Valencia inflict first summer defeat on the Cherries

Dani Parejo of Valencia ended AFCB's pre-season's winning run with a long range strike in the 72nd minute of yesterday's game against the Spanish giants. Bournemouth had been the equal of Valencia in the first half and Mahoney, Defoe and Steve Cook might have changed the scoreline with some better luck on the day in front of goal. But Pajero had been a constant threat all game and the winner came just after Bournemouth had made a few substitutions that perhaps just unsettled them a bit.

Pictures are supplied by Damien Hill from the Family Stand.

The club crests on the score board.

The players are out - AFCB in their home kit.

Eddie Howe picked a strong side as expected to play Valencia. Begovic made his home match made start since resigning for the Cherries this summer, and Jermain Defoe played up front following his summer return to the club. A slight surprise was to see Adam Smith recover enough to start the match, while Brad Smith had also managed to overcome his hamstring worries to play at left back. 

The subs bench was full of younger players and Aaron Ramsdale got the chance to sample a few minutes of top action again, following his minutes against QPR on Saturday, while Surridge and Worthington were also again on the bench.

More pictures are on the Match Day Gallery.

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Official AFCB Match tweets
A minutes applause takes place for Jimmy White, the clubs youngest ever league debutant, who sadly passed away earlier this week.

Kick Off: We are underway at Vitality Stadium.
10: The Cherries try to create an opening from the first corner of the game but nothing comes of the move.

14: Great chance for Valencia as Parejo's corner finds Jimenez but the header is just over Begovic's goal.

22: Mahoney does well to find Defoe from the right but he can't keep his shot down and it goes just over.

29: Rodrigo and Medran combine well in the Cherries half but Cook intercepts and clears the danger.

Jermain Defoe fires a shot at goal.

37: Fraser puts a great ball into the box with Cook rising highest but his header goes just over the bar.

42: Medran and Soler exchange passes in the Cherries box but Adam Smith reads the ball and clears.

44: Rodrigo now finds himself in space and tries to play a cross in but Adam Smith is there again!

Half time: AFC Bournemouth 0-0 

Fans are spread out a bit at Dean Court.

45: We are back underway at Vitality Stadium!

52: Nando tries to create an opening in the Cherries box but Ake is there to avert the danger.

54: Begovic is called into action and palms the ball away as Negredo takes his first shot from range.

61: Almost an opener for Valencia! Gil is played in by Parejo but Cook produces a great block and clears.

64: First substitution for the Cherries as Adam Smith is replaced by Ben Whitfield.

66: Second set of subs for the Cherries. Off go: B Smith, Mahoney, Defoe On come: Harfield, Worthington, Cornick

69: Another change for the Cherries.

Off goes: Begovic

On comes: Ramsdale:

71: GOAL for Valencia, 0-1.

The ball is played out to Dani Parejo who hits a superb shot from outside the area and past Ramsdale.

78: A pause in play as Abdennour is down for Valencia with a face injury.

83: Arter finds himself in space and fires a shot goalwards from 25 yards but it's over for a goal kick.

86: Fraser makes a great run down the right and looks for Whitfield in the box but it goes for a corner.

89: Shouts of a penalty for the Cherries as Fraser turns in the box but Lee Probert waves the claims away.

Full time: AFC Bournemouth 0-1

A narrow defeat for the Cherries.

Summary
It might have been a tad disappointing to see the first team lose at home, but Valencia just had the quality to see the game through. AFCB pleasingly saw some important players such as, Adam Smith and Brad Smith get some minutes, and while Afobe didn't play, the players Howe can now pick from is getting stronger each week. Next up is Yeovil away on Wednesday.

AFCB
Begovic, A Smith, Cook, Ake, B Smith, Mahoney, Arter, Gosling, Pugh, Fraser, Defoe

AFCB Subs: Ramsdale, Cornick, Whitfield, Worthington, Harfield, Surridge, Butcher

Valencia
Neto, Montoya, Vezo. Javi Jiménez, Gayà, Cancelo, Medrán, Parejo, Carlos Soler, Rodrigo , Zaza

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Jordan Ibe slides in AFCB winner at QPR

Match Report

QPR 0 v 1 AFCB

29 July 2017

Attendance: 9386 (565 AFCB fans)

Stan Bowles walks around the ground at half time.

The Stan Bowles Commemorative match for Alzheimer's was fitted into AFCB's pre-season friendly fixtures just 24 hours ahead of the Valencia match, so fans expected Bournemouth to put out a bit of a mixed team in terms of experience. While none of the new signings were on show, it was last year's record signing Jordan Ibe who left the pitch with the biggest smile, having given AFCB the win with his 40 minute strike. The game was not littered with many goal scoring chances, but Lys Mousset was denied by the legs of Alex Smithes half way through the second half and Bournemouth had a late scare when Aaron Ramsdale, making his first team debut, made a brilliant 90 minute save when QPR had a late free kick. The Bournemouth fans could not only applaud the win, but the satisfaction that four U23 players were on the pitch come the end of the game.

A busy Loftus Road in pre-season.

Eddie Howe put Simon Francis at right back and selected Baily Cargill and Tyrone Mings to play as centre-backs. Lewis Cook and Andrew Surman filled the midfield and Lys Mousset and Josh King carried the attack to QPR.

ArturBoruc was out first.

AFCB take to the pitch.

Early sprints.

Bournemouth began with a Gradel break down the left, before he swept the ball back to Josh King to hit a lifting shot over the bar. The afternoon did not begin so well for Artur Boruc who took a back pass from Tyrone Mings and fired it straight to Pawel Wszolek, but the ball luckily rebounded back to the keeper.

QPR also had a great chance when Wszolek crossed for Matt Smith in the box with his back to goal, but as he shot on the turn he skewed his shot wide. It was more calamity from Boruc who failed to catch a deep cross from the right wing, but he escaped any punishment. Luke Freeman was targeting Matt Smith in the Bournemouth box, but Smith would head wide when challenged by Cargill.

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The overcast skies soon led to the rain and conditions were perhaps not their best for the players, but Matt Smith made a good run pulling wide through the centre-backs and saw a shot go just past Boruc's left post. AFCB's defence had been caught wide open.

Lewis Cook then put Jordan Ibe in a favourable position, but the winger shot wide on an acute angle after 25 minutes. Lys Mousset was also looking to score, and attempted a scissor kick from a Francis' cross as we passed the half hour mark.

Ibe broke the deadlock about 10 minutes later, after Gradel had put in a low cross from the left that Lys Mousset had stretched for, but hecouldn't quite put away. The ball ended up with Ibe on the right and headed straight back at goal and beat the QPR keeper on the angle to make it 0-1 at half time.

Half time score.

Second half kick off.

Second Half

The second half saw Joel Lynch replaced by Darnell Furlong. Lys Mousset was again enterprising around the QPR box trying to make a one-two with Lewis Cook, but it didn't quite come off. Tyrone Mings was controlling at the back with his towering headers while Cargill looked supremely comfortable.

Max Gradel was getting forward well, but saw many of his shots blocked. AFCB might have grown their lead when Ibe's cross from the right was volleyed over by a hurtling in Lys Mousset at the far post on 55 minutes.

Ian Holloway then made several subs, Freeman was replaced by Manning, Borysiuk replaced Scowen, Sylla replaced Smith and Ngbakoto came on for Robinson.

QPR had a free kick soon after in a good position with AFCB putting up a two-man wall, but Massimo Luongo belted the ball way over the bar, which amused AFCB fans.

King found a problem with his right foot and was replaced by Karl Taylor on 61 minutes. Soon after Gradel swept a good ball through to Lys Mousset, who was left with Smithies to beat, but the keeper made a good save with his legs, much to Mousset's annoyance.

Max Gradel did even worse a few minutes later blazing high in the stands with his attempt.

QPR kept making changes with Wszolek replaced by Petrasso on 67 minutes. Perch was also subbed for Goss four minutes later. AFCB also subbed Boruc for Aaron Ramsdale to get a taste of first team football with about 18 minutes to go. Jordan Ibe was also replaced by Sam Surridge on 82 minutes. Surman also left the field on 87 minutes to give Worthington a few minutes.

QPR's last chance came very close to an equaliser when a free kick from 25 yards curled over the wall and Ramsdale pushed it on to the post before he reclaimed it safely.

Summary

Bournemouth had a bit too much quality for QPR when it came to the nifty possession keeping, but the Londoners had times when some better crossing would have been profitable for them. QPR also wasted many of their free kicks and Boruc and Ramsdale were not greatly tested. AFCB could well have run out better winners if their final passes had been more accurate, but the score line was perhaps hard on QPR, and while the players got through more minutes it was noticeable that there were some tiered legs by the time 70 minutes passed.

Eddie Howe chats with Andrew Surman after the game.

Aaron Ramsdale had a fine spell on the pitch and so did Karl Taylor.

AFCB

Boruc (Ramsdale 72), Francis, Mings, Cargill, Daniels, Ibe (Surridge 82), L Cook, Surman (Worthington 87), Gradel, King (Taylor 61), Mousset 

AFCB Subs

Ramsdale, Simpson, Cornick, Butcher, Surridge, Whitfield, Worthington, Harfield, Taylor
AFCB Ratings

Boruc 4 (Ramsdale 6), Francis 6, Mings 6, Cargill 6, Daniels 6, Ibe 6 (Surridge 5), L Cook 7, Surman 6, Gradel 6, King 6 (Taylor 6), Mousset 7.

QPR

Smithies, Onouha, Lych, Freeman (Manning 57), Washington (Mackie 57), Scowen (Borysiuk 57), Smith (Sylla 57), Robinson (Ngbakoto 67), Luongo, Wszolek (Petrasso 67), Perch (Goss 71)

QPR sub

Ingham (not used)

Stanislas will be worth waiting for

Junior Stanislas has not found it easy to complete full seasons for AFCB. Last season he did reasonably well to get 18 starts, but he would have surely won more of them, if he had been fit and not on the injured bench for so long. His latest groin strain has complicate matters for him even more with his hip, and it's disappointing to hear that he's really struggling to be fit for the first game against WBA.

Junior Stanislas is a player Howe would
like to see return quickly, but he's got to be right.

If there is a player in the squad that has an impact when he returns from injury though it is Junior Stanislas. He helped rescue Bournemouth's first season in the Premier League by getting the goals rolling, and even last season he had his moments when he hit the back of the net. Stanislas always has a smile on his face and doesn't outwardly seem to get too down about not playing, but I'm sure he does get annoyed that he is always battling just to make himself available for selection.

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There are not too many players that Eddie Howe goes to when the team is having a poor run, but Stanislas is often one of the players that seem to help pick the squad up. Howe gets the best out of Stanislas and while Junior would be helped by playing more games, the lack of minutes during a season tends to make him burst on to the scene whenever he is able to play.

It has been evident that Bournemouth don't get many goals from free kicks, but part of that could well be because Stanislas is well short of the games he could be getting. He probably hits the dead ball better than any other free kick takes in the squad, but we need to see him there to take them more often.

That is why it is important that AFCB give him the time to get his recovery right and come back the fitter for it. We can wait for Stanislas, because when he does comeback it will be an added bonus. 

If you are going to the game today enjoy it. I'll be cheering on the team as well UTCIAD!

AFCB need to step things up against Holloway's QPR

AFCB play QPR this weekend commemorating Stan Bowles contribution to QPR. Stan will be at the game and their should be lots of information about how we can tackle Alzheimer's together. It will be great to have a game in the capital during pre-season and QPR have been playing quite a few games, so they'll be ready for AFCB.

Loftus Road will see AFCB run out on Saturday for their next pre-season game.

Looking at the form of QPR this summer they have scored in every game, but they only had a clean sheet when they played Bromley in early July. They've since lost to Reading twice and beaten Peterborough, while also losing out narrowly to Lokomotive Leipzig 3-2 and 2-1 to FC Union Berlin. QPR had to rearrange their Berlin fixture when it was postponed after 13 minutes of heavy rainfall, but they got the match on last Monday.

Their transfer dealings have been slow but they have signed Josh Scowen a midfielder from Barnsley. Ryan Manning, another midfielder has also extended his contract, says SkySports. Ian Holloway is no doubt just trying to keep hold of players, but a few new signings will be needed with the London side finishing 18th last season on 53 points, just two points higher than Blackburn Rovers who were relegated from the Championship.

QPR's strikers include Connor Washington, 25, Jamie Mackie, 31, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 26,  and Matt Smith, 28, who only played 11 games last season but netted four times. The names might not put too much fear in the ears of AFCB's back four, but QPR share the goals out and will be a hard working side.

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This will be the third game of pre-season and AFCB have played them all away from home so far. QPR's ground is an old one, but has plenty of character and it's one of the grounds where you can feel the history - even if those seats are a tight squeeze. The team has had a whole week since the Portsmouth game to recover, but I suspect a few changes for this match with Valencia to come on Monday. 

Possible AFCB team
Boruc (GK), Worthington (RD), Francis (CD), Aké (CD), Daniels (LD), Ibe (RM), L Cook (CM), Arter (CM), Pugh (LM), King (FW), Defoe (FW)

The Cherries are a bit short of being at full pelt

Eddie Howe gave an honest interview after the Pompey game and drew attention to the game being a tough fixture, but perhaps not quite the match that he might have been expecting. While the limited ground capacity will have made it a smaller game in terms of fan participation, the players on the pitch for Pompey tested Bournemouth well enough.

In fact Eddie said: "I don't think we are at full pelt yet, but I don't think we would want to be. We still have some time left, so hopefully we will get it right."

Eddie Howe is not too concerned that AFCB are not quite on their top game yet.

AFCB will have to raise their game against QPR and even more so when it comes to Valencia and Napoli. But last season took a lot out of the players and the way that Eddie has been picking his teams over the last couple of matches is certainly designed to ease the players back into the routine, rather than being too punishing on the regular starters who need time to recover from their niggles and stresses.

It's refreshing to see players like Lys Mousset and Max Gradel get a bit more of the limelight and show more of what they are about. The big hitters have remained on the bench, but their time will come and it's probably in the next two weeks when things will start ramping up on the training pitches with more competitive training.

Begovic certainly appears up for the challenge with Boruc and Federdici, and I already believe that he has upped the profile of what level the goalkeepers are at. With Allsop also going out on loan, there is an underlying strength in depth beginning to emerge at the club that hasn't been evident before.

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AFCB are in a position now where they have a good squad and can decide if they want to release any players on loan or to be bought. The planning appears much more precise in the transfer market, and it is one area where the club has had to improve with the massive fees now going between clubs.

AFCB might not be at full pelt on the pitch yet, but the signs are that the club is moving ahead in every aspect as it comes to its third season in the Premier League.

In other news, Lewis Grabban has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan. ACB's new away kit has also been revealed - it's stunning!

Sunderland to give Grabban another chance to find form

The Daily Bournemouth Echo has been reporting that Lewis Grabban is set to leave for Sunderland over the last few days and it's not going to be a big surprise to AFCB fans. A loan deal suits the Black Cats, and Eddie Howe will have to see what Grabban can do this time in the Championship to see if he can improve his value come January or next May. 

Lewis Grabban looks to be headed up north.

Grabban signed a 3.5-year contract in January 2016, when he rejoined the Cherries from Norwich for a fee thought to be around £7 million. Coming back to Bournemouth could have been amazing if he had stormed back into the starting line up and scored some goals, but Grabban never seemed to be in contention to make an impact in the side with just three Premier League appearances last season from the bench.

While I thought, last month, that he could be going up north to Scotland, he isn't going to stop far shorter than that at Sunderland, and I think a big location move was certainly on the cards having already had a loan period at relatively near-by Reading. Sunderland are going to be a bit of an unknown quantity under Grayson in the Championship, but they must halt their slide ,and I'm sure many AFCB fans will be keeping just an occasional glimpse at how Grabban is doing on loan.

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This is a new start for Grabban and he really needs to take it now. He might have interested Reading if they had won promotion, but now he has to try and do it again with a new team that has a club pedigree of the Premier League in its history and facilities, so it is a big club for Grabban to play his football for.

If he does well then doors will open for him again and that's really what Grabban needs. There may be too much familiarity about AFCB to do well again at Dean Court, but he has a clean sheet now to go and impress.  

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