What's the long-term solution for AFCB's left-back position?

Bournemouth have been fortunate to have the services of Charlie Daniels for such a long time. He is a workaholic that has had a terrific engine and while AFCB have brought in Diego Rico last summer it is Adam Smith that is giving Daniels the most competition for the place.

For the rest of this season, it should be quite a battle between Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels for the left-back position. Adam has perhaps been the utility player that Howe is keen to keep in the side when he is fit, even though Nathaniel Clyne is probably the better right-back. If Daniels feels he can play to his best ability despite his family problems, it may be that he will play some more games at left-back this season. The versatility of Adam Smith does give Howe the option of playing him in midfield and with the amount of wingers already struggling we could well see that.

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But I am sure Howe is currently doing most work with Diego Rico. Diego was surely seen as the long-term solution to AFCB's left side in defence and yet he has found it hard to grasp the full flow of AFCB's play. I do think it is coming though for him. He is starting to look more like a Bournemouth player and had a fairly strong game at Liverpool, when he had to mark Mo Salah of all players. If Rico can play well against Salah then he should be able to do well in the Premier League.

So far Rico has made eight appearances for AFCB, while Daniels has made 16 and Smith 17 this season. AFCB are certainly in flux in concern to the left-back role and I am not sure if the team is going to find goals more easy to cut-out against them until they solve the position, so that everyone knows who the number one is going to be for that spot.

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