Are FPL Managers Suffering From Saka Frustration? Plus Man United Revival and Spurs Manager Debate

Episode 23 of Wildcards sees Jermaine Jenas and Jermaine Pennant battling through one of the most painful Fantasy Premier League weeks of the season. The episode opens with honest reflection on a brutal FPL Gameweek 22, including disastrous scores, rank drops and the growing sense that playing safe is no longer working. There’s a frank discussion about Bukayo Saka’s lack of returns, whether the league has worked him out, and why many managers are finally losing patience with a premium-priced asset. Attention turns to Manchester United’s sudden improvement, with strong praise for Michael Carrick following an emphatic derby win. JJ and Penn break down why United looked more organised, more confident and more dangerous, and whether this is simply a new-manager bounce or the start of something more sustainable. The conversation shifts to Tottenham’s struggles, questions over Thomas Frank’s future, and why Xabi Alonso is viewed as the perfect long-term fit for Spurs. There’s also discussion on Crystal Palace’s uncertain direction, player sales, and how ownership decisions may have set the club back years. There's also a wider debate on the declining standard of the Champions League, whether the Premier League’s strength is being exposed on the European stage, and how all of this feeds back into FPL decision-making ahead of the weekend. You Will Hear: - FPL gameweek 22 was the worst so far? - Bukayo Saka FPL frustration and predictability - Man United’s tactical improvement - Carrick’s impact and leadership - Spurs underperformance and manager pressure - Xabi Alonso as a future Spurs candidate - Crystal Palace player sales and instability - Champions League format criticism - Premier League vs Europe quality debate Key Moments: 0:00 – Fantasy Premier League: Toughest Week Ever 03:20 – FPL Flops: High-Value Players Who Didn’t Deliver 06:23 – Arsenal, Saka & The Art of Predicting FPL Returns 07:55 – Man United vs Arsenal: Tactics, Lineups & Predictions 11:19 – Who to Drop & Who to Add in FPL This Week 13:15 – Bournemouth vs Liverpool: Possible Goal Fest Discussion 14:30 – Haaland Captaincy Debate: Hold or Fold? 16:19 – Rodri Investigation: Sports Betting & Football Integrity 18:21 – Wildcards League Top Performer & Weekly Recap 20:44 – Premier League Manager Carousel & Team Dynamics 25:59 – Champions League vs Premier League: Is the Quality Declining? 30:06 – Man United New Manager Bounce: Carrick’s Immediate Impact 33:53 – Liverpool’s Interests & Transfer Rumors (Van De Ven) 34:46 – Episode Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts & Farewell Follow Wildcards on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wildcardspod/ and you can even join our official Wildcards Pod FPL league to see if you have what it takes to beat Jenas and Pennant using https://tinyurl.com/wildcardsfpl and the league code: ju9q3b Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices