Here’s our fantasy premier league wildcard team GW25 where the 4th FFGeek contributor, Costas Chari activates his 2nd wildcard. Costas’s last 3 seasons overall ranks were 84k, 29k and 27k
fantasy premier league wildcard team GW25 – Costas Chari activates his 2nd wildcard
See also Andrew Whitfield’s wildcard article and Rob Reid’s wildcard article
My current team
This is the team before the West Ham v Liverpool GW24 match. My overall rank is 264k from 1334 points after scoring 46-4 points in the gameweek so far
Reasons for activating the Wildcard
After an injury and rotation full GW24 I don’t have any choice than to play my second wildcard. Gazzaniga was benched, Mane, Vardy and Abraham injured. I just couldn’t believe what was happening.
About playing the wildcard early or late. I don’t personally understand why would someone hold on to his wildcard because its “too early” even if his team has a lot of issues. For me there is no good or bad / early or late time to play your wildcard. Your team status, position will dictate when its the right time for your team to play it not the number of the gameweek.
Last year myself and Rob played the 2nd wildcard “early” it was GW24 again and it really helped. I always play the wildcard having in mind the best team based on fixtures and form for the next 6-8 gamweeks so I can have a good 1/5 of the season (with 2 WCs that’s a third of the season). You cannot have this effect if you play your wildcard on GW34 as many do!! That’s because you are playing your wildcard for ONE double gameweek. I don’t think one good dgw will cover for 6-7 mediocre gameweeks leading to there. Imagine if it doesen’t even turn out well.. Food for thought…
The wildcard draft
The 2nd WC is a time to field 15 players who are first teamers for their club. They will come in handy for the blanks and double gameweeks.
All season I haven’t been focusing on team value and this has impacted my wildcard especially the bench options. However even with a £102.2m team value I think it is fairly ok. Note that the team does not take into account the blanks, once midweek EFL cup games are finished will have a clear view and make changes if necessary.
Goalkeepers
Henderson picks himself, great form great fixtures. McCarthy is the second GK as a 4.4 playing keeper (remember budget was low).
Defenders
Alexander Arnold, finallyyyyy, you cant imagine how much he has hurt me this season. Better late than never. He will be the nailed defender and Lascelles, Cahill, Jack Stephens will rotate. All 3 are great budget options from teams with good schedule and they also pose threat on set pieces. Rico stays in at 4.1.
I had to let Lord Lundstram go. He has had fitness issues and has been benched. Got him at £4.0m and sold him at £4.5m so not bad. I might switch to double Sheffield defence with Egan or O’Connell as most contrubutors are… But I really like the Palace fixtures so Cahill stays for now.
Midfielders
Fairly template. Salah, De Bruyne, Grealish and Traore. Dendoncker fills the 5th spot. If my team had higher value i would have gone for an attacking midfield in Fleck, Cantwell or Mooy. Now I have to settle for a defensive midfielder in Dendoncker, Stephens, Douglas Luiz or Hayden. HUGE DIFFERENCE.
Forwards
Danny Ings finally as with Alexander Arnold. Great fixtures and form. Aubameyang has the fixtures again, he has been rested after the ban as well. Firmino stays in the team. I had a gut feeling about him and went for him as my Triple Captain and he has already scored a goal against Wolves. I hope he keeps it up as with Mane injured someone has to pick up the extra goals.
Here’s how the team looks
Effective transfers
Gazzaniga out – Henderson in
Button out – McCarthy in
Sidibe out – Alexander Arnold in
Targett out – Lascelles in
Tomkins out – Cahill in
Lundstram out – Jack Stephens in
Noble out – Traore in
Mane out – De Bruyne in
Abraham out – Ings in
Vardy out – Aubameyang in
Players who stayed Rico, Grealish, Salah, Dendoncker and Firmino
The EFL semi finals effect
As you will see if you read the Geeks article on blanks and double gameweeks GW28 could be a blank week for teams in the EFL Cup final. That and the need to continually tinker means the team could change between now and the deadline. I’ll update this article therefore towards the end of the week.
Best of luck for the rest of GW24 and especially so if you’re wildcarding. I hope this article helped.
See also Andrew Whitfield’s wildcard article and Rob Reid’s wildcard article
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