Tuesday 24 April 2018

Is Begovic getting enough cover from his defenders?

My mind isn't quite made up on Asmir Begovic. John Williams believes he has made a fantastic difference this season and has been one of the best buys Howe has made. He might be right in that a bit more confidence is given with Begovic between the sticks, but he has not found it much easier than Boruc did to keep the goals out. In fact, clean sheets are down.
Begovic is still having problems keeping clean sheets  
It leads me to ask, if Begovic is the better keeper is he not getting as good a protection as he should? While you might always hope that your keeper can get you out of trouble, he has to rely on his defenders to some extent to make important blocks and tackles. Begovic has done well in one-against-ones of late making a great save in the Crystal Palace match from Patrick can Aarnholt. But does this suggest that the cover is not always there when he needs it? I think so.

Asmir will be hard on himself when he sees playback of the first goal that Liverpool scored him up at Anfield, but he couldn't do much about the goals that Man Utd put away against him. As long as he still feels confident, Eddie Howe will pick him to do his job.

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It was at least good to see that Man Utd and Liverpool did not find away around the Bournemouth walls at free kicks. I would not be surprised if a bit of work was done on set-pieces following the Leicester away and Crystal Palace home matches. Bournemouth have enough problems as it is in general play without conceding free kicks in target range of Begovic's goal, and the Cherries did try and tackle Man Utd as high up the pitch which was an improvement on the way Mo Salah wove his way into the box. Hopefully, Begovic gets a bit of help in the remaining matches.

2 comments:

  1. We have so far conceded 58 goals which is the fourth highest in the division....and if the club is going to progress then next season the goals against column has to be better and that needs changes in personnel.....I am afraid that the Daniels/Francis/Cook era must come to an end and we must look for alternatives...

    Inhouse maybe Mings can start after such an injury hit two years and possibly Simpson....perhaps we will buy Mepham from Brentford..and if we could really stretch Sessegnon from Fulham...

    Rumourmill has it that Newcastle want King and for 20m I would snatch their hands off...its time to give Mousset a regular start next season....and perhaps Marriott from Peterborough might be worth a punt at Premier League Level....

    Adam Smith could fill right back..Fraser is too lightweight.....

    On another matter I am questioning the loanees we have had out and the amount of playing time they are getting...whats the point of putting players out at clubs when they do not get playing time...although I think poor Ramsdale may be shot to pieces with his team finishing bottom of the league

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  2. AK 100% agree.
    I dont feel Adam Smith is strong enough as a defender.
    If Simpson can fill in... then Ake could play alongside Lewis Cook, enabling Lewis to play more forward like Lampard/Gerard. We neex goals and more assists from him.
    I would also sell off Ibe, Pugh, Brad Smith and all the loanees. None of the loanees have played in the Championship
    Bar Grabban and Afobe which we should get a few quid in for new players.

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