Summary of The GW30 Preview WILDCARD SPECIAL

Fellow FPL Manager,

Today’s email summarizes The GW30 Preview Thread - WILDCARD SPECIAL, answering the key questions going into the gameweek.

Fortunately, GW29 is behind us. Every single captain option in last GW’s poll blanked. Unbelievable. However, a positive way to look at this is that your mini-league rivals most likely also had captains who blanked!

This week’s captain options will definitely do better - don’t forget to vote in the poll at the end of the email. Excited to share the results in Monday’s email, especially since Haaland is not the standout option this week.

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Q) What is the best GW30 Wildcard team – for those with and without the FH?

Assuming FH34 and BB37:

• GK: Petrovic Onana

• Def: Gusto Bradley Porro Gabriel Ruben

• Mid: Salah Son Palmer Garnacho Richarlison

• Fwd: Haaland Darwin Isak

Assuming no FH left and BB37:

• GK: Petrovic Raya

• Def: Gusto Bradley Porro Gabriel Ruben

• Mid: Salah Son Palmer Garnacho Richarlison

• Fwd: Haaland Darwin Solanke

Q) Why have I ignored Saka in my best GW30 Wildcard team?

It’s difficult to fit Saka in with Son, Salah & Haaland while still having a strong 15 to Bench Boost in GW37.

Salah and Haaland are required and Son is the optimal captain pick this week.

Selling Son for Saka in GW31 gives you the best of both worlds - avoid Saka for the City fixture this week and get him back before Luton at home.

Q) Why have I ignored Muniz in my best GW30 Wildcard team?

Hard to justify Muniz when Fulham don’t have a double GW left to play.

Owning Darwin, Isak and/or Solanke gives you extra options for the double.

Funds should not be a problem if you buy midfield enablers like Palmer and Garnacho who also have doubles coming up.

Q) What should the strategy be for those who Free Hitted in GW29?

If you Free Hitted in GW29, wait to wildcard after DGW34. The fixture announcements should work in your favour.

Most people who Free Hitted in GW29 heavily invested in Bournemouth and Arsenal who double in GW34 and have great fixtures until then.

Sell Spurs assets in their blank GW34 and load up on Liverpool for their double GW34.

WC after GW34 to load up on Spurs and Chelsea who will have 2 DGWs after that point.

Q) Should those with no Free Hit left Wildcard now, GW35 or GW36?

If you have no FH left, GW35 is likely the best time to WC (team dependent of course).

WCing in GW35 allows you to target players from Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea and Man United before their doubles. This will also allow you to take advantage of Newcastle and Man United’s fixtures in GW35 - Sheffield and Burnley at home respectively.

WC35 also gives you the flexibility to Bench Boost with 2 free transfers in DGW37.

Q) Should those with the Free Hit left Wildcard now or in GW35?

If you have your FH left, WC35 is a great option unless you loaded up on Luton and sold Palmer/Haaland - then WC this week.

As mentioned above, WC35 sets you up very well for the doubles and favourable fixtures in GW35, while giving you flexibility with transfers for Bench Boosting in 37.

However, if you have loaded up on Luton & sold the likes of Palmer/Haaland to prepare for GW29, then consider WCing this week. WCing now also works better if you are struggling to get Liverpool assets.

Q) Which players to prioritize this week? Is Salah a must have this week? Who to sell to afford Salah and who are the budget enablers needed to buy him?

Palmer should be the #1 priority if you don’t own him. Salah is a good buy if you can afford him for free but not an absolute necessity (yet).

Palmer has an excellent fixture at home vs. Burnley followed by Sheffield in GW32. Prioritize bringing him in if you don’t own.

Salah is not an absolute necessity this week because Son is the standout captain pick. However, Salah will be essential next week when he plays Sheffield and should be prioritized then.

Saving a transfer this week (assuming you own Palmer) will go a long way to help get Salah next week. Wolves assets (Sarabia and Cunha especially) will be good enablers to get Salah. Wolves double in GW34 and play Burnley next week.

If you still have KDB, sell him for Salah. If you don’t own KDB, consider selling Spurs mids or Watkins in GW31 to make way for Salah.

Q) What is the best time to Bench Boost?

The best time to Bench Boost is GW37 - irrespective of your WC or FH strategy.

Funds for Salah won’t be needed in GW37 and enablers like Palmer and Garnacho can fit the bill perfectly. BB in GW34 is much harder to pull off with Spurs blanking.

Q) Who is the best GW30 captain?

Son is the best captain pick in GW30. Close call between Son and Salah.

Spurs are playing Luton who are the worst team for xG conceded this season and are projected to score the highest number of goals this GW. Luton have a number of injuries too, which only adds to the appeal of banking on Spurs.

Salah is an excellent differential if you own him anyways, so no need to go all out on captaincy unless you’re chasing big time.

If you found this valuable, I would really appreciate you sharing it with friends.

P.S. Looking for other fun football games? Check out OptaMax and Opta5. Free to play with prize money to be won. FPL players will love them.

Best of luck in GW30 and see you in a few days before GW31,

Bakar