Sunday 26 March 2017

What does the team's change of fortunes say about the Cherries?

The draw against Man Utd has revitalised the team and the treatment of Tyrone Mings by the FA has only pulled the squad closer together. There is a great belief that the Cherries can climb higher in the league and it tells me that the lads are enjoying their football and will probably be disappointed in some ways when the season comes to a close, even if they will look forward to a few weeks off.
Eddie Howe has found the solutions to pull AFCB out of its dip.
Being in the Premier League is all about improvement. Eddie Howe gave a great interview on BBC's Football Focus last weekend that explained how much he sees his job as getting improvements in every aspect of the club. So when the lows come and the wins seem a million miles away, I look at Eddie and try to work out how he is going to turn things around. He admitted that he sees his job as a task of finding solutions, whether in training or how he approaches a subject with the players and being brave and confident in what he is doing I believe rubs off on his players.


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The fans might have been panicking a little, when the points had dried up in January and February, but it is clear that Eddie turned this around in his mind as a chance to find some new ways of getting better performances from his players. He has had to switch and mix and match when it has come to his centre-backs, and I think this is a major reason for why the team suffered such a tough period at the start of 2017. Having a regular starting 11 makes all the difference. Like Leicester City last season, they hardly had to use more than about 15 players all season. If players keep injury-free and out of suspension, it is a good basis for having a good season.

Now, AFCB's fortunes look much more rosy. But they are still the same squad, it is just that the balance and the rhythm of the team has hit a new and higher level which is bringing results again. I do believe AFCB also have a very honest set of players who can operate at levels that are as high as any of the teams in the Premier league on their day, and it is trying to keep these peak periods going for longer that Howe will have to try and get to grips with in future seasons - future seasons that we hope are in the Premier League.  


In other news - Emerson Hyndman has been nominated as Rangers' young player of the season just two-months after joining them on loan from AFCB.

Eddie Howe is among the six contenders for Manager of the Month - vote here!

Josh King and Artur Boruc are also in contention for Player of the Month - vote here!

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