Both Diego Rico and Jefferson Lerma made their competitive debut's for AFCB in the Carabao Cup against MK Dons and both had the opportunity to try and impress Eddie Howe so that they could take part in Saturday's Premier League match against Chelsea. Whether Howe wants to disrupt the first 11 after such a great start is questionable, but all the players that turned out against MK Dons know that sooner or later they will get a shot at the first team and for some it could be sooner than others.
From the very first minutes of the match, most eyes were trained on Jeffeson Lerma. He has a distinctive lumbering and rolling style that soon hits top gear when he sees the chance to nab the ball off an opponent. As a ball winner, he is very strong and his passing was measured and well-controlled during the game. At times he did challenge in a way that would probably have got him booked in the Premier League, but referee James Linington was happy to let most things go with only one yellow card issued in the 90 minutes. Lerma certainly likes a shot as well and he had a few poor efforts, before having a strike that was only just kept out by the MK Don's keeper in the second-half. Lerma put in a good display and should again make the bench on Saturday.
His team-mate, Diego Rico was equally impressive and as a defender he didn't let his man get the better of him during the night. Rico also got forward and did well just to keep up with Ryan Fraser at times, who was having an incredible match. Again Rico did not mind shooting and his second half free-kick was one of the highlights of the game. Perhaps Bournemouth have found a new free-kick specialist? Diego is very close to Charlie Daniels I felt in terms of performance and could challenge straight away for the left back position, if Howe chose to play four at the back at Stamford Bridge. But Daniels has not done a lot wrong this season so is likely to keep his place for now.
Lerma might have to hope that Howe is thinking about playing five in midfield, so that he could play with Surman and Gosling in the middle of the park. But so far this season Howe has preferred the 4-4-1-1 system and with it working so well, I don't see the need to change yet unless he expects Chelsea to play with a back three and wants t match them up. On performance alone though, it its evident that Lerma and Rico could fit into AFCB and be powerful players so the competition for places is going to be very strong going forward.
The draw for the Third Round of the Carabao Cup is live on SkySpotrs from 7pm.
In other news, Lys Mousset limped of with an ankle injury against Milton Keynes Dons.
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| Jefferson Lerma played with a tight bandage on his right wrist. |
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| Diego Rico gets acquainted with Tyrone Mings' high-five! |
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The draw for the Third Round of the Carabao Cup is live on SkySpotrs from 7pm.
In other news, Lys Mousset limped of with an ankle injury against Milton Keynes Dons.
There is no point in spending over 30m not to play these players regularly in the first team starting at Chelsea....we are not a Man City or Chelsea (yet) to play vast sums of money and not play them.
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