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FPL Season 2023/24 – Gameweek 28 – Wildcard Draft

Entering Gameweek 28 with a wildcard strategy is about more than just surviving; it’s about setting up for maximum points now and in the future. This draft is meticulously designed with that exact goal in mind. Here’s the breakdown:

Immediate Gains: You start strong with 4 players set to double in GW28, laying the groundwork for a potential high-scoring week.

Navigating GW29: With 10 active and strong players ready for the GW29 blanks, you’re positioned well to sail through with confidence.

Premium Strategy: By GW31, the team evolves to include FPL royalty: Haaland, Salah, and Son, alongside impactful players like Saka, Solanke, Palmer and Gabriel.

Smooth Sailing: The best part! This transition requires no hits, ensuring a seamless and efficient progression through the gameweeks.

So good to be true, right? Let’s dive into the specifics of this strategic wildcard selection.

Goalkeeper and Defenders:

1- Neto (GK): He’s our top pick due to Bournemouth’s enticing double in GW28. While he blanks in GW29, the subsequent fixtures are favorable, offering a blend of clean sheet potential and save points. Kaminski might have a similar double, but Neto’s fixtures GW30 and beyond give him the nod.

2- Gabriel: Arsenal’s defense is a brick wall this season, and Gabriel isn’t just stopping goals; he’s scoring them too. His threat from set pieces adds a layer to his appeal, making him an essential defensive anchor.

3- Doughty: With a double in GW28 and a fixture in GW29, his attacking returns outshine other budget defenders like Zabarnyi and Kerkez from Bournemouth . His fixtures post-29 are tough, but his value makes him a good bench option GW30 onwards.

4- Udogie: Spurs’ attacking play offers Udogie opportunities to contribute offensively. Despite Spurs’ defensive unstability, his potential for assists and the occasional goal, plus a game in the blank gameweek 29, solidifies his spot.

Midfielders:

5- Saka: In outstanding form with returns in 6 consecutive fixtures and a keystone in Arsenal’s attack. His role as a penalty taker adds to his allure, making him an almost non-negotiable pick for any team, especially with Arsenal’s fixtures.

6- Son: Spurs’ main man in attack and a reliable source of goals and assists. His penalty duties and fixture in GW29 enhance his value. Given his track record, Son’s capable of hauling big, even in tougher matches.

7- Cole Palmer (Midfielder): An attractive budget option with attacking potential. Although he has a blank in GW29 but the fixtures post-blank make him a smart choice.

8- Bowen: Bowen offers direct involvement in West Ham’s goals. Ideal for his home game against Burnley in GW28 and his fixture in 29, but his place in the squad is strategic, as he will be moving out post-GW29 due to fixtures difficulty.

Forwards:

9- Ollie Watkins: Aston Villa’s leading man in attack, Watkins’ form makes him a ‘must-have’. His involvement in goals is consistent, offering a reliable source of points upfront.

10- Dominic Solanke: The prime captaincy choice for GW28, thanks to his amazing double in GW28 Against SHU (H) and LUT (H), and penalty responsibilities. His form and fixtures position him as a key forward in any team.

11- Morris: Completing our attacking trio, Morris offers a double gameweek advantage, a fixture in GW29, and penalty duties, providing a balanced threat alongside Watkins and Solanke.

Bench:

1- Areola (GK): Chosen mostly for his GW29 fixture plus his affordability. While Neto is the primary choice post-GW29, Areola’s inclusion ensures goalkeeping coverage for the blank gameweek in 29.

2- Maddison: A creative hub for Spurs, Maddison’s knack for key passes, goals from midfield, and set-piece expertise makes him a valuable asset. The benching decision between him and Palmer is very hard, but Palmer is favored slightly due to his home game and penalty duties.

3- Pau Torres: Offers solidity and a confirmed game in GW29. A great backup, Torres ensures defensive coverage during the blank gameweek.

4- Reguilón: His attacking contributions and low price tag make him an ideal bench player. Scheduled to play in GW29, he provides both a short-term and long-term backup option.

Navigating Through Gameweeks 29 and 30

Now that the wildcard team is set for Gameweek 28, the real magic is in how you transition smoothly into the upcoming gameweeks. More so in the difficult GW29 and the opportunities it opens out in GW30. Let’s break it down.

Gameweek 29:

GW29 comes with very few fixtures. We had our wildcard set up, so to say, and that puts us in good position. Our team will have 10 strong players, chosen for the possible points they could bring despite the few fixtures. This means you’re navigating the blank gameweek without any transfers and avoiding unnecessary hits.

Gameweek 30:

Moving into GW30, our foresight with the wildcard draft pays off once more.

The plan is to bring in The Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah, replacing Bowen seamlessly in a single transfer move, rolling the second transfer to GW31. This not only freshens up your midfield with a premium option but offers an excellent captaincy selection. Salah at home to Brighton is a very tempting fixture given his history and the vulnerabilities of the Brighton defense. Similarly, Son at home to Luton represents an equally good captaincy choice. This would pivot strategically to help enlarge your squad’s firepower and also get us to align with high-ceiling captaincy picks, hence elevating our potential for significant points haul in GW30.

Transitioning to Gameweek 31

As we move on from the mixed challenges at GW29 and the strategic plays at GW30, eyes of the moment must be on GW31. And here is where our planning really shows off, showing the depth of our strategy yet again and showing that even more changes can be made if needed in the future.

Welcoming Haaland

In GW31, you take the bold step of adding Erling Haaland—a kind of move you would say is nothing short of adding a wrecking ball to our frontline. The decision to swap out Ollie Watkins comes at just the right time for his fixtures to take a turn for the worse, starting with a daunting trip to Man City away—one of the toughest games in the whole season.

While Watkins has been a very reliable contributor to the attack for you, tactical moves to Haaland are expected to take your team’s attacking threat into another level.

But there is no need to worry about missing Watkins’ favorable fixture in GW34 against Bournemouth, as you would most likely be activating the Free Hit chip in GW34, meaning optimizing the team for the doubles expected but without long-term commitment.

Funding the Move:

But for the Haaland transfer to work, a bit of fund has to be freed up, and in the process, bidding goodbye to Maddison. That, therefore, means shifting to a cheaper midfielder, which is presently not a big issue with good options available in the market. you may be eyeing a player from the magpies, like Anthony Gordon, at home facing Everton; You could also be looking towards the Wolves’ duo Pedro Neto or Hwang Hee-chan against Burnley away. Not only does this provide an alternative, but also value in terms of potential returns given the fixtures.

Sound strategic advice is to let the squad be competitive, be in the position for high returns, but at the same time, strike the balance between the premium powerhouses and the value picks. This team heads not only well-prepared into GW31 but is optimized for success and typifies strategic foresight and flexibility needed in FPL management.

Navigating the twists and turns of the Premier League season is a formidable challenge, but it’s one we embrace with enthusiasm and strategic planning. If you’re seeking that extra edge in decision-making, consider downloading the We Play FPL app. With features like transfer planning, player comparison, and points prediction, it’s designed to enhance your FPL strategy and optimize your team’s performance. Download the app now and take your FPL journey to new heights!

The journey through the FPL season is long and filled with unpredictability. Yet, with the right tools, insights, and a community of fellow enthusiasts, we can make informed decisions that lead us to success. So, as you ponder your next move in Gameweek 28 and beyond, remember to leverage every resource at your disposal.

May your arrows be green, and your captaincy choices be spot on. Until next time, happy managing!