Have Bournemouth got goals in them?

Rio Ferdinand spoke on BT Sport and announced that Bournemouth do have goals in them. The problem is we aren't seeing them often enough to record sufficient points. It is a surprise that a loan player in the shape of Harry Wilson is Bournemouth's top scorer, but it perhaps underlines that the attacking part of Bournemouth's game still has to find its top edge.

Some straight shooting is required.

Without Josh King, I just don't think Bournemouth look as imposing to opposition teams. Callum Wilson and Dominic Solanke can go missing in games and the supply from Ryan Fraser and Harry Wilson is intermittent at best. Howe's immediate concern has been to stay in games and try to get to half-time without being out of the game. Such a strategy might be okay for games against the top six, but when it comes to Aston Villa at home, Bournemouth need to find their way to being on the front foot.

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Increasing the shot count is going to give the Cherries more chance of netting some of the chances, and I just hope Eddie Howe has been fine tuning the attacking force of the Cherries this week with a better shape than they had against Arsenal. It shouldn't need Sam Sturridge to show other attackers what movement is required to tuck away a goal, but he read the game much better than those around him and it is going to be hard for Howe to keep on ignoring that.

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Alex Dobre has also been scoring regular for the U21s and while youth is not always quickly rewarded at AFCB, Howe might just have to look at playing young strikers while King is out. It has to be better than playing Ryan Fraser up front. But if Callum Wilson and Harry Wilson don't manage to score you are left looking around wondering where the goals will come from. A few direct runs from Dan Gosling make him a better choice than a Philip Billing, struggling with back issue, in my book and for however much we love the passion and roughness of Jefferson Lerma, it is about time he squared his aim a little better in front of goal.

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Only Watford have scored less than Bournemouth's 23 goals and to be averaging less than a goal a game, you have to say the attacking part of Bournemouth's game is far worse than it needs to be to make safety easy. Bournemouth just may have to rely on a few more goals from the likes of Steve Cook and Nathan Aké at corners to push the goal average up to more than one a game.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth can't afford late turn ups in games

How important is the FA Cup this season for Bournemouth?

The FA Cup is something that Bournemouth can look at differently this season. They haven't done well in the competition for a long time and the prospect of facing Arsenal might have put fear into the players in past seasons, but not now. Bournemouth are searching to find consistent form and playing a top team might just be the test that Edie Howe's team need to really find their stride.

Will Eddie Howe rest a few big players for AFCB?

Bournemouth can look on this tie positively as it is not going to cost them any league points if they lose. The game is likely to be open and could just be about which team takes their chances. The league match at Dean Court was close with Bournemouth giving Arsenal as good as they got, and if Bournemouth could land a punch on Arteta's team to get through to the next round, what a big shot of confidence that would bring going into the match with Aston Villa next weekend.

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The first factor that will have a bearing on the match is what team Eddie will pick. He has not gone strong in the FA Cup for many years, and there are players that are struggling for fitness. Others perhaps need a rest and yet Eddie doesn't have a big squad to make it easy for him. I suppose it is about time that we saw Sam Surridge get 90 minutes, while Lloyd Kelly and Alex Dobre are not going to get a better chance to start. The chance could come too late for Jack Simpson, who is said to be being tracked by Stoke City and Middlesbrough for a loan move.

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But it's which players that will also have to play against Aston Villa that Howe will be most worried about playing. Perhaps Adam Smith will have to play and it is suggested Steve Cook will make a return, but Howe could rest the likes of Callum Wilson, Dominic Solanke, Harry Wilson, Phillip Billing, Ryan Fraser and Jefferson Lerma. How many of the latter players make a start is perhaps how we will get an indication of the importance of the cup to AFCB.

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The position I'll be keen to see is the goal keeper. It is another chance for Mark Travers to show how close he is to Ramsdale in terms of performance, and he needs games to catch up with the experience that Aaron is quickly gaining. So the game is important for several reasons. Bournemouth would like to progress, they don't want injuries and there are players that need the game. But the biggest positive would be to keep the momentum of winning at home going, Bournemouth haven't done that enough in the last 12 months and a win over Arsenal would be a big shift in the outlook of Bournemouth's season.

Possible AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Rico, Lerma, Billing, H Wilson, Fraser, C Wilson

Previous post on Cherry Chimes: Can Bournemouth find their way out of trouble?

What can we expect from AFCB in Luton cup game?

The AFCB team to play against Luton Town in the FA Cup could be a very experimental eleven. Eddie Howe has full license not to pick players who have been playing with knocks and who need the rest before the all important home game against Watford next weekend.

Bournemouth will have a keeper change today.

I am not sure if I want Bournemouth to do that well in the FA Cup which seems criminal. But if the club's Premier League status is under threat, then it is important to protect the players that don't need to play in the Luton game. For once defeat would be accepted if it meant a win against Watford the week after.

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But Eddie Howe has to pick a team no matter what. In goal it could be Mark Travers or Artur Boruc, but it is probably wisest to give the younger keeper the game for the experience. I'd be inclined to leave Simon Francis at right back, but Jack Simpson could come in to partner Chris Mepham, and perhaps we will see an U21 player at left back. Andrew Surman is the only central midfielder that Howe has with experience who has not been getting games and I'd expect him to start, perhaps with Matt Butcher. Gavin Kilkenny is surely also a right wing starter for this match, and the left wing is another position where an U21 could come in. It looks like Sam Surridge will start up front along perhaps with Alex Dobre, as Dominic Solanke probably needs to be protected with Josh King out and Callum Wilson needing rest.

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I am not optimistic of a win for the Cherries, but we are certainly going to see some young players and perhaps the fans will enjoy that rather than seeing the regulars struggle again. Luton Town are bottom of the Championship and were beaten 3-1 by Millwall last time out and have not won an away game since 28 September, when they beat Blackburn Rovers 1-2. They have had just one win in December against Wigan, but it's one win in seven games.

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Form aside, Luton Town do have some senior professionals like Marek Stech in goal and Kazenega Lua Lua who is perhaps well-known from his Brighton years. Bournemouth may have to be more aware of James Collins who has eight goals this season and former Cherries Academy player Harry Cornick who has six goals. Callum McManaman is another winger who has scored three goals this season and has played for Wigan, WBA and Sunderland.

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A win would be a bit of a morale boost, but little more than that. If Luton had any form, this could be a great game for them but I imagine they are the best team Bournemouth could have drawn at this stage if they were going to get a Championship team. But lose to Luton Town and it is probably another invitation for the papers to tarnish Eddie Howe and the players for this season. 

Let's get behind the players today and try and start the recovery. We have had our moan and it's time to try and give the players something to work with. UTCIAD!

AFCB Home Form
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Luton Away Form
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In other news Sam Surridge has signed a new four and a half year contract with AFCB - he is likely to be a massive player next season for the Cherries.

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An extra story
I spoke with the Liverpool Echo about Dominic Solanke since his move to AFCB. I wish Dominic had't struggled at AFCB but he has.