Eddie Howe only has one thing on his mind for the Cherries and that is to finish on 48 points. It might not be a number that impresses the big clubs, but AFCB are getting closer to an established Premier League club, and with a few top signings they will be among the mid-table teams trying to catch the top seven sides.
Much has been made of the influence of Jack Wilshere on the squad and while the Cherries are unlikely to have his services next season, Howe can surely sense that they need to start attracting players that have solid international experience as well as the young, up-and- coming, players. We have seen WBA and Stoke City as mid-table sides start to increase their spending power with top class internationals, and to remain in and around these clubs the Cherries will have to buy wisely.
While it is an estimated £2m a place, depending on where your team finishes in the league, AFCB will want to see if they can at least hold their position going into their last game. It has been a fluctuating season in terms of results, and I wonder at this stage how much the dip in points at the start of 2017 have made an impression on Howe as to how he might to do better next time around. The January window was particularly sparse in terms of activity for AFCB and yet the side probably needed a boost in January.
Next season the bar will be set higher as that is what success brings. AFCB should keep it realistic though as to what they might achieve and perhaps the 50 point mark is something that could be within touching distance in 2017/18.
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| AFCB have to get something at Leicester to finish in the top 10. |
AFCB have it in their hands to finish in the top 10 if they can beat Leicester City. They will be hoping for a game that gives them more of a chance than when the teams last met at the King Power Stadium and Simon Francis was sent off. Whatever the result at Leicester though, the Cherries will finish higher than their 16th place of last season and that will be celebrated.
Much has been made of the influence of Jack Wilshere on the squad and while the Cherries are unlikely to have his services next season, Howe can surely sense that they need to start attracting players that have solid international experience as well as the young, up-and- coming, players. We have seen WBA and Stoke City as mid-table sides start to increase their spending power with top class internationals, and to remain in and around these clubs the Cherries will have to buy wisely.
While it is an estimated £2m a place, depending on where your team finishes in the league, AFCB will want to see if they can at least hold their position going into their last game. It has been a fluctuating season in terms of results, and I wonder at this stage how much the dip in points at the start of 2017 have made an impression on Howe as to how he might to do better next time around. The January window was particularly sparse in terms of activity for AFCB and yet the side probably needed a boost in January.
Next season the bar will be set higher as that is what success brings. AFCB should keep it realistic though as to what they might achieve and perhaps the 50 point mark is something that could be within touching distance in 2017/18.
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