This is a fan’s personal view of AFC Bournemouth from the outside looking in. It reports on the daily official activities reported by the club and comments made by individual fans on social media and fanbase websites. Life as an AFCB fan is never dull. As a life-long supporter of the Cherries, it is the friendliness of the staff, fans and my enthusiasm for the club that inspired me to write this blog.
The task of planning for next season has already begun with the release of seven squad players already but attention will soon turn to a summer training camp and a line up of friendlies before the new season kicks off. While it would be great to play one or two Premier League sides before the August date with destiny, it is going to be difficult to arrange such games when most of the Premier League go on the Far East, American or Middle East tours. I wonder if AFCB might even entertain the idea of a pre-season tournament as the best way to play a few top sides? Of course AFCB don't have to play against Premier League opposition they could try and go a step further afield and see if they can get to take on the likes of a PSV Eindhoven, FC Basel, VFL Wolfsburg, Schalke 04, Napoli, Roma, Paris St-Germain, Monaco, or Athletico Madrid for example, but such prestige matches are only going to be effective if Eddie Howe can learn more about his players and they can benefit from the experience of going up against some of Europe's elite. Just as much planning will go into picking up fixtures against some of the local teams that annually like to see if they can get one over on the Cherries, and I like those games as the competition is friendly and yet usually a good price to see, while you often see a few new recruits fitting into the team. The Development Squad also needs plenty of fixtures so there is a lot of work to do at the club at the moment.
Ronaldo might not be coming to Dean Court this
pre-season but there might be some other big players
and European teams that would fit the bill.
Last season AFCB might not have had the likes of Real Madrid to warm up against, but looking at how the European club competitions have gone this season it would not be such a bad idea to see what some of the continental sides are like. The training camp last season was fairly relaxed and not a bad run out against the likes of FC Copenhagen. As recently as last April the team also enjoyed the facilities out in Dubai and I wonder if an excursion to Africa might be a destination the club would like to try soon. It is hard to imagine AFCB as a global brand but that is the next step of the club's progression. Last pre-season there was talk of Rangers coming down but perhaps Celtic would be a good option for the Cherries now. Getting fit and enjoying playing as a team is what really counts though no matter who the opposition. Hitting form in early August will be the aim and preparation is something that Eddie and his coaching team have a knack of getting right. Lots of fun but hard work, I believe is the ethos. Who would you like AFCB to play pre-season? Leave a comment below.
There was a wry smile on Eddie Howe's face when he was asked on Cherries Player who exactly was close to featuring this coming Saturday against Millwall. He wasn't going to tell us who was fit and who will be on the bench but it's always fun to test him with that question.
Eddie Howe for once has a few selection decisions to make ahead of tomorrow's game. While the performance of Jack Collison on Tuesday should see his inclusion in the team, there must be a real battle on for some of the other places. Andrew Surman did particularly well when he came on in the second half at Leeds and his legs will not have done as much running as Enuan O'Kane. I am not sure if MacDonald is able to feature on the bench but I suspect Collisson and O'Kane will start.
Then there is the discussion of who to play up front. Grabban you would think is a must start and that leaves Pitman or Rantie. Rantie was preferred for the last game and while he has been putting in the minutes Pitman will be fresh. Both Pitman and Rantie are looking to get on that score sheet but I think Rantie will start and either he or Grabban will get replaced on 60 minutes.
Fraser will also be in line to start having not played more than 30 minutes at Leeds. I am keen to know who else though is coming back to fitness. Coulibably and McQuoid were on the bench for the last home game, while it would be great to see Arter or Hughes back in contention. Eunan O'Kane indicated in his pre-match interview that Harry Arter may be one who is close to making a full recovery and that would certainly put a smile on my face.
Can Arter or MacDonald make it back to the squad for Saturday?
I don't think the formation is much of an issue now. It should be 4-4-2. Ian Harte has shown that he can do his job and Eddie Howe does not want to unsettle the crowd like the last home game. Looking at the keeper situation, everyone would have expected Flahavan to start, but he picked up a thigh strain at Leeds and Howe has made a new 3-month loan signing from West Ham - Stephen Henderson. I don't know much about Stephen but it looks like he will start the game even though AFCB has just recalled Jalal from Oxford Utd.
We've got some new faces then at AFCB and I'll have to get the camera out to recognise who is who. I only hope our players are familiar with West Ham's players as we seem to be playing as many of them as we can. Having had a post-season friendly with them I am sure the lines of communication are strong between the clubs, but didn't we also play Real Madrid pre-season and I've heard Mr Ronaldo isn't that bad. Has someone got Ancelotti's number?
You can now read up on Millwall FC, the next visitors to Dean Court. OurRival Lines feature offers a chat with Merv Payne who is a regular writer for Sabotage Times. He discusses Millwall's sudden improvement under Steve Lomas.
Sky Sports News reported last night that 11 year old, AFCB fan, Charlie Silverwood had his wrist broken in two places when Christiano Ronaldo blasted his first free-kick attempt in last Sunday's game over the bar and into the South Stand. Charlie had an operation on his wrist and when Ronaldo heard about the incident he wanted to apologise. Real Madrid sent Charlie a signed shirt with all the Real Madrid player names on it. Steve Fletcher presented Charlie with the shirt on Tuesday. Charlie commented that, "It was one of the most spectacular ways you can get your arm broken. I have to say I'd prefer doing it this way rather than just falling out of a tree like my dad did it. You wouldn't expect this to happen to anybody..because the funny thing was I was actually making jokes about it before hand, how I was sitting in row B, right behind the goal and that how somebody was probably going to get hit." Charlie was just pleased that he prevented the ball from taking out his front teeth. Steve Fletcher said: "If you are going to have your arm broken, by any one in the world you would want it to be by Ronaldo or Messie, wouldn't you?... and you've got one of the two haven't you...at least you can boast at school that you had your arm broken by Ronaldo." I am not sure I'd be that pleased if Christiano had done that to me, but at least Charlie can treasure his signed Real Madrid shirt. We did not hear if Charlie watched the rest of the match despite of the pain he would have been in, or if he missed most of the match. Let's hope that Charlie's wrist mends soon and maybe AFCB could send him a DVD of the game so that he could watch his moment over and over again, as well as see any parts of the match he might have missed.
I was extremely excited about the day when Real Madrid were coming to AFCB's Dean Court to play the exhibition match. So much talk had been made about ticket prices and why the nine times European Champions should consider coming to our small but picturesque ground that in the heat of the moment many journalist missed the point that much of the seaside town and AFCB supporters were absolutely thrilled that they would witness some of the world's greatest players doing battle against the Cherries first team.
There really would be a football match with those special Spanish shirts running about in front of us. If I had any doubts the men trying to sell AFCB and Real Madrid scarf's at the paths leading up to the club soon let me know that this was a special day. How much for a scarf £15! But it's hot and sunny- I cried, before moving on and keeping hold of my cash.
The scarf sellers were out in force.
Turning up early at the game I still expected a big crowd and I wasn't disappointed. I managed to make my way towards the main stadium entrance only to find a throng of people making a human barrier six people deep. I had to go round the green fence and ended up in the car park, which was not so bad as I quickly opened up my special match day programme and hunted down the signatures of Simon Francis, Marc Pugh and Harry Arter, while wishing them luck for the game. The Bournemouth players looked calm and up for the challenge.
After I thought all the main AFCB players had gone in I turned round to see how many people had now filled the area in front of the Main Reception. The place was absolutely jam-packed awaiting the arrival of the Real Madrid bus. Fearing a stampede I decided to take a look around the newly extended and refurbished club shop. I had been up earlier in the morning to take some pictures, when no one but the cleaners had been around, but I hadn't been able to go inside then. Apparently the shop was opened around 2pm.
The newly refurbished club shop.
Wow, is this really AFCB I thought. Walking around the shop was like walking into Aladdin's cave for an AFCB supporter. There was so much to see and I don't just mean the onesies! I made a beeline for the Steve Fletcher exhibit, an automated mannequin that was in full running motion no doubt ready to make a strike on goal. Having got permission, I started to snap away!
The new trophy cabinet, simply gleaming - plenty of room for the
Championship trophy I reckon.
Then I spied the silver trophy cabinet. So many sparkling cups and shields were in there I had to take a picture. It will take a while to read all the inscriptions on those. Having bought my AFCB headphones (mine had broken the day before) and picked up a copy of last season's DVD I rushed out again to try and ease my way into the queue to photograph the in coming coaches. I am told Christiano was on the bus but there was nothing to see apart from some reflections in the darkened glass. It was the noise that gave it away when the players got off the bus, a few jeers and taunts and even some welcomes. Real Madrid had arrived!
I then spotted some Tennessee shirts among the supporters and wondered what they were doing at the game. I was told they are a youth soccer team from the USA who have been invited to the game as they are playing several teams over here - AFC Bournemouth, QPR, Reading and maybe Southampton.
The Tennessee soccer team.
Before the proceedings could really get away on the day, it was time to open the hastily constructed South Stand and who better than Ted MacDougall to do the honours.
Ted MacDougall opens the South stand.
While we were all doing a Mexican wave around the ground to celebrate the stand opening, it was not long before the players came out to warm up. All eyes focussed on a certain Real Madrid No7 and he delighted in showing some of his flicks and kicks and even balancing the ball on his head, much to our great amusement.
Ronaldo's tricks are something else!
Real Madrid play run around.
It was quite remarkable to see Zinadine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti chatting to each other in front of the dug out. Ancelotti said he wanted to play some "bright, attacking football" in his era at Real Madrid, well I don't think any one will be complaining if his team plays like they did in his first game against AFCB. Now it is up to our lads to learn from the experience and try and add some of that to their game.
Got a person's head in the way here - oops!
Don't worry, Tommy didn't take on all of Real Madrid's team on his own.
So this was the day that Real Madrid came to Bournemouth. Will it live long in the memory? of course it will. I will remember the day when I watched Ronaldo, Alonso, Modric, Benzema, Kaka and company decorate our pitch with their flamboyant skills and expertise. It will be something to pass down to next generations. But just imagine if you had been one of those little mascots running out on to the pitch yesterday. Do you think they would have noticed if I had tried to swap places with one of them?
I also want to say a big thank you to my friend Damien Hill, in the Family Stand, who found some paper for me to write my match notes on for the Real Madrid game, after I left my pad in the car!
As exhibition matches go, I have to say the visit of Real Madrid to Dean Court was spectacular from start to finish. Even watching Renaldo in the warm up had us all drawling or was it simply spellbound. We couldn't the our eyes off Mardid's star player and he certainly new it. So how on earth were our beloved Cherries go to deal with the task set before them over 90 minutes?
Well I have to say for the first 20 or so minutes we were wondering if AFCB had the tools in its repair kit to cover every leaking whole in its defence as Real Madrid was finding it difficult to find the break through goal. In that opening period Bournemouth showed the Spanish team that they can play a bit too. The first few AFCb passes were heralded with some Ole's and I took some time out to double check the scoreboard which read Cherries 0 v 0 Real Madrid and I wondered how long that may last. After just four minutes we were glad that the flag had gone up for an impromptu handball from the famous number 7 in white before he almost cheekily tried to lob Flahavan with a back heel. A minute later he was shooting just over the top right of the bar - an early sighter.
To our delight though Fraser was showing his pace and tricky on the right wing and he crossed to Pitman who shot wide on five minutes. More worryingly, Pitman held his hamstring having made his run into the box.
Soon Modric and Khedira were industrially going about there work, while Macca and Arter started to chase their shadows. Harry did manage to catch up with 23 and when he caught Renaldo after 8 minutes there was a great cheer from the North stand. That seemed to get Madrid going with Renaldo having a shot saved by Flahavan. The breakaway saw Fraser flying down his wing again and the cross seemed to brush a Real Madrid defender's arm in the box, but nothing was to be given. Meanwhile, at the other end, Tommy Elphick was already making the first of many goal saving tackles and blocks.
Mohamed Coulibaly impressed for AFCB winning man of the match.
On Bournemouth's left wing Coulibaly, the new signing was having a great home debut with some good touches and powerful runs. Pitman got himself into a goal scoring position on 15 minutes but dinked it wide, much to his annoyance. Arter was trying to spread play with some short and then long passes but he was not always finding Francis.
Real Madrid were starting to zip the ball about now with Xavi Alonso, Ozil and Modric the chief assassins. They teased and prodded in front of the Cherries box with Ronaldo ready to pounce on any mistake. Such a slip up happened on 21 minutes when Arter fouled Khedira in Renaldo's shooting range. Everyone was glued to see if it would be a trademark Renaldo strike and sure enough, the ball was soon nestling in the Cherries' goal, with Darryl Flahavan looking completely flummoxed at Renaldo's wizardry.
With Real Madrid 0:1 up there was no slowing in the pace of the game. But Pitman suddenly went down near the half way line, knowing that his leg had said "that's enough". That was the signal for a sub and Elliott Ward came on to replace him with Cook shuffling up to midfield.
Modric managed to get a sight of goal bu Flahavan saved well on 29 minutes. Ozil also was going at the Cherries back line but MacDonald managed to stop him on 33 minutes. Even the small figure of Fraser was valiantly going in making tackles. Macca also made a big tackle on Renaldo in the 39th minute when he had burst into the box.
The pressure was relieved when Coulibaly had a shot from the edge of the area on 39 minutes that looked goal bound, but Diego Lopez made the save low down to his left. Just moments later though and the score read 0:2. That Christiano Renaldo was at it again to slip another shot past Flahavan. Madrid then quickly won a corner and while we watched the 12 Madrid subs warm up in front of us, Khedeira made it 0:3. I was starting to worry. Thank goodness it was half time.
The second half saw Real Madrid swap most of its team. It was a shame to see Renaldo go off but, let's face it, he had done enough damage. What is more he was ably replaced by Kaka. It wasn't long before the shots started reigning in on the Cherries goal again. A swift move involving Higuaine saw them open up the middle of AFCB's defence in the 46th minute to put the visitors 4 up. Kaka was pulling the strings with some fabulous defence-splitting passes and Flahavan was forced into another save on 54 minutes.
While Daniels sped up his wing and beat several players there was always another white shirt ready to stop him getting too far. On 56 minutes another heart stopping moment arrived when Kaka stood on the edge of the D ready to take aim and fired his shot against the cross bar! A shot also went wide from No 22 a moment later. Arter started to run back and cut out a few of the moves in our box, but the tide was one way now with AFCB having resorted to just one up front since Pitman's injury.
Richard Hughes came on to replace Cook on the hour. Flahavan came out to make another save at the feet of Madrid's No 20, Huguaine, who was getting quite rattled.
Eddie Howe then made more changes with Grabban and Coulibaly being replaced by Harte and Chiedozie on 66 minutes. Madrid replaced Nacho and Benzema. The game was still as intense as it had been in the first 20 minutes. Real Madrid were not going easy on AFCB and just to prove a point Di Maria made it 0:5 on 68 minutes having cut in from the right and blasted the ball into the bottom corner.
Shortly after, Tommy Elphick and Fraser were replaced with Addison and Matthews as the Cherries gave more players a run out against the world's elite. Daniels was still looking to make his usual runs and a Cherries corner was won on 77 minutes, but even our neat passing had no cutting-edge against such a good defence.
The showpiece came to an end in rather spectacular style as Casemiro ran and played a wonderful one two before putting a great finish past Flahavan, which Casemiro was clearly delighted with - 0:6. While the Cherries bought on more subs in Jalal, Thomas, Stockley Wakefield and Purches on 83 minutes they at least prevented any further goals.
What a great night. I am sure the AFCB players will have enjoyed it immensely even if they did not get on the score sheet. As a spectator it was a fabulous game to watch and I am sure the AFCB players will now know what it is like to be at the very top of this brilliant game. AFCB Flahavan, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Fraser, Arter, MacDonald, Coulibaly, Pitman, Grabban See full match day gallery pictures on the Match Day Gallery Tab.
