The Scout looks at clubs who can be paired together effectively to help Fantasy Premier League managers make a strong start in 2019/20.
AFC Bournemouth and Southampton
Picking a player from each of AFC Bournemouth and Southampton offers a unique combination strategy for the beginning of the season.
Most of the rotation pairings highlighted so far focus on selecting the player who has the home fixture in each Gameweek.
But if you select the away player from these two teams in three of the opening 10 Gameweeks, you can also guarantee only one fixture against last season's top six.
The two south-coast clubs also rotate home and away for the entire season.
How to rotate in opening Gameweeks
| GW | Team | Opp | GW | Team | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOU | SHU (H) | 6 | SOU | BOU (H) |
| 2 | BOU | AVL (A) | 7 | BOU | WHU (H) |
| 3 | SOU | BHA (A) | 8 | SOU | CHE (H) |
| 4 | BOU | LEI (A) | 9 | BOU | NOR (H) |
| 5 | BOU | EVE (H) | 10 | SOU | LEI (H) |
There is uncertainty over the goalkeeper position at both sides ahead of 2019/20, so FPL managers must monitor their teamsheets over the summer friendlies.
At present Nathan Ake (£5.0m) looks to be the best defender to pick from the two teams.
The AFC Bournemouth centre-back was the most attacking defender from either side in 2018/19.
He scored four goals and recorded 26 shots inside the penalty box, a total ranked sixth among defenders.
Fellow centre-back Steve Cook (£5.0m) is also worth considering. Although he scored only once last season, Cook's 25 attempts were only four fewer than Ake.
Watch tactics
Southampton's tactics may ultimately determine their top targets in defence.
Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl operated with both a flat back four and with wing-backs after taking over in December 2018.
Ryan Bertrand (£5.0m) and Yan Valery (£5.0m) would be appealing as wing-backs. Valery produced two goals and an assist in his final eight starts last season.
Jannik Vestergaard (£5.0m) also has the aerial threat to make an impact in 2019/20.
The centre-back scored seven goals in two seasons for Borussia Monchengladbach before his move to St Mary's last summer.
