Not sure this is in the right section (maybe someone can move it to reborn city or team showcase?) but I'll give it a go regardless.
Can't use Staraptor? Use Stoutland!
Staraptor was a terror in the early game of previous episodes and it's no surprise it got removed. However, if what you're looking for is a dangerous normal type with intimidate, a sky high attack stat, good bulk and good speed, you should look into Stoutland. With 110 base attack, 85/90/90 bulk, and intimidate to boot, you'll quickly find that he's a Staraptor in all but the flying typing. His level up move pool is leagues better than the Starly lines was anyway with STAB take down as soon as you get him, work up and crunch available very quickly after, the 3 elemental fangs by move relearner, and even play rough if you keep him around for the late game. I wouldn't diagnose anyone to use him as a specific counter to any gym, but he's so good in general that it's well worth getting one.
Can't use Crobat? Use Vespiquen!
Vespiquen is an unbelievable pokemon for the early game. The only reason it's still here is probably because no-one will use it. For some reason. I don't really understand that though 'cause it's just so good. Combee's got some terrible stats and a weakness to the first gym so it won't be doing you any favors straight out the gate, but get a Combee with hustle and you'll be surprised at how much that bug bite'll hurt. It usually claimed at least one kill per match against Julia so it isn't useless. But the real perks come after evolution. At level 21 you can have a pokemon with a plethora of resistances and 70/102/102 bulk. At that point your other pokemon are still learning to walk, and Vespiquen will definitely take the lead. It's useful against the PULSE Tangrowths, it's useful against Fern, it's useful against Florinia (by useful I mean it will kill 5 of her 6 pokemon without dropping below half health), it's useful against the Chatot because it can live a chatter and reply (confusion permitting) with a power gem. Chatot doesn't like that. It's also useful against Corey, 'cause if you keep gust around then you can remove his field effect with it on turn one. That brings me to its movepool. We're talking bug bite, gust, slash, power gem, defend order, confuse ray, destiny bond, heal order, toxic and air slash all obtainable within the city. So you can do whatever the hell you want with it. Me? I like defend order, heal order, toxic, and air slash. Slowly toxic stalling your opponent to death while they literally can't hurt you is pretty cool. So yeah, Vespiquen is good. Like really good.