Where the Wildcards are

Let the tinkering commence!

With no Premier League matches to look forward to this weekend due to the international break, we’ve been consumed by thoughts of that most seductive of game chips, the Wildcard.

Allowing managers to make unlimited transfers and completely overhaul their entire squad before the next set of games, the early Wildcard offers a shot at redemption for those who’ve painted themselves into a corner with their pre-season selection, and the chance to jump on all the early-season bandwagons before the top-performing players get priced beyond your budget.

Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of chat in the FPL world about the best time to play the first of the two Wildcards allotted each season (one to be played by December 28, the second between then and the end of the season). Some say it’s best to keep it until December, when there’s a glut of fixtures and injuries/suspensions start to pile up, and when you can use it to set yourself up nicely for the second half of the season.

Others reckon it’s best deployed when you want to move value around your team, for example switching from a premium back three/four to cheaper alternatives so that you can upgrade your midfield/forwards. And then there are those who say you should hold your Wildcard until there are significant fixture swings, loading up on players with easy fixtures while ditching those with a difficult run.

For me, it’s more about that moment when you look at your squad, then look at the list of top point-scoring players and go ‘What the f#@% was I thinking?!’

And this, my friends, is just such a time.

Also, four gameweeks is a pretty good amount of time to assess the way teams and individual players are performing, and hazard a reasonable guess at their trajectory. And, with the transfer window finally closed and the international break offering some added thinking time (as well as no doubt throwing up few injuries), it’s a bit of a no brainer.

So who should you be looking to bring in if you’ve hit the Wildcard button for GW5?

<The Essential Heavy-hitters>

Starting with the champions, it would be a brave (or possibly stupid) manager who would go without picking two from Kevin De Bruyne (9.8m) Raheem Sterling (12.3m) and Sergio Aguero (12.1m), who all look like they’re going to crack the 200-point mark this season. With Laporte’s injury and Mendy on the mend-y, it’s hard to find a 100% nailed-on starter in City’s back four, although Nicolás Otamendi (5.4m) would seem to be the most likely to benefit as the only naturally left-sided centre-back in the squad

The Liverpool defence, meanwhile, may not look as strong as last season, but Trent Alexander-Arnold (7m) is evolving into a fantasy monster, with three assists in his first four games easing the pain of just one clean sheet. Probably time to ditch the Reds defensive double up though. And while Sadio Mané (11.5m) and Roberto Firmino (9.5m) are giving Mo Salah (12.5m) a run for his money, I’ve seen nothing to deter me from the view that the Egyptian will once again be the game’s highest scorer, making him the closest thing to an essential pick that there is.

Everton may not yet have hit the heights that many were expecting, but one man has emerged as a reliable source of points at both ends of the pitch: Lucas Digne (6.1m). With two assists already to his name in the EPL, as well as a stunning 30-yard free kick scored in the Carabao Cup, the Frenchman looks like being one of the stars of the season.

The Mid-price Gems

A mid-priced midfielder who can bring in anywhere close to 10 goals per season is worth his weight in gold, and a few surprise candidates have emerged who look capable of doing just that. With two goals already, Chelsea’s Mason Mount (6.4m) has demonstrated why Frank Lampard rates him so highly, while three-goal Daniel James (6.1m) has been one of the few bright spots in Manchester United’s patchy start to the season.

Up front, there’s great value to be found in the mid-price bracket, with Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham (7.2m), Norwich’s Teemu Pukki (Pukki, Pukki; 7m) and West Ham’s Sébastien Haller (7.5m) all looking promising, while those with a bit more budget to spare might want to consider Jamie Vardy (8.9m), although three tough fixtures for Leicester in the next four may suggest holding off for now if you don’t already own him.

Perhaps the best value of all, however, is to be found in Burnley, who look to have the easiest run of fixtures over the next 10 games. Ashley Barnes (6.7m) is another mid-priced striker who has impressed with four goals in four games, while Nick Pope (4.6m) in goal can be relied upon to rack up save points along with clean sheets. Defender Erik Pieters (4.6m) also looks a good buy, with two assists to his name so far.

The Bargain Basement

Every team needs its share of bargain basement players to make up the numbers, but having budget enablers who might actually bring in some points could make all the difference to your season. Sheffield United defender John Lundstram (4.2m) has been the pick of these so far, helped by the fact he’s being deployed in midfield – although the Blades’ heinous run of fixtures from GW6 onwards are a bit of a downer. Palace’s Martin Kelly (4.1m) has racked up two clean sheets this season already, although his place could be under threat with James Tomkins (5m) poised to return from injury.

In midfield, Norwich’s Todd Cantwell (4.8m) has two assists and a goal so far, while Palace’s Jordan Ayew (5.1m) is leading the charge for budget forwards with two goals in his last two games.

Of course, this could all change over the course of the international break, but the beauty of the Wildcard is you can keep on revising your team right up until the GW5 deadline.

So go on, have a tinker. You know you want to.

-Pablo