Tuesday 16 October 2018

Howe's drive to win games is a good illness

There was a very good piece in the Bournemouth Echo last weekend that talked about Eddie Howe's desire to win games. AFCB's manager has one of the most driven personalities that I've ever known, and it's hard for some of us to see how he keeps so motivated after all his amazing achievements. Butt he finds it within himself to look for the next improvement all the time.

Eddie Howe is never going to accept doing well when a team can do better.
Eddie highlighted that he didn't win much as a child, coming second of third in the 100m on school sport's day - well, we've all been there, or even further behind. But having negative experiences only seems to spur Eddie Howe on. That could even be a problem this season if AFCB don't have many bad experiences, as Howe might not get his fix of disappointment to really drive his players on more. But such a need for Howe could be seen as like having an illness. It's maybe not that healthy to beat yourself up over not winning a football game.

I was asked recently what flaws Eddie Howe had and, to be honest, I couldn't think of any other than he never seems to switch off from his job, or at least finds it very hard to do. He is very lucky of course in one respect in that he is doing what he loves to do in improving players and trying to achieve through them what he was so cruelly denied as a player. Without the disadvantages of injuries and being small (maybe Ryan Fraser apart), his players have the attributes to be leading sportsman, and to get them there they need someone who is perhaps a little extraordinary in what he can deliver in terms of motivation and drive.

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Eddie Howe was a good professional player, but he has been a remarkable manager. I don't think there are very many managers that compare in finding set-backs so motivating. When Eddie is given a cruel hand though, he doesn't let it win, but gets up and fights even harder against the odds. If we all just take a bit of inspiration from that then we'll all be better people tomorrow.

Cherry Chimes judged AFCB's start to the season for the Observer and Guardian last Sunday - you can see all the Premier League write ups here.

In other news, Chelsea have first say on any Aké move reports the Daily Telegraph and they are not thought to be looking to bring the player back to Stamford Bridge.

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