Eddie Howe has faced Pep Guadiola a number of times, but the closest he has got to a point was probably in August 2017 when Sterling scored an injury-time winner for a 1-2 home defeat for AFCB. Those sort of results stick in the memory. Bournemouth can't say they haven't performed against City in those games though. They have gone close and have certainly competed, but they've not yet managed to come out on top. Could it be different this time?
The omens might not seem great, but I have no doubt that the personal challenge that Eddie Howe has to take points off of every manager in the Premier League is one that sits uneasy with him. It's only right that Pepe Guadiola is the one manager that he is left with from the top six that has got the better of him, and it is building to a day when Howe does come out on top. There is every chance that record could be about to fall as Howe has more and more experience and his squad is being bolstered all the time.
There might not be too many surprises in the game, but the one wild card I see is Harry Wilson. Eddie Howe has to try and get Harry and Ryan Fraser in the game and not just defending but actually putting City on the back foot and chasing back to their own goal. I believe Harry Wilson is going to be a key player as he can do the unexpected. Bournemouth don't yet know how good he really can be, while Man City have even less chance of knowing how he might be able to take a game and cut through defences.
It's a big challenge, but this is the kind of opportunity Eddie Howe wants to improve as a manger. Putting his team up against the best. We will all be behind the team and willing the players to succeed.
AFCB TV Preview
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| Has Eddie Howe got enough tricks to outwit Pep Guadiola? |
There might not be too many surprises in the game, but the one wild card I see is Harry Wilson. Eddie Howe has to try and get Harry and Ryan Fraser in the game and not just defending but actually putting City on the back foot and chasing back to their own goal. I believe Harry Wilson is going to be a key player as he can do the unexpected. Bournemouth don't yet know how good he really can be, while Man City have even less chance of knowing how he might be able to take a game and cut through defences.
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If Bournemouth's timing is right and they take their chances, we could see Eddie Howe out smart Pep Guardiola. Man City will keep finding solutions as the game goes on and Howe has to have more than just one game plan, as City will try and get round whatever blocks he set up. But staying in the game for as long as possible has to be AFCB's aim. City are smarting from their dropped points against Spurs, and while that may make them angry and even over energetic to strive for an early lead, AFCB could find that they can start to play their football, if they can hold out in the first 20 minutes and start to build some confidence from passing movements that could see AFCB break through City lines as the game goes on.
It's a big challenge, but this is the kind of opportunity Eddie Howe wants to improve as a manger. Putting his team up against the best. We will all be behind the team and willing the players to succeed.
Possible AFCB Line up
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| Boruc, Rico, Simpson, Surman, Ibe, King, Solanke |
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