Should Jack Simpson look for a new club?

The central defence position has been a real problem this season for AFCB. It is no surprise that Jack Simpson managed to get time on the pitch against Liverpool away with the injury to Steve Cook and Simon Francis and Chris Mepham already sidelines. But what should Jack Simpson expect these days in the way of opportunities at AFCB. Is he better than a stand in or could he be playing more games elsewhere?

Simpson is on the edge of the first team, but is that enough?

When I look at Jack Simpson, 23, I think of what happened to Baily Cargill. Baily was going to be the next best thing at the back at the Cherries and was in the England U20 squad but after a loan spell in Scotland he ended up at Milton Keynes. The route of a player back to the Premier League can be tortuous at times, and Jack will have to weigh up if he is best to stay around players who are at that leve,l or whether to drop down a level or two to ensure he gets more football.

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Personally, I think Simpson has what is required to be a top defender. He plays very calmly and looks to play the simple ball while he is a great threat at corners. Unfortunately, he has Nathan Aké and Steve Cook ahead of him and even Chris Mephan and Simon Francis will be higher in the pecking order. Rather like Tyrone Mings, Simpson may have to consider what is best for his future rather soon.

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While Bournemouth fans love to see home-grown players coming through, I don't think enough pressure is put in clubs to make it happen. Many of the young players do make it at other clubs, but the genuine test of how good a football club is from bottom to top is whether they can get players going through from their academy to the first team. AFCB are still very much behind the curve in this respect in my opinion.

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