Can the January sales bring Eddie Howe what he wants?

We'll all be looking at the shop windows in January for a bargain. Our task might be a bit easier though than Eddie Howe's challenge to bring in quality new players. It's not just the quality he needs, it's players that will adapt to AFCB style and assimilate quickly with the other players without rocking the boat.

Come on Eddie. Tell us who you are going to bring in. I won't tell anyone promise!

The news that Eddie Howe wants to look at bringing some players in is probably not what you want to hear if you are fighting tooth and nail just to get into the 18-man match day squad. It's also not easy for the youth players to hear that others are being looked at while you are trying to establish yourself. But it is the same at all the clubs that have ambition.

There is probably a list of players that the club has its scouts eyeing up on a rolling basis. This period could be hard work for Dave Webb, Steve Fletcher and others as they look to keep tabs on the best players that are available at the right price. It's the last word in the previous sentence that makes me nervous about the January buying season. What price do you put on staying in the Championship? Our Russian owners will be looking carefully at what is required to keep the club at this level before hoping to build for next season.

Eddie Howe could look abroad again for a new striker, but there are some in League One like Peterborough's Britt Assombalonga who are grabbing headlines -  a potential target?

It has taken a long time for the Cherries to get to this level so while I am keen for them to try and stay in the Championship I would support them no matter what division they are in. I think everyone at AFCB knows this is the case with our supporters, especially with our history of financial troubles. That is what makes it so strange to be thinking of spending in January for the second season in a row. It wasn't like this in the old days, but then again AFCB is a different Championship beast now. Let's hope that Eddie and his team pick up the right players that are going to bring further success. If AFCB get it right the future really is going to look bright and the signing of Lee Camp is a very good start.

Fraser rues missed chance against Ipswich

Ryan Fraser has been one of the undoubted successes of AFCB's season. Now a regular in the side he has flourished under the guidance of Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall. He has added some goal success to his game but against Ipswich he just failed to give the Cherries the lead when he had been gifted a chance by Aaron Cresswell. The ball came to Ryan very unexpectedly and he perhaps had too much time to think about it and saw his shot fly over the bar without making Gerken do any work. I think that is all Eddie Howe will say to Ryan - just hit the target and maybe next time you will get luckier. 

Ryan Fraser has put in some tremendous performances for AFCB.

The rest of the season promises much for Ryan.

I hope that the missed opportunity does not weigh on Ryan's mind too long because he has been doing so much right in recent games. His pace has been a big asset to AFCB all season and he has started to put in back-to-back performances which is no mean feet for such a young talent and he has been keeping Marc Pugh out of the team occasionally.

I think his shooting is something that he would like to improve most now. On video he has been quoted as saying this week that Eddie Howe has been working on his positioning to make sure he is available to receive the ball more often and against Ipswich he was often quick to lead the counter attack. His shot count is perhaps something he can work on but he did make Gerken make a couple of saves during the Ipswich game and I don't think it will be long before he is back on the score sheet. 

It is great to see so many of our young players at AFCB doing well at the moment. O'Kane and Cook in particular have been pluses this season and I hope Eddie Howe and Dave Webb are looking to scout some more young talent that are suited to Bournemouth's style of play.