Playing a back three is now an option that Howe should feel more confident about playing. The centre-backs at the club are experienced now and most of them are confident enough on the ball to be able to bring the ball out from the back and have a free role in driving forward. It is a lot of work for the likes of Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels to work either side on the wings, but the side coped well with getting out to block crosses and reduce the threat of Man City breakaways.
The shape of the team could have been changed in the second half. Nathan Aké took a heavy knock that we thought may prevent him from coming out in the second half, but he soldiered on. By going to a back four it might have invited more pressure on the team and Howe felt he had seen enough in the first half to stick with the five in midfield and three behind. Considering the system has not been played often by the Cherries, it must be satisfying to know now that they can play well against a top team in this way.
If Arter and Surman are not seen as being powerful enough together, then we will also see this extra man in midfield which is going to make AFCB very strong in the middle of the park. I hope Howe picks the system again as the more they play in this way the better the players will get at it.
In other news, Harry Arter played 60 minutes in Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw against Georgia.
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| Bournemouth might have hit upon something with their back three formation. |
It is a clear demonstration of how well the back three played that both of Man City's goals were excellently crafted. While the first goal was disappointing in that it came down the middle, it was probably the only time that City found one pass to split the defence. City had to use the width to create the second by getting behind the defence to find sterling in space. While he was not challenged well enough to stop him from scoring it was clear that Bournemouth had everyone back and were making it as difficult as they could for City.
The shape of the team could have been changed in the second half. Nathan Aké took a heavy knock that we thought may prevent him from coming out in the second half, but he soldiered on. By going to a back four it might have invited more pressure on the team and Howe felt he had seen enough in the first half to stick with the five in midfield and three behind. Considering the system has not been played often by the Cherries, it must be satisfying to know now that they can play well against a top team in this way.
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The benefits may be seem over the course of the season. Three at the back gives more opportunity to use more of AFCB's centre-backs with only Francis missing out this time. Brad Smith is no doubt versatile enough to have been used as the left-sided centre back if he had been needed. It also gave Gosling his first opportunity to impress which I thought was well deserved, especially when most calls were for Lewis Cook to start. 
If Arter and Surman are not seen as being powerful enough together, then we will also see this extra man in midfield which is going to make AFCB very strong in the middle of the park. I hope Howe picks the system again as the more they play in this way the better the players will get at it.
In other news, Harry Arter played 60 minutes in Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw against Georgia.
Agree that our attempt at parking the bus was well done an nearly succeeded. Indeed it took a brilliant Silva pass that cut thru both lines of defenders for the equaliser.
ReplyDeleteBut we need more originality or creativity in mid field and from what I see L Cook is the most likely to provide it. Premier League defences are used to the Arter Surman based moves and excellent at nullifying them.