Eddie Howe was fairly chirpy about the performance of Jermain Defoe last Saturday against Man City. He said the forward had a few chances to get on the score sheet and on another day could have scored, but there is still a lot of work to do in that area as Jermain was out of the game for long periods and if he only gets a couple of chances per match, it's not quite the kind of form that makes AFCB seem such a good move for him.
King and Defoe both had their moments in the game, but they did not find it easy to link up and work together. King had to stretch the defence a lot in running out wide and the width of the team was perhaps not quite as evident as when AFCB line up as a 4-4-2. For Jermain to really top the charts in goal attempts Bournemouth need higher possession and importantly more play around the opponent's box. That was going to happen against City.
In other use, Defoe was an unused sub in England's 0-4 win over Malta and Ryan Fraser also sat on the bench for Scotland's 0-3 win against Lithuania. But Josh King did score a penalty in Norway's 2-0 win over Azerbaijan.
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| Jermain Defoe is yet to score for the Cherries in his second spell at the club. |
Creativity is still not perfect at AFCB. The Cherries had nine shots on goal and just three on target in the match against Man City. Charlie Daniels' goal, Defoe's first time stretched volley and Josh King's last minute strike that was kept out by Ederson is all that AFCB managed. While three attempts on goal against a good side is not terrible, AFCB has to sharpen up its shooting. Man City managed eight shots on target against the Cherries and 19 off target. So while the early moments were very much in AFCB's favour by the end of the game it was a different story with the second half proving very difficult for Bournemouth to get momentum.
King and Defoe both had their moments in the game, but they did not find it easy to link up and work together. King had to stretch the defence a lot in running out wide and the width of the team was perhaps not quite as evident as when AFCB line up as a 4-4-2. For Jermain to really top the charts in goal attempts Bournemouth need higher possession and importantly more play around the opponent's box. That was going to happen against City.
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But an isolated Defoe is something AFCB can't afford. King's work rate is high and he did a lot to link the midfield to Defoe, but AFCB need more from Arter and Surman if they are to dominate teams. Defoe can only do his job if he gets the ball regularly and, at the moment, I just don't feel it is happening often enough.
In other use, Defoe was an unused sub in England's 0-4 win over Malta and Ryan Fraser also sat on the bench for Scotland's 0-3 win against Lithuania. But Josh King did score a penalty in Norway's 2-0 win over Azerbaijan.
... which is why all the stops should have been pulled out to have tried to get Wilshere back in this last window. More than anyone else, Wilshere would have fed Defoe with the ammo his movement around the goal areas needs.
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