starts and if you ignore the jaded first 3 games to the season has returned in every game he’s started apart from the City game. RVP type consistency. Fixtures are ranked 12 of all the teams in terms of fixture ease
| 20 Jan 13:30 | Gameweek 23 | Arsenal (H) |
| 30 Jan 20:00 | Gameweek 24 | Reading (A) |
| 02 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 25 | Newcastle (A) |
| 09 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 26 | Wigan (H) |
| 24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Man City (A) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | West Brom (H) |
Nolan
£6.5
Its now 1 return in 10 games but still 3rd overall shooting stats although has slipped out of the last 6. Last couple of games have been very disappointing but Carroll will be back soon and with the West ham double game week in GW23 he’s worth the gamble in my mind. Backed up by the fact that only Noble at a stretch is worth having for the DGW at a stretch
| 9 Jan 15:00 | Gameweek 23 | QPR (H) |
| 23 Jan 19:45 | Gameweek 23 | Arsenal (A) |
| 30 Jan 20:00 | Gameweek 24 | Fulham (A) |
| 02 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 25 | Swansea (H) |
| 10 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 26 | Aston Villa (A) |
| 25 Feb 20:00 | Gameweek 27 | Tottenham (H) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Stoke City (A) |
Van Persie
£13.5
Even with Rooney back RVP looks like he should be locked in to everyones team. 3rd inthe overall and last 6 shooting stats. Fixtures aren’t as strong but are on the up but that doesnt seem to matter. Has returned in 18/20 starts.
| 20 Jan 16:00 | Gameweek 23 | Tottenham (A) |
| 30 Jan 20:00 | Gameweek 24 | Southampton (H) |
| 02 Feb 17:30 | Gameweek 25 | Fulham (A) |
| 10 Feb 16:00 | Gameweek 26 | Everton (H) |
| 23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | QPR (A) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Norwich (H) |
Suarez
£10.4
The first evidence of him playing with Sturridge was not good as he definitely dropped deeper. Norwich at home this weekend and Sturridge isn’t fit to start so its not a sell but definitely a monitor. I wouldn’t buy at the moment with the position issues and terrible fixtures but wouldn’t sell just yet.
| 19 Jan 15:00 | Gameweek 23 | Norwich (H) |
| 30 Jan 19:45 | Gameweek 24 | Arsenal (A) |
| 03 Feb 16:00 | Gameweek 25 | Man City (A) |
| 11 Feb 20:00 | Gameweek 26 | West Brom (H) |
| 24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Swansea (H) |
| 02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Wigan (A) |
Aguero
£10.9
- Assuming he’s fit he’s a top quality striker who was showing his best prior to his hamstring injury. Make sure you get the latest news before he goes in your team
Here’s the “ones to watch” post on which it’s based to cut and paste
Barclays fantasy premier league “ones to watch” game week 23
