I have mentioned before that Bournemouth have been slow starters this season and it has taken until the 16th game of the season for AFCB to pick up their first goal in the opening 10 minutes of a game, so are we getting back to seeing the Bournemouth of last season re-emerging?
AFCB are unlikely to have so many fans at Old Trafford and this will be a test, as it will be more down to the players to create an atmosphere that gives them a foothold in the game. If they can make some good early challenges and win some early possession they'll soon be trying to work out how they can hurt United. But they need that quick start and last season at Old Trafford there were several chances for Mourhino's team to score before Bournemouth got settled.
Against a team like United, you can't just look to defend all game. Bournemouth would give them something to think about if they can come out and get an early goal. It did not do Newcastle much good when they did exactly that a few weeks ago, but if the action is all at Bournemouth's end in the first 20 minutes we have seen that the Cherries find it difficult to find any rhythm or get their style of game going.
Even against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth did not really fully click and needed a training ground set-piece to get ahead, as well as a bit of unfair play by Josh King. It wasn't as if the Cherries were cutting Crystal palace apart and that kind of creativity is still in short supply. Playing on the break should suit this Bournemouth side, but they need to do better at getting strikers in on goal and making shots count.
Stanislas and Fraser tend to be the most direct wide men in the Bournemouth ranks and when they do get early crosses in during the opening period it can undo teams. That is where Bournemouth must get the ball early on, but can they do against a team as strong as United?
 |
| Slow starting Cherries may have turned the corner. |
I am probably not alone in feeling that there has been a spark missing in some of Bournemouth's game in recent months. Yet, at Crystal Palace the aggression and energy to win was more evident from the first whistle. I believe some of that energy was transmitted from the away fans and their singing and it must affect the players to see such big numbers in the stands behind the team.
AFCB are unlikely to have so many fans at Old Trafford and this will be a test, as it will be more down to the players to create an atmosphere that gives them a foothold in the game. If they can make some good early challenges and win some early possession they'll soon be trying to work out how they can hurt United. But they need that quick start and last season at Old Trafford there were several chances for Mourhino's team to score before Bournemouth got settled.
Advertisement
Against a team like United, you can't just look to defend all game. Bournemouth would give them something to think about if they can come out and get an early goal. It did not do Newcastle much good when they did exactly that a few weeks ago, but if the action is all at Bournemouth's end in the first 20 minutes we have seen that the Cherries find it difficult to find any rhythm or get their style of game going.
Even against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth did not really fully click and needed a training ground set-piece to get ahead, as well as a bit of unfair play by Josh King. It wasn't as if the Cherries were cutting Crystal palace apart and that kind of creativity is still in short supply. Playing on the break should suit this Bournemouth side, but they need to do better at getting strikers in on goal and making shots count.
Stanislas and Fraser tend to be the most direct wide men in the Bournemouth ranks and when they do get early crosses in during the opening period it can undo teams. That is where Bournemouth must get the ball early on, but can they do against a team as strong as United?
No comments:
Post a Comment