GAFFR: Who has the best early fixtures?
With the GAFFR season loaming, we take a look at all 24 teams fixtures in the first six game weeks using the Official GAFFR Fixture Ticker. We’ll provide an overview of the fixtures as well as pick out the standout teams, as well as teams to potentially avoid.
Fixtures are vital in setting up at the start of any season. This gives GAFFR managers an indicator on who could be the best options to start with from the teams with the best fixtures. All this helps in building a strong starting squad.
Birmingham
LUT (A) HUD (H) CAR (A) WAT (H) WIG (H) ROT (A)
Birmingham are not in a stable state currently. The fixtures look ok but it could be very difficult to find assets to go with. it could be wise to avoid Birmingham to and just monitor them early on.
Blackburn
QPR (H) SWA (A) WBA (H) REA (A) SHU (A) STO (H)
It isn’t the perfect first six matches for Blackburn but the fixtures are ok. Gaffr managers could well go for premium Brereton Diaz with that start.
Blackpool
REA (H) STO (A) SWA (H) QPR (A) BUR (A) BRI (H)
Another team that have ok fixtures. Managers won’t have to invest that much money in Blackpool anyway due to how cheap their assets are so they could be worth the punt here.
Bristol City
HUL (A) SUN (H) WIG (A) LUT (H) CAR (H) BPL (A)
Highly targetable with great fixtures and affordable assets. Gaffr players will definitely want to start with Bristol City players. Going without could really hurt rank early doors.
Burnley
HUD (A) LUT (H) WAT (A) HUL (H) BPL (H) WIG (A)
The first three fixtures could be tougher but their still ok, Watford may be tough and even Luton but there are big changes happening at Huddersfield and not positive ones. Good first fixtures overall and easily investable in terms of assets.
Cardiff
NOR (H) REA (A) BIR (H) WBA (A) BRI (A) PRE (H)
Playing Norwich and West Brom in the first six is not ideal. Cardiff need to sign more players so their team does need improvements. Cardiff could be one to monitor early.
Coventry
SUN (A) ROT (H) MIL (A) WIG (H) HUD (H) HUL (A)
Fantastic first fixtures for Coventry. With nicely priced players it is likely Gaffr managers flock here early on and rightly so.
Huddersfield
BUR (H) BIR (A) STO (H) NOR (A) COV (A) WBA (H)
Tough fixtures and lots of changes at Huddersfield mean that we could see them as an early avoid.
Hull
BRI (H) PRE (A) NOR (H) BUR (A) WBA (A) COV (H)
Horrific fixtures for Hull. Potentially the biggest early avoid in the league as they come up against five of the best sides in the league.
Luton
BIR (H) BUR (A) PRE (H) BRI (A) SWA (A) SHU (H)
Other than playing against Burnley it is likely Luton could get off to a good start this season. With nicely priced options Luton could be a team to invest in early.
Middlesbrough
WBA (H) QPR (A) SHU (H) STO (A) REA (A) SWA (H)
The fixtures are ok for Middlesbrough. After strengthening during the summer Gaffr players could easily invest here and even more so in defence.
Millwall
STO (H) SHU (A) COV (H) SWA (A) NOR (A) REA (H)
Ok fixtures but after losing their talisman to West Brom it is hard to say how Millwall do. Avoiding early could be a good idea.
Norwich
CAR (A) WIG (H) HUL (A) HUD (H) MIL (H) SUN (A)
One of the favourites and with great early fixtures. Gaffr managers will feel like they have to invest here and not doing that could land them in big trouble in terms of rank.
Preston
WIG (A) HUL (H) LUT (A) ROT (H) WAT (H) CAR (A)
Good early fixtures and cheap affordable assets. Preston could be a team to invest in early on and have a range of affordable options.
QPR
BLA (A) MID (H) SUN (A) BPL (H) ROT (H) WAT (A)
Mixed fixtures but generally ok considering how many goals QPR scored last season. QPR could well be worth investment and could be good early differentials.
Reading
BPL (A) CAR (H) ROT (A) BLA (H) MID (H) MIL (A)
Good fixtures for Reading but after a close relegation call last season and losing their main man John Swift to the Baggies they could be an early avoid.
Rotherham
SWA (H) COV (A) REA (H) PRE (A) QPR (A) BIR (H)
Great early fixtures but a new league for Rotherham this season. It feels ok to have a punt here and the Rotherham assets are also nice and cheap.
Sheffield United
WAT (A) MIL (H) MID (A) SUN (H) BLA (H) LUT (A)
A tough start and expensive assets means Sheffield United could be an early avoid.
Stoke
MIL (A) BPL (H) HUD (A) MID (H) SUN (H) BLA (A)
Ok first fixtures for Stoke in correlation with their form last season and assets they have. Defence could be a go in terms of investment but nothing hugely stands out.
Sunderland
COV (H) BRI (A) QPR (H) SHU (A) STO (A) NOR (H)
Can look tough when seeing the names of their opponents but all can concede goals. Sunderland offer great attacking enablers and managers could even punt on their cheap defence.
Swansea
ROT (A) BLA (H) BPL (A) MIL (H) LUT (H) MID (A)
Good early fixtures mean Swansea could well be investable. Finding the right assets could be a task but could be worth it.
Watford
SHU (H) WBA (A) BUR (H) BIR (A) PRE (A) QPR (H)
Lots of summer changes and tough fixtures in their first few could mean Watford are a wait and see.
West Brom
MID (A) WAT (H) BLA (A) CAR (H) HUL (H) HUD (A)
Tough fixtures in the first three but does improve. Expensive assets but have players that could break any defence.
Wigan
PRE (H) NOR (A) BRI (H) COV (A) BIR (A) BUR (H)
Tough fixtures mean Wigan could be an early avoid.
Standout teams:
- Bristol City
- Burnley
- Coventry
- Luton
- Norwich
- Preston
Teams to avoid
- Birmingham
- Cardiff
- Huddersfield
- Hull
- Millwall
- Reading
- Sheffield United
- Watford
Still yet to check out our GAFR chips article? Take a look here.
