Strategies for Utilizing FPL’s New Assistant Manager Chip: Five Potential Approaches

The Assistant Manager chip will become available to Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers starting from gameweek 24 of the season, on 1 February 2025. This new feature may present some initial complexity and necessitates forward planning. This article aims to assist managers by outlining five optimal strategies for activating the chip. Upon activation, the chip integrates a Premier League manager into a user’s squad for a duration of three weeks, with their team’s performance contributing FPL points. The scoring mechanism for the assistant manager is structured as follows: * A team win yields 6 points. * A team draw provides 3 points. * Each goal scored by the team earns 1 point. * A clean sheet achieved by the team grants 2 points. * Additionally, a “table bonus” awards 10 extra points for a win or five extra points for a draw if the manager’s team plays against a club positioned at least five places higher in the league table at the beginning of the gameweek. While specific prices remain undisclosed, assistant managers are projected to cost between £0.5m and £1.5m. This expenditure must be allocated from a manager’s current FPL budget, underscoring the necessity of strategic financial planning. The assistant manager does contribute to the limit of three players permitted from any single club. Beyond ensuring sufficient funds, three primary factors should be taken into account when strategizing for the chip’s deployment. **Playing Other Chips:** Firstly, it is not possible to activate any other FPL chips concurrently with the Assistant Manager chip. Therefore, managers should carefully consider the timing of their Triple Captain usage and formulate a provisional strategy for their Wildcard. A potential approach involves utilizing the Wildcard in the gameweeks preceding the activation of the Assistant Manager chip. **Transferring Managers:** Secondly, while the initial activation of the chip does not consume a transfer, managers are permitted to change their assistant manager within the three-week active period. Such a change incurs a transfer cost equivalent to acquiring a regular player, offering an opportunity to optimize point potential by targeting favorable fixtures. **Top Managers and Upside Potential:** Due to the “table bonus” mechanism, selecting managers of teams contending for the title may not consistently yield the highest returns. This season, Mikel Arteta, Arne Slot, and Enzo Maresca have recorded a maximum three-week score of 32 points or less. In contrast, Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth has achieved a leading total of 47 points, attributed to victories against Arsenal and Manchester City. The challenge, however, lies in accurately forecasting such upset wins. This presents a strategic dilemma: whether to opt for a conservative approach or pursue higher-risk, higher-reward opportunities. Despite a period of inconsistent form, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal demonstrated their capacity for a series of high-scoring victories with a dominant win against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Arsenal, alongside Liverpool, are also among the most dependable teams for achieving clean sheets, which award two points with this chip. A scenario where the Gunners secure at least 2-0 victories against Fulham, Everton, and Brentford is considered realistic, potentially yielding a substantial 30 points. Considering Chelsea’s initial two fixtures, given the current performance of Saints and Leicester this season, there is potential for the Blues to score numerous goals. For instance, a 4-0 victory would be valued at 12 points. Conversely, an away match against Arsenal is identified as a particularly challenging fixture, offering minimal upside and likely no table bonus. An alternative strategy involves a one-week speculative transfer, bringing in a different manager for gameweek 29. Potential fixtures for home team upsets include Ipswich against Nottingham Forest, Everton versus West Ham, and Leicester hosting Manchester United. There is a significant possibility that the Merseyside derby, previously postponed due to Storm Darragh, will be rescheduled for gameweek 24. Should this occur, it would create a double gameweek coinciding with the initial availability of the Assistant Manager chip, positioning Arne Slot as a highly compelling choice. Liverpool consistently meets key criteria, demonstrating a high likelihood of winning matches, scoring prolifically, and maintaining clean sheets. Furthermore, managers with an available transfer could pivot to a one-week speculative pick to avoid Liverpool’s away fixture against Manchester City in the final game of this three-week period. However, certain factors warrant consideration. If Liverpool indeed has a double gameweek, managers must weigh whether to activate the Assistant Manager chip or utilize the Triple Captain chip on Mohamed Salah, given that simultaneous chip activation is not permitted. Additionally, selecting Slot as an assistant manager limits a squad to only two Liverpool players. If Salah occupies one of these slots, this restriction could influence further squad decisions. Following 16 gameweeks, Brentford ranked as the league’s third-highest scoring team, having netted 32 goals, surpassing Liverpool’s tally. This indicates their potential to accrue a respectable number of points, even with individual goals contributing one point each. The Bees exhibit stronger performance at home, and their upcoming fixture run includes two matches at the Gtech Community Stadium – with the Aston Villa game potentially offering a table bonus opportunity – alongside an away fixture against Leicester, known for their defensive vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the timing of Brentford’s fixture sequence means that the Triple Captain or Bench Boost chip would remain available for use on Liverpool in gameweek 24 or subsequent gameweeks, particularly when the Carabao Cup final leads to a condensed double gameweek for three or four participating teams. For managers inclined towards a high-risk, high-reward strategy aimed at maximizing the chip’s potential, Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace could be a suitable selection. Palace possesses the attacking prowess to defeat any opponent on a given day and appears to be overcoming a challenging start to the season. Aston Villa’s record of losing half their away matches this season presents a potential table bonus opportunity. A home fixture against Ipswich is anticipated to result in a victory with the possibility of multiple goals. The subsequent away match against Newcastle is considered a speculative fixture; even if Palace secures a draw, it would yield eight points in addition to any goals scored. Naturally, this strategy carries the inherent risk of the team losing all its matches. Managers who identify a more favorable three-game sequence for a specific manager are encouraged to share their insights in the comments section.