There are two possible strategies with the Assistant Manager chip: you can play safe by picking a top manager for fixtures against struggling clubs, or you can take a risk and target "table bonus" points by picking a manager who faces clubs ranked at least five places higher.
Fantasy Managers who use the FPL app should check they have the latest version of the app, or download the latest version, to ensure they can use the chip.
Here, FPL expert Harry Daniels explains how and when you could adopt the play it safe approach.
One of the obvious ways to play the Assistant Manager chip is to play it on a manager and team with easier fixtures to try and maximise the points for wins, goals scored and clean sheets. So trying to isolate periods where top teams and managers have a strong run and you do not have to use lots of transfers could be key.
I do believe using it around Double Gameweek 24 (DGW24) or Doubles that could come later in the season is still the best strategy, whether you are looking to take advantage of table bonus or not.
When to pick Slot
The first option would be to play it on Arne Slot (£1.5m) in DGW24 for trips to AFC Bournemouth and Everton, followed by Wolves at home in Gameweek 25. Three fixtures Liverpool will be expected to win, score goals in and potentially keep some clean sheets.
In Gameweek 26, however, the Reds travel to Manchester City. You could keep it on Slot, as they will likely to be favourites to win this game, or use a transfer to bring in a different Assistant Manager. The most obvious options would be Mikel Arteta (£1.5m) at home to West Ham United or Andoni Iraola (£1.1m) for AFC Bournemouth's home encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Assistant Managers, GW24-26
| GW | Assistant Manager | Opponent | FDR |
| 24 | Slot | Bournemouth (A), Everton (A) |
3, 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Slot | Wolves (H) | 2 |
| 26 | Arteta | West Ham (H) | 2 |
Due to the EFL Cup final taking place on the same weekend as Gameweek 29, and the FA Cup semi-finals coinciding with Gameweek 34, there are expected to be further Double Gameweeks later in the season.
Between Gameweeks 31-33, Liverpool have trips to Fulham and Leicester City, sandwiching a home fixture against West Ham.
So if the Reds progress to the EFL Cup final, forcing their Gameweek 29 visit to Aston Villa to be rearranged, and this match is rescheduled to form a Double Gameweek between Gameweeks 31-33, this could be another tempting window to use the chip on Slot.
Similarly, Newcastle United have away matches against Leicester and Villa and a home meeting with Manchester United over Gameweeks 31-33.
So if the Magpies progress to the EFL Cup final, forcing their Gameweek 29 fixture at home to Crystal Palace to be rearranged, and this match is rescheduled to form a Double Gameweek between Gameweeks 31-33, Eddie Howe (£1.5m) would be another strong option.
Howe's fixtures, GW31-33
| GW | Manager | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Howe | Leicester (A) | 2 |
| 32 | Howe | Man Utd (H) | 3 |
| 33 | Howe | Aston Villa (A) | 3 |
Equally it is possible to play the chip across Gameweek 33-35, providing Newcastle don't progress to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Howe's fixtures, GW33-35
| GW | Manager | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Howe | Aston Villa (A) | 3 |
| 34 | Howe | Ipswich (H) | 2 |
| 35 | Howe | Brighton (A) | 3 |
Impact of the FA Cup
Manchester City have a kind looking run of fixtures to end the season, hosting Wolves and Bournemouth and travelling to Southampton and Fulham over Gameweeks 35-38.
So if City reach the FA Cup semi-finals, which would force their Gameweek 34 match at home to Villa to be rearranged, and were it to be rescheduled during this period, creating a Double Gameweek, selecting Pep Guardiola (£1.5m) could provide the potential for big points.
Guardiola's fixtures, GW35-38
| GW | Manager | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Guardiola | Wolves (H) | 2 |
| 36 | Guardiola | Southampton (A) | 2 |
| 37 | Guardiola | Bournemouth (H) | 3 |
| 38 | Guardiola | Fulham (A) | 3 |
Maresca in a single Gameweek
Outside of Double Gameweeks, there is one other obvious opportunity you could use the Assistant Manager chip in.
Chelsea have plum home fixtures against Southampton and Leicester City in Gameweeks 27-28, making Enzo Maresca (£1.5m) a tempting option. The only issue here is that they face Aston Villa and Arsenal either side of these matches. You could stick with Maresca for all three Gameweeks and hope Chelsea win or potentially use a transfer. For example, as previously mentioned, you could start with Arteta in Gameweek 26 for a home fixture against West Ham before switching to Maresca for those two appealing home encounters versus promoted sides.
Assistant Managers, GW26-28
| GW | Manager | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Arteta | West Ham (H) | 2 |
| 27 | Maresca | Southampton (H) | 2 |
| 28 | Maresca | Leicester (H) | 2 |
Risk v reward
Playing safe with the Assistant Manager chip doesn't mean you can't pick up lots of points - a high-scoring win and a clean sheet could produce scores of 10+ points for your Assistant Manager in each game.
There is talk of targeting upsets with table bonus being more lucrative if executed well, which is true, however, it could also backfire and see you trailing your rivals who played safe instead.
