The loss of Charlie Daniels and Josh King after the Liverpool game is not something that will make Bournemouth's task any easier, but it does mean Eddie Howe can try something new. Finding some balance in the team is really what Howe needs now and to put in some respectable performances. Now player choices are more limited and things are being forced on Howe because of the heavy schedule and injuries, but he can't use it as an excuse.
As in previous seasons, Eddie needs to find a system that works and gets AFCB points with the personnel that is available. It may mean he has to drop his favoured 4-4-1-1 formation even if not the style of football he wants to play. He needs to look really closely at which players are not only going through a bad spell but are not tuned in to having the fighting spirit to turn it around. Bournemouth can just accept that the task is too hard to play teams like Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea or they can go out there and fight for every ball. Bournemouth fans will mind less if the team goes down fighting but at present there is very little fight and it almost seems a good time to get injured, not that I suggest that any of the players want to miss games.
Bournemouth have enough players to get round their current injury worries, but if it means changing the formation then so be it. The players should be talking themselves about what would help them play better and why things have not been working out. If Eddie can start to understand why Bournemouth's players are not performing he can then try and work something out for them, but I just hope the channels of communication are open at the moment and that the players want to get over their injuries and start lifting the tea up the table.
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| Charlie Daniels may be out for a while but Bournemouth have players that can cover his position in Nahan Aké and Steve Cook. |
Bournemouth have come unstuck because they have not been getting the basics right. They have to defend a whole lot better than they did against Liverpool and they have to show fight now like Crystal palace did to get out of the bottom three. It should hurt that Bournemouth have not won since the Huddersfield game, but injuries have not been the cause of the problems yet.
As in previous seasons, Eddie needs to find a system that works and gets AFCB points with the personnel that is available. It may mean he has to drop his favoured 4-4-1-1 formation even if not the style of football he wants to play. He needs to look really closely at which players are not only going through a bad spell but are not tuned in to having the fighting spirit to turn it around. Bournemouth can just accept that the task is too hard to play teams like Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea or they can go out there and fight for every ball. Bournemouth fans will mind less if the team goes down fighting but at present there is very little fight and it almost seems a good time to get injured, not that I suggest that any of the players want to miss games.
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Some times it is tough going and you just have to get through that period. The league is so tight that one win will do wonders and Bournemouth have to imagine that they can get a win and that it is coming. If they can't go out wanting the win it won't come. The injuries that are around them should make those players that come in all the more determined to play well and keep hold of the short. There has to be an incentive to get the points and to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to the fans.
Bournemouth have enough players to get round their current injury worries, but if it means changing the formation then so be it. The players should be talking themselves about what would help them play better and why things have not been working out. If Eddie can start to understand why Bournemouth's players are not performing he can then try and work something out for them, but I just hope the channels of communication are open at the moment and that the players want to get over their injuries and start lifting the tea up the table.
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