The Cherries let in a colossal 67 goals last season. It is something that you would expect the manager to try and address but rather than signing a new goal keeper or any central defenders, if you exclude Nathan Aké for his preference for midfield, it has been in midfield where Eddie Howe has seen the greatest weakness.
There is more time for him to sign a centre-back or two yet but he has not jumped at that area as the key signing to get in. While Tommy Elphick as well as Sylvain Distin have left it is perhaps hoped that Baily Cargill can be more than just a covering player. Still an experienced dedicated centre-half would consolidate the back four and keep more of an element of competition.
I don't want to see players learning the job and covering as Simon Francis had to do last season when Elphick was injured if there is a capable centre-half that AFCB can bring in before the start of the season. The Daily Star has today said that AFCB are planning a double swoop for QPR's Steven Caulker and Nedum Onuoha. Onuoha is particularly interesting as an England U21 player and former Man City graduate. Caulker is much more travelled and has had a senior England cap but is still on 24.
There were times last season when Artur Boruc and Adam Federici also came up short in the last campaign and yet they will remain the keepers that have been assigned the task to lower that goals against column and they'll have to be more confident and authoritative with the back four to do this.
In Elphick the team has lost an organiser and a leader and there needs to be clear instruction given to the players when to step up and shout when players are not being properly marked. Simon Francis may well prove better at this than expected as he will no longer be in the shadows of Tommy Elphick, but Steve Cook will also need to be more precise in his decisions and work to ensure he and Francis keep a tight line against the quality attackers they will come up against. They have no harder task than their first game when Zlatan Ibrahimovic is likely to be looking to get off to a flyer.
Transfer Watch
Yesterday AFCB were looking at adding to the U21 squad with Bolton's Rob Holding but had a bid turned down there may be another increased offer to come yet.
Jordan Ibe is set to fly to Chicago to join up with AFCB's squad today. Confirmed Jordan Ibe has signed on a four-year deal.
There is more time for him to sign a centre-back or two yet but he has not jumped at that area as the key signing to get in. While Tommy Elphick as well as Sylvain Distin have left it is perhaps hoped that Baily Cargill can be more than just a covering player. Still an experienced dedicated centre-half would consolidate the back four and keep more of an element of competition.
I don't want to see players learning the job and covering as Simon Francis had to do last season when Elphick was injured if there is a capable centre-half that AFCB can bring in before the start of the season. The Daily Star has today said that AFCB are planning a double swoop for QPR's Steven Caulker and Nedum Onuoha. Onuoha is particularly interesting as an England U21 player and former Man City graduate. Caulker is much more travelled and has had a senior England cap but is still on 24.
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| Will AFCB strengthen the back four before mid-August? |
In Elphick the team has lost an organiser and a leader and there needs to be clear instruction given to the players when to step up and shout when players are not being properly marked. Simon Francis may well prove better at this than expected as he will no longer be in the shadows of Tommy Elphick, but Steve Cook will also need to be more precise in his decisions and work to ensure he and Francis keep a tight line against the quality attackers they will come up against. They have no harder task than their first game when Zlatan Ibrahimovic is likely to be looking to get off to a flyer.
Transfer Watch
Yesterday AFCB were looking at adding to the U21 squad with Bolton's Rob Holding but had a bid turned down there may be another increased offer to come yet.
Jordan Ibe is set to fly to Chicago to join up with AFCB's squad today. Confirmed Jordan Ibe has signed on a four-year deal.
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