Copenhagen Wednesday, one of our Elite XI: Team Reveal managers, is no stranger to Fantasy Premier League (FPL) success.
With a stellar track record that includes one top 1k finish, four top 5k finishes, and six top 10k finishes—plus an all-time best rank of 80th in 2018—he has consistently proven himself among the elite.
Currently ranked in the top 60k for the 2024/25 season, Copenhagen Wednesday is meticulously planning his chip strategy for the remainder of the campaign, with a particular focus on the new Assistant Manager (AM) chip.
We caught up with him to discuss his thoughts on this innovative addition and how it fits into his overall plan.
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Introduced this season, the AM chip allows FPL managers to select a real-life Premier League manager whose team’s performance over three Gameweeks determines the points scored.
With rewards for wins, draws, goals, and clean sheets—plus a unique table-bonus for results against higher-ranked opponents—the AM chip adds a fascinating layer of strategy. However, it’s not without its constraints:
“Having already used my Triple Captain (TC) chip on Erling Haaland in Gameweek 2, the Salah double in Gameweek 24 doesn’t concern me as much,” Copenhagen Wednesday explains. “If you’ve still got the TC chip, that’s the no-brainer time to use it. But for those of us who’ve already played it, AM is a fascinating option.”
He highlights Liverpool (Gameweek 24), Liverpool or Spurs (Gameweek 31), and Man City (Gameweek 36) as standout opportunities for deploying the AM chip. “The key is identifying when the fixtures align with a manager’s ability to extract results—especially in underdog situations where the table-bonus could come into play.”
Copenhagen Wednesday acknowledges the complexity of integrating the AM chip into a broader chip strategy.
“The relationship between the chips this year is incredibly intricate. Here’s how I’m approaching it:”
Free Hit (FH):
“My initial plan was to dead-end into Blank Gameweek 29 and use FH in Double Gameweek 34. But this approach would likely leave me with a weaker GW29 team compared to those who FH29.”
Wildcard (WC):
“I’m aiming to use my second WC to set up a Bench Boost (BB) for a double Gameweek. However, this year, the AM chip adds another layer. Wildcarding into an AM period allows for optimal budget distribution and better preparation for blanks and doubles later.”
Bench Boost (BB):
“BB works best shortly after a WC. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
“Here’s the puzzle I’m grappling with:
The risk of depleting team value by shuffling premium players in and out is another factor. “A Man City-heavy GW29 squad could cost me £1.5m in team value, only to require reinvestment after the WC.”
To provide a broader perspective, let’s delve into chip usage statistics from the FPL Statistics tool. This data excludes 36.7% of inactive teams—managers who haven’t made changes to their squads in five Gameweeks—offering a more realistic representation of the active player base.
The Bench Boost is a popular choice for double Gameweeks, particularly when paired with a well-timed Wildcard. However, its relatively low usage rate suggests many managers are saving it for later opportunities.
The Triple Captain remains a go-to chip for those capitalising on standout players during double Gameweeks. Notably, the usage rate among the Top 1k is slightly lower, indicating some are holding it for future fixtures.
The Free Hit is often reserved for navigating blank Gameweeks, though a notable proportion of managers have already deployed it. Top managers appear more conservative with this chip.
The second Wildcard remains one of the most strategic tools in an FPL manager’s arsenal. Its low usage rate suggests most managers are waiting for key blank and double Gameweeks to maximise its impact.
Early AM Deployment (Gameweeks 24-26):
“Playing the AM chip on Liverpool in Gameweeks 24 and 25, potentially switching to a second team in Gameweek 26, frees me up to focus on Blank Gameweek 29 and Double Gameweek 33 without being handcuffed by the AM restrictions for three weeks later in the season.”
Downsides? “Two away games for Liverpool aren’t ideal, especially considering Bournemouth’s current form.”
Later AM Usage (Gameweeks 31-33):
“Dead-ending into GW29, wildcarding in GW30, and using the AM chip in GWs 31-33 offers stronger fixture opportunities but comes with the risk of misfortune when Bench Boosting far from the WC.”
“There’s a lot of noise around the AM chip being a powerful tool, but it’s easy to overlook its constraints and how it interacts with other chips. My gut says an early AM deployment is the way to go, but I’m holding off on finalising my plan until we get clearer information—especially with weather uncertainty and the possibility of a Spurs double in Gameweek 35.”
Copenhagen Wednesday’s methodical approach underscores why he remains a top manager year after year. His analysis offers valuable insights for FPL managers navigating the complexities of the 2024/25 season—proving, yet again, that success in FPL is all about planning ahead and adapting to new challenges. Don't forget, you can follow his every move with the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool.
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