If you want to be hard on AFCB after the 0-0 draw with Southampton the worst you could claim is that the team was scrappy in its performance. The control and management of the game was perhaps harder than some other matches. The tension was high, because it was a game that neither side would be happy about losing. The non-derby, that is a derby aroused plenty of passion and noise in Dean Court, and yet it didn't manage to raise AFCB's performance enough to keep the wins coming.
It was perhaps even more surprising that King did not make way for Defoe when the Norwegian striker had been feeling an ankle knock when on international duty. I suppose if Howe had told Defoe to go on, it would have been a signal for the team for all out attack and that can back fire. Was Howe protecting AFCB's league position? He said he felt the game was slipping away for Bournemouth's control and that Gosling was therefore preferred to Defoe. A point from a home game is not a bad point if it is a game you might easily lose.
As long as Bournemouth's points haul continues to grow, it's safety that gets closer. That has to be the first priority. If scrappy means you don't get beaten and pick up a point, I'm sure it allows us to enjoy the big win games even more. Perhaps we will see more of Defoe in those less scrappy games?
In other news, Man City are said to be keen on Nathan Aké, according to the Sun.
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| Defoe is at the back of the line, but we still see him on the bench. It would be better to see him winning games though. |
Southampton surely set out to disrupt and spoil and they kept two goal scorers on the pitch all the time which was important to keep Bournemouth occupied. The last part of the game perhaps said more about where the teams are in the league than anything else. Southampton were wiling to risk going all out for the win with Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long entering the scene, while Bournemouth opted for Ibe and Gosling in the last quarter of the game which was perhaps more cautious than adventurous when Jermain Defoe was sitting on Bournemouth's bench.
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It was perhaps even more surprising that King did not make way for Defoe when the Norwegian striker had been feeling an ankle knock when on international duty. I suppose if Howe had told Defoe to go on, it would have been a signal for the team for all out attack and that can back fire. Was Howe protecting AFCB's league position? He said he felt the game was slipping away for Bournemouth's control and that Gosling was therefore preferred to Defoe. A point from a home game is not a bad point if it is a game you might easily lose.
As long as Bournemouth's points haul continues to grow, it's safety that gets closer. That has to be the first priority. If scrappy means you don't get beaten and pick up a point, I'm sure it allows us to enjoy the big win games even more. Perhaps we will see more of Defoe in those less scrappy games?
In other news, Man City are said to be keen on Nathan Aké, according to the Sun.
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