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Saturday, 14 November 2020

Has Jack Stacey made the right-back position his alone?

Watching Bournemouth in recent games there has been one fairly consistent choice for the right-back position. Jack Stacey has pretty much made the position his own. That might have been helped by Adam Smith playing more games on the left-side, but with Simon Francis departed and no other similar players for AFCB, the right-back position is pretty much the first name we can fill in every match for Bournemouth.

Jack Stacey is one of AFCB's most consistent players

That might seem great from a point of consistency but it does make me nervous about the thought of what happens if Stacey is out for any amount of time? Sure Adam Smith can play there, but he has even more of a poor injury record and at some point Bournemouth could be without both players. While Tindall has liked to play three at the back this might not have been such a big worry for him, but it would limit how the Cherries could play I think if Stacey was out of action for any length of time.

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It is not just that he is a regular figure in the side, he is one of the most creative players and that is saying something for a defender. He has great pace and has been Bournemouth's most productive crossers of a ball. He may not put many high balls in the box, but his low drives across the area are very much in demand for the strikers when they can get on the end of them and Stacey himself is always eager to get on the far post when crosses are coming in from the left side.

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Jack is certainly settled now into how Bournemouth play and I think his game has added variety in the way Bournemouth can attack teams. He is also quick at getting back to guard against opposition wingers and he doesn't get caught out too often. What I'd like to see is him play with David Books pretty much all the time, so they can get a better understanding. But Tindall has to judge how many games Brooks can play, and after an international week like this current period, I can see why he might look to get Junior Stanilas a run of game son the right, playing in front of Stacey. 

What I can't see is any need to lessen Stacey's minutes on the pitch which may mean he is going to be one of AFCB's mist hardest worked players this season.

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