Here’s our fantasy premier league wildcard tips GW10 article where we pretend we are using our wildcard. It gives player suggestions with more longevity than just for the up coming gameweek.
fantasy premier league wildcard tips GW10 – the FFGeek imaginary wildcard
This article brings together the various earlier articles in the week.
It’s a longer article than usual where I’m pretending I’m using my wildcard to give you player picks with more longevity than the next game.
I’ve given links to articles below with all the detailed stats you’ll need if you want to investigate a player in more detail.
In this article there’s some narrative on each selection. There’s stats in the player ranking articles which can be found here using the links below
Player rankings defence and GK
There’s also our fixture ease article which gives player suggestions with good fixtures. You can also see who the popular transfers are in our bandwagons article .
You can also see the players underlying stats in my cumulative stats article.
Lastly there’s the 10 top FPL managers I follow which I use to define who’s essential
The FFGeek imaginary wildcard team
My value at the moment is a fairly modest £102.4m and the teams fits well within that.
Structure
A very flexible side with Hojbjerg the only player I wouldn’t start. That means I can play anyone of 3-4-3, 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 or even 5-3-2.
GK
I’m still in a position where having just the 1 GK is my preferred option although I’d like to do a bit more research for it to be more of an informed choice rather than one which doesn’t just mean I go through the pain of missing out on 12 points when your benched keeper unexpectedly keeps a clean sheet against a top 6 side despite being under the kosh for 90 minutes
Fabianksi is my choice here. West Ham have a great run of fixtures and only Joe Hart in a non functioning Burnley defence has made more saves. Only Ryan has more GK bonus points
Leicester (A)
Burnley (H)
Huddersfield (A)
Man City (H)
Newcastle (A)
Cardiff (H)
Button is my £4.0m non playing reserve
Defence
In defence there’s no doubt for me that the top 3 defensive teams are Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea. Plus if you go to my 10 top FPL managers you’ll see that by my formula I have defined Liverpool and Chelsea as essential defences to have in your team
All 3 teams have different factors in their choice of defenders.
Robertson
The Liverpool cheap options for me in Alexander Arnold and Gomez need a couple of games more clarity on selection which is why I’ve taken the safer premium route of Robertson. You could save some money on Van Dijk but I think the small premium for more attacking potential of £0.5m is worth it.
Cardiff (H)
Arsenal (A)
Fulham (H)
Watford (A)
Everton (H)
Burnley (A)
Alonso
Chelsea is a difficult one. The difference in price between Luiz and Alonso at £5.5m to £7.0m is some premium. You can also get a decent attacking option in Rudiger for £5.9m. So the question isn’t as easy to answer as Liverpool is. It may depend on the rest of your squad but if you save the money on Luiz or Rudiger you just have to be prepared to be burned every now and then by Alonso and watch Chelsea uncomfortably.
Burnley (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Everton (H)
Spurs (A)
Fulham (H)
Wolves (A)
Mendy
Man City for me are straight up the best defensive side so for me a definite transfer in. Mendy is worth the price for his attacking potential on top.
Spurs (A)
Southampton (H)
Man Utd (H)
West Ham (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Watford (A)
Doherty
Also defined as essential in that article are Wolves and Doherty is the clear leader even though you’re paying £0.6m for the attacking premium over Bennett.
Brighton (A)
Spurs (H)
Arsenal (A)
Huddersfield (H)
Cardiff (A)
Chelsea (H)
Holebas
The last defensive spot is a tricky one. There were 3 options for me where I was looking for an attacking player around the £4.5m mark for rotation. Smith/Cook £4.5/£4.6m from Bournemouth, Digne £4.8m of Everton and Holebas £4.8m of Watford.
Readers will know of my scepticism of Howes ability to get a decent defence at Bournemouth although the numbers at the moment are good, albeit on the back of a pretty easy schedule so far. Digne has been a good attacking option for Everton and the acquisitions seem to have improved their defensive ability. Watford is a side I believe in defensively as well.
In the end I chose the set piece and attacking ability of Holebas. There is a residual risk that he may not get back in the team after Watford’s defensive performance against Wolves but I would hope his overall contribution will get him back
Huddersfield (H)
Newcastle (A)
Southampton (A)
Liverpool (H)
Leicester (A)
Man City (H)
Midfield
Salah
No question around Salah for me. Will be a big captain favourite v Cardiff and absolutely burning the underlying stats. His inability to get bonus points is the negative and he will need to get 2 returns to get any bonus it seems. He has no history of being a bad finisher although he has looked tentative in recent weeks. Hopefully the 2 goals against Red Star will change that. He’s informed us he’s also the back up penalty taker as well which is helpful given that Milner won’t play every game.
Cardiff (H)
Arsenal (A)
Fulham (H)
Watford (A)
Everton (H)
Burnley (A)
Hazard
Hazard is another player in my essential bracket. Looks like he could easily not play v Burnley but the fact that they haven’t ruled out hopefuly means that it’s not too serious. He has penalties is consistent, producing very good underlying stats and eats bonus points for breakfast. Every time he’s started and returned a goal or assist he’s got a bonus of some sort. 4 out of those 5 times it’s been 3 bonus points.
Burnley (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Everton (H)
Spurs (A)
Fulham (H)
Wolves (A)
Fraser
Having an attacking player who’s got Fulham next is becoming an increasing trend and 25 goals conceded in 9 games (6 more than any other team) you can see why. So anyone on a wildcard will probably want to think about Fraser or Wilson. Fraser isn’t my ideal midfielder in that he’s more assist based than a goal scorer. However he has been producing good stats although his goal threat seems to have gone into a lull without a shot in the last 3 games.
Fulham (A)
Man Utd (H)
Newcastle (A)
Arsenal (H)
Man City (A)
Huddersfield (H)
Josh Murphy
Josh Murphy has been producing some excellent stats when on the pitch and now seems to be getting a run in the side. He’s excellent value for £4.8m. It’s always difficult to evaluate new players to the premier league when there’s no history to fall back on but he’s £4.8m what’s the worst that can happen?
Liverpool (A)
Leicester (H)
Brighton (H)
Everton (A)
Wolves (H)
West Ham (A)
Hojbjerg
Lastly there’s the bench man of Hojbjerg who is trying to be a box to box midfielder even though he seems more in the wasteful shots from distance category.
Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)
Watford (H)
Fulham (A)
Man Utd (H)
Spurs (A)
Forwards
Aguero
If Aguero was on the pitch for 90 minutes instead of 65 it’s unimaginable the damage he could do given the stats. The fact that he is still top of the forward rankings for me despite the discount he gets for that gametime says how productive he is when on the bench. Defined as essential for me in my 10 top FPL managers article
Spurs (A)
Southampton (H)
Man Utd (H)
West Ham (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Watford (A)
Ings
Ings is an interesting one. He’s there mainly on a value for money factor. His fixtures are mixed but given the flexibility in this team that isn’t the end of the world. He actually has been producing very good underlying stats and seems to be the penalty taker. He has had a history of under performing those stats which is something he’s repeating at the moment. However he’s worth it in the team for the flexibility his value brings and the potential his stats have if he can put the ball in the net.
Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)
Watford (H)
Fulham (A)
Man Utd (H)
Spurs (A)
Arnautovic
Lastly there’s Arnautovic who just has a great set of fixtures coming up and has shown himself to be the main man for West Ham. There is some risk of Chicharito changing his position if Chicharito can get into the side and it would be nice if Arnautovic could nail penalties instead of Noble. Stats are pretty good but it’s the fixtures that swing it
Leicester (A)
Burnley (H)
Huddersfield (A)
Man City (H)
Newcastle (A)
Cardiff (H)
See also the popular and not so popular players in the bandwagons and sinking ships article plus also who the 10 top managers I follow have in their team. Also who I have or maybe interested in getting in the early thoughts on the FFgeek team article
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