Cianan’s Column: GW6: Time to wildcard?

That’s the big question. Since FPL players have access to two wildcard chips this year, one before GW19 and one after, as well as five free transfers ahead of GW16, managers are deliberating whether now is the time to draw upon the chip that grants unlimited transfers. The opportunity for a complete team makeover is always appealing – and while it depends on how well your team is set up for the next few gameweeks, the decision of whether to play it now or to leave it a little longer is crucial. Here’s some advice for wildcarders and non-wildcarders alike.

Building from the back, Arsenal are clearly the defence to prioritise. In all honesty, top managers will, by GW7 (when the Gunners embark on a brilliant run of fixtures), have two of their defensive assets. It’s hard to look past Raya in net and Gabriel at the back, with the pair averaging a combined 5.1 points per game. While their collective cost of £11.6m is undoubtedly expensive, their rotation-proof and consistent nature makes them ideal set-and-forget options. Calafiori and Timber are also solid picks with slightly cheaper price points, but they come with a greater risk to their minutes.

Other defensive considerations should revolve around the so-called ‘DEFCON monsters’, namely Senesi, Tarkowski, and Andersen. The trio consistently offers value due to their knack for earning bonus points for clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles. Hence, even when faced with unfavourable opposition, they can accrue solid scores. Crystal Palace defenders have also impressed, especially the budget-friendly Guehi and Richards, alongside Spurs’ central defenders Romero and Van De Ven, who have favourable long-term fixtures.

Onto the heartbeat of the team: the midfield. The core of every FPL team ought to consist of Reijnders, who is staggeringly cheap for a Man City midfielder (£5.6m) and seems rotation-proof. He doesn’t score every week, but enables funds to be spent elsewhere while still providing a route to points week-in, week-out. Another cheap(ish) rotation-proof asset is Everton’s Ndiaye, who (excluding GW1) has averaged 6.5 points per game this season, including a surprising six-pointer against Liverpool (A) last time out. With West Ham (H) next week, there’s enormous potential for him to continue his outstanding consistency.

It goes without saying that Salah is a viable option. He grabbed another goal contribution last week, but many are moving away as his returns aren’t justifying his huge price tag. As the most expensive asset in FPL currently, it’s hard to have faith in his value spiking anytime soon, especially when players like the electric Semenyo, all-rounder Fernandes, and maestro Kudus leave so much more in the bank.

There is one forward who feels impossible to go without at the moment, and that is Haaland. Four goals in his last three games, and up against newly-promoted Burnley (H), many non-wildcarders are even debating triple-captaining him for GW6. Another hard-to-look-past option is Pedro, the most owned player in the whole game, with just under seven in ten managers backing the Brazilian. Don’t be fooled by his two-pointer against United, in which Chelsea spent most of the match with ten men – there is no one from the Blues better to own. A more debatable option is Gyökeres of Arsenal, who has yet to prove himself against strong opponents. To quote myself, “Gyökeres is an excellent option from GW7, when Arsenal’s fixtures turn”; however, he may not be essential this week when his side face a defensively sturdy Newcastle side away from home.

Recently, successful FPL teams have become something of a blueprint. That is to say, there are an increasingly slim number of viable options, with little room for variation in the long term if good scores are to be expected. While this won’t last forever, it’s probably better to be on the common blueprint for the moment than too far away from it – after all, you may never make the points up.

Rapid recommendations

● I discussed Ndiaye earlier, but it’s also worth pointing out that he offers more value than Grealish. He’s averaged more points, is cheaper, takes penalties, and is owned by 13.3% fewer managers.
● Sanchez will serve his suspension in the League Cup, so he isn’t guaranteed to miss any Premier League game time for Chelsea. There’s always a chance he makes up for his horror minus three-pointer against Brighton (H).
● Five games, five blanks for Liverpool’s Wirtz – you should look to sell.
● Aston Villa look terrible, having produced less than one xG against ten-men Sunderland last week. It’s high time to get rid of their assets.
● As a cheap third striker, Wolves’ Larsen is a solid pickup, offering a rotatable differential route to points.

The Boar standings

1st: leif the door open (311) – managed by Hannah Guthrie
2nd: Ed City, No Pity (308) – managed by Edward Croisdale-Appleby
3rd: parths11 (306) – managed by Parth Malik