Bournemouth travel to Birmingham in the Carabao sponsored League Cup desperately searching for some goals. It's not been a bad place to go to for the Cherries in recent years with their bountiful 8-0 win in October 2014. Now St Andrews has a familiar place installed as their manager, and I suppose it has been a match up that is long overdue to see Redknapp and Howe put their reputations on the line in a managerial contest for a cup game.
Harry has been busy signing players too. Luton sold Isaac Vassell on a four year deal. Redknapp has been bemoaning the lack of strikers he can get on the market and he has had to drop don a league to pick up Vassell. David Stockdale has joined from Brighton in goal. Cheik Ndoye is a midfielder that has signed from French side Angers. Dan Scarr boosts their midfield having come from Scarbrough and Marc Roberts is another defender who joined this summer from Barnsley.
Birmingham have also seen Kerim Free move to Istanbul Buyuksehir, while Che Adams and Koby Arthur were released.
At least with Howe taking on Redknapp there is a nice friendly nature to the fixture in the boardroom and the two of them will probably share some friendly chat about how things could have gone better for them both this season.
Possible AFCB XI
Boruc (GK), Worthington (RD), Mings (CD), M Wilson (CD), B Smith (LD), Mahoney (RM), L Cook (CM), Gosling (CM), Pugh (LM), Mousset (FW), Defoe (FW)
AFCB Subs Federici (GK), Wiggins (LD), Hyndman, Butcher, Taylor, King, Afobe
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| AFCB hope St Andrew's remains a happy hunting ground for them. |
Birmingham have not been getting fans that excited with four points from four league games, but at least their team has been scoring. A 5-1 home win against Crawley in the last round of the league cup was something for the Blues fans to celebrate and three of their league points have come at home with a 2-1 win over Bristol City.
Harry has been busy signing players too. Luton sold Isaac Vassell on a four year deal. Redknapp has been bemoaning the lack of strikers he can get on the market and he has had to drop don a league to pick up Vassell. David Stockdale has joined from Brighton in goal. Cheik Ndoye is a midfielder that has signed from French side Angers. Dan Scarr boosts their midfield having come from Scarbrough and Marc Roberts is another defender who joined this summer from Barnsley.
Birmingham have also seen Kerim Free move to Istanbul Buyuksehir, while Che Adams and Koby Arthur were released.
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Eddie Howe will see this as a match where he plays the back up players to the main team. It could backfire if they get a beating as there would be nowhere to turn to if there aren't a couple of positives to take from this game. The manager will take the criticism himself up to a point as it is his decision like it was last year to make the rotation, but it has to benefit the team come next Saturday. Some times you can play yourself into form and there is a case for suggesting that the bench should be lined with players that need to improve. But having time to think and rest is also important.
At least with Howe taking on Redknapp there is a nice friendly nature to the fixture in the boardroom and the two of them will probably share some friendly chat about how things could have gone better for them both this season.
Possible AFCB XI
Boruc (GK), Worthington (RD), Mings (CD), M Wilson (CD), B Smith (LD), Mahoney (RM), L Cook (CM), Gosling (CM), Pugh (LM), Mousset (FW), Defoe (FW)
AFCB Subs Federici (GK), Wiggins (LD), Hyndman, Butcher, Taylor, King, Afobe
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