I was a bit puzzled why Eddie Howe decided to start the game with Jermain Defoe up front against Chelsea, having just come back from injury and knowing that he had not seen enough of the ball in the game against Leicester and being dropped for the Spurs match. But the cautious nature of Eddie Howe was surely trying to be patient with Callum Wilson's comeback more than thinking about the recent form of Defoe. For once I think he made the wrong call.
We had seen how well Benik Afobe and Callum Wilson linked up in midweek when they made the third goal against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup. Callum was on fire that night and even when he came on against Chelsea late on you could see that Bournemouth looked a totally different team with a real goal threat up front. I over heard a boy who was walking away from Dean Court, after the game, who asked his dad to explain why Eddie had not picked Callum to start having played so well against Middlesbrough? It's true that Howe had said there had been no sign of tiredness in Callum's body which he was pleased with, but undoubtedly surprised about. So surprised that he didn't want to rush him back against Chelsea four days later.
While I can see there is every reason to rest Wilson and manage his return to the team I could not see why Afobe was not used as the loan striker if he wanted to keep Wilson off the pitch until the second half. Defoe was like a wasted player on the pitch and it took until half time to correct the use of resources with Jordan Ibe being preferred to Wilson or Lys Mousset. If Bournemouth are going to pick up points, they need goals and while Ibe is creative and does add pace to the team we are of course still waiting for his first goal in an AFCB shirt in the Premier League.
Admittedly, Defoe on the other hand is a proven goalscorer at this level - just not with AFCB. His goal against Brighton might have been seen as the goal to inspire the team around him, but I still see the Jermain Defoe show as a bit of a side plot to the AFCB main story until he can fit in better with the team. Currently, so much of AFCB's game goes down the wings and not through the middle where Jermain is patiently waiting for the ball. I believe the BBC stats on Defoe had him down for eight touches in the first half against Chelsea and not one of them was in the opposition's box. It's perhaps not necessarily Defoe's fault, but unless Bournemouth utilise him in the opposition's box and get him the ball in those areas he might as well be sat in the stands.
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| Jermain Defoe was removed from the team after 45 minutes against Chelsea. |
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While I can see there is every reason to rest Wilson and manage his return to the team I could not see why Afobe was not used as the loan striker if he wanted to keep Wilson off the pitch until the second half. Defoe was like a wasted player on the pitch and it took until half time to correct the use of resources with Jordan Ibe being preferred to Wilson or Lys Mousset. If Bournemouth are going to pick up points, they need goals and while Ibe is creative and does add pace to the team we are of course still waiting for his first goal in an AFCB shirt in the Premier League.
Admittedly, Defoe on the other hand is a proven goalscorer at this level - just not with AFCB. His goal against Brighton might have been seen as the goal to inspire the team around him, but I still see the Jermain Defoe show as a bit of a side plot to the AFCB main story until he can fit in better with the team. Currently, so much of AFCB's game goes down the wings and not through the middle where Jermain is patiently waiting for the ball. I believe the BBC stats on Defoe had him down for eight touches in the first half against Chelsea and not one of them was in the opposition's box. It's perhaps not necessarily Defoe's fault, but unless Bournemouth utilise him in the opposition's box and get him the ball in those areas he might as well be sat in the stands.
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