Thread by @FPL_Architect

GW 8 Wildcard Thread 📝

- Pros and Cons ✅❌
- Fixture Runs 📊
- Foundations ⚙️
- Budget Picks 💰
- Differentials 🎲
- Players to avoid ❄️
- Wildcard Draft 📈

#FPL #FPLCommunity

Pros and Cons about wildcarding:

Pros:
- Target fixture swings ✅
- Catch price rises and build team value ✅
- Get Chelsea/City players without taking hits ✅
- Get rid of failed punts/bad picks from previous GWs ✅

Cons:
- Can’t target GW 14/15 fixture swings as effectively ❌
- You’re relying very much on a few teams (Chelsea/City) to deliver* ❌

*The last point isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if you’re okay with having most eggs in few baskets.

Fixture Runs to Target 📊

🔵 Chelsea (GW 8-11)

Chelsea face Brentford, Norwich, Newcastle and Burnley in consecutive games, which can not be described in any other way than as a fantastic fixture run. I expect 4 wins and between 2 and 4 clean sheets during this run of fixtures.

💎 Man City (GW 8-10)

It’s often difficult to predict what 11 players that’ll start for Man City but if we get it right in the next few GWs, the potential reward is huge. Burnley, Brighton and Crystal Palace up next making both the defensive and the offensive players great picks

⚪️ Leeds (GW 8-15)

Leeds haven’t really impressed this season, but they are looking to build on the crucial win vs Watford in GW 7. With a long lasting run of great fixtures coming up, I’d recommend having at least one Leeds player in your wildcard team.

🔴 Arsenal (GW 8-11)

After the disastrous start of the season Arsenal are now unbeaten 4 games in a row, a streak that we’re likely to see extended considering the upcoming fixtures. You can find a lot of budget friendly/good value picks in Arsenal, such as White and Smith Rowe.

🟠 Wolves (GW 8-14)

With a good run of fixtures, short term and long term, Wolves players are definitely good picks on a wildcard. They’re solid both offensively and defensively, so Sa, Semedo, Jimenez and Hwang all look like great options.

Fixture run to plan for:

🔴 Brentford (GW 10-16)

Brentford don’t have great fixtures in GW 8 & 9 (Chelsea and Leicester), but after that the fixtures take a real turn to the good. In order to be able to maneuver that swing, I’d pick at least 1 Brentford player in a WC team.

Fixture Run to Avoid:

🔴 Man United (GW 8-11)

Leicester in GW 8 might not be a very tough fixture, but after that Man Utd face Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City. Hence I can’t see that the expensive Man United assets (Shaw, Bruno, Ronaldo) will give value for money. Avoid!

Wildcard Foundations ⚙️

🔴 Salah - 12.5
🔴 Trent - 7.5 (If fit)
🔵 Lukaku - 11.7
🔵 Rüdiger - 5.8
💎 Cancelo - 6.2

Wildcard Budget Picks 💰

🔴 Ramsdale - 4.6
🔴 Livramento - 4.2
🔵 Christensen - 5.0

🔵 Doucouré - 5.6
🔴 Smith Rowe - 5.3

🔴 Armstrong - 6.0

Wildcard Differentials 🎲

🐝 Bryan Mbuemo - 5.5
TSB: 1.3%

Mbeumo has averaged an xG of 0.5 per game this season, elite numbers considering his really low price. He has everything; great stats, good fixtures and low ownership!

🟠 Hee-Chan Hwang - 5.6
TSB: 3.7%

Hwang scored a brace in GW 7, a brace that should secure his place in the starting eleven for the next few games. Considering Wolves great fixture run and Hwang’s low price he looks like a good enabler and differential

💎 Kevin De Bruyne - 11.9
TSB: 1.9%

KDB is back and when he’s fit, he’s pretty much nailed to start for Man City. He offers massive attacking threat and with appealing fixtures he is the perfect differential. The only big con is, obviously, the high price.

💎 Phil Foden - 7.9
TSB: 1.6%

If you can’t afford KDB, Foden offers a cheap route into the Man City attack. When he plays, he’s a great FPL asset. I actually expect him to get a lot of game time in the upcoming GWs, but if not, it’s not something that a strong bench can’t cover.

⚪️ Heung Min Son - 10.0
TSB: 13.0%

Son scored a 10 pointer in GW 7 thanks to 2 assists and it’s definitely possible that he does it again in GW 8. Newcastle (A) is a superb fixture. A bit expensive, but likely to pay back with goal involvements.

Other Differentials 🎲

🐝 Raya - 4.6
💎 Laporte - 5.5
🔴 Saka - 6.3
💎 Torres - 6.9
🟠 Jimenez - 7.5
🐝 Toney - 6.3

Wildcard - Players to Avoid ❄️

🔴 Cristiano Ronaldo - 12.6

With really tough fixtures coming up for Man United, I find it hard to believe that investing 12.6m in Ronaldo is a good idea. Even though he scored 3 goals in his first 2 games...

... Man United don’t play at the level that they would need to in order to justify the heavy price tag.

🟣 Saïd Benrahma - 6.6

Post GW 2, Said Benrahma’s only return has been a goal from a deflected shot vs Man Utd. With Europa League games, rotation will increase and West Ham’s fixture take a negative turn now. Antonio is the best pick from West Ham, a double up is a bit too much

🔴 Luke Shaw - 5.4

Despite being the highest owned FPL player in GW 1, Shaw has only averaged 2.9 points per game this season. Considering Man Utd’s fixtures I would definitely go for a Chelsea or City defender instead, with better CS potential.

Wildcard Draft 📈

I am playing my wildcard this week, and this is how my current draft looks ⤵️

Thanks for reading this thread, I hope it was useful.

My regular GW Thread will be posted next Wednesday as usual.

If you enjoyed reading this thread, drop a follow 🙌

RTs ♻️ and Likes ❤️ appreciated

#FPL #FPLCommunity