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🧑💼 The Assistant Manager Chip
The long-awaited Mystery chip has finally been announced…introducing the Assistant Manager chip. We pick top players week in, week out, so now it’s time to pick the top managers to assist alongside your 15-man squad and give you the chance to earn points based on their wins, draws, clean sheets and goals.
We’ve got you covered for this and everything else FPL, so let’s discuss just what this brand-new chip means to the game and most importantly, your team!
What is the Assistant Manager Chip?
The Assistant Manager Chip is available from GW24 (Feb 1st) and can be played at any point after. When activated, it is utilised for 3GW’s in a row and during this time you score points for the selected managers’ club based on results.
Once activated it can’t be cancelled. Remember, you can only use 1 chip per week so once activated, you can’t play a different chip for 3 GW’s… Choose your time wisely.
If the manager you choose subsequently leaves then you will still score based on that club’s performance.
Unlike the players, you CAN NOT captain them.
How Does Scoring Work?
You earn points based on the following outcomes below. If you have ever played a score prediction game, essentially it’s along the same lines, with slight differences.
It’s a fairly standard prediction bolt-on to FPL but the table bonus gives it another dimension. To score the most points you should choose the teams that win, score, and keep clean sheets within the 3-game period in which you think is optimal. Those teams lower down the league will give you an extra 10 points if you can select the right teams at the right time.
How to Play, Step-by-Step
Play Safe or Go For Broke?
With the table bonus up for grabs, you have to decide if you are going to play safe or go for the big time! If you beat a team 5 places higher you get a huge 10 points bonus per match extra, possibly sending you to top spot in that work mini league. For example if you choose a team sat in 14th place and they defeat the team in 9th place, then you get the bonus as well as goals, and any clean sheets; its that simple.
Most managers will automatically think of the likes or Arsenal and Liverpool but if you can choose more wisely and predict the lower teams to find some form and beat teams further up it will be too your advantage. With the Premier League being the best league in the world, often the points are so close a win can propel you from bottom to top half of the table in one afternoon, so its all to play for.
Current Managers’ Leaderboard
One glance at how the current managers are faring would change your initial strategy, that’s for sure. The first thing to note is that Pep is wallowing way down in 11th place for overall points, way off the current number one, Arne Slot. Interestingly, Bournemouth and Fulham are both tied for second position with Chelsea and Newcastle not far behind.
Manager Price & Transfers
Each manager will have a set price between £0.5m-£1.5m, which will be announced closer to the opening GW(24) and WILL stay the same throughout.
The cash to pay for your assistant manager will however come out of your initial £100m, no extra funds will be allocated.
Take note though, your manager will fall under your 3 players per club maximum. Meaning that if you currently have 3 Arsenal players, in order to have Arteta as your assistant manager, you will have to remove a Gunner before he could be transferred in.
Play Now or Later?
You could take advantage of how close the league table currently is, as many teams are defeating opponents much further than 5 places above.
OR
You could hold out for a Double Game Week in which this chip would be even more powerful, especially if it is two easy fixtures for a formidable team such as Liverpool or Arsenal.
Best Fixtures and Teams to Target?
Currently the ‘3 B’s’ are looking the best, the top choice being Brentford, followed by Brighton and then by Bournemouth.
Team, keep in mind though this is still at least 6 GW’s away and the volatile nature in which we know all too well FPL is, your original choice could turn around completely by the time you want to use it.
My Current Chip Strategy
Patience is everything. I know when the chip is released we will want to play it right away but temper the temptation and wait it out. No doubt a clearer team with great fixtures will become apparent, especially as the season nears a close and only (normally) two teams are battling for the top spot. For me, this is the ideal time to use it as clean sheets will be more reliable (which isn’t hard currently) and top players perform in games in which teams have to win.
My Verdict
At first contact I was quite disappointed with the long-awaited chip, but I must admit while researching in order to draft the article it has grown on me. It adds a new dimension to the season where if you are way behind in your leagues at work or with friends then you have a lifeline to recover and possibly even go ahead. I am not sure if this is a chip that will last the test of time, but in the brief time remaining of this season…I like it a lot!
Conclusion
For my final GW team and football insights/analysis throughout the 2024-2025 season, follow me on X @FplVeteran_ for daily fantasy football content.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
18+ please gamble responsibly.
