The score line of 0-4 against Liverpool may suggest that not much really worked well for Bournemouth against Liverpool. In central midfield, Andrew Surman finally got an opportunity to play with Lerma , but he might not have liked doing it that much against one the best midfield's in the country.
With Surman and Lerma working together, there was a good closing down of Liverpool midfielders for the first 30 minutes. However, Surman was asked to play 90 minutes which was perhaps a bit tough on him, having not been playing the first team for some while. Surman has a full week to recover now and if Dan Gosling is able to return to fitness, Eddie Howe will have another decision to make on whether he changes or keeps his central-midfield pairing.
Swapping the players in the centre of the park often is not great for the stability of the team. But Howe has to find a pairing that can get Bournemouth moving up the pitch well and solid enough not to leave gaps in front of the defence. The jury would probably give a negative rating for Lerma and Surman against Liverpool, but can they improve if they play against Wolves or should Howe look to play Gosling if he is fit? For AFCB to play with intensity I believe it has to be Gosling and in a game that is really important not to lose, Howe may have to gamble that Gosling is fit enough to maybe last 60 or more minutes.
Since writing this post, it has been confirmed that Dan Gosling has undergone an operation and is expected to be out over the December period.
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| A tough reintroduction for Surman. |
Surman has his critics and it is easy to get on his case if you like to see plenty of forward passing. But his presence is going to be needed over December with Dan Gosling trying to rest his knee and Lewis Cook being out for the season. It is an area of the pitch where AFCB have always been well covered in previous years, but the fact that AFCB are already down to their bear bones was proven last Saturday when there was no central midfield substitute.
With Surman and Lerma working together, there was a good closing down of Liverpool midfielders for the first 30 minutes. However, Surman was asked to play 90 minutes which was perhaps a bit tough on him, having not been playing the first team for some while. Surman has a full week to recover now and if Dan Gosling is able to return to fitness, Eddie Howe will have another decision to make on whether he changes or keeps his central-midfield pairing.
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Swapping the players in the centre of the park often is not great for the stability of the team. But Howe has to find a pairing that can get Bournemouth moving up the pitch well and solid enough not to leave gaps in front of the defence. The jury would probably give a negative rating for Lerma and Surman against Liverpool, but can they improve if they play against Wolves or should Howe look to play Gosling if he is fit? For AFCB to play with intensity I believe it has to be Gosling and in a game that is really important not to lose, Howe may have to gamble that Gosling is fit enough to maybe last 60 or more minutes.
Since writing this post, it has been confirmed that Dan Gosling has undergone an operation and is expected to be out over the December period.
My preference would be to place AKE in midfield, who would be box to box. Thereby giving room to accomodate Jack Simpson. At the same time I would "rest Chaz" and give opportunity to Rico. Mings too could comfortably cover these two positions. Then once Simpson is comfortable with the rythm I would rest SC and shift Simpson to accommodate Mings. Carrying on as we are is going to lead to 60+ goals conceeded yet again.
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