Is Miles the forgotten man at AFCB?

While AFCB have reached the zenith in performances in recent weeks and are still sitting in one of the automatic promotion places in League One, there is one payer who might have been thinking that he would have been the one leading the Cherries' promotion charge this season.

Miles Addison joined the club last summer after a loan spell at the club. His signature was much sought after at the time with several Championship and League One clubs hoping to secure his services after hearing that he was looking for a move from Derby County. Miles chose AFCB to come to out of all those offers and his big personality and physical presence made him an obvious choice for captain as far as Paul Groves was concerned.

The fans had already seen Miles play for Bournemouth many times before the current season began, as he had been fairly ever-present in the side since the end of February 2012 when he played in the 0:1 home defeat to MK Dons. 

While the team had a disappointing spell that saw Lee Bradbury replaced by Paul Groves towards the end of last season, Miles kept his place in the team and he was the man who looked destined to spur the Cherries on to better things this season as captain.

While Miles has his critics, he certainly seemed to enjoy being captain and his vocal support on the pitch was something that the Cherries did not really have with Adam Barret having moved on. 

The team's poor start to this season though was a problem that no doubt Miles did not enjoy and when Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall took over the managerial reigns, from Paul Groves and Shaun Brookes, he had an opportunity to show that he could lead the side and get the results. Miles played in nine games after Eddie's appointment as captain before becoming injured, away at Bury in November. We won six of those games and drew the other three.

Tommy Elphick now fills the captain's role and has deservedly won his place as captain. While I was not surprised at the announcement last week I wondered if Miles might not have said something about why the captaincy was being relinquished by him. We know he has been injured. Does he feel that his place will not be with this side next season? His wages are also probably something that the club would be keen to cut, especially as a non-playing captain. Perhaps he will say something in the next issue of Red&Black?

But what of Miles himself? He has been working on his recovery and while supporting the team and writing his comments for the match day programme as captain. It must have been hard for him on a personal level although very pleasing for him to see the Cherries start to fulfil their ambitions without him on the pitch.

While many fans don't feel Miles has the pace or skill to get back into AFCB's team, but he is still here and his experience may well have been a help for team mates to turnaround this season.

Adam Barret disappeared to Gillingham last summer almost overnight. I get the feeling that something similar could happen to Miles. 

However,  if Miles is to leave AFCB he just may have done more for the club than many are willing to admit. It might be a case of what might have been for Mr Addison.