Saturday, 5 January 2019

Expect many AFCB changes for Brighton FA Cup game

I was asked by the 'We are Brighton' website how many changes will Bournemouth make for the FA Cup game against Brighton. It is hard to predict as there are so many injuries and the players looked like they had been through a very big battle against Watford in midweek.
It's Brighton at home again.
Whether Howe believes AFCB have a realistic shot of making history in the FA Cup or not, I don't expect him to worry about any flak if he wants to change the entire team. He will pick the team that he feels is capable of winning the game, but he will also choose a side that will give him the best chance of beating Everton in the next Premier League match. While he could play safe only changing five or so outfield players, I expect now that he might change pretty much the whole team from that which set out against Watford as the Cup just doesn't hold much attraction when a club has so many injured players out of contention. It's almost an unwanted distraction, even though Howe would never say that in public.

We can expect to see the rested Andrew Surman come into the team, perhaps alongside the legs of Emerson Hyndman who I don't think we have seen since being knocked out of the cup against Wigan Athletic last season. There are probably roles for Ibe and Pugh on the wings and Solanke and Mousset will no doubt get to try their new partnership.


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The defence will also need a little reorganisation. Simpson and Mings are favourites to start as centre-back while Rico can deputise for Daniels on the left, but who does Howe pick for the right-back position? Well, before last night, I'd have said Stanislas might be asked to play again. Now it has to be a debut for Nathaniel Clyne.

Brighton may well have a much stronger team out than Bournemouth, so it is going to be important who Howe matches up against who in the Brighton team. Keeping the experience of Surman in the middle is a good idea and the new signings will add some extra incentive for the team to win.

If Howe changes every position we 
could see this kind of line up.
AFCB Subs: Begovic, Daniels, Taylor,  Ofoborh, Dobre, Brooks, King


We Are Brighton - Cherry Chimes answers some questions from Brighton fans.

AFCB TV preview

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