Fixtures

Rotation Pairs – Bournemouth & Brighton

The second in our series of articles looking at rotation pairs dares to venture away from the pure home and away partnership.

Our previous piece – which assessed West Brom and Swansea City as such a pairing – was a follow-up to our introductory article which explored the basic principles of fixture rotation.

This Brighton and Bournemouth pairing – a south coast marriage if you like – may not offer a succession of home matches, but it provides a run of obliging opponents nonetheless.

The Fixtures

As with our first article, we are dismissing the concept of season-long rotation.

Instead, we will extend the fixtures as far as Gameweek 22, at which point the second Wildcard becomes available and the first needs to have been put in play.

As before, we will split the 21 fixtures into two banks of matches.

Gameweeks 1-10
wba WAT wat WBA BHA NEW LEI EVE/tot whu/stk SOT

Gameweeks 11-21
swa HUD swa BUR SOT hud tot/mun BUR WAT WHU new

As you can see above, the first series of fixtures begins very strongly. While there are two encounters with Watford over the first three Gameweeks, that then settles to provide four successive home fixtures, two of which involve newly promoted sides.

Gameweek 8 is the first sticking point. Here we have the option of Brighton’s home fixture with Everton, or a daunting trip to Manchester City for Bournemouth.

The second batch of fixtures includes more away trips but only one significant trouble spot – the Gameweek 17 situation where Brighton travel to Spurs, while Bournemouth make their way to Old Trafford.

Nonetheless, this amounts to just two Gameweeks from 21 where we are forced to face a “tough” opponent when marrying these two sides.

In Practice

With this in mind, there are actually some very appealing options opened up by this partnership.

Begovic and Ryan
Both Brighton and Bournemouth offer us 4.5 options in goal via Asmir Begovic and Mat Ryan.

Both are likely to be first choice and, on their day, very capable shot-stoppers who can offer save points when their goal is breached.

It’s fair to say that, even when forced to select one of this pair for Gameweek 17, we’d expect some save point returns, either from Brighton’s clash with Spurs or Bournemouth’s with Manchester United.

Meanwhile, with 13 home matches over the 21 Gameweeks, we should reasonably expect some clean sheets.

Brighton were a force at the Amex Stadium last season, setting a Championship record of just 14 goals conceded from their 23 matches, shutting out opponents on 12 occasions.

Bournemouth were less convincing in the top flight, keeping 10 clean sheets in total, although six arrived at the Vitality Stadium.

Nonetheless, their home fixtures with Watford, Brighton, Huddersfield and Burnley during the 21-Gameweek spell look prime candidates for clean sheets. Meanwhile, the Seagulls offer West Brom, Newcastle, Stoke, Burnley and Watford as their most likely shutouts.

All in all, those are strong prospects for a joint 9.0 pairing in goal.

Francis and Suttner
Arguably, we could have a more effective pairing available in defence courtesy of Simon Francis and Markus Suttner.

Both are also priced at 4.5, with Francis the only likely Cherries starter in defence at that price point.

Meanwhile, Suttner has seen off Lewis Dunk as Brighton’s backline option of choice. The Austrian appears destined to claim regular starts at left-back and will share set-piece duties with Pascal Gross and Anthony Knockaert.

But while Suttner would seem secure, Francis’ starts are still in doubt.

Bournemouth’s acquisition of Nathan Ake appears likely to either oust Francis to the bench or leave him at right-back with Adam Smith perhaps moving to a midfield role.

Smith has played just 67 minutes pre-season but, even so, the doubts are unlikely to disperse ahead of Gameweek 1, so this pairing, while attractive, carries an element of risk.

Meanwhile, Suttner partnered with Charlie Daniels could also work as a 9.5 duo, although the Bournemouth left-back is far more difficult to bench given his attacking potential, even when away from home or against tougher opponents.

Three Way Rotation

Once again we should search for a third option who could work along with a Brighton/Bournemouth defensive partnership to plug the troublesome Gameweeks.

Having analysed the weak points in our two-way rotation, we’ve identified Burnley as the most likely addition.

Crucially the Clarets are on hand to offer us a home fixture with West Ham in Gameweek 8, with another attractive home fixture with Newcastle United in Gameweek 9.

Similarly, for Gameweek 17, Sean Dyche’s side present a Turf Moor clash with Stoke City to compensate for Bournemouth’s tie with at Man United and the Brighton visit to Spurs. All in all, Burnley are most efficient as an addition.

With Ben Mee the obvious candidate in the Burnley defence, he can be brought in to partner Francis and Suttner to provide a very attractive set of three 4.5 defenders. The doubts surrounding Francis’ starts is the caveat but, if that clears up, this is a trio worthy of consideration.

Attacking Rotation

The potential of this partnership extends to attacking areas thanks to a cast of viable budget/mid price assets on offer.

Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser should already be considered in his own right and is a player that we’re backing to progress further this season.

Priced at just 5.5, the winger returned three goals and nine assists from 19 starts in 2016/17 and has already impressed over the summer with two more assists. He looks set to be even more influential for Howe’s men this season.

Fraser can work with either Brighton’s Pascal Gross (5.5) or Anthony Knockaert (6.0) in a midfield rotation to cover the run of fixtures listed above.

That pairing should provide able partners, with Gross perhaps the preferred option for those who want to look to Fraser for the majority of fixtures. Knockaert – with 15 goals and eight assists in the Championship – has the greater potential but the idea of benching the Frenchman, even against tougher opposition, could backfire and be a concern for some. The extra 0.5 is, of course, also a factor.

Rotation with a midfielder and an attacker is not so straightforward.

A combination of Fraser and Brighton’s Glenn Murray is an option, although there are understandable doubts that the 33-year-old striker may struggle upon returning to the top flight, despite his 23-goal campaign in the Championship.

Benik Afobe’s strong pre-season form seems unlikely to earn him regular starts for the Cherries over Josh King and Jermain Defoe, so the chances of a rotation option with either Gross or Knockaert appear slim.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

4,840 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sahil Yadav
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Foster, Elliot
    Alonso, Daniels, Cedric, Mee, Lowe
    KDB, Salah, Zaha, Carroll, RLC
    Kane, Lukaku, JRod

    0.5 itb

    Should i get Forster because of WBA's poor pre season?

    Should i upgrade JRod?

    Salah or Mane? Or neither and double up on Spurs?

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Wait to see if he gets save points increase due to workload

      Upgrade

      Salah

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I think you are good as you are

  2. ludaslol
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    rotating LFC/TC as 4th MF? With Kane Lukaku Firmino up top?

    KDB Pogba Willian/Zaha as other mids

  3. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Am i GTG?

    DDG

    Danilo / Kolasinac / Yoshida

    Milivojevic / Willian / KDB / Ritchie

    Lukaku / Firmino / Kane

    Elliot / Carroll / Hegazi / 4.0

    Cheers

    1. LONG LIVE ZOLA
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      strong team but zaha over willian 8.5/10

      1. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        is tempting. although that would mean double palace midfield unless i moved milivojevic on, although i'm not sure who i could replace him with for 5m? not expecting much from him but just went for him as he's on pens and some set pieces

    2. Ghost Gooner
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      DDG a waste of money as he wont get save pts or bonus

      1. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        just went for him as a nailed way into the United defence. Question marks for me over lindelof / jones / darmian / blind

  4. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Is this team looking OK to go?

    Foster
    Kolasinac Stephens Ake Danilo
    Salah Zaha JWP
    Lukaku (c) Jesus Kane

    Elliot Atsu Carroll Suttner

    1. mgrea
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Kola to Monreal
      Salah to Mane?

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        That was in my mind but I think Kola could do really well v Monreal and Salah and Mane may be closer in sharing points

        1. mgrea
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Fair enough

          Team looks good to go then

    2. Smoky Johnson
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Foster 6/38 cs last season. expensive defense, very thin midfield which will be difficult to perform surgery on ones alli/eriksen, mané start banging points. You have the best attack trio but I am not convinced that will do the trick.

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks for that. Do you think Firmino KDB better than Jesus and Salah?

    3. HVT
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Replying here DD to previous q, So I see how you did it - no KDB, excellent team, anyway of getting another 'big' mid? E.g. Alli/Erik.

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Would love to get Alli alog with Salah but need to trim 2.5 m from somewhere . Will have a look.

    4. FotnikPL
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Hi Dunas Dog, may I contact you via e-mail or Twitter?

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I will get back to you as just boarding flight. How do I get e mail address to you securely?

        1. FotnikPL
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          I'll give you my email: fotnikpl@interia.com

  5. mgrea
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Foster
    Cedric Bertrand Valencia Daniels
    Pedro KDB Ritchie
    Firmino Lukaku Kane

    Fodder RLC Carroll Fodder

    Bottomed

  6. Knowledgeable meerkat
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    With trippier out, is this back 4 too weak?

    DDG

    Kompany Cedric Dawson

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      No not at all

    2. Baz
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely not too weak man!

  7. LC1
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Who's more likely to start out of Danilo & Stones?

    1. mgrea
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Both

  8. Atimis
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    1)Salah, Atsu, Gabi
    or
    2)Firmino, Zaha, JWP

    1. MartialMatas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      2

    2. Bafana
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Gabi Agbonlahor? :p

      1. Atimis
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Hahaha

    3. HVT
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      2

  9. Bafana
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Please RMT

    Foster (Elliot)

    Valencia, Mustafi, Bertrand (Rangel, Long)

    KDB, Zaha, Ritchie, Willian (TC)

    Chicharito, Lukaku, Kane

  10. MartialMatas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Which would you go for?
    I don't have any Liverpool players atm

    A) Bavies Ritchie Abraham Suttner as 5th def
    B) Dann Atsu Firmino Long as 5th def

    1. HVT
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      B

  11. F5jason
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed on last page...

    I get a RMT please guys? Apart from swapping out Trippier I haven't really tinkered for a couple of days which makes me think I'm close to the finished arrival - tell me if you think I'm wrong...

    Foster
    Kolasniac, Bertrand, Lindelöf, Cédric
    Dr Bruyne, Eriksen, Máne, Redmond
    Lukaku, Defoe

    Subs: Elliot, Carroll, Francid, Abraham

    0.0 ITB

    1. Smoky Johnson
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      weak attack, good midfield, too much invested in defense.

  12. No Totti No Party
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Hi , i have Salah + Jesus and 6,5 4,5 4,5 4,5 4,5 DEF
    If i downgrade to Sane + Firminho , i will have 2,5 extra MIL to invest somewhere else

    YEAH or NAH ?

    1. footyfootyfootball
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I'd go nah, Jesus is already a bit of a steal at that price imo

      1. Smoky Johnson
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        THIS!

  13. Steve Stiffler
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    A) Salah, Pogba, 6.0 Striker
    B) Eriksen/Alli, Zaha, Gabbiabini

    1. Bafana
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. footyfootyfootball
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      B

  14. footyfootyfootball
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Danilo in for Walker a good way to save 1.0? Or will the return not be worth it

    1. Guybrush Threepwood
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Nobody seems to know if he's going to start regularly, and if he doesn't then it's a big waste. I've shifted to Monreal as my 5.5 def for the time being..

  15. johnnybeefcake
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    RMT

    Foster (Myhill)

    Danilo Stephens TAA (Mee Rangel)

    Salah Alli KDB Milivojevic (Carroll)

    Kane Lukaku Mounie

    Any suggestions?

  16. 32chickens
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Sky question
    The new plan your captain changes option-my drop down to change the captain on different days isnt dropping down!
    Is this a problem others have or is it working fine for you?

    1. Arctic_Orangutans
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Mines working mate

      1. 32chickens
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        cheers bud ,I'll take it up with them sky people

  17. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Bailly or Kolasinac?

    1. The Mighty Hippo
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Kolasinac

    2. LONG LIVE ZOLA
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      tough call as bailly is more likely to get clean sheets but kolasinac's attacking potential is far greater

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Kola - his chances of CS greater than Baillys chances of attacking returns

  18. FrankieTheGent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Fosu-Mensah to Palace season long loan

    A good 4.5 option?

    1. HVT
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      If he plays Frankie!
      I'd like more info tbh.

  19. The Mighty Hippo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    This feels like it's getting close. What do you think? Gomes for Hart? Any other tinkering required?

    Hart
    Kompany Bertrand Daniels
    KDB Eriksen Zaha Fraser
    Kane Aguero Abraham

    Bench: Elliot Suttner Long Atsu

  20. No Salah
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Please choose:

    A) Kane and Pogba
    Or
    B) Jesus and Alli

  21. Lebowski85
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    If you had this.....

    Begovic / Elliot
    Walker / Kolasinic / Bertrand / 2x4
    Kdb / Mane / Ritchie / Fraser / Carroll
    Lukaku / Kane / Rodriguez

    Would you bring in Kompany / Salah / Gross for Walker / Mane / Carroll

    Stick or twist?

    1. Baz
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Stick

    2. Ghost Gooner
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      No. But I am warry of Mane gametime as he just came back from a knee injury

      1. Lebowski85
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Me too. I may just start with Mane and keep 0.5 for a rainy day

  22. Vinnie Rodrigues
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Just thinking about the draft league & with the way the rules are set, I'm beginning to wonder if a viable strategy would be to deliberately pick quite a few players who have tough games or are suspended in the opening few weeks, in order to force a lower points score, in exchange for transfer picks.

    Since the transactions order relies upon the worst ranked player getting first picks, such a player in theory could hoover up the players who start a season well &/or the best new post GW1 transfers (eg. if Gareth Bale signed for United); and then by the time the majority of suspensions & injuries were over (eg. Hazard & Koscielny), they'd have a squad capable of an absolute rampage of points from there on.

    It's risky, but with this strategy you'd have a poor August & first week September & in theory you could close the gap rapidly thereafter & make it harder for your opponents to switch out players to react.

  23. Baz
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Which do you prefer as struggling for final 3 spots!
    A) Foster + TCarroll + Jesus
    B) Foster + Salah + JRod
    C) DDG + Pogba + JRod

  24. johnnybeefcake
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Salah and Danilo

    or

    Mane and Daniels

    1. Smoky Johnson
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      M+D

  25. NEYMARJR
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Pick one each and WHY?

    DEF: Mariappa / Dunk / Rangel

    MID: RLC / McArthur / Surman

  26. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    So Fosu-Mensah is on his way to Palace.. £4.5M option!

    1. Smoky Johnson
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      C.P. leaking goals. Stay away.

  27. Guybrush Threepwood
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    *If* Van Dijk gets a move to Liverpool, is anyone going to bring him in?

    1. Smoky Johnson
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      At 5.5? No. Liverpool will still conceded plenty and V.d. will need time to adapt to the new team.

  28. Unbelievable Jeff!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    £0.5m to spend - any suggestions or keep ITB?

    DDG
    Alonso Cedric Ake
    KDB Mane Zaha Gross TCarroll
    Kane Lukaku

    Thanks guys!

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Upgrade your bench. Looks like it will need it

    2. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Are you gambling that Cedric will start?

      1. Unbelievable Jeff!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I could obviously get Bertrand in. I'm not sure the latest on Cedric but didn't he play the last friendly?

        1. Whats the Huth
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Just get Yoshi.
          Don't think Cedric will start

          1. Unbelievable Jeff!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Ok thanks

    3. Smoky Johnson
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Seriously not sure about Alonso. Although, will be easy to downgrade.

      1. Unbelievable Jeff!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, I could spread the funds over the defence and have:
        BDavies + Bertrand + Kolasniac/Kompany

        Any suggestions of the best 3?

      2. Unbelievable Jeff!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        If I downgrade Alonso > BDavies I could have Gross > Willian

        Is that better?
        Willian feels a bit short term compared to Alonso and is a rotation risk waiting to happen

  29. Whats the Huth
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    last night everyone was raving about Company.
    This morning, it seems to be all about Kolasinac

    So.... Once more

    A/ Kompany
    B/ Kolasinac

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Game of Stones
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A. nailed unless injured. Easy switch if so.

    4. Whats the Huth
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers

    5. HVT
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      B
      Those (bad K) injuries

  30. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    All news outlets online only talk about Mendy missing the first game. Have we convinced ourselves that Danilo will play longer than that or has there been an update that I have missed?