Wednesday 17 December 2014

A big day for Bournemouth's players

Bournemouth's players have had plenty of big games in recent years, but the quarter final of the Capital One Cup is a huge game, because they will know that they have a great chance of progressing. That is not to do a disservice to Liverpool FC who are one of the best teams in the country despite their recent form, but there is a strong feel good factor at Bournemouth and the Cherries need no bigger incentive than to see a big Premier League club having to line up against them on a night when the pressure is all on Liverpool.
AFCB and Liverpool go heat-to-head again.
Dan Gosling has played a vital part in AFCB reaching this late stage in the competition and yet the home fans have not seen that much of him this season. He will of course be used to playing in such matches and should be a steadying influence on the Cherries as they try to get on top of their opponents. Having scored in every round except the last one against WBA, I expect he'll be keen to try and get another goal in front of the home crowd if selected.

Junior Stanislas must also have a big game if AFCB are to succeed on the night. Junior is a player who can certainly finish well and Bournemouth will have plenty of pace on the pitch if he and Ryan Fraser start the game on the wings. The two wingers are going to be among the biggest threats for Liverpool and I quite like the idea of Ryan Fraser wriggling his way past a few red shirts and getting into the box where he can really inflict some damage.

At the back it could be another huge day for Baily Cargill. He has already shown that he can do it on a big night and these kind of games are those that will give him the incentive to push himself even harder. While some will say this is a weaker side than the first 11 for AFCB, they are capable of winning the game and with some of the first team ready to come on it should not be a game that the players fear. It may in fact be a slight disappointment if they do not get to test themselves against Stirling and Gerrard, but whoever Liverpool put out will I expect a tough game as it is a quarter final. I suspect that Rickie Lambert could start having not been picked to start against Man Utd last Saturday. That kind of strike power may force Eddie Howe to put his first team defenders of Cook and Elphick in the team, so Baily could miss out on this one. 

Go out at this stage and it would be disappointing for the Cherries even if it is understandable. The point Eddie Howe will probably be getting across to his players though is that this is your chance to grab some glory. You are just 90 minutes away from being in the last four of a major cup competition. It's not just another game for the Cherries, it's a chance to do something special and we'll be willing them on to do it. UTCIAD!

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