diff --git a/fifa17-recon/tools/strip_dead_cards.py b/fifa17-recon/tools/strip_dead_cards.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..eaa1174
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fifa17-recon/tools/strip_dead_cards.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""Remove club cards whose playerid does not exist in FIFA 17's roster.
+
+These are leftovers from the invented-id pool that data/roster.json replaced. The
+client resolves them through its own players table, misses, and stamps the generic
+card: rating 50, teamid 1933, nation 14, position 2, all attributes 1, blank name.
+They are the blanks on screen.
+
+SAFETY
+  * backs the profile up first, and prints the backup path;
+  * refuses to touch any card referenced by a saved squad, so a squad slot can
+    never end up pointing at a deleted item;
+  * removes from the club pile only, and never from `purchased` in the same pass:
+    a card present in BOTH piles is the known fatal desync, and the way to avoid
+    it is to keep every card in exactly one place, which deleting from one pile
+    preserves.
+  * dry run unless --fire is passed.
+"""
+import argparse
+import json
+import shutil
+import sys
+import time
+
+sys.path.insert(0, "/home/alex/Documents/OpenFUT/fifa17-recon/tools")
+from fut_store import STORE            # noqa: E402
+import fut_cards                       # noqa: E402
+
+ap = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+ap.add_argument("--fire", action="store_true", help="actually write")
+a = ap.parse_args()
+
+REAL = {p[0] for p in fut_cards.POOL}
+p = STORE.load()
+items = p.get("items", [])
+
+# Every item id any saved squad refers to. Squad shapes have varied, so walk the
+# structure generically rather than assuming one layout.
+squad_ids = set()
+
+
+def walk(o):
+    if isinstance(o, dict):
+        for k, v in o.items():
+            if k in ("itemId", "id") and isinstance(v, int):
+                squad_ids.add(v)
+            walk(v)
+    elif isinstance(o, list):
+        for v in o:
+            walk(v)
+
+
+for key in ("squad", "squads", "squadList"):
+    walk(p.get(key))
+
+dead = [c for c in items
+        if c.get("assetId") not in REAL and c.get("id") not in squad_ids]
+protected = [c for c in items
+             if c.get("assetId") not in REAL and c.get("id") in squad_ids]
+
+print("club=%d  roster=%d" % (len(items), len(REAL)))
+print("dead cards to remove: %d" % len(dead))
+for c in dead:
+    print("   id=%-11s asset=%-8s rating=%s" % (c.get("id"), c.get("assetId"), c.get("rating")))
+if protected:
+    print("KEPT (referenced by a squad, removing them would break a slot): %d" % len(protected))
+    for c in protected:
+        print("   id=%-11s asset=%s" % (c.get("id"), c.get("assetId")))
+
+if not a.fire:
+    print("\ndry run. Re-run with --fire to write.")
+    sys.exit(0)
+if not dead:
+    print("\nnothing to do.")
+    sys.exit(0)
+
+bak = STORE.path + ".bak-stripdead-%d" % int(time.time())
+shutil.copy(STORE.path, bak)
+print("\nbackup: %s" % bak)
+
+drop = {c.get("id") for c in dead}
+p["items"] = [c for c in items if c.get("id") not in drop]
+STORE._save()
+
+q = STORE.load()
+print("club: %d -> %d   purchased=%d   coins=%s"
+      % (len(items), len(q.get("items", [])), len(q.get("purchased", [])), q.get("coins")))