Tuesday 23 June 2020

Has Eddie Howe run out of ideas?

Bournemouth fans adore Eddie Howe for what he has done for the club, but there is a sense that he is not getting through to the players anymore, or that he is running out of ideas to keep the success going.  While I remember a very confident coach that strived to reach targets that seemed beyond a novice coach, and a lower league team, he and Jason Tindall pulled AFC Bournemouth up the leagues with momentum that was built up. Now it feels like the club and Eddie's power have started to wane.
Eddie has reason to be worried.
Looking at the match against Crystal Palace, I was even wondering if Eddie had run out of ideas? He didn't seem to make a big difference in the way the team were playing, although half-time did allow him to get Danjuma on. The TV punditry was constantly going on about how Bournemouth should go wide, rather than through the middle, but Callum Wilson cut a lonely figure for most of the time up front, and none of the midfielders could get up well enough to support, apart from David Brooks occasionally.

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When Palace had the ball, Bournemouth's problems were all too obvious. They didn't mark tight, didn't hold their shape and let runners move off the back of them. The tackling was fairly absent, and it wasn't nearly difficult enough for Palace to come marauding down the pitch. When Eddie's first ideas don't work out well, it seems the players find it either hard to adapt to something else, or get trapped in the mindset that they have to stick with the plan, when it hasn't been working in the first 20 minutes. I haven't seen Bournemouth look so uncomfortable at times this season since Paul Groves was in charge. It's hard to watch.
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Eddie simply hasn't been able to change the pattern and that must be worrying for him. He always turns things around, but he's struggling to get players to do the basic things. I know we are only one game back in, but the level of improvement AFCB need is going to be huge going into the Wolves game. Whether a couple of changes can make the difference will be seen. The majority of players who put in abject performances against palace will have to go again and this time they need plan A, B, C and D in their heads, because just trying to keep hold of the ball is not going to win games. The Cherries have to find their cut and thrust again. And by the way, AFCB weren't even very good at keeping hold of the ball on Saturday.
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2 comments:

  1. 2late2sub23 June 2020 at 08:23

    I see the problem being too many players on the pitch not in their normal position and doubling up on players who have taken their position - possibly a true lack of versatility or low belief in the alternative players who may have played? Smith instead of Kelly or Rico - that was crazy; Lewis Cook -Lerma both playing is questionable whereas Gosling would have stuck to his man; H Wilson and Brooks, sorry to say that H Wilson would be better in American Soccer as the (free)Kick kicker making occasional visits instead of being involved occasionally- hopefully we will dodge signing him for the new season. King out wide? When he clearly is now the main goal threat with C Wilson being so lame as the sole striker.
    Time for radical action Eddie & Jason.
    Ramsdale - Stacey - Mepham - S Cook - Kelly
    Brooks - Lerma - Ake - Danjuma
    C Wilson - Sturridge (unless King fit)

    Try Ake in midfield as not only his preferred position but also has combined effect of S Cook resorts to where he is best suited and trial of the defence for next year as undoubtedly Ake will have moved on. With King, Ake Lerma and maybe C Wilson all departing there should be some forward planning to bed in a new look team as the games run-out and relegation becomes inevitable.The turnaround to the new season may be very short. Worse nightmare we shall be relegated on the outcome of the Saints game! Whilst it is possible for Eddie to stay on I also believe that the duality with Tindal has run its course and a new defence coaching assistant needs to be engaged post haste. Whether L Cook has a long future with us may depend on signing or developing a ball attacking shooting scoring midfield player. We are no threat from central midfield making it easy for the other team defenders to play against a lone striker and allowing their midfield to counter at will.
    Biggest signings required for new season - we need a big brute of a centre half who will drive the team on from the back and a new "Solanke" who is able to get up quickly to support a lone striker if we choose to go away from a 4-4-2 to a more resilient fluid 3-2-3-2 formation. I hope I am proved wrong.

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  2. Unknown23 June 2020 at 14:08

    Most teams seem to be going 433 a and not 442 as we seem to play.palace were 433 and they were all over us.when we attacked they had it seems like 5 man defence.we definitely need a change off formation

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