Looking at the line up of Bournemouth's fixtures for next season, I can't help but think that AFCB have to get off to a good start before the tougher games start to mount up. The teams all have to play one another over the course of a season, but the fixture calendar can do a lot of mental damage to players before a ball is even kicked if it looks like an uphill battle.
While the opening two games against Sheffield United at home and Aston Villa away for give AFCB a fair chance to start the season well against two newly-promoted teams, it is worth reminding ourselves that Bournemouth lost three out of the six games to Fulham, Wolves and Cardiff last season. Premier League new boys always have something to prove and being the underdog spurs them on. But if Bournemouth can go into the Man City game having secured six points, it could well be first against second!
The Man City test could be helpful early on, as if the Cherries can put in a good performance in their second home match it will set them up for the key game sin September and October which are against teams which I feel the result could very much go either way - Leicester, Everton, Southampton, West Ham, Arsenal, Norwich and Watford. This is when AFCB need to accumulate to make the second half of the season easier.
Come November and the fixtures look much more challenging with Man Utd at home, Newcastle away, Wolves at home and Spurs away. But December is again the month that holds most difficulty with 19 days between the games of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal and if AFCB do well in the Carabao Cup then they'll possibly have another game against a top six club in that period!
We might get to breath a bit in January and February when points will again be vital to get some momentum going even with the winter break. We'll need to win games in those months because if Bournemouth are not safe by the start of April they will be in a desperate place with Man United, Man City and Spurs lying in wait amongst the last five games!
I am looking forward to the last home match against Southampton. I just hope we can be singing 'Mind the gap to the Saints'. And while we know there has been some moaning about having Everton in an away game for the last match, perhaps it could be a European play-off match.
For me, it's all about getting off to a good start and getting the first 20 points up as quickly as possible and making space between AFCB and the bottom three. The players are used to the challenge, but every season brings it's problems. What we need is a season with fewer injuries and less mistakes, who knows where that could take AFCB?
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| Home form will be crucial again in AFCB's bid to have a successful Premier League season. |
The first match against newcomers Sheffield United will certainly mean David Brooks is the front runner to get his picture on the cover of the MatchDay programme as an ex-Blade. But while Bournemouth have only won one of their last four Premier League first games there is an even worse statistic for Sheffield United fans to take in. Out of those four opponents for Bournemouth, no matter whether AFCB have won or lost their first game, three of them (Aston Villa, WBA and Cardiff City) were relegated in those seasons. Only Man Utd have survived that curse so far of drawing AFCB out of the hat first.
While the opening two games against Sheffield United at home and Aston Villa away for give AFCB a fair chance to start the season well against two newly-promoted teams, it is worth reminding ourselves that Bournemouth lost three out of the six games to Fulham, Wolves and Cardiff last season. Premier League new boys always have something to prove and being the underdog spurs them on. But if Bournemouth can go into the Man City game having secured six points, it could well be first against second!
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Come November and the fixtures look much more challenging with Man Utd at home, Newcastle away, Wolves at home and Spurs away. But December is again the month that holds most difficulty with 19 days between the games of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal and if AFCB do well in the Carabao Cup then they'll possibly have another game against a top six club in that period!
We might get to breath a bit in January and February when points will again be vital to get some momentum going even with the winter break. We'll need to win games in those months because if Bournemouth are not safe by the start of April they will be in a desperate place with Man United, Man City and Spurs lying in wait amongst the last five games!
I am looking forward to the last home match against Southampton. I just hope we can be singing 'Mind the gap to the Saints'. And while we know there has been some moaning about having Everton in an away game for the last match, perhaps it could be a European play-off match.
For me, it's all about getting off to a good start and getting the first 20 points up as quickly as possible and making space between AFCB and the bottom three. The players are used to the challenge, but every season brings it's problems. What we need is a season with fewer injuries and less mistakes, who knows where that could take AFCB?
...we will go again into a new PL not knowing where it may take us? I hope to see some improvement in the side with Lerma and hopefully Lewis Cook becoming our regular CM pairing. Defensively will we obviously be tested against some of the worlds top strikers in Salah,Ageuro,Kane and Rashford etc etc....but I like the look of Mepham,Ake and Cook as a back three. Wing backs in Smith and the new boy Kelly could be key to us if they can stay fit. Attacking wise we still have Callum,Josh and Ryan as potent weapons....with Solanke in the wings too. The worry will concern the likes of Ibe,Mousset and Stanislas??...I feel that Rico,Mahoney and Surridge may also develop over the season? Which leaves the position of Goalkeeper to fill?....with Boruc,Ramsdale and Travers on board (it seems almost certain that Begovic will move on somewhere?)...Eddie will need to bring in an other experienced type like Butland,Pope,Mignolet or even Etheridge maybe?...I am happy at present with where we are and am looking forward to another roller coaster ride at the top table! UTC
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