AFCB may as well stick two up front at Old Trafford

Eddie Howe has stated that he will rotate in the next few games as the December period is very busy and games come thick and fast. But how many players he rests and pulls into and out of the starting line up is going to be anyone's guess. At the moment the team is picking up points and the team spirit from the last match was certainly strong so he won't want to chop and change too much yet  I suggest.

Could Afobe or Wilson partner Defoe and will Arter
come back into the starting  line up at Old Trafford?

The first thing we must consider is the formation Howe will want to play. While Adam Smith is now available again, he may not want to play four at the back as Bournemouth have played best against Man City and Spurs, for example, when playing 3-5-2. I believe this is the option he may go with in many of these big games coming up. That would mean dropping one of the defenders from the last match and on form it would most likely be Simon Francis by my reckoning, as he had a poor game up against Zaha and did not have his passing radar hat on to put it mildly.

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Midfield could also then be boosted with an extra man and Harry Arter is surely the player that will come into the manager's thoughts having heard what he said about Harry wanting to get his place back in the side. Arter will be fresh having not been involved in the last two games and should have some energy which is what his game has been lacking. While I don't see a need to change Stanislas or Fraser, it is possible that he could decide one should be rested from the starting line up. I don't expect him to do that though.

Possible AFCB Line up versus Man Utd

AFCB Subs: Boruc (GK), A Smith (RD), Francis (CD), Gosling (CM), Ibe (RM),
King (FW), C Wilson (FW).

I do have an inkling that while he will keep Defoe up front for his sharpness in front of goal, he could choose the Man Utd game to rest Josh King and play Benik Afobe as the big man would give Bournemouth a big target to try and hold the ball up field. Defoe and Afobe would be the big/little man act that would be intriguing. King has not scored for a couple of games and could be saved for the Liverpool home match. Afobe just hasn't been playing and if he wants a chance he has to take this type of chance, if it is offered. It would be hard on Callum Wilson, but I think Wilson will be used more towards the end of December depending on the form of Defoe in particular.


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