Dean Court Days - George Best arrives at Dean Court

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Michael Dunne is an avid AFCB fan who has published a biography on Harry Redknapp this summer with Pitch Publishing called 'Dean Court Days'. Michael, editor or All Departments podcast, has kindly asked Pitch Publishing if Cherry Chimes could run some extracts of the book this summer and we are going to start with the arrival of George Best at Dean Court on 26 March 1983. Many thanks to Michael and Pitch Publishing.

The front cover of the Newport match programme
had a picture of George Best on it. There was no
mention of the transfer in the programme, such was
the last minute nature of it. 

Following a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield at the start of March 1983, reports began to emerge that Bournemouth were about to sign George Best, still considered by many to be the greatest British footballer of all time. At 36 and in the grip of alcoholism, Best was a shadow of the player who had put fear into the hearts of defences across Europe in the 1960s, but his fading skills and box office appeal were enough to briefly bring the crowds back to Dean Court. 

After stating on television whilst in Southampton that he ‘could be signing for a club just a bus ride away from here,’ Best was unveiled to a stunned local press at Dean Court on transfer deadline day. Bournemouth had officially bought Best from the San Jose Earthquakes, then known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes, of the NASL, although the Ulsterman had not played for the Californian club in almost two years.

How much Bournemouth had paid to secure Best’s registration was never revealed, although when Best’s girlfriend and former Miss World Mary Stavin joined a crowd of 9,121 to watch him make his debut for the Cherries, the gate money from an attendance double the average at Dean Court would have helped offset some of the fee.

After making his debut in a 2-1 defeat at home to Newport County, Best was granted a leave of absence prior to the match against Orient on Easter Saturday after his former landlady from his early years at Manchester United passed away. He was expected to return in time to feature in the Cherries’ line-up. On the morning of the match, however, it became clear that Best was not going to appear. Managing Director Brian Tiler was prompted to take the unusual step of producing a poster saying ‘George Best won’t be playing today’ which was put up outside Dean Court in order to ensure fans looking forward to seeing the former European Footballer of the Year were informed of his absence before paying their money at the turnstile.

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Tiler could not have been accused of giving Best licence to do as he pleased, as his widow Hazel explained many years later. 'I remember Brian going up to London to fetch George Best back to play for the Cherries,' said Mrs Tiler. 'When he got to the Barbican, where George was living at the time, there was no sign of him. So Brian was driving round with Mary Stavin looking for him. They tracked him down to one of his favourite pubs, but George escaped through a toilet window. Then Brian caught up with him at another pub, but by this time it was obvious George was in no fit state to play the following day.’

Despite his drink-fuelled absences, Redknapp does not recall any problems with Best when he did join up with the squad. 'George was great,' says Harry. 'He came to training; he was just fantastic. I still don't think I've seen a better player in this country. He was one of the lads. Came in, trained every day. The lads couldn't believe they had got him here to play. I think he absolutely loved it here. George was enjoying his life, still playing. Obviously he'd lost that pace and everything that he had which was a shame. He was nowhere near the George that we knew in his prime, but it was great just to have him around for that spell. I think any way the club could make a few quid at the time they would do it. George came in, gates went up home and away so I think commercially it was quite a good move for the club.’

George Best wasn't listed to be among the starters for AFCB against
Newport County, but he ran out wearing the number seven shirt.
The full team on the day was: Leigh, Heffernan,
Sulley, Spackman, Brignull, Impey, Best, Beck, Lee,
Nightingale, Dawtry, Sub: Graham, while Morgan didn't play.

If you want to pick up a copy of 'Dean Court Days' just click on the link and order your copy now! Look out for the next extract on Dean Court Days next Monday.

Michael will be organising a book signing soon and Harry Redknapp is also likely to want to sign some copies too. We'll keep you informed. 

TalkSport listening - Sports Bar

Tomorrow night Cherry Chimes will be on the airwaves of Talk Sport's Sports Bar programme at 11.00-11.30pm talking about the past season and this summer's transfer talk.

What can we tell you about - Dean Court Days?

Cherry Chimes is pleased to bring to your attention a new biography of a Bournemouth manager that really first excited me about the Cherries and certainly had a massive impact on my good friend and fellow AFCB supporter, Michael Dunne, known to all Bournemouth fans as All Departments. Michael has delved meticulously into Harry Redknapp's life and has written Dean Court Days, which is out today!

First of all, thanks to Peter for allowing me to publicise Dean Court Days on Cherry Chimes and for all of his hard work with this blog over the years.

There were many occasions growing up in Christchurch in the 1980s when I would see Harry Redknapp in mundane circumstances. Collecting his boys from school, filling up his car at the petrol station and mowing the front lawn at his home on Old Barn Road were not unusual sights. None of that humdrum activity ever reduced my boyish awe when in his vicinity. In fact, it probably increased as a result. I couldn't believe he could be a football manager and pop to the local shop for a newspaper. It seemed, to my pre-pubescent eyes, almost superhuman.

This exaggerated sense of hero worship arose during the early years of a lifelong obsession with football in general and our mighty Cherries in particular. I regularly tumbled into a state of giddy excitement simply at the thought that there was a Football League club quite near my house. The run down and frankly dangerous condition of the old Dean Court was a barely acknowledged irrelevance, so absorbed was I in what appeared to be a magic show going on out on the pitch.

This blissful naivety of my early youth has faded somewhat over the years, but it has never been completely extinguished and it was my eternal love of AFC Bournemouth that led me to write Dean Court Days. Whenever I thumbed through the pages of a Harry Redknapp biography, I was always disappointed by the brevity of material dealing with our former manager’s years at Bournemouth. In Harry’s first autobiography, his four year playing stint with the Cherries in the early 1970s was covered in just a handful of paragraphs. It was as if the years that mattered the most to me in his long career in football were little more than an irrelevance to the general public, with Redknapp’s time at West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham taking on far greater importance. 

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As a result of this frustration, I decided to write a book which focused on Redknapp’s entire career at Dean Court as player, coach and manager. Not being blessed with a great deal of spare time, it was a lengthy process, but one which consistently surprised me. The willingness of Harry and his ex-players and teammates to talk about the old days was heart warming, as were the little nuggets of information and anecdotes unearthed by various methods of research. Most surprising of all was the cooperation of Harry himself. Having been involved in what I assume were several reasonably lucrative book projects already, he had no compelling reason to help me, but Harry willingly gave his time and was very supportive throughout.

Making a contribution to the relatively small number of books that have been published about the Cherries is an extremely rewarding experience. I know that there is at least one more book coming out about Bournemouth this year and I hope that others follow in the near future as my Cherry library will never be closed for business.

Peter will be featuring a few exerts from Dean Court Days in the coming weeks. If you are interested in reading the book in full, then click here.

The book is now in stock!

ASK Fans - End of season thoughts and Burnley report

Daily Mail Fans View - Season Verdict

Demarai Grey is back on AFCB's target list, reports the Leicester Mercury

Emerson Hyndman signing is one of potential

AFCB took most of the national media a little off guard until the final hours with the sudden signing of Emerson Hyndman yesterday. There had not been much build up to the deal as Hyndman was out of contract and yet compensation needed to be paid to Fulham his former club as an U21 player.

Fulham FC tweeted photo: Emerson Hyndman playing for Fulham.

I was straight on the email to Andrew Beck at Cottagers Confidential blog to see whether Hyndman was highly rated at Fulham and if he might be the kind of player that would deputise well for Andrew Surman for example.

"Hyndman is a really interesting player. He's been a favourite of mine for about four years now. He was part of some very impressive Fulham youth squads that won the academy leagues a couple times. He also was part of the squad that made the FA Youth Cup final," said Andrew.

"He's held his own in limited time with the first team. He's done very well when playing for the USA U-23 team. He's even looked good playing for the full national team.

"His position is kind of in question. He's been used as an attacking mid, a defensive mid, and a box to box player. I think ideally he's a deep lying playmaker or box to box mid, but he can really do anything in the central midfield,"added Andrew.

"The one knock on him has always been his size. He's not a large guy, and he was consistently playing way above his age, which only made him look smaller. That being said, he's almost exactly the same size as Luka Modric. I don't want to imply that he will ever be as good as Modric, but that's the kind of player he is. And at the same age Modric has just completed a season with NK Inter Zapresic in the Croatian first division and hadn't yet been capped by Croatia, so you can't really say that Hyndman is that far behind him developmentally either," said Andrew.

You can see a full profile of Emerson Hyndman on the Cottagers Confidential site. A big thanks to Cottagers Confidential in giving Cherry Chimes readers an inside view on AFCB's first summer signing.

The Sun had been among the quickest to link the Cherries with the 20-year-old midfielder who has already won two caps with the full USA international team. He started his career at FC Dallas. But before we get too carried away he has only made 24 appearances for Fulham and has scored one goal in his last 15 games and started three of Fulham's last six games. 

Eddie seems to be looking for young talent though that he can mould and bring through and considering that the fees for such players are low or in this case a free transfer, albeit with compensation, it is a more sensible way of going about building up a squad than simply splashing out on players that have experience but are past their best and are still on big wages.

Hyndman's first goal must be to get himself into the first team squad but if he does that and can learn from players like Surman he may well become a special talent that AFCB have picked up just at the right time. Let's wish Emerson all the best at AFCB - welcome and UTCIAD!

All Departments has released a podcast part 1 of an evening with Paul Morrell. Listen via the All Departments' website or scroll down the side bar on Cherry Chimes to the All Departments sound bar.

A simple goal unlocks WBA

You can't blame Matt Ritchie for having a cheeky smile on his face after getting an equaliser for the Cherries against WBA. As possibly the smallest man on the pitch, the aerial ability of Matt is not something he is not something WBA will have feared, but his anticipation was superb and the Baggies will rue the fact that they could not cope with a simple long throw from Steve Cook into the box.

Steve Cook provides the long throw for Matt Ritchie
despite having had a problem with his shoulder.

While AFCB are known for their wing play and swift movement from the back, Eddie Howe was just as delighted to see a goal that might be more typical of a Tony Pulis' side giving the Cherries a much needed point in this final home game. Sometimes the more basic moves can be just as effective in the last third at getting your side a goal and mixing it up is something that you don't often see from this Cherries side.

Although Matt Ritchie had only been on the pitch for a few minutes he was keen to get involved in any chance he might have around the box. Such desire is what AFCB were lacking at times during this match, especially in the first half. The extra running power of Wilson, King and Ritchie gives the side a far more dynamic look and that has been the secret in some games to get in behind teams and unsettle back lines. We also know that Ritchie hits the target regularly and if a chance had to fall to anybody, you'd kind of hope that Ritchie would be on the end it.

AFCB did not impress for 90 minutes again though and Eddie Howe knows he has much work to do this summer. In fact he may have to do even more than last summer to retain AFCB's top status next season. Next weekend he will have to pick a side that can cope with a Man Utd team that are playing for places in the FA Cup final and need a win to finish in the top four. Any half chance will need to be taken by the Cherries as they are unlikely to get many. Ritchie is one player that is certainly asking for a start though after his cameo against WBA.


I was pleased to see that Charlie Daniels was presented with the players' player award for AFCB last night at the Awards Evening.

All Departments' podcast is now out to describe the match against WBA. Visit All Departments' website to listen in.

Cherries Trust has been relaunched.

Rival Lines: Lukaku and Pellegrini to be at Goodison next season?

Rival Lines

Everton v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Shoot Everton blog 
Twitter: @Tobybryant123 

I found it difficult to get hold of an Everton blogger as none of their sites likes to reply to email requests - perhaps they get too many or they have just had enough of this season. Any way, I did track down Toby Bryant who writes on Shoot - the voice of football's blog for Everton fans. You can view all of Toby's articles this season on the Shoot website, where you'll also find some my own articles under the Bournemouth Shoot blog account.

CC: Do you see Roberto Martinez being in charge of Everton next season and if not who do Everton need - and is Eddie Howe a strong candidate when the likes of Klopp are just down the road?

TB: It's hard to tell with Bill Kenwright. The owner is famed for being patient with managers and although all the fans are screaming out for Martinez to go it still might not happen. Hopefully new co-owner Farhard Moshiri will give him the boot. With the squad we have the results are despicable and show no sign of improvement so as far as I am concerned Martinez's position is untenable.

In terms of replacements Manuel Pellegrini is the stand-out option. He is proven at this level and works well with the kind of technical players that the Toffees have. However, whether Everton could realistically attract him is questionable. Frank De Boer and Marco Biesla are two other names being thrown around. I believe that the bigger name manager the better. It's time that Everton take themselves seriously as a big club, not one (that used to be) punching above its weight. Therefore appointing Eddie Howe would surprise me given his lack of top flight experience.

CC: Where should this Everton side be in the table?

TB: The current squad is by far the best in the last decade yet we are set for our worst league finish since 2004. The top five has been very competitive this season so, even playing well, Europe would have been a struggle but the top seven should have been comfortable achievable.

CC: Do you hold out much hope of keeping Lukaku this summer?

TB: Romelu Lukaku has saved our season but I cannot see him staying at the club. He is capable of bigger and better things and it is best for his career if he does move on. I would love the big Belgian to stay with us but I hold out little hope. The best we can hope for is a large wad of cash then the board can spend on a new manager's wages!

CC: Why do you think John Stones's form has dipped so much?

TB: It's difficult to say. He made some high-profile mistakes so his confidence will have been affected. That said, I don't know if it's a bad thing. The centre-back has a tendency to play the risky ball a little too often when a big clearance would be more effective. His form may have dipped but in the long-run it's probably a good thing.

CC: Do you think the side has learnt anything since the match earlier in the season against AFCB?

TB: The 3-3 draw at Bournemouth was the start of the downfall in our season. I would love to be able to say that the side have learnt from conceding those late goals but I'm afraid we haven't. It has happened time after time, even against United in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend. The back-line have a tendency to switch-off at the worst moments which is detrimental for the side. In short, no.

CC: Are there any injuries in the side at the moment and players likely to not play against AFCB?

TB: Seamus Coleman has a hamstring strain and is unlikely to feature. Gareth Barry is also a doubt but could recover from a knock. Ramiro Funes Mori will also be missing as he is suspended which is a shame as he has been one player who has managed to impress this term. 

CC: For many AFCB fans this will be their first visit to Goodison Park so what should they look out for?

TB: I love Goodison Park but Bournemouth fans should be prepared for how old the stadium is! Rickety stands, hard seats and obtrusive white poles are all present. The stadium has a great character and the atmosphere is always good, although it may be a little hostile towards Martinez this weekend! Also keep an eye out for the Toffees' Everton mint girl if you fancy a free sweetie.

CC: Finally, can we have a score prediction?

TB: 1-1

CC: Thanks Toby for stepping in and answering my questions from an Everton fan view. There is some need for AFCB to register a point at least for this game, so I don't think AFCB fans would be too disappointed if your score prediction came right. Like Everton, the Cherries season has run out of steam and while both sides play entertaining football I am hoping that we see some real quality play at Goodison and lots of goals as I am scheduled to be on the fabulous All Departments podcast after the game.

AFCB's late rally not enough against Liverpool 1-2

Match Report

AFCB 1 v 2 Liverpool

17 April 2016

Attendance: 11,386

The two teams before kick off.

Winning points at home is still not proving easy against the best sides. Liverpool may have made 10 changes from their midweek team against Borussia Dortmund but they were still too strong for the Cherries who found themselves 0-2 down at half time thanks to a quick double strike at first from Firmino and then from the head of Daniel Sturridge. Quality finishing in the box was the difference between the teams and it's something that Eddie Howe knows his side has to improve on. While AFCB showed more inventiveness in the second half with Pugh on the left wing and Grabban running through the centre it was Josh King who offered most hope for a goal and he found the back of the net in the 90+3 minute with a low strike just inside the box, but it was merely a consolation.

Liverpool supporters and flags.

There was only one change from the previous match against Villa for AFCB with a fully fit Junior Stanislas replacing Lewis Grabban. AFCB set up 4-5-1 with King playing upfront and Stanislas looking to break from midfield. It was a strong line up for the Cherries and one that should have been able to take the game to a Liverpool side that included the recognisable names of Sturridge, Firmino, Lucas, Allen and Ibe but otherwise saw the youngsters take on AFCB including the keeper Danny Ward who was not even in the match programme.

Liverpool fans Sid and Paul give their pre-match views.
We were ticket tout interrupted but carried on - very professional.

Lucas and Elphick take a wreath to the Liverpool fans in 
memory of the 96 who lost their lives at Hillsborough 27 years ago.

Sturridge and Firmino kick off.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

It was a bit of a strange first 45 minutes that resembled a pre-season match to me. Neither side really fell into a pattern of lay and in the first minute Max Gradel was up ended by Randall. AFCB were guilty of misplaced passes with Daniles and then Surman especially at fault when Sturridge found himself clear through only for Boruc to make a good save to his left.

Steve Cook was busy already making last ditch tackles on Sturridge. It took five minutes before the Cherries got up the other end and then Steve Cook could not quite get over Francis' deep cross.

When Liverpool came forward Cook only pushed his header back into the path of Firmino who blasted his shot over from 25 yards out. Josh King was running hard and past Lucas only to be pushed in the box but the ball had already run out for a goal kick.

With Sturridge finding the offiside flag it looked like AFCB were finding a way to slow Liverpool down. More than that they were breaking well with Ritchie passing up the chance to shoot and then Sanislas doing the same in trying to find King when he might have tried his luck. Gosling won a foul while Ritchie had a shot that was driven wide of the left post.

Liverpool were pressing AFCB's back four with Cook and Boruc often under pressure with Ojo and Firmino in hot pursuit. Firmino was finding space on the left but his cross was chipped comfortably for Boruc to catch.

A foul on Josh King on 19 minutes gave Ritchie a chance to get the ball in the box. With only two in the wall he might have shot but he drove in a curling cross that Elphick headed well but right at Danny Ward in the Liverpool goal.

The next problem came down AFCB's left with Ojo beating Gradel and Daniels and weaving his way into a shooting space where he hit his shot straight at Cook's chest only for Randall to fire his shot against Cook and then have a second go hat Boruc saved. Liverpool were pressing for the break through and when Sturridge ran into the box on a pass from Allen, Steve Cook managed to get his foot n and almost directed the ball pass Boruc but the keeper made a fine save with 27 minutes gone.

The Cherries' had a period of controlled passing with Gradel, Stanislas and Gosling linking well before Stansilas' shot was blocked. King was doing his usual robbing act on Kevin Stewart when the Liverpool midfielder dallied too long, but the Cherries weren't getting clear chances. Even when King got in front of Lucas and the ball bobbed up at Lucas' hand there was no handball given.

A clear chance did fall to Liverpool though on 41 minutes when Sturridge had a back heeled shot saved well by Boruc with the striker his back to goal, but Firmino was on the spot to run the ball home and give Liverpool the lead 0-1 with Daniels unable to stop Firmino.

Three minutes of extra time also proved costly for the Cherries as Ritchie fouled Ibe on the left and the free kick taken by Jordon Ibe was met by an unmarked Daniel Sturridge who headed down to Boruc's right and put Liverpool 0-2 up on half time.

The managers look on.

Second Half
Something needed to be done to get the Cherries back into this game and Eddie turned to Lewis Grabban and subbed Junior Stanislas. The first five minutes of the second half was still dominated by the white shirts of Liverpool though. Francis conceded an early corner and Boruc had to make a low down save after the ball was fired in from the left wing. The keeper then dropped a cross and luckily Firmono shot wide.

The best chance though for Liverpool came on 53 minutes when Gosling found himself stretched in midfield trying to reach a throw from Francis. The ball fell to Allen who made a pass to Sturridge. The striker was through and decided to chip and the ball past Boruc but glanced wide off the bottom of the post when everyone thought it would be another goal.

When Toure then went down in his box asking for play to stop before then suddenly getting up the North stand shouted cheat as AFCB had been on the attack. The centre half seemed perfectly okay seconds later which infuriated the home crowd.

Eddie Howe turned to Pugh on 59 minutes with Max Gradel departing.  The winger made an immediate impact by winning a free kick off of Ojo. Ritchie fired the ball into Grabban and there were shouts of handball by Toure but not penalty was awarded. This one did look like hand to ball.

A following corner had AFCB fans baffled as Steve Cook ran over to take it. The ball was quickly fed out by Gosling to Francis who played the ball straight back for Cook to head but the centre forward was offside.

King was proving a nightmare for Lucas who cut back inside him and had a shot saved well, low down, by Ward on 65 minutes. Toure was perhaps thankfully subbed for Sakho to come on after 65 minutes. King immediately welcomed Sakho to the game by going past him and almost scoring having got past Lucas in the box, but a clawing arm of a scrambling Ward just pushed to ball away to safety.

Surman was becoming more influential now in setting up play, while Grabban was also pushing the team forward.

Klopp brought on Origi for Firmino and there was a huge welcome for Callum Wilson coming on for Matt Ritchie on 76 minutes. Lallana also replaced Ibe a minute later.

The Cherries were chasing the game ow with King seeing his shot blocked and then Grabban seeing his header saved down low to the left by Ward - a super save!

Liverpool were far from quite though with Stanislas rattling the bar o 83 minutes. Another handball shout against Brad Smith was waved away by referee Mike Jones. Surman then made a burst into the box but the ball was played just behind him by King. Wilson was then fouled by Lucas on the left and the free kick was strangely defended by a crouching Brad Smith that glanced of his chest and then his arm but again - no penalty.

Sturridge again had a chance but chipped over as Liverpool looked to close out the game. Pugh was starting to cause problems for Liverpool down their right though and Liverpool tried to play keep ball knowing that the AFCB subs were full of energy.

From a corner Francis kept the ball in with a good header and King had his header cleared just in front of the goal line. With three minutes of added time, the ball did break from a Surman pass to Josh King on the left side of the box. His instant turn and shot finally beat Ward in his bottom right corner and gave the Cherries a goal, but it was all too late. While a last rally by AFCB saw Pugh make a cross for Cook to head the attempt flew over and the match was ended.

Liverpool had beaten AFCB yet again and the three points were heading back to the Mersey.

AFCB still fail to beat a Liverpool side.

No points but a strong finish from the Cherries.

Summary
The Cherries should have fancied themselves to get something from this game when they looked at the team sheet. Many of Liverpool's big names were left on the bench and yet the home side could not take advantage of that and a scramble in the box and one set piece had left them chasing the game in a second half that had little incident and was well controlled by Liverpool. While Josh King again showed why he has been one of the finds of the season in this AFCB team the only real plus points were the continued strong form of Lewis Grabban and the return of Junior Stanislas with a few more minutes for Callum Wilson.

AFCB
Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Ritchie (Wilson 77), Gosling, Stanislas

(Grabban 45), Gradel (Pugh 59), King

Cherries' Subs

Federici, Wiggins, Pugh, O'Kane, Wilson, MacDonald, Grabban

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Francis 6, Elphick 6, Cook 6, Daniels 5, Surman 6, Ritchie 6, Gosling 6, Stanislas 5 (Grabban 7), Gradel 5 (Pugh 6), King 8 

Ref Watch: Mike Jones - 7/10 I did not think much of AFCB's handball claims and the ref had a decent game and allowed some quick free kicks as the game went on

Liverpool
Ward, Randall, K Touré (Sakho 67), Lucas, Smith, Ojo, Stewart, Allen, Ibe (Lallana 78), Firmino (Origi 75), Sturridge

Liverpool Subs

Mignolet, Flanagan, Sakho, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Origi

AFCB fan Matt Adam @SeaScalpel predicted the right score this weekend for the game.

Meanwhile, All Department's podcast with Damien Hill is already out - see All Departmens' website to listen in.

Callum is already loving being involved again

Callum at Villa Park.

Callum Wilson may have only just got on the minutes for 90 seconds or so on Saturday but he was just pleased to be back. It has been a long road back for him and I can understand that Edie Howe wants to take his recovery in games very carefully having been out such a long time.

That may mean that we see Callum spending much of his time on the bench before making some second half appearances. The crowd was urging Eddie to let him come on the pitch at the end of the Villa game, and it was good to see that he was able to spend a little while on the pitch having travelled with the team as a last minute replacement for Glenn Murray.

Now Callum will of course want to play. He won't get near his goal scoring target for the season but knowing him as a striker he will have targeted being top scorer and he could still do that for the club if he is allowed to play. I would say that Josh King and Lewis Grabban have done nothing wrong though and Callum will have to wait his chance even now.

With Callum on the pitch you know you have a goal scorer though who can get you something at any time during a game. AFCB have been seeing Josh King keep the goals going in for the strikers but he has led a lone furrow as they say of late. Knowing that Callum is available may of course raise the game of Grabban, King and Murray. Just having Callum available is a benefit.

Even Jason Tindall can't help celebrating Callum's return.

The Back of the Net Episode 7 podacst should be available to listen to today. Visit the site Back of the Net to listen in.

AFCB were just not on song at White Hart Lane

The Cherries came down to earth with a bit of a bang against Spurs at the weekend. I suppose it is not surprising that every now and again your team is going to have a poor performance no matter who you support, but AFCB fans should not be too downhearted about this one game. The gulf in class was immense on the day and it is something that gives Eddie Howe and his team can now work towards rather than trying to pick too many holes in their own performance.

As it was though there were some aspects of the game that could have been better handled by the Cherries. The first minutes are just as important as the last and you get close to players early on to ensure they don't get an easy ride in their own home surroundings. AFCB just were not fully focussed for whatever reason at the start of this match and they were punished.

AFCB's first visit to White Hart Lane was not
one that will stick long in the memory of our fans.

The second goal was much more to do with Spurs' vision through Delle Alli and Kane's ability to take a goal well rather than slack defending, but the centre halves were up against it all afternoon with the movement and quality that Kane had. The third goal I suppose was a handling error from Artur but the defence did not close the shot down and they were not first to react either when Eriksen saw the chance to stab the ball home. 

During the whole match I thought that Spurs were also able to get in behind without too much difficulty. Eddie Howe may have felt that they could leave some space behind and that Harry Kane was not quick enough to out sprint Francis but he had enough to keep Francis at bay and if the Cherries were trying to compress the play with a small gap between the defence and the attack, it would have been important for the Cherries not to give the ball away so often, and I would expect the turnovers of balls won in midfield were very much in favour of the white shirts.

While defending against the best teams is always problematical, even Eddie found it hard to explain why Spurs were so much better on the day. AFCB certainly contributed to their own difficulties though and it is in these games where the team will learn much more about what they need to work on so from that respect it is not all bad.

Why not find out the thoughts of Mike Dunne and Stephen Allen at All Departments to see if he can shed more light on where AFCB might seek improvements after this defeat. Visit the All Departments' website to listen back to the podcast.

Back of the Net podcast is also out today - Episode 5 Let's fill it with Seagulls. I hope they don't want to fill AFCB's revamped ground with Brighton supporters! 

You can also take in some of the scenes from around White Hart Lane on Match Day Gallery.

88 seconds to forget

The AFCB players knew it would be a tough game against Arsenal but going 0-2 down in under half an hour was simply not in the game plan. They needed to have their customary fast start and if possible get a goal up in that first 15 minutes, but Arsenal were more than a match for anything the Cherries had and while the initial plans had to be discarded there was no easy way back into the game this time.

It was the speed of the two goals that really hurt. My friend Tim Ashton, sitting in front of me, reminded me that the first goal had gone in at just about the same time as the match up at the Emirates. That game was certainly still fresh in the memory banks  and I'd be surprised if it was not also a feeling that the players also had at that moment. Harry Arter explained in his interview that the Cherries were still angry that they had conceded the first goal and that may well have led to the second goal. Top sides don't let you off the hook and AFCB have to keep their focus whenever a goal goes in at either end.

AFCB players only fell down on a couple of incidents against Arsenal.

For Arsenal, the goals could not have come at a better time. At 88 seconds apart it gave them a big cushion and took away any nervousness that they might have had coming to such an awkward ground. With the crowd then silent, it was easier for them to control the match and it was simply going to be a question of whether the Cherries had enough about them in their attacking abilities to get something on the scoresheet. When you look at the stats though and how hard Petr Cech was worked you'll only see four AFCB shots on target as against Arsenal's 10. 

The double goal knocked the Cherries harder than I have seen for a while, but the encouraging thing is that they did not buckle and kept playing in their usual manner. The score might have been much higher if this game had come earlier in the season. Now though, AFCB are finding ways to compete and fight against top sides.

On another day they might have got a goal and it will be made clear this week that they have to hit the net against Stoke in their next game.

All Departments
To listen in to a full review of the Arsenal game, click over to All Departments where there is a careful picking over Flamini's challenge on Gosling and a diagnosis of how AFCB are playing at the moment. You can also listen in by scrolling down the side panel on Cherry Chimes where you can click on the All Departments sound bar.

Premier Talk
The Premier Talk tab has an article entitled 'Are you sitting comfortably' in support of the stand that Liverpool fans last weekend to protest about the continued rise in match day tickets.

Only 11 points off of a European spot!

Yeah, okay it might be getting carried away to think of European football, but sitting just in 15th place in the table you can see how close it is now between the mid-placed teams and our beloved AFCB. Surprisingly, a top 10 finish is not our of the question as AFCB positioned themselves five points behind Watford after this week's matches.

Looking up the table now.

A sizeable gap has started to open up underneath the Cherries now with most Villa fans acknowledging the inevitable now. The Cherries must look up the table though to what they could achieve. Eddie Howe says it is a question of trying to accumulate as many points as they can and as quickly as they can. But should the fixtures look anymore difficult than they really are in March and April? If AFCB can get some more wins against the mid-table sides, then safety could be accomplished sooner than expected. It is still early days, but I felt for the first time this week that the Cherries were making huge strides to becoming accustomed to the league that they are in.

There is just six points or two games between the Cherries and Southampton who are in seventh, so it really is a season when the Cherries could not only survive but thrive in the Premier League. It is interesting that as the club has started to move away from the bottom three there is slightly less attention being put on Eddie Howe and his team. One of the epic stories the media wants is a last day fight for survival, but hopefully the cameras will be not be concentrating on Old Trafford come 15 May. 

All Departments' podcast reviews the win at Crystal Palace. Listen in at the All Departments' website or scroll down Cherry Chimes' side panel to the All Departments' sound bar and click on it.

There are also some pictures of the goings on at Selhurst Park on Match Day Gallery now.

Coping with being favourites

Visiting Fratton Park may have seemed like a daunting experience only a few seasons ago but the atmosphere last Saturday was more like a celebration of southern football than a place where a giant killing was about to take place. Many Pompey fans seemed genuinely pleased that the Cherries are now in the top flight and while they wanted to beat AFCB on the day there was a reasonable amount of grudging respect that I found quite strange.

Eddie wants to keep making history and get
further than the club has before in the FA Cup.

Eddie Howe made it known that Bournemouth players would have to get used to going to places while being seen as favourites to win games and that it is something that they are still trying to get used to. Coming into the FA Cup in round three is a big leap in itself but to be playing teams that were formerly much higher in the leagues over a longer period that AFCB is still not easy to comprehend for some of us long time fans. Sure, Pompey have a much bigger fanbase and a great heritage, but the Cherries are still making their story in the big time and who knows what will happen in the future.

"I spoke to the players on numerous times in the week about on what we'd be facing today. I knew it would be a really tough game," said Eddie Howe. "Any cup tie here is difficult. The crowd, being a south coast derby, the tempo of the game was always going to be high and we didn't deal with it very well."

There is a confidence about AFCB though that has been seen in both round three and four of the FA Cup this season. In both games the Cherries were not massively on top for any long period and yet there was a belief that in time the quality would come through and win the day. Against Birmingham there was a good deal of good fortune in having penalty missed and at Fratton Park the team might have seen a penalty awarded when Josh King made a clearance. You need luck in the cup and I don't want to speak to early but AFCB are starting to get the rub of the green in this competition. They have been doing it the hard way as well in having to win games away from home and drawing a big team becomes a little harder when you are already a Premier League team.

Eddie Howe spoke about how he never prepared a team to have to try and avoid treading on a banana skin. "It's new for us. I've never prepared a team to be the scalp. I don't think we dealt with that very well in the early stages of the game today. They almost seemed to catch is by surprise," he said.

Being favourites though is not something that should make AFCB's players go out any differently into games. "Portsmouth were very good. You have to give them a lot of credit for how they played. They pressed us, they out passed us which is something I have not said at Premier League level. I know we made a lot of changes today but still I'm disappointed with that first half," said Eddie. "A lot to earn from it, a lot to improve in it."

Let's hope the players can put the lessons learned into a good win against Everton in the next round.

Enjoy Transfer Deadline day today!


All Departments podcast is out and talks over the major points of the Cherries' 4th Round FA Cup win against Pompey as well as transfer news - visit All Departments' website for ways to listen in or scroll down Cherry Chimes' right-side web panel to the All Departments' sound bar.

The Cherry Chimes Newsletter is out today.
Cherry Chimes' February Newsletter  brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month, plus there is a special Newsletter article entitled: Can Grabban be even better second time around?

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AFCB fans await news on Junior Stanislas

There was a heart sinking moment when Junior Stanislas went down at the end of the Sunderland game. Not another bad injury, I thought. AFCB have had their bad luck in that respect and while the teams is quite strong in available wingers, it is not an injury that Eddie Howe will have been pleased about.

Junior will be assessed this week on his injury.

Junior again was having a strong game and I did wonder if he was going to be protected in the last part of the game by putting on some fresh legs. The AFCB winger stayed out though and the foul he was on the end of from Billy Jones was perhaps a tiered late challenge, but still not something any fan wants to see. Hopefully, Junior will make a speedy recovery with the treatment baths now at the club, and while most of these kind of injuries do not usually need an operation, AFCB don't want to see Junior out for long.

Having created the goal for Benik Afobe, Junior will have been pleased with what he did personally in the game at Sunderland. He has had a bit of a quiet period himself in front of goal but his switch to the right wing had been an interesting development for the team and had given Matt Ritchie an opportunity to be rested.

Now it looks like Junior will have some time out. The initial diagnosis given by Eddie Howe was that the medial ligament has been 'tweaked' and the way Junior hobbled of the pitch it is just as well that it is an FA Cup match next weekend. If he is out for more than a month that would be really bad luck, but I hope it is not that bad and only a strain.

It does of course mean an opportunity for Juan Iturbe or if Tommy Elphick is ready to come back we may see Adam Smith moved out of the back four. Eddie has some decisions to make regarding team selection, but I am hoping that Grabban is not played wide as I don't see him having so much impact there. Clearly Pugh and Ritchie are the number one choices but some cover will be needed on the wings.

Listen in to feedback from Saturday's game against Sunderland by visiting All Departments' podcast.