Lee Tomlin - intelligent quality added to the Cherries

There will a strong trio of players who I can see threading intricate passes through the front line to help the Cherries do fantastically well in the Premier League. Whether Eddie chooses to play Andrew Surman,  Yann Kermorgant or Lee Tomlin in his side, the team will have that intelligent head looking up towards the front line that will find ways of getting in behind teams and creating opportunities.

Tomlin will be a handful for opposition teams in the Premier League. 

In past seasons there has always been a question of what to do when Surman might miss a game or two while Kermorgant has had to adapt his game to play a deeper role at times and to be the player that combines the midfield with the attack. Now Eddie has 'beefed up' the middle of the park as he likes to put it with the signing of Lee Tomlin, 26, from Middlesbrough for somewhere in the region of £3 million on a three -year contract. I'd say it's good money well spent, as Tomlin, just like Josh King is, another player that has already proved that he can play well against top Premier League sides in last year's FA Cup and if he can do it over a consistent number of games he will soon be a fans' favourite at Dean Court.

While we can guess at the starting 11 for the first game it is going to get more and more difficult this season as the variety that Howe now has is so more advanced than what he had to pick from only four months ago. In some matches the brawn and power of King or the control and possession that Tomlin keeps might be key while in other games, the ingenuity of Surman or the flare of Kermorgant may add that extra all important ingredient.   

As Eddie Howe said, he doesn't just want fast and powerful players he also wants intelligent ones and Lee Tomlin will add that in bundles to this side. It's another great signing following the very exciting acquisition of Max Gradel who I think could perhaps turn out to be the very best buy for value for money from all the signings in the Premier League this summer - even the Shanghai Daily is talking about him!