Here’s my fantasy premier league team selection GW9 article when I’ve decided to play my wildcard. As is normal, I review GW8, share my wildcard thoughts, captain choice and the lineup dilemmas.
fantasy premier league team selection GW9 – the FFGeek Wildcard
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Introduction
Firstly if you’re new to the site my last 4 seasons overall ranks are 17k, 36k, 17k and 21k.
GW8
GW8 points: 62 (FPL average 55) Total points 440, Overall Rank: 1,803k, green arrow 136k Team Value: £99.9m
I haven’t used any chips yet
Here’s the points:
A 136k green arrow that was a hugely disappointing gameweek which sees me at 1.8 million overall rank. I’m 80 points ish away from 50k overall rank which is my overall target so have made no progress there
The 11 points of Targett on the bench was the really upsetting part of it especially when I barely had a bench for him to be left on. My 50/50 transfer of Saiss for Chilwell instead of Alexander Arnold for Chilwell not only meant Targett was on the bench but also now Alexander Arnold is injured. It really couldn’t have worked out worse.
The Wildcard
The amount of injuries meant that in the end I’ve decided a wildcard is inevitable. Add to that the turn in the fixtures for Spurs and a lack of a captain option with Salah out just meant I thought it was time to push the button
The team
Firstly you can see all the stats in my player rankings articles and I will only generally describe the players.
GKs
My dilemma was between McCarthy, Mendy and Martinez. The 3 Ms. In the end the Villa defence which seems to keep clean sheets but conceded shots for save points was my pick. Plus I think he’s template so I’ve gone for Martinez.
The 2nd non playing GK is Button. I did think of Forster as he has to have some chance of getting ahead of McCarthy but having Walker Peters in the team meant I would have ended up with the option of double Southampton defence which I didn’t want.
Defs
The 2 first on the team sheet are Cancelo and Chilwell. I think these could be the best 2 defences in the league over the medium term and both figure highly in my attacking defenders rankings. Certainly Dias could be the safer option but International Break apart I can’t see him with any history of attacking ability so I’ll take the Cancelo Mendy risk for the moment.
Southampton have shown good defensive stats. It was a big decision between Vestergaard and Walker Peters but in the end I went Walker Peters on a 50/50
Masuaku is the wing back for West Ham with great attacking stats. He’s definitely a gametime risk and could lose his place if West Ham go to a back 4 but he has more attacking potential than Coufal so I’m going to roll the dice there.
Lastly I’ve gone for Van Aanholt for a 3 game punt against Burnley, Newcastle and WBA. Hoping for a 15 pointer among those 3 games
Mids
I’ve gone for Fernandes as the poll captain favourite. I have exactly the right amount to flip him to Salah in the bank
Grealish’s form speaks for itself.
I had hard time deciding between Ziyech and Zaha. Zaha will have a couple of games with Pens and is playing as a forward plus has great fixtures. On the negative Palace are a fairly defensive side. Ziyech is in a much better attacking side but is more assist based and is unproven. It wasn’t an easy one.
De Bruyne will be my 2nd captain option after Salah
Soucek is a great 5th midfielder for only £0.4m over the £4.5m CDMs
Fwds
I would have liked Vardy but it didn’t seems feasible and I think I will just have Salah and De Bruyne as captain options
Calvert Lewin for the Fulham game and his form. I wasn’t really that comfortable with double Villa and considered Wilson but Newcastle are such a defensive side and he is an injury doubt as well. I also considered Maupay but in the end went for the double Villa with Watkins pens being a big attraction.
Leeds attacking intent and Bamfords underlying stats meant I went for him as my 3rd
Lineup
It will generally be 3-4-3 with the Van Aanholt getting the nod for the first 3 games over Masuakau and Walker Peters I would think.
Captain
Going with Fernandes as the clear poll leader
Here’s the team
Good luck everyone!
Other posts
Ben Wooton and Rob Cosgroves wildcards
Sergio’s Wildcard plus Andrew P and Kev’s teams
Early thoughts on the FFGeek team
Updated wildcards from Andrew W and Rob Reid
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