Note that there are some great chances to see AFC Bournemouth players in action this week starting off at Poole Town on Thursday in the regular pre-season fixture. The boys also travel to Working on Saturday before taking on that small Spanish team on Sunday.
After Stephen Purches' testimonial game the appetite for the upcoming season has been well and truly whetted. Having seen the team play at the weekend I thought Pitman looked particularly sharp from training and is already trying to do the spectacular. Lewis Grabban was perhaps not as involved as I thought he could be, but he had some nice touches particularly the pass to Thomas early in the second half which was a missed opportunity for AFCB to get a goal.
I really liked the way both Donal McDermott and Ryan Fraser played. Donal seemed much more at ease than I have seen him for a while. He was working hard and was willing to have a shot at goal when ever he had a half chance. Marc Pugh could find that his competition comes from Fraser next season. Ryan was sending in some excellent crosses and it is about time our players started to make the most of them. Sam Matthews also did not look out of place on the big stage.
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| Ryan Fraser looks set for a big season. |
I felt Harry Arter was still recovering from his calf injury and was not quite up to his usual hounding best. Next Sunday though he will have even better players to try and keep quiet. MacDonald also worked hard but was not as quick as his opponents on Saturday.
I was fairly impressed with Elliott Ward. I don't think he is overly flamboyant and he did the simple things well. Ian Harte found it a bit more of a struggle against West Ham's wingers, but he'll get up to speed no doubt. I was pleasantly surprised that Miles Addison put on a good performance, although he was not on the field for long and there were a lot of changes in the second half.
Put it all together though and there was a lot to be pleased about. The result is not so important at this stage, although the first goal was disappointing with no real challenge on Nolan. AFCB are gong to have to deal with aerial threats in the Championship and it was a good reminder of that.
With the service now available from the likes of Pugh, Ritchie and Fraser, it baffles me why no one has been signed up front who can latch on the end of these crosses. Of cause, we don't know what is in Eddie's mind, he may well surprise us. Many fans say we don't need to be slinging in crosses, Pugh for example, getting into a position to cross, but then going backwards for defenders as well as forwards to catch up works fine, we were top scorers after all. Again, if those are Eddie's tactics who am I to question them, YET!!! Time will tell, we certainly have some very exciting players, it will be so interesting to see how they cope with a much tougher league, and young Matthews!! what a Diamond he seems to be, I've not seen him play yet, but the reports sound astonishing for one so young. Wait with interest to see who, if anyone Eddie brings in, or goes!! Zubar has, by all accounts, gone to Bury, and wish him well...
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