Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Bournemouth's first summer signing expected to come from Spain

Rodrigo Riquelme, 20, of Atletico Madrid is expected to be Bournemouth's first summer signing, according to reports from Football Insider. The winger's signature was also contested by Reading and Celtic, but the Cherries looked to have won their man and will add firepower to their squad for the first time since signing Harold Wilson on loan last season.

AFCB look to line up a signing or two before the window shuts

Jason Tindall has promised he wants two or three signings and there may well be news of more movements in the market before the window shuts in a few day's time. It is refreshing to speak about a new signing, but arguably Bournemouth are more in need of another central defender and striker than a winger. 
Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

The signing of winger may mean that Josh King or David Brooks could be on their way, but the Manchester Evening News is now reporting that there is a change in stance on David Brooks and that Man Utd won't make a bid for the Welsh international in this window.

I don't believe that Bournemouth has found it at all easy to do deals this window, and they are probably at least a couple or more players down on what they had hoped to bring in. There is still time to salvage the situation, but some of the targeted signings have certainly escaped. The worry is that Bournemouth could be hit with two or three bids that come in for their remaining star players in the last 24 hours of the window. That could radically change the chances for AFCB mounting a promotion bid this season. 
While several U21s have shown they can play at Championship level, my hope is that Bournemouth's recruitment is really focussed on getting a few other players in during January to ensure Bournemouth are as strong as they can be to keep among the front runners for promotion.

Chimes Newsletter - out tomorrow!
Cherry Chimes' October Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month. The newsletter has a special story - Can AFCB be a force without making a crop of new signings?

To sign up for the newsletter just complete the form below - like all good things it's free!





Email Format




Tuesday, 29 September 2020

Danjuma is the perfect false striker for AFCB

Danjuma will soon find he is marked harder than any other Bournemouth player.

The goals keep coming for Arnold Danjuma and Jason Tindall must be marvelling at the Dutchman's pace and striking ability that has seen him move in from the wing to the second striker position. Danjuma seems to be liking his free role and by being able to go at defences on either foot he has rapidly become Bournemouth's main man in targeting goals.

Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Danjuma's goal against Norwich City was perhaps his best so far. The ease to which he rolled his defender and sprang away into space gave him plenty of time to hit his shot early and beat Tim Krul from distance. Whether Danjuma is going to get many tap-in goals in the six-yard box, I am not so certain. But if we have a striker who can hit shots as cleanly as Danjuma can from in and around the edge of the box, we are likely to see quite a few more screamers from Danjuma this season.

Advertisement

Bournemouth has many players that can play just behind the striker with Junior Stanislas and David Brooks the main options that come to mind, but it is surprising that Danjuma has edged out the likes of Samm Surridge who may feel unfortunate not to be given a try as Solanke's strike partner. While things are working for Danjuma, I can't see Jason Tindall swapping things around which has meant that Surridge is only getting a few minutes when Solanke has perhaps run out of steam.

Advertisement

The only worry I have is that the Cherries need to bring in at least another winger and striker. The Sun has linked Bournemouth with Atletico Madrid's Rodrigo Riquelme who Reading had been tracking. But the Sun seems to think that Bournemouth's pursuit of the winger is to replace David Brooks. It may be that it is actually a replacement for Josh King. 

In other news, Football Insider has linked AFCB with Birmingham midfielder Gary Gardner.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Danjuma strike sees off Norwich City 1-0

Monday, 28 September 2020

Danjuma strike sees off Norwich City 1-0

Match Report
AFCB 1 v 0 Norwich City
17 September 2020 

An important second home win for AFCB. 

Danjuma's 35th-minute goal was enough to get AFC Bournemouth's second home win of the season. In a tight game, Bournemouth were pegged back in their own half for much of the game but always had a counter-attack that looked like they could score. The clean sheet will be a big positive for Tindall after what has been a busy week. Bournemouth are in a good position in the table now. Josh King had a few minutes and momentum is slowly building. We can say it has been as good a start for the new manager.

Bournemouth kept is 3-5-1-1 formation with both Stacey and Rico in the line-up. Lloyd Kelly didn't make the team, but Billing came into the side, leaving Danjuma to play behind Solanke. Josh King was on the bench but there was no David Brooks who was ill having starred in midweek.

Match description
Lerma is offside early on. Stacey's cross is caught by Krul. Another cross from Lerma is taken by the keeper. Rico tackles Hernéandez.

Steve Cook concedes a corner. Danjuma and Lerma, Godfrey clears. Bournemouth are pressing well. Billing to Solanke's right-foot shot is saved and Smith scoops the follow-up wide. Good turn by Solanke.

Stacey heading away well. Hernéandez fires a shot away and beats Billing but not Begovic who pushes it out for a corner. Begovic punches clear and Mepham puts it out for another corner. 

Lewis Cook counters but Danjuma is fouled. Hernández turns and shots and Billing deflects it for a corner. Norwich are on top here. Solanke heads away.

Lerma slices a shot through to the keeper. Danjuma could have deflected that. Steve Cook blocks. Pukki and Placheta are blocked.

Bournemouth have a free kick. Danjuma finds Lewis Cook. Smith goes for goal and sees his shot deflected for a corner. Rico fires over the top.

Stacey's shot is charged down. Lerma and Billing. Danjuma on the left. Solanke loses it. Bournemouth have a free kick. Bournemouth lack width at the moment.

Danjuma in the box, now Adam Smith. Billing crosses and Stacey goes close with a downward header at the far post, great save by Krul. Corner for Bournemouth, near post and its a goal kick.

Bournemouth on the counter. Solanke and Adam Smith. Billing now. Solanke. Slow build-up. Free kick to Norwich.

Lerma to Danjuma, who spins and scores on 35 minutes from the edge of the box. Low past Krul and Bournemouth have the lead 1-0.  McLean has been booked.

Skipp fouls Billing. Godfrey tackles Solanke. Zimmermann is fouled by Solanke. Hernández fouls Rico .Pukki to McLean and Rupp shoots from the edge of the box, but Begovic saves. The shot was right at him. One minute of added time. Lewis Cook gets away from Pukki before being fouled.

AFCB 45% possession, 7 shots, 3 shots on target, 3 corners, 5 fouls

Norwich 55% possession, 4 shots, 2 shots on target, 4 corners, 7 fouls

Advertisement

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 in paperback - visit Amazon to order

Second half
Steve Cook wins the ball off of Pukki. Stacey, Solanke and a volley from Danjuma goes wide. Norwich have a corner.

Aarons puts the ball through. Pukki makes a run but Begovic is there first. Danjuma shoots and Krul is down quickly. Danjuma was 25 yards out but determined to have a shot.

Solanke shoots at Krul and could have passed to Lerma. Quintillá shoots but Begovic rushes it up in the air and grabs it at the second attempt. Danjuma wins a throw.

Rico does some good work. Aaron and McLean. Skipp and Aarons is clattered by Adam Smith, no penalty. Bournemouth have a free kick. Danjuma beats Godfrey, Solanke heads over. Missed chance there.

Steve Cook and Mepham make a clearance. Plachetta and Pukki's header has no power. Rico clears. McLean would have been in a better position behind Pukki. Quintillá, shoots high.

Aarons into Pukki. Rupp and Quintillá. Lerma is defending. Hernández and Aarons. Hernández is blocked. All the football is being played n Bournemouths half. The Cherries are soaking up the pressure. Shot over by Aarons.

Billing is fouled by Skipp. Hernández into Pukki but the forward can't quite reach it. Lewis Cook to Solanke but Danjuma can't get there. Josh King s coming on.

Solanke is replaced by Josh King on 65 minutes. Pukki to Skipp, he misses it. Pukki's cross and Mepham clears. Aarons to McLean who heads wide from 12 yards out.

Rico is booked for holding back Pukki. The ball hits the wall and Lewis Cook has cleared. King and Danjuma's strike is too close to the keeper. Skipp makes a foul. Billing is subbed for Gosling.


Advertisement

Rico gets the better of Idah. Danjuma and Billing. Stacey tracks back. Lerma has lost it. Pukki loses it to Billing. Danjuma to King and Krul beats King to the ball. 

10 minutes to go. Hugill is coming on, off goes Rupp. Norwich have a corner. Far post ball, Josh King clears. Bogovic has it. Norwich's bent hoped for a handball. Aarons and Idah. Skipp can't keep it in play.

Vrancic crosses and Begovic makes the catch. Free kick to Norwich. Gosling fouls. Surridge is on for Danjuma. Aarons over hits the free kick.

Lewis Cook on the wing. King can't get to it. Aarons intercepts Lerma's pass. Hugill is on side but the ball goes wide off Steve Cook. Corner or Norwich. Stacey clears.

Into added time. Steve Cook heads away. Rico clears. Begovic has the ball. Stacey crosses beyond King and Adam Smith keeps it in play. Rico plays it back to Begovic.

Surridge on the counter is stopped by Zimmermann who gets across. Aarons and the header by Hugill straight at Begovic.

Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 in paperback - visit Amazon to order

Summary
An excellent home performance from Bournemouth. To get a clean sheet is great against a promotion tipped candidate. The team did seem a bit short of width at times, but with Danjuma and Solanke running as much as they could, Bournemouth do enough to stretch Norwich. Danjuma is turning into a real match-winner and if Surridge is going to be the main backup striker I'd like to see him get more than five minutes.

AFCB Line up
AFCB Subs: 23 Travers, 33 Zemura,  25 Simpson,
4 Gosling, 24 Ofoborh, 27 King, 14 Surridge

Norwich City
1 Krul, 2 Aarons, 6 Zimmermann, 4 Godfrey, 16 Quintillá, 20 Skipp, 25 Hernández (Idah 74), 7 Rupp (Hugill 81), 23 McLean (Vrancic 66), 11 Placheta, 22 Pukki

Norwich Substitutes
8 Vrancic, 9 Hugill, 24 Martin, 27 Tettey, 33 McGovern, 34 Gibson, 35 Idah

Sunday, 27 September 2020

AFCB need to find something extra to beat Norwich

Last season Bournemouth didn't find playing Norwich City at all easy with a blank score sheet in both games only earning one draw and a defeat. Scoring against Norwich has been a problem and this August the Canaries have signed a new defender Xavi Quintilla from Villarreal. They have conceded two goals in their two Championship games, but Bournemouth will need to be at their best against the second favorites,  behind Brentford, to lift the Championship title this season.

AFCB will try for the third time to score against
Norwich City having failed in the last two meetings

Norwich have lost Jamal Lewis to Newcastle United but have not been as deeply scarred from their Premier League exit as Bournemouth. Daniel Farke remains in the managerial hot-seat and will be seeking an immediate return to the top flight. This game is likely to be a good indicator of whether Bournemouth or Norwich are better suited to earn that quick return to the top flight.

For this match, Norwich has declared Emi Buendia and Marco Stiepermann available for selection, but Kieran Dowell and Jacob Sorensen are expected to miss out due to injuries. Norwich's big goal threats will no doubt come from Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki, the latter of which scored against Preston North End in Norwich's last league match.

Advertisement

Bournemouth's difficulty has been in keeping clean sheets, and with Lloyd Kelly a doubt, they may have to reshuffle their backline. It should be a tightly contested game but Bournemouth needs to find something up front to get past Norwich and may well need a couple of goals with Bournemouth's leaky defence. Solanke has been rested in midweek for this game, but Sam Surridge is also in good form. I'd like to see both strikers get on at some point, but with Danjuma also rested and available and perhaps Josh King ready to return, there are options for Tindall.

The advantage is with Bournemouth for this home game, despite having had a busy week. These are the games they will need to shade if they want to keep gaming the front-runners for the promotion places.

Norwich Away Form
LLLLW

AFCB Home Form
LDWLW

Possible AFCB line up
AFCB Subs: Travers, Stacey, Zemura, Gosling, Billing, King, Surridge

Saturday, 26 September 2020

Bournemouth defender is ready to step in for Norwich City game

The match against Man City was good for several reasons. Bournemouth might not have won the game but they played with confidence and had to defend well for long periods. It was good to see the team tested and the difficult part was to see Lloyd Kelly going off injured with a tight hamstring. That injury might not recover in time for the game against Norwich City, but Bournemouth has a potential deputy who more than deserves his chance to get a few starts in the first team.

Jack Simpson is ready to play a bigger role for AFCB

Jack Simpson played the 90 minutes against Man City and he stood up well against Riyad Mahrez and passed the test with flying colours for me. Of all Bournemouths defenders, I'd say that Simpson has been the most patient. He has never had a steady run of games for Bournemouth and has always had more experienced defenders ahead of him in the line-ups. He has had to come on in-game like he did against Liverpool last season when he hadn't had time to hardly warm up and yet needed to hit the ground running. Things have been against him in that kind of respect and I hope Jason Tindall tells him well in advance if he is to come in for Lloyd Kelly this weekend.

Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Now Simpson has had time to see how the likes of Nathan Aké and Steve Cook have played and he is more than good enough to play in the Championship. If he is selected Bournemouth can retain their three at the back formation which has proved successful under Jason Tndall, and it won't affect the team that greatly with Simpson having played in midweek.

Advertisement

I'd like to see Jack give Tindall something to think about. We have players like Philip Billing who are tall but don't supply any headed goals and we know that Jack is very good at heading from corners and getting in front of his man. Now is the time for Jack to grab his opportunity and defend well and see if he can be given the chance to go up for a few set-plays. JT has brought a few academy players into the squad, but it is also time for him to let players like Simpson be given the chance to play more than the odd Carabao Cup game. He has served his apprenticeship and could well do as well as some of the more experienced defenders if he could play a few games in a row.

Advertisement

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth bow out to Man City 2-1 in Carabao Cup

Friday, 25 September 2020

Bournemouth bow out to Man City 2-1 in Carabao Cup

Carabao Cup Second Round
Man City 2 v 1 AFCB
24 September 2020 

AFCB get driven around the pitch by Man City, but put up a brave fight

Bournemouth slipped behind to an early goal from Liam Delap as City ran the first quarter hour of the game, but a long run by David Brooks set-up Dan Gosling who passed on for Sam Surridge to pull the Cherries level on 22 minutes. The second half was tougher for Bournemouth with De Bruyne and Sterling coming on for City. They held out for a while though before Phil Foden, perhaps somewhat fortuitously, saw the ball come back to him, from a Mahrez shot off the post, to score the winner.

From the previous Carabao Cup line up, Jason Tindall dropped Begovic, Stacey,  Zemura to the bench and bought in Adam Smith, Rico, Gosling and Travers to the start line up. Harry Arter had played against Crystal Palace but has since left to join Nottingham Forest. Dan Gosling was made the captain.

City had Mahrez, Walker and Foden in their starting line up with Aké, Sterling, Mendy and De Bruyne were on the bench. Delap, Steffen, Delap and Torres were the novices for City.

Advertisement

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth - it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Match Description
Bournemouth tried to get an early run on goal with Brooks playing a ball up for Surridge, but the forward was offside. Adam Smith has a go from range but blasts over.

Adam Smith puts the ball out for a corner. Travers' first test. Billing concedes a corner. Phil Foden shoots wide from the second corner.

Ferran Torres has a chance but Travers is down quickly and saves on 11 minutes. Good start for Travers that will give him confidence. Billing plays it up for Brooks who is offside. City are well on top for possession. Bernabé's foul gives Bournemouth the ball.

Advertisement

Foden plays Mahrez in over the top but Travers makes a second save, it's a City corner. Surridge has lost the ball. Liam Delap scores and City are 1-0 up. Foden had the assist.

Surrdige has equalised on 22 minutes. Gosling picked the ball up from Brooks' run and Sam scores from inside the box, bottom corner. Great strike 1-1. Gosling prodded it forward to Sam who turned and fired home across the keeper. Not sure why City didn't close Brooks down, his run set up the goal.

Advertisement

Lloyd Kelly is injured and is replaced by Zemura. Rico drops to the back three and Zemura goes wide left. Bournemouth win a corner.

City are giving a few fouls away as Bournemouth find their stride. Bernabé is subbed for Mendy on 33 minutes.

Brooks almost gets Surridge in but Mendy covers. Brooks is running the show. Will Guardiola put someone on him second half?

Rodri shoots wide from distance. Bournemouth have to watch out from throw-ins - almost caught out like they were up at Middlesbrough.

AFCB 24% possession, 1 shot, 1 shot on traget, 1 corner, 1 foul
Man City 76% possession, 7 shots, 3 shots on target, 3 corners, 6 fouls

Second half
Simpson concedes a corner to Man City. Mahrez shoots wide. Billing puts a ball out playing from the back, far too strong.

A couple of shots from City are blocked before Mahrez shoots well over. Sustained pressure from City. Surridge is in, he can shoot, but the ball is held up and he has the shot deflected harmlessly to the keeper. Big chance went begging there.

Brooks plays Surridge in again and the keeper saves well. Bournemouth have got to take one of these chances. Torres puts a cross in but it evades all the City players.

Advertisement

Lewis Cook and Gosling tried to work the ball through to a shooting position but were closed out. Walker's shot is deflected for a corner. Simpson blocks a cross, and it's another City corner.

A goes header wide from Harwood-Bellis. De Bruyner is coming on for Rodri. Billing fouls Foden. Foden shoots from distance and it's over the bar. Steve Cook replaced Rico.

Lewis Cook fouls de Bruyne. Ofoborh heads away for a corner. Doyle is replaced by Sterling n 67 minutes. Torres shot come cross is palmed away by Travers. Torres is fouled by Zemura. Zemura has been booked. De Bruyne wastes the free kick.

Travers picks up Torres' cross well. Goal kick. Surrdge took the ball down well for Billing but the midfielder couldn't get the return pass away. Bournemouth would have been in on goal.

A long kick from Travers is headed on for Brooks. But there's nothing doing. Mahrez hits a shot that comes off the post. Travers is on the floor and Foden finishes bouncing it against the ground and over Travers to score on 75 minutes 2-1.

Advertisement

Kilkenny replaces Brooks on 76 minutes. Torres shoots wide after good work from Sterling. Delap fouls Travers and the keeper is down. Delap is yellow carded. Travers is up and well.

Garcia is caught by Surridge. Zemura does well but is caught by Garcia - free kick. Surridge heads wide.

Billing can't find the pass. Four minutes of added time. Ofoborh and Zemura puts a weak cross in that's cleared. Lewis Cook fouls Foden. 

Lewis Cook is carded for fouling de Bruyne. Great tackle from Simpson on Mahrez. Free kick for Bournemouth. Full-time 2-1.

Summary
A decent performance from the Cherries. Man City were just too strong in the second half and kept the ball so well that Bournemouth were basically run off their feet. Still, a strong showing from Surridge and Brooks will please Jason Tindall. Less pleasing is the injury to Lloyd Kelly. Bournemouth have rested a few players for the weekend and they can be pleased to do as well as they did last time at the Etihad in terms of the scoreline.

AFCB Line up

AFCB Subs: Begovic, Stacey, S Cook, Zemura, Lerma, Kilkenny, Anthony


Man City: 13 Steffen, 2 Walker, 50 García, 78 Harwood-Bellis, 47 Foden,
16 Rodri, (De Bruyne 61), 69 Doyle (Sterling 67),  82 Bernabé (Mendy 33), 21 Torres,
26 Mahrez, 48 Delap

City Subs: 6 Aké, 7 Sterling, 17 De Bruyne, 22 Mendy, 33 Carson, 61 Nmecha, 80 Palmer

In other news, Cherry Chimes has written a fan's perspective on Jordan Ibe for
Rams Review podcast

Thursday, 24 September 2020

Beating Man City is now possible for AFCB

There have been times when Bournemouth have travelled to the Etihad expecting to be on the back of a whipping by Pep Guardiola's side. It will be a feather in Jason Tndall's hat if he can pull off Bournemouth's first win against Man City and he will be conscious that it is a hurdle that could well free up any doubts Bournemouth players have in how far they can go in competitions if they can get a win.

Getting close to Man City isn't the problem, but beating them still eludes AFCB.

Okay, it's the Carabao Cup and not the league and Man City will probably field a bunch of academy players. It is the mental hurdle of beating a top club that would give Bournemouth's players a boost. They showed that last time at the Etihad they could push City all the way and they are in a better state now I believe with the good start to the season they have made.

Advertisement

There is a possibility that Nathan Aké will be involved for Man City and that could add a bit of spice to the game. Bournemouth's players would no doubt like to get one over on Aké and we could see Dominic Solanke coming up against Aké. I suppose Aké is under a fair bit of pressure as a new player at Man City and that could be helpful to our players that know his game inside out.

Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- the book has 298 pages and is available for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Although the number of games goes up the better you do in cup competitions I don't think the Cherries will be looking for an early exit. More time on the pitch builds comradery and experience and against top sides like Man City, the team will learn where they are not doing well enough. 

Advertisement

All in all, these are the games Bournemouth fans got very excited about no less than six or seven years ago, and having been in the Premier League these matches don't seem so unique anymore. Still, tonight's match doesn't mean any less if Bournemouth can topple a big named team. Bournemouth hasn't done so much giant-killing in recent years and has tended to falter at this stage when facing a top-six side. JT will be hoping that for once they can overcome such a challenge and be on a real high going into the league match against Norwich City at the weekend.

Advertisement

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth's left-back might want to pass at Man City game

Wednesday, 23 September 2020

Bournemouth's left-back might want to pass at Man City game

The return of Charlies Daniels doesn't look far off now. He was seen training with the AFCB players ahead of the Carabao Cup game with Man City tomorrow. For Charlie though, the Man City game might not be such a good game to come back in having injured his knee last ear against Man City at Dean Court. I don't know if Charlie is in the manager's thoughts yet, but it would be difficult to take if Charlie was ready and got another knock against City.

Charlie is close to putting an AFCB shirt back on
 but the Man City game may come too soon

Players have to return at some point and the fact that you could return against the team that injured your last time out might not mean much to some players. Competition for the left-back spot has been easier with Daniels being away but as he returns he will want that spot back, and Adam Smith may find he is more up against Jack Stacey to find a place in the team.

Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

What you will get with Daniels is a high work rate and plenty of deliveries. Bournemouth has been supplying a lot of crosses from the right side but has certainly missed Daniels' power on the left. It is possible that Man City will play a few academy players in Thursday's game, but Bournemouth has the numbers to put out a fairly strong squad. The  Carabao Cup has only seen Bournemouth progress to the quarter-finals, but if they can beat Man City they would suddenly be one of the teams thinking that they could go a long way in the competition. It would also be good to see Charlie come back if he is ready. If JT can get as many positives as he can at the start of his reign it will start to push the Cherries forward again.


The team that JT will pick might be quite different from the Crystal Palace line-up from the last round. Begovic has been newly installed as the number one keeper for league games so we could see Travers or Will Dennis in goal, while Jaidon Anthony and Gavin Kilkenny will be hoping to get more of a chance like Jordan Zemura has was given against Palace. I'd imagine Philip Billing is also hoping to get some minutes as it hasn't been a great start of the season for him.

Possible AFCB line up

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

If only it was easy to keep finding lots of hidden Harry Arters

The departure of Harry Arter was not unexpected. While it seemed unlikely that he would play many more games for AFCB, he did play against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and it is a shame that performance wasn't in front of a home crowd. Now Harry goes to Nottingham Forest, and it is like he has said a passing goodbye having only been back this summer from his loan spell at Fulham.

Harry Arter departs for Nottingham Forest

I always felt that Harry Arter was one of the rocks around Eddie howe built this Bournemouth side. He was the grafter, the player that would run through walls for his manager and he never shirked a tackle. While he was disliked by opposition teams, any team would be delighted to have him in their team. He cared about doing well and his family tragedy only made him adored even more by Bournemouth fans, as he put the club first at times when he didn't have to.

Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

We will of course see other players at AFCB while Harry plays out his remaining years at Nottingham Forest and perhaps other clubs. But he will live long in our memories as a player that drove the club to the Premier League. For a player that cost £4,000 from non-league Woking, it was quite a dramatic rise to the Premier League. 

Advertisement

While he enjoyed a big season with Fulham last season, it did seem like he had already left AFCB when he had been on loan at Cardiff City before that. For him to come back this summer was an unexpected pleasure for many of the Bournemouth players who were at the club when Harry was at his peak. But times move on and Harry has now departed for good, but I'll always see him in my mind as AFCB's number eight charging into tackles and urging his team-mates to do more. Best of luck Harry!

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Will AFCB transfer pair be picked for Carabao Cup?

Will AFCB transfer pair be picked for Carabao Cup?

The transfer window is far from closed and several Bournemouth players are attracting attention. Josh King is a major focus for Aston Vila but he has had other clubs also looking at him as well, and Harry Arter was most recently linked with Nottingham Forest but Harry's wages seem out of reach for them. So where does that leave AFCB and JT? Do you lay players that are likely to move on or do you stay focussed on the players you know are going to have a full season with AFCB?

Josh King is a Bournemouth player but for how long?
Should he be played while he awaits a move to another club?

For the Carabao cup game against Man City I think it is okay to play King and/or Arter if JT thinks it will give the team a better chance of winning, and if it gives other players a rest so that they are fresher for the weekend league match. It is fair to say that the players would be cup-tied if they did play, but if this didn't put off suitable buyers then Bournemouth can use the situation to their advantage.

Advertisement

Both players seem to have always wanted the best for AFCB and as two senior players, I think both Arter and King would offer their services if Jason Tindall asked them to play. If you are a footballer you want to play games and it would be a good run out for them both as long as it did not deprive other Bournemouth players who need the match fitness.

Advertisement

This is where I expect JT is in his thinking. It will only be a situation where he can ask King or Arter to play if he feels some of the players like Ofoborgh, Lewis Cook, Philip Billing, Julian Anthony, and Sam Surridge don't need to play. I wouldn't be surprised if King and Arter were in the squad for the Carabao Cup, but if they are left out we can probably expect them to be sold very soon.

Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth still lack game management
tag: