Wednesday 22 January 2014

O'Kane will be a busy player against Liverpool

In recent matches Eunan O'Kane has done exceedingly well as the sitting midfielder. It is likely that he will keep his place after another man of the match performance against Watford in the last game. I don't expect Eddie Howe to make many changes, even if another defensive midfielder may be required in the second half if O'Kane starts to tire. MacDonald could fit in if that is the case.
Eunan won the December player of the month and has already started January well.
Eunan though will have to do a large amount of tracking and ball winning to give AFCB some momentum to get them going forward against Liverpool. He is currently bringing the ball out of defence especially well and has still been able to pick his passes well for the forward runs of Grabban, Ritchie and Pugh. The ball he played to Pugh from around the half way line when Pugh went down for the second penalty against Watford was absolutely fabulous. Everyone may talk about the penalty decision, but the pass through was astonishingly good and O'kane was under pressure as well from Watford players closing on him. 

Eunan could be the player that blocks and creates against Liverpool.
Eunan is still learning and I believe he will be one of the stars at AFCB for some time to come. He is a grafter and a player that is very adaptable and he is starting to read situations better then he has in the past. I think his new position in front of the back four is giving him time and space to add more of his positivity on the team's pattern of play and he still has that talent to go past players when he is given licence to go forward. Regular international call ups can't be far away for him if he keeps making such an impression in the championship. 

I'm glad that other people will get to see him on TV this weekend and while I hope he remains a Bournemouth player for a long time to come, it's pleasing to hear other fans say your players are really good. I have no doubt that some opposition fans will be saying that about Eunan when they see him play this weekend.

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