Arter had his football head on against Palace

Harry needs to keep pushing himself on this season and
see if he can keep those yellow cards down.

I may have been a little harsh on the score that I gave Harry Arter after the Crystal Palace match. He had to have a good game as he  will have felt he owed that to the team after his sending off at West Ham. He didn't disappoint but I was unaware until seeing Match of the Day how good his chipped pass into Josh King for the first goal was.

Arter was alert in seeing that King was too his right and unmarked and to chip the ball on with the right weight made it a much simpler finish for Josh. Harry also was right on the goal line clearing shots in the second half as AFCB came under pressure and during that half when the Cherries struggled to get to the ball Harry was the man chasing it down. You can't fault the desire of Harry and he needs to set himself personal targets this season to achieve to bring his game on even more.

I am sure the time he has now with the Republic of Ireland squad will help his game. Sometimes I see him using surplus energy up when it is not necessary, even if we love his work rate. But if he can pace himself better and can turn on like a switch to find that game winning pass when needed, he will become a more valuable member of the Bournemouth and Irish team. 

While we also like Harry to shoot he blazes high and wide more frequently than most and I'd like to see him getting his goal count up to nearer double-figures. That is what the best central midfielders are doing in the Premier League and Harry has to have that in mind. That also means playing more games to achieve that. Now he has more than enough competition in Jack Wilshire, Lewis Cook, Nathan Aké and Emerson Hyndman ready to step in.  

Harry was an unused sub in the Republic of Ireland's Group D World Cup 2-2 draw against Serbia on Monday.

Natterjacks Vet

Meanwhile, I chatted to Natterjacks Vet pre-season to see what AFCB fan Andy Matthew thought about the season ahead for AFCB

CC: Do you think AFC Bournemouth have strengthened in the right areas this summer?

NV: Not convinced that we have. Loss of Matt Ritchie could prove significant.

CC:  Would you say the first three games this season against Man Utd, West Ham and Crystal Palace will be any harder than the games against Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham last season when the team won 3 points?

NV: I would hope for 3 points again, Last year we should have got 3 from Villa at home as they were woeful.

CC: Which of the promoted teams do you think will do best?

NV: Middlesbrough should be ok. Hull must be definites to go down. Burnley may survive but they haven't really strengthened and may struggle.

CC: Who do think will be player of the season for AFC Bournemouth?


NV: Callum Wilson if he can prove his fitness and start scoring again.

CC: Do you think AFC Bournemouth fans' expectations are higher this season?

NV: Expectations will be higher but if you survive the first year in the Premiership the second year is often harder.

CC: Mid-table (hopefully!).

NV: Where will AFC Bournemouth finish in the table?