Friday 6 May 2016

Why have AFCB been better away from home?

So far this season AFCB's points have come from 11 wins and eight draws. While there have been 17 defeats, it is a slight surprise that nine of the defeats have come at home while six wins gave come away from home.

So much work has gone in to trying to make it fortress Dean Court with the careful positioning of away fans not behind the goal and no immediate ground expansion to make it a difficult ground for Premier League teams to come to, and yet the quality of visiting players has told in several games. AFCB would have hoped to do better at home for all the great football they have played this season, but dominating teams by possession stats alone is of very little importance in this league as we have seen with Leicester City. Teams hit opponents hard on the break and of late it is these situations that have often left the Cherries open to conceding goals with their fall back out of position up the field. 

Eddie Howe will want stronger home form next season.
How do you play at home though with power and possession and come out on top? It is in the quality of passing for me. If your team is keeping possession and mounting pressure on the opponent without giving the ball away cheaply there is every chance of a home win. But AFCB have had periods when they do lose possession in areas of the pitch that are an open invitation for teams to attack them on the break. The turnovers in games can be match winning moments and it is for that reason that I hope Eddie looks at getting more ball winners into this side. We have seen it work well for hard fighting teams like West Ham and the gritty Leicester City, but these sides also find their fellow teammates with regularity as well and that is why they have done so well.

Away from home AFCB have had the fast feet of Wilson, King and Stanislas to create a good number of chances and when the side does defend well, as they know they must away from home, they have been able to steal a few results. I don't necessarily feel it is due to having the home crowd anxious for them to do well at home that has led to the inconsistency at Dean Court, but a win against WBA will make the home fans feel a bit more comfortable at fully celebrating a season which has probably been the biggest in the club's history.

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