Writing this just after AFCB's win against Newcastle, there is plenty of optimism about on the job that Eddie Howe and his team are doing. No goals have been set apart from Premier League survival although the manager has always said that they look up the table rather than what is below them.
My pre-season prediction of AFCB finishing 14th might be starting to come under pressure with the team already in that position and looking to push on. The Cherries are now averaging 1.21 points per game and that is on target for a points total of 43. That could steer ACB towards a top 12 finish which would be quite remarkable considering the battle they have had for most of the season in the bottom quarter of the league. Of course some of the remaining games that AFCB have to play might be seen as being harder than some other teams. It is the home form is the side of things that Eddie Howe will be trying to improve and there is a tough line of fixtures coming up at Dean Court over the next two months.
It was always going to be important to beat some of the teams around AFCB. Norwich, Newcastle, WBA, Crystal Palace and Sunderland are all teams that have been beaten once by the Cherries. Eddie Howe has probably targeted the Swansea home game this weekend and the WBA game as other matches where the team must pick up points along with the away game at Aston Villa. But AFCB have been taking points off of teams that have been higher than them in the table as well, and there are sides that are starting to find wins really hard to come by. Crystal Palace, Everton and Watford are on the slide and I would expect the Cherries to fit in around this group somewhere in the final table.
AFCB can still have a big say in who finished in the top four as well with games against Spurs, Man City and Man Utd to come. Eddie Howe will want the players to really test themselves against these top sides to try and get points off of them and to get used to doing that. He'll already be looking to see where he needs to strengthen for next season and these are the type of games where he can assess what further additions he will require to finish even higher in the next campaign.
Treatment room
Reports are coming in that Baily could now be out for the rest of the season - get better soon Baily!
Score Predictions
What are your score predictions for AFCB v Swansea City this weekend? Send in your score predictions to @CherryChimes on Twitter to be in with a chance to win an AFCB autograph book. It is free entry. Please make it clear the score you are giving to each team.
If more than one person picks the correct score we will draw a winner from a hat and the prize will roll over if nobody gets it right.
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| AFCB are still seeking a few more wins. |
It was always going to be important to beat some of the teams around AFCB. Norwich, Newcastle, WBA, Crystal Palace and Sunderland are all teams that have been beaten once by the Cherries. Eddie Howe has probably targeted the Swansea home game this weekend and the WBA game as other matches where the team must pick up points along with the away game at Aston Villa. But AFCB have been taking points off of teams that have been higher than them in the table as well, and there are sides that are starting to find wins really hard to come by. Crystal Palace, Everton and Watford are on the slide and I would expect the Cherries to fit in around this group somewhere in the final table.
AFCB can still have a big say in who finished in the top four as well with games against Spurs, Man City and Man Utd to come. Eddie Howe will want the players to really test themselves against these top sides to try and get points off of them and to get used to doing that. He'll already be looking to see where he needs to strengthen for next season and these are the type of games where he can assess what further additions he will require to finish even higher in the next campaign.
Treatment room
Reports are coming in that Baily could now be out for the rest of the season - get better soon Baily!
Score Predictions
What are your score predictions for AFCB v Swansea City this weekend? Send in your score predictions to @CherryChimes on Twitter to be in with a chance to win an AFCB autograph book. It is free entry. Please make it clear the score you are giving to each team.
If more than one person picks the correct score we will draw a winner from a hat and the prize will roll over if nobody gets it right.
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