Are Bournemouth under achieving?

The Cherries have not got off to not too bad a start in the league. Having been in the top 10 for a lot of the first three months, it has been a case of looking up the table. Now that the club has slipped back to 11th the doubts have started to creep in.

AFCB have missed out in games where they have often been favourites to win.

Apart from Sheffield United though, can we really say we are surprised by any of the teams above AFCB? I can't see that Bournemouth should be much higher than where they are in the league. There have been some poor performances, or to be more truthful some games where Bournemouth have only turned up for one half. That's the crazy thing. Are the players over worked or not fully focussed? I am sure that Eddie Howe would love to know the answers.

What has slowed the pace down is the amount of injured players. Perhaps Danjuma, Mepham, Stacey and Solanke didn't expect to walk into the first team line up, but with the injuries picking up, it won't be long before some of them get more opportunities for a further  full 90 minutes. Bournemouth need perhaps a slightly better squad to cover the injuries as they are finding themselves short, for example, up front.

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Things haven't gone quite to plan. But when do they? Bournemouth have to shake off any feelings that they are good enough to just coast through a season. It needs hard work to get points and the next run of games will be the ones that decide where AFCB are likely to end the season. Facing the big six may seem like a problem considering the current form of the team, but I expect that the players will be looking forward to these games against the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea. If they can also get the better of one or more of them, then it could reinvigorate this season and put a different light on what might be achievable.

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