Jack Stacey finally made his Premier League debut and he played very well against Iwobi who he marked for most of the afternoon. I am sure Eddie worked all week and more with Jack to make sure he was ready for Everton, and it was a bold move playing Jack with Harry Wilson ahead of him, as the two won't have played that much football together.
Jack Stacey had his fist taste of Premier League football against Everton. |
Stacey did have one sticky moment in the first half, where he lost the ball and Dominic Calbert-Lewin should have scored against Aaaron Ramsdale, but Bournemouth's keeper is making a name for himself in making amazing saves. Once Jack had got that error out of his system though, he went on to have a fairly calm game. He didn't bomb forward a lot because Iwobi had pushed right up on him, but Stacey was well able to off load the passes to Lewis Cook and there was a good understanding starting to grow.
Jack Stacey has got that game under his belt now and he can start looking ahead. I wondered whether Eddie Howe would play both Rico and Stacey in the same game, but he did and he will have been pleased that it was a decision that worked out. Bournemouth do play better with a back four, and if Stacey now gets a few games to used to the Premier League it can only be of great help to the team going forward. Adam Smith won't be back for a few weeks I'd imagine, and Stacey will be the occupier of the shirt, so he has his chance now.
The Everton match was very much about Stacey trying not to make mistakes and holding his position, but we might see him develop his game more when he is given some freedom. Against Southampton though, we could again see him prioritise the defending and perhaps AFCB need defenders to think more about defending well anyway, if they are to get their first clean sheet.
Chimes to camera: AFCB 3 v 1 Eveton
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