FPL GW26 Tips- Assistant Manager Options, Wildcard Thoughts & More

Welcome to StatsmanFPL’s Weekly Tips & Preview for FPL GW26. In this article, we cover the best Assistant Manager options for GW26, When to play the free hit chip, Wildcard thoughts & key fixture analysis.

This blog is written by @StatsmanFPL. Be sure to follow his Instagram and Twitter for daily content and news. 

FPL GW26 Tips – Key Questions/Dilemmas Answered

Assistant Manager Strategy for FPL GW26

If you had Slot as your manager in GW25 and have free transfers available that you are happy to burn, transferring him out is ideal. Manchester City have performed poorly for long stretches this season but an away fixture at the Etihad is definitely not an optimal fixture currently. 

If you were a manager who started with Moyes and then transferred to Emery, I would highly consider holding Emery and saving the free transfer. This is especially useful if you are short of free transfers and would require an extra free transfer to fulfill your strategy over the next 5-6 gameweeks. I

Aston Villa were unlucky but also poor in their previous fixture against Ipswich. However, the style of matchup at home to a Chelsea team that is in their worst form of the season is a good opportunity for Aston Villa.

Stylistically Aston Villa will generate opportunities against a poor Chelsea defence and the faltering Nkunku up top with Jackson out injured will alleviate some stress on the Villa defence.

If you do have some flexibility with free transfers you could chase a manager eligible for table bonus, there are six managers eligible for table bonus in GW26.

The best assistant manager options for GW26 are Arteta, Glasner, McKenna, Iraola & Emery. 

Further Read: Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season

Free Hit Strategy

The Free Hit chip is one of the most important in the game and should be the key to any strategy you plan to use from now until the end of the season. 

Commonly used in Double Gameweeks or Blank Gameweeks, the free hit chip allows you to plan perfectly for the remainder of the season. 

Blank gameweek 29 is now confirmed to see Aston Villa, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Newcastle to not have a fixture. These teams have quite good fixtures before and after Gameweek 29 and Newcastle and Crystal Palace are confirmed to have a Double Gameweek in Gameweek 32. These teams have a number of high-performing FPL assets that you would prefer not to transfer out over the coming month just for one missed gameweek. 

By increasing the number of players you have in these teams, you will get the benefit of their good fixture run while they’re in form, followed by a double gameweek in Gameweek 33. In the meantime, you will want to save some transfers to then use for Blank Gameweek 34 to field a lineup. You can then Wildcard in Gameweek 35 and Bench Boost in gameweek 36 with a fully fit 15-man squad.

Each team is different and your current lineup will influence your strategy. Free Hitting could be a feasible option in Blank Gameweek 29, Double Gameweek 33, Blank Gameweek 34, or Double Gameweek 36 based on your available chips and risk tolerance. 

I will touch on more alternative strategies in the coming weeks.

Further Read: FPL Gameweek 26 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell

Wildcard Thoughts

Many times in the season will you consider wildcarding if it’s available or want to wildcard because your team has a poor performance or weeks of performances. You have to be patient though and understand that the wildcard is the most powerful chip you have. 

When key teams have fixture swings, it can allow you to not only shuffle your premium players, but making bench and goalkeeper transfers rather than wasting valuable free transfers on them. 

Similar to the free hit chip, you’ll need to consider your overall chip strategy and have your wildcard in sync with your free hit, bench boost, assistant manager, etc. 

Manchester City finish the season with a strong run of fixtures. Combined with their recent resurgence in form, fitting Haaland into your lineup could be a great differential for the run home. 

Manchester City Fixtures from GW35-GW38:

• GW35- Wolves(H)
• GW36- Southampton(A), Aston Villa(H)* [Projected Likely Double but this double may move to GW33 as well so the risk is there]
• GW37- Bournemouth(H)
• GW38- Fulham(A)

Wildcard Windows:

GW30/GW31 Wildcard:

At this moment, this looks to be the most ideal window to Wildcard mainly because:

• Before the GW30 deadline, FA Cup Quarter Finals would have concluded and the draw for FA Cup Semis would have been made. So we will know the full and exact picture of Teams Blanking in GW34 and Teams Doubling in GW33 and GW36.
• This will help you navigate DGW32, and DGW33 with a possible bench boost(15 Double Gameweek players) as we are likely to know the GW33 Doubles before the GW30 deadline.
• It allows flexibility in planning either Free Hit in GW29 or GW34 based on team structure.

Wildcard 35:

Wildcarding in GW35 helps you to plan and use the Bench Boost in GW36 with 15 Double Gameweek players. This can be a good strategy if GW36 becomes a bigger Double Gameweek than GW33.

Pros of GW35 Wildcard:

• You can bring in players from teams who have everything to play for – Teams involved in the title race, European places, and Relegation fight. Can avoid “Beach Team players”- Who have nothing to play for in the final 4 GWs.
• You can bring in Differential players with high upside like Haaland, and Foden who are likely to be less owned and have the potential to go big if City have something to play for.

Manchester City Fixtures from GW35-GW38:

• GW35- Wolves(H)
• GW36- Southampton(A), Aston Villa(H)* [Projected Likely Double but this double may move to GW33 as well so the risk is there]
• GW37- Bournemouth(H)
• GW38- Fulham(A)

Cons of GW35 Wildcard:

• The Wildcarded team is available only for 3 weeks thereby not maximizing one of the most powerful chips in the game.
• If GW36 is not a big double this may backfire.

Further Read: Ultimate Chip Strategy Guide – Best Windows to play all Chips & Combinations

FPL GW26 Key Fixture Analysis

Manchester City v Liverpool

Although Liverpool are clear on top of the ladder and have been in great form for the majority of the season, this does not mean they won’t have fixtures where they are vulnerable.

Away to Manchester City at the Etihad is a fixture that these two teams have seen as a rivalry fixture due to the importance of it in winning the Premier League across recent seasons.

Liverpool were lucky to beat Bournemouth at home partly due to a dubious penalty decision before drawing to Everton at Goodison Park. 

Liverpool then failed to register a shot against Wolves in the second half in a fixture where they easily could have dropped points on another day.

Manchester City’s 4-0 win against an in-form Newcastle will give the team much needed confidence heading into the fixture. Key inclusions in the winter transfer market such as Marmoush and Gonzalez could be key in this fixture.

I would predict a tight affair and a fair chance that Liverpool could drop points here.

Aston Villa v Chelsea

Aston Villa & Chelsea is an important game for both teams at this part of the season and in their current respective forms.

Chelsea are on a slide, dropping points much more often than they would prefer while Aston Villa have been inconsistent, partly due to injury issues and balancing Champions League play. 

Chelsea’s scoring has dried up in recents weeks which has been exacerbated by Jackson being injured. 

Aston Villa will look for Rogers & Watkins to link up and get in behind the leaky Chelsea defence while Rashford will be looking to impress in his loan spell from Manchester United. 

Aston Villa are likely to take advantage of Chelsea’s poor form and come away with the victory. 

Further reads from AllAboutFPL ahead of FPL GW26:

2024/25 Ultimate Chip Strategy Guide- Best Windows to play all Chips & Combinations
FPL GW26 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis, and Matchups
Top FPL GW26 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of Deadline
Top FPL Gameweek 26 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
FPL GW26 Tips- Assistant Manager Options, Wildcard Thoughts & More
FPL Gameweek 26 Transfer Tips: Two Players to Buy, Hold & Sell
Upcoming FPL Double/Blank Gameweeks | 24/25 FPL Season
FPL GW26 Tips- Assistant Manager Options, Wildcard Thoughts & More

Link to all our FPL GW26 blogs including scout picks, players to target, buy, hold, sell analysis, differentials, captaincy metrics, transfer targets, and more. Completely free to access as well!

Thanks for reading the “FPL GW26 Tips & Preview” blog. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for regular blogs. Also, follow our 200,000+ community on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay updated on regular Posts and FPL updates.

What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 26 of the 2023/24 FPL Season?

We’ll be covering differential picks, transfer targets, Buy, Hold, Sell analysis, scout picks, gameweek preview, captaincy metrics, FPL GW26 tips, and more. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for all our blogs. We’ll also be posting regularly about the same on our social media accounts so follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Facebook keep our notification ON.

Our content is always free and if you like our content do drop a comment, follow, subscribe, and support us. Your love is what keeps us going:)

FPL GW26 FPL Deadline Countdown

Login and set your team for FPL GW26 now!