Preston North End have players back for Bournemouth game

Bournemouth take on Preston North End tonight knowing that a win could take them top of the table. Preston North End sit just one place above Rotherham United in 18th, and while they have lost their last two games, they have been scoring lots of goals with 17 so far for the season from their 14 games.

AFCB return home to take on Preston North End.

The problem for Preston North End has been in keeping goals out having conceded 21 already. This game will be another good judge of how Bournemouth are doing, compared to Watford who beat Preston 4-1 at Vicarage Road in their last game. Preston also lost 2-1 to Rotherham in early November, so we can perhaps expect it to be a tight game.

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Scott Sinclair and Tom Barkhuizen are Preston's top scorers on five and four goals, respectively. Preston will be without defender Darnell Fisher who was given a three-match ban after violent conduct in the club's match against Sheffield Wednesday. Alex Neil said he was without 10 players from his 25-man squad in the last game. Alan Browne and Joe Rafferty will be available to Preston though as they have completed their suspensions. Ben Pearson and Ben Davies are likely to be starters in defence having been subbed in the second half against Watford just to keep them fresh for the Bournemouth game.

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Alex Neil has commented that he believes Bournemouth along with Norwich City and Watford are the three strongest teams in the division. He has no fit full-backs and used five at the back against Watford. But up to 60 minutes against Watford, Preston were very competitive when they were only 2-1 down. Preston gifted Watford goals though and that should mean they find it equally as difficult to defend against Bournemouth. We should keep in mind though that the last game they won away was a 0-3 demolition of Reading in early November and they also beat Brentford 2-4 away in October.

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There could be a chance for Jayden Stockley, ex-Bournemouth striker, to feature for Preston North End tonight. He has scored once this season. Jayden was on the bench against Watford and has made two starts this season and came on in the 79th minute against Watford. Jayden has also played for Aberdeen and Exeter City before he joined Preston North End in January 2019.

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Bournemouth may well see the return of Arnaut Danjuma and Lewis Cook having missed out at the weekend. Jason Tindall will want to refind some of the goalscoring precision that the team showed against Nottingham Forest and Reading to get the win over Preston North End.

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Preston Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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In other news, AFCB drew Oldham Athletic away in the third round of the FA Cup.

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We just may see a bit more of Lewis Grabban in 2017

I'm not sure quite what the injury has been with Lewis Grabban, but he has been out of the side for a long time. It is possible that with Eddie Howe saying that both he and Lewis Cook are training again with the team that he could feature perhaps as a sub as early as Tuesday night and certainly could be in contention for the FA Cup match against Millwall.

The door of opportunity is still open for Grabban at AFCB.

I imagine that there is a special bond between Howe and Grabban. The kind of highs and lows that Lewis has had make him a player that needs to be treated with careful management. With Alex Neil it certainly did not work out for Lewis, and I hoped things would turn around quickly when he returned to AFCB. Yet he has become the forgotten man with just three appearances as substitutes for the Cherries in the 2016/17 season. That could all be about to change.

Many will advise him to go out on loan and build his career again that way, but I believe he still has a future at AFCB if he can find some confidence and start contributing to match days. It is ultimately up to Lewis to convince Eddie that he can be a positive force for the team, and if he has not been right in the past you'd kind of suggest that this could be his last opportunity to prove his worth at this level.

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While the door seems fairly shut for Lewis with Callum Wilson, Junior Stanislas, Josh King, Jordan Ibe etc pushing well ahead of him in the appearance charts, it is uncertain what may happen in January, and there could be the need for a new pair of legs to suddenly make an impact. We have seen it with Ryan Fraser and Junior Stanislas. Some of you may have given up on Lewis along time ago, and you may well be among those who feel the same about Beni Afobe. Yet, every player can go through personal problems that affect their game and I just wonder if a returning Lewis Grabban may finally have everything sorted and now going in the right direction, which would help him to play at his very best - and at his very best Lewis is a goal scorer.

It's about time for AFCB got the better of the Canaries

You have to admire Alex Neil. His record against Eddie Howe is 100 per cent wins and there are not many managers that have that stat. So on the former Hamilton Academical manager's second visit to the Vitality Stadium, can Eddie Howe make it a less comfortable afternoon for this Scot who has the Canaries sitting just two points ahead of the Cherries?

Norwich have suddenly picked up points after some strong performances at home in December. But away from home they have only won two games all season, at Sunderland and more recently at Old Trafford. It is that last result against Man Utd that has given Norwich a lot of encouragement. Jerome and Tettey in particular have started to find the net and Howson and Redmond are always a danger.

Norwich players ate Dean Court last season. I hope they find it tougher this Saturday!

Alexander Tettey will be treading the turf in front of the Ted MacDougall stand and he has lifted spirits in the Canaries with his powerful running and good finishing of late from midfield. He has started to play with a lot of freedom and is finding it fun to shoot when ever he is in a bit of space as Southampton found to their cost. I have not seen so much of Mbokani Bezua, but he looks like he is favourite to lead the attack at the moment for the Canaries and he offers more of a physical threat than Cameron Jerome. 

Norwich were not be blessed with many proven strikers, but the signing of Steven Naismith would change that. Tenacious and a real chaser of goals Naismith is just the kind of player that I'd expect to do well for Alex Neil. Luckily for AFCB, it does not look as though Everton will let Naismith go just yet until they have a replacement lined up.

We know Norwich City are passionate like the Cherries on the field and are doing all they can to beat the drop. This is a game where neither side will be holding back and I can't see it being a 0-0 bore draw - hold on to your seats. 

I imagine Lewis Grabban is pleading to play in this game. Eddie could unleash the striker and tell him to take all his anguish over his unsettled time at Norwich by playing well but keeping his discipline. 

Norwich Away Form
LLWLL

AFCB Home Form
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Norwich City last time out against Stoke City
Rudd, Martin, Bennett,  Bassong, Brady, Odjidja-Ofoe (Redmond 62), Tettey, 

O'Neil (sent off), Howson, Hoolahan (Jarvis 63), Mbokani Bezua

Substitutes
Ruddy, Wisdom, Jerome, Jarvis, Dorrans, Redmond, Olsson


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I'll soon need a 2017 diary to give away before one of you gets the score right!

The Cherries are back in for the Prodigal Son

While news filters through that Lewis Grabban is again the subject of a new bid from AFCB, I kind help but think that for the player's own good he needs to see the move go through this time. Lewis has not settled at Norwich and Alex Neil has never really favoured the striker who has hardly played many Premier League games. It must rub Alex Neil up the wrong way though to see him go back to AFCB and to a team that Norwich are fighting against for Premier League survival, but in the long run it is probably player power that will drive this move through if it comes about.

We will see Lewis Grabban back at Dean Court in AFCB colours in January?

Eddie Howe has made no secret of the fact that he never wanted to sell Lewis Grabban. He even gave him improved terms when after he had consulted Brighton & Hove Albion on a move, back in January 2014, and while the fence always seems greener on the other side for players that are looking to advance their career, in Lewis Grabban's case he may well have decided that the move to Norwich was a mistake. It certainly has not worked out for him.

It is easy to see why Eddie Howe would like the striker back at Dean Court. Grabban scored 35 goals in 87 appearances for the Cherries and played a big part in the promotion season to the Championship from League One. I also feel that the way the players at AFCB get on with each other so well they would accept Lewis back into the group as he is highly regarded by the manager. At the end of the day, AFCB want to stay in the Premier League and another striker that knows the AFCB system so well and can carry out Eddie Howe's instructions to the letter has to be a big incentive for getting Grabban back.

Many fans will hate the thought of Lewis signing for AFCB again. I think they need to realise that everyone makes mistakes and some times players are not  given the best advice. How brave would it be as well for Lewis to want to come back to the Cherries knowing that some sections of the fans would not be delighted in seeing him back? He could take an easier option of going elsewhere, but he must be the one who is pushing for the move to come back and for me that says he would be a good addition as he still wants to prove himself to the doubters.

Update
It's a done deal Lewis is back and AFCB fans can look forward to seeing him scoring lots of goals for the Cherries once again. UTCIAD!

Tripping up Alex Neil at home will need something special

Alex Neil and Eddie Howe have already rubbed shoulders, but the stunning turnaround that Alex Neil achieved for his team at Dean Court in his first game as manager of the Canaries is something that will rankle with Howe. For someone who was not going to get involved in his first match in charge of the Canaries, Alex Neil certainly made an impression. This Saturday though he'll be at home with the pressure that brings in front of an expectant crowd of over 25,000 who have not seen their team win at home yet this season.

Norwich players after their win at Dean Court last January.

Norwich have had a reasonable start to their Premier League return with four points just like the Cherries. They've also scored in all but one of their matches, but Alex Neil will know he has to get more from his team at home.Norwich have not been shot shy having made 20 attempts against Stoke and 17 shots against Crystal Palace. It's the clinical finishing that has arguably been missing.

Alex Neil was perhaps right to go after Dwight Gayle at Palace on deadline day but without him he'll be looking for Cameron Jerome to get off the mark. Who knows what he'll do with Lewis Grabban? He'd probably like to put him in the reserves but he could be a great asset to bring on against the Cherries.Losing Bradley Johnson to Derby was also a surprise at the end of the transfer window. The main battle should be on the wings with Nathan Redmond and Wes Hoolahan trying to stir up trouble for Bournemouth's full-backs. However, AFCB have their wingers too and Ritchie and Pugh will also test Norwich's full backs. Alex Neil has a problem at right back as  Steven Whittaker earned a suspension from Norwich's 3-0 defeat at Southampton.. 

I suppose this match will be billed as the two young British managers seeking an advantage to keep their team up with a win. Which player will make the headlines though is hard to tell. I hope it will be Callum Wilson and something a bit special will be needed to get a result at Carrow Road.

Alex Neil gives an update on his players

Norwich League Form home and away
LWDL

AFCB League Form home and away
LLWD

My expected AFCB starting XI
Boruc (GK),Francis (RB), Elphick (CD), Cook (CD), Smith (LB), Ritchie (RW), O'Kane (CM), Surman (CM), Pugh (LW), Murray (FW), Wilson (FW)  

(I'll be pleased though if Charlie Daniels has recovered quicker than we might have hoped.)

Norwich XI last time out
Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady, Redmond, Dorrans (Johnson - 70' ), Tettey, Howson,  Hoolahan (Wisdom - 32' ), Jerome (Hooper - 89' )

Whittaker was red carded so is suspended for three games.

Rival Lines with The Pink' Un's Norwich City correspondent

Rival Lines
Match Preview

Norwich v AFCB

Interview: The Pink' Un
Twitter: @pinkun

Some of you may remember that last year we spoke to a reporter from the Pink' Un which does match reports and covers the news on Norwich City FC. Well I got back in contact with Paddy Davitt who is the local correspondent for the Pink' Un with Norwich City FC, so he's up on all the news on the Canaries and very knowledgeable on the players and the mood at Carrow Road. That being the case I dug quite deep to see what he could tell us - so there are lots of questions to be answered. Let's press on.

CC: Norwich had a great 2014/15 season but do you think going up by the play-offs put you at much of a disadvantage to Bournemouth and Watford who also came up?

PD: Normally you would say it does, given the play-off winning club have less time to plan and to prepare for the task of going into the Premier League. However, when Norwich went down 12 months earlier they made a conscious decision to retain the majority of that squad who had operated in the Premier League for the previous three seasons. That meant they still had the core of a set of players who know what the top flight was all about, in contrast perhaps to the two clubs who went up automatically who had little or no Premier League experience and had to address that over the summer.

CC: Neither Bournemouth or Norwich have kept a clean sheet yet but are you happy with your keeper and back four?

PD: John Ruddy’s season so far sums up how hit and miss the Canaries have been in terms of their defensive solidity. He really had little or nothing to do against Sunderland and Stoke City yet in both games Norwich were punished for slackness on set pieces. Against Crystal Palace and Southampton, prior to the international break, he was kept very busy and despite a string of saves was beaten three times in each of those games. Norwich’s vulnerability on set pieces reflects badly perhaps on the whole side rather than just the back four and against the Saints they had to play with 10 for an hour after an early sending off, so its probably hard to offer a definitive judgement at this early stage. That said, I think most fans would have expected a central defender to arrive in the transfer window and City were of course heavily touted with Steve Cook on deadline day.

CC: Alex Neil has said that Norwich is not a good proposition for some players to come to, but are you disappointed not to have landed Benik Afobe and Jon Walters in this last window?

PD: Neil made it clear he wanted to attract a striker and while City were knocked back with enquiries for both of those mentioned, plus the likes of Dwight Gayle and Glenn Murray, who ended up at the Cherries, they did seal a move for Dynamo Kiev frontman Dieurmerci Mbokani. The Congo international has played for Anderlecht, Wolfsburgand Monaco so clearly has the pedigree and looks to have the physical prowess that should suit the Premier League. I think the point Neil was making about the likes of Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford is trying to attract the level of top player who doesn’t fear in 12 months time they could be back in the Championship. That’s even before you get into the financial aspect of competing with clubs with much deeper resources.

CC: Do you think Cameron Jerome will be City's top scorer this season?

PD: Given the arrival of Mbokani he might struggle to get as much game time to repeat last season’s feat of finishing top scorer. Neil favours the one up top option and Jerome has already illustrated this season he can offer that threat from the bench. He should already have one Premier League goal to his name, but for a bizarre refereeing decision on the opening weekend when his bicycle kick ‘goal’ from close range against Palace was deemed to be dangerous play.

CC: Is the signing of Dieumerci Mbokami a big gamble in that respect or does his record at Dynamo Kiev make you think he will do fine at Norwich?

PD: Touched on it earlier and of course any time you bring a new player into English football there is going to be an element of calculated risk as to how well and how quickly they can adapt. Mbokani certainly fits the profile of the type of striker Neil wants in his side. You wouldn’t say he has a prolific goalscoring record if you look at his career to this point but if he can offer that presence in the penalty box Norwich lack then it could be good business.

CC: Are you surprised that Bradley Johnson moved to Derby in this latest transfer window?

PD: The timing of Johnson’s departure in the closing hour of deadline day was a huge surprise as there had been little or no speculation on his future. Allied to that, he was one of the key factors in the club’s return to the Premier League last season, which was recognised by the supporters who voted him their player-of-the-year after a career-best 15 goals in a season. But this time around he found himself out of the side in the opening weeks of the Premier League season and given the money Derby County offered you could say it was a win, win for both parties. First-choice left-back Martin Olsson is close to a return to the side after summer shoulder surgery, which in all probability will push big-money signing Robbie Brady further forward down the left flank and that would have limited Johnson’s game time even further.

CC: Alex Neil took a strong line with Lewis Grabban's recent AWOL incident and Lewis also found himself in trouble at the end of last season at Rotherham so have Norwich fans been disappointed with his actions?

PD: Given Bournemouth head to Carrow Road this weekend the crowd reaction towards him could be one of the most interesting sub-plots. That’s if Neil opts to bring him straight back in after his suspension. Personally, I think he might keep him out of the squad to avoid a circus, given Bournemouth’s public interest in the transfer market and Grabban’s actions around that Rotherham League Cup tie and the fallout since. As always with these types of episode, the full facts are unlikely ever to come out into the public domain but certainly it is fair to state Grabban has never really won over the majority of Norwich fans since his arrival from the Cherries in 2014.

CC: Who do you think are the best Premier League opponents that you have played in the four games and what player has impressed you most from one of those teams?

PD: Southampton were very good prior to the international break, albeit the man advantage made the result almost inevitable. Sadio Mane showed why he was touted with a move to Manchester United with his drive and willingness to cut inside from the right flank and cause Norwich all sorts of problems.

CC: Which of Norwich's summer signings have you been most pleased with?

PD: Robbie Brady was the stand out arrival Norwich made over the summer and that should prove shrewd business. Still only 23, Brady has already underlined his versatility deputising for Martin Olsson at left-back. By the Irishman’s own admission, he prefers to operate further forward and should get his wish when Olsson returns to first team action. Norwich fans have already seen glimpses of his quality on set pieces and there is no doubt he looks a top drawer operator.

CC: Alex Neil like Eddie Howe has a steep learning curve in the Premier League but Neil has proved to be a strong and determined manager - is that what Norwich have lacked for a while?

PD: The comparisons with Paul Lambert’s era are inevitable, given not only their Scottish roots, but that galvanising effect they both had on Norwich. Chris Hughton and Neil Adams were in charge between Lambert’s departure and Neil’s arrival and both were much more measured operators – certainly in how they carried themselves publicly. Neil showed again most recently in dealing with Grabban’s absence at Rotherham, both in his actions behind closed doors and what he said to the media, that there is only one man in charge. But if you speak to his players they have so much respect for his methods and the way he fostered a common sense of purpose which carried them to promotion barely five months after his arrival, so it would be wrong to assume Neil is a manager who operates with just the stick and not the carrot.

CC: Which three teams do you feel will be relegated from the Premier League in 2015/16?

PD: Having played Sunderland on Wearside and won 3-1, they have a huge job ahead in pulling off another escape act. If you look at it one, if not two, of the promoted clubs always historically find it tough to survive so Watford perhaps under new a manager and with a huge turnover of players may struggle. Aston Villa have found it tough going in recent seasons and despite an influx of new players they must be in the mix given the loss of some key players in the summer; notably Christian Benteke.

CC: Thank you Paddy for such in depth answers. I hope readers on Cherry Chimes learnt a few things about Norwich from that. I think most of us know we will have a hard game against the Saints in a few weeks time, so it not so surprising that Paddy was impressed with our near neighbours. But it's Norwich that we have to worry about for the moment. My feelings are that we might not see Lewis Grabban on Saturday. Still, I believe it will be a fiercely contested match and one that both sides will feel than can win.  Please check out the Pink' Un for the latest stories on Norwich FC.

Meanwhile, some of you may have missed the article on the AFC Bournemouth official website yesterday about our good friends of Cherry Chimes - BroomHill Garden Buildings who have renewed their sponsorship with the club. You can read about it on this link.

Also visit BroomHill Garden Buildings site by clicking here.

Forget Murray - Grabban new AFCB target

SkySports is reporting that Lewis Grabban has been the subject of two unsuccessful bids by AFC Bournemouth this weekend. The former Cherries star has had a challenging time at Norwich with his suspension ahead of the play-offs last season and playing second fiddle to Cameron Jerome at the Canaries and it seems that Eddie Howe is keen to bring back the former Millwall striker to bolster his options up front.

Lewis Grabban is again wanted by AFCB.

Lewis Grabban signed for Norwich in June 2014. While the deal was undisclosed it is thought that the fee was around £3 million. Now AFCB seem to want the 27-year-old striker back.

There is no news of the amount of money being turned down but it is likely to be around the fee that has been offered for Glenn Murray at Crystal Palace. The obvious attraction of Grabban is that he knows AFCB inside out and Eddie Howe knows Lewis and what he can do. It was felt that AFCB never wanted to lose Lewis and having fought off the Brighton interest two season's ago, but the club was not able to prevent a big money move for the player to Norwich.

Whether Lewis feels entirely settled at Norwich is not clear, but Lewis has only started in the Premier League for Norwich City once, against Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season and if he is regarded as being sidelined by Alex Neil it is possible that the Cherries thought they can get him back to Dean Court. Lewis was an unused sub against Stoke at the weekend and he did come on as a sub against Sunderland on 15 August.

Eddie Howe has a habit of going back for players that have played for the club before and there may yet be another bid for Grabban this week. There is no news yet either on whether a Glenn Murray bid has been rejected or accepted yet by Crystal Palace. AFCB were reported in many media sources as making a £5 million bid for Murray before last weekend's match.

Norwich could fall further behind the Cherries

The pre-season favourites will visit Dean Court this weekend hoping to claw back some of their early-season form when bookies were in no doubt that they would be the team to beat in the Championship. The up and down form of the Canaries though has left them sitting just outside the play-off places in January and they face no easy task against a confident Cherries side that are revelling in being at the top of the league.

Norwich have seen Neil Adams resign on Monday following his side's cup exit to Preston North End and a run of form that has not been play-off level in way of a points return. That means Mike Phelan is expected to be be caretaker boss for the Canaries visit to Dean Court, while Alex Neil the former Hamilton Academicals' manager looks set to become the Canaries next full time manager. While that means the Norwich players will be told it's a new start, they could start to wonder what is happening with their season if they get a severe beating by the in-form Cherries.

Norwich are already 11 points behind the Cherries and have not exactly set the division alight with their away from of late winning just one of their last five matches. They have scored though in four of those games and they have plenty of options up front with Cameron Jerome, Bradley Johnson (shortlisted for player of the month) and our old favourite Lewis Grabban among the goals this season for the Canaries. I also like Nathan Redmond who came to Norwich from Birmingham a couple of seasons ago, but he has not really taken his game on that much in front of goal. Don't think that Norwich will be a push over though, they have drawn away at Derby in the last month and have handed out a 6-1 pasting to Millwall and 5-0 thumping to Huddersfield at home.

For all Norwich's quality though they are inconsistent and AFCB have been punishing teams that don't create enough chances against them. This match should have a super charged atmosphere as there are some big names in the Norwich team and the return of Lewis Grabban will have many fans eager to see this game. A win for the Cherries would underline that they are the strongest Championship team at the moment for me, and with Ipswich and Derby playing each other it could be an excellent opportunity for the Cherries to extend their lead at the top. 

Norwich Away Form
LLWDL

AFCB Home Form

WDDWW

Finally, congratulations to Eddie Howe for winning another manager of the month award.