How do AFCB put things right?

While Eddie Howe might not believe his team needs a major fix, there will be even more pressure on him and the players if they don't get a win soon. But is there really a quick fix? If the problems AFCB have been having are mainly mental confidence then a lot of work can be done to overcome that in the periods between games. The players need to concentrate on performance though more than anything else and getting work on hitting the target and on defending well. The rest will follow, if they can do the basics right.

AFCB have to have the right mentality to get their first win.

It's no good getting tied up in the emotions of not having won a game and stressing over the league table so early on. Bournemouth need to find things that make them feel good about themselves. They are still close enough to teams to see their situation improve quickly if they can get some wins, and while this is not a happy period it could well be a lesson they can use later in the season to look back on, and use it as a positive, in that they kept going and trusted in their football.

Considering that Man City and Arsenal are two of the teams that AFCB have lost to and the WBA game was a narrow away defeat, it is only the Watford match that is probably three points that might have been bagged with some comfort had AFCB played well that day. But even last season AFCB only managed a 2-2 draw with Watford and Bournemouth lost to WBA away last December, as well as Arsenal away last November and Man City at home back in April. So, perhaps the optimist could say AFCB are only one point worse off than what they managed last season in these games.

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Still, some will say this is papering over the cracks. I'd probably agree in that AFCB have not been anywhere near their normal levels, and perhaps it is just as well that the poor spell has come early in some respects as matches where they have usually picked up points will be arriving soon and this torrid time can't be allowed to continue. History tells us that this side will hit their stride and even a narrow win courtesy of a penalty would be a relief at the moment.

Moving to a back four again is looking like a possible formation change but whatever formation AFCB play they need to pass the ball better and quicker than of late.

I'm sure that a loud Dean Court will make the extra man on Friday and AFCB fans will do their part in trying to help AFCB to the quick fix.