The Premier League states that Bournemouth have now won more points form losing positions than any other team this season with 17 late points gained. It has become the story of the season for AFCB to make comebacks, and I was jesting with some friends that we should really make a song about how we always give the opposition a goal just so that we can make a great comeback.
Such comebacks were really born of the 4-3 win against Liverpool last season and the Cherries have just built on that and have started to develop a kind of game plan for when every they find themselves behind in games. Eddie Howe made some subtle changes in going three at the back and pushing Ryan Fraser up on the left wing. Bournemouth then had the extra man in midfield, but getting that advantage to count was proving difficult as Watford countered it by making late subs themselves.
What Bournemouth can also do though when they have the need is to play the long ball. With time running out it was Nathan Aké who had been pushed forward to get his head on the long free kick and his knock on made the goal possible for Defoe. So route one football has never entirely been eliminated from Bournemouth's game. Perhaps when a team has been knocking on the door for all game without using route one football, and then suddenly decides to play that way it does change the aspect of the game to confuse defenders, as they just don't expect a team like Bournemouth to go long.
I suspect all managers in the Premier League are totally aware for Bournemouth's strength in getting points from losing positions now. But it isn't a bad quality to have and without those comebacks Bournemouth would be a lot lower in the table.
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| The points keep coming as AFCB creep nearer to safety. |
Of course, that wasn't the plan against Watford and when the team went a goal down it was disappointing and even more so when Watford went 2-1 up. Still, there is a feeling now that is almost expectant that Bournemouth can come back in games, and the fact that the clock is running down just seems to make the players try even harder to recover the situation.
Such comebacks were really born of the 4-3 win against Liverpool last season and the Cherries have just built on that and have started to develop a kind of game plan for when every they find themselves behind in games. Eddie Howe made some subtle changes in going three at the back and pushing Ryan Fraser up on the left wing. Bournemouth then had the extra man in midfield, but getting that advantage to count was proving difficult as Watford countered it by making late subs themselves.
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What Bournemouth can also do though when they have the need is to play the long ball. With time running out it was Nathan Aké who had been pushed forward to get his head on the long free kick and his knock on made the goal possible for Defoe. So route one football has never entirely been eliminated from Bournemouth's game. Perhaps when a team has been knocking on the door for all game without using route one football, and then suddenly decides to play that way it does change the aspect of the game to confuse defenders, as they just don't expect a team like Bournemouth to go long.
I suspect all managers in the Premier League are totally aware for Bournemouth's strength in getting points from losing positions now. But it isn't a bad quality to have and without those comebacks Bournemouth would be a lot lower in the table.
I was critical of the team for not looking like they were putting maximum effort at the start of the season - and I stand by that comment. However, they have been fabulous since the calendar flipped, outside of Huddersfield, especially late in the game. It has been fun to watch.
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