Friday 14 October 2016

Has AFCB's home form improved?

The Cherries have taken six points out of nine from their home games this season. The opening day defeat to Man Utd was the only time fans have come away disappointed from Dean Court in the league games. This may seem a big improvement on last season, but at this stage then  the side had picked up five points from home games. So are we seeing a team harder to beat a home or not?

It takes probably five or six games before we can really see what is going on, but to beat a team of Everton's stature at Dean Court for the first time is probably the reason that fans can feel that progress is being made. After the international break, at this time a year ago, there were heavy defeats to Man City and Spurs, and the chance to play Hull City and Spurs at home this time around is perhaps not such a frightening prospect. The worriers though will point to the fact that the side has only netted three goals at home this season and it's the two clean sheets against WBA and Everton that have been something that the side found much harder to achieve last season. AFCB did not have their second clean sheet until they beat Chelsea in December last season. 
Home form has been reassuring for AFCB so far this season.
You could say that by tightening up at the back that AFCB have lost something going forward. I don't subscribe to that. AFCB are getting used to having Jack Wilshere in their ranks and we haven't yet seen him fully get hold of a game and take it away from sides. But Jack is capable of that. We have seen Junior Stanislas score a scorcher to win the game against Everton and Callum's deft touch to finish of WBA. It's been narrow victories at home, but the side has managed to hold out in some games despite away asides having a real go. That is where I see the change in home form.

Even when AFCB took on Man Utd they were taking the game to the Red Devils up to the first goal and by winning some games at home there should be a feeling among the players that it is a great place to play at the moment. The side must take that belief into the matches against Hull City and more importantly against Spurs for me, as picking up points against Spurs is another achievement that was not achieved last season.

Has the home form improved? I think we have to ask that after the next two home games.

1 comment:

  1. I agree..but Hull is a six pointer..a must win to ensure we park ourselves in midtable....anything other than that will be points dropped....as you point out only three goals at home..but do I think anything will change with the choice of forwards...or the team.....points against Spurs...hmmm..over optimistic methinks

    ReplyDelete

tag: