Route one football might not be what Spurs are known for, but it was very effective against Bournemouth who just couldn't cope with it. I struggle to see why Bournemouth are so susceptible to long, high balls over the top, but the defenders have to improve because every team will be trying it now after the Leicester and Spurs matches.
Delle Ali could receive his Christmas presents early when Bournemouth came to the capital. He had god movement, but really he was left alone to make the most of the long balls that he ended up on the end of. Steve Cook needs to take charge and bellow out if he is seeing a problem with the back line and Stacey and himself looked well short of judgement in both of Alli's goals. But the attackers too have to look to stop players haing time to launch these big plays from the back.
The annoying thing is that the goals Spurs scored to get them 2-0 up were so soft. Bournemouth are gifting teams starts. They are not a good enough team to go and score four or more goals to win such games. The errors are simply of Bournemouth's own making and it just keeps happening.
The points total looks inadequate at the moment, just four points above the relegation zone and it makes the game against Crystal Palace, who are just one place above Bournemouth absolutely huge. To be on 19 points in the first week of December would calm the nerves but a defeat would give hope to the clubs below Bournemouth in the table. It's imperative not to get sucked in now.
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| AFCB players still have to work out how best to deal with long high balls over the top. |
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| Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -available now! |
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There were good moments in the game for Bournemouth, but when you have a team which is mainly only scoring from set plays and is short of striker confidence, we need a resolute defence. The back four did have Adam Smith missing because of illness, but the team is leaking goals and it's another two in this game. Eddie Howe needs to turn things around quickly in a hectic December.
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"I struggle to see why Bournemouth are so susceptible to long, high balls over the top". Yet again undone by poor centre half defending by Steve Cook and to an extent by Ake.
ReplyDeleteCook too slow and both easy to bully off the ball. Ake and Rico just not in tune with each other.
Stacey was in the main good and IMHO better defender than Smith.
Steve Cook deceives by his style, often desperate lunging. Good in the air but easily turned. Ake covering too much between Cook and Rico. Rico leaves himself and Ake exposed. Ake can be bullied by a strong forward.
But the real problems are in a weak attacking midfield. The slow ball Cook to Ake back to Cook just invites attackers on to our midfield, who are often outnumbered. Midfield is stumped with an outball as Frazer is off the boil, Harry W does not hold a wide position.
Solanke is played too deep and has no pace to shift alongside Callum who is perpetually left stranded. With Solanke deep there is no press on their CH, hence the two long balls that killed us v Spurs. Frazer only 50% and seems disinterested to support attack or defence, maybe he is not fully fit? Danjuma reasonable, deserves a run out. Perhaps King and H Wilson should be front two, once Brooks is fit? Ramsdale good. Lerma v good. L Cook average, not much to choose between him and Billing. Rico is just getting stronger game by game. Though would like to see if Kelly Ake is a better fit.
v Spurs why didn't Eddie firstly change it earlier and secondly brought on another forward, Christian Saydee who has a great shot on him!!!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QtZ0FwErIM
January, we need a bully CH and a stronger scoring link man who has 100 minutes in him!!!