Fantasty Premier League is back again and managers are looking for players with the biggest prospects ahead of the start of Gameweek 3.
It’s just two weeks into the season, and many managers are already considering using their wildcard. Is this a bad idea? Is it the right time? If you decide to use it now, how should you set up your team? These are the questions we will be addressing.
One of the major reasons many managers are opting for an early wildcard this season is because of the price tags of the players, especially Haaland, which forces many to choose between Haaland or Salah. However, with many of the forwards not performing well, it might be better to build your team with both Haaland and Salah, ditching the premium forwards for some mid-budget forwards. Trying to get a balanced team has proven ineffective, and managers who have both players are the ones leading their mini-leagues.
This article will look at how you can maximize your wildcard with both Haaland and Salah.
We will discuss six pairs of players you can consider in this type of draft. These players have good fixtures going forward, allowing you to save your transfers for the international break (it would be wise to have at least two transfers going into the international break).
Bukayo Saka or Cole Palmer:-You can go with both or just one of these two. I prefer to go with both and have a solid midfield that is reliable. Moreover, having the two will save me from having to rotate them. Both are on penalties, and a combination of them with Haaland and Salah means you have four penalty takers in your team. That’s absolutely insane.
Emile Smith Rowe or Alex Iwobi:- If you are looking for a safe option, Emile Smith Rowe is the answer, but if you are looking for a differential, I think Iwobi is a very good one. They have very good fixtures up to gameweek 10.
Diogo Jota or Bryan Mbeumo:-Diogo Jota is in incredible form now and is a good bargain at just £7.6m. He’s at the heart of Liverpool’s attack and will surely rack up points, but his minutes may decrease later on. You could go with Mbeumo and save £0.6m. With the departure of Ivan Toney, Mbeumo will probably be on penalties, which is an added advantage compared to Jota, and his minutes are guaranteed.
Anthony Gordon or Savio:-Newcastle started the season on a rough path, but Gordon has managed to get 10 points in two matches and will likely get more. He’s a very good bargain at £6.5m with guaranteed minutes and very nice fixtures. Savio, at the same price and with the same points at game week two, is also a bargain, but minutes-wise, I don’t think he’s a good buy.
Joao Pedro or Chris Wood:-Pedro was awarded Man of the Match against Manchester United, where he scored the winning goal for the Seagulls, but his fixtures are not so good going forward. He’s a decent buy at just £5.5m, which is budget-friendly for a Haaland and Salah team. Wood, on the other hand, is a little more expensive and usually gets subbed off at the 70th minute. Depending on how you set up your defense or midfield, either of these two will pair very well with Haaland up front.
Pedro Porro or William Saliba:-One of the sacrifices you will have to make to have both Haaland and Salah in your team will be in defense, but you will need one premium defender. Who will it be? Arsenal’s defense is one of the best in the Premier League with a very tricky fixture ahead, but Tottenham have decent fixtures and Porro’s attacking prowess is an advantage. Either one you choose will do, but I’d prefer Porro.
